Farmers Movement Archive

My father sacrificed his life: Son of farmer who killed self

BAREILLY: “My father couldn’t bear the pain of the farmers and sacrificed his life for the movement,” said the son of elderly farmer Kashmir Singh, who was found hanging in a makeshift toilet at the UP Gate protest site on Saturday morning. More than 2,000 farmers from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand took part at the farmer’s funeral at Pasiyapur village of Rampur district under heavy police presence on Sunday. Local Sikh leaders had issued a warning to the local MLA and minister of state Baldev Singh Aulakh to stay away from the village. However, the BJP leader was present at the ceremony. Kashmir Singh, 71, used to live in a joint family with his father Ram Singh, 101, and his brothers Amarjeet Singh and Jeet Singh. Kashmir Singh is survived by three sons, Partap, Lakhwinder and Satnaam Singh. Lakhwinder Singh told TOI, “The district administration and police continuously pressured us to cremate the body on Saturday evening but we refused. Several police vehicles followed the ambulance in which we brought my father’s body home. We felt like we were carrying the body of a terrorist. My father had always served people and even at the age of 71, he used to serve ‘langar’ at a Gurdwara in Uttarakhand for the pilgrims.” “Baldev Singh, the local MLA and minister, is a government puppet and we allowed him in the funeral only because he belongs to the Sikh community. But none of us speak to him. His attitude made it clear that the BJP is not affected by the sacrifice of our father. Our family members will continue to protest against the farm laws imposed on us,” Lakhwinder Singh added. On his part, Aulakh said, “I had known Kashmir Singh personally for the past 30 years. He was also a resident of my constituency. No one could have stopped me from attending his funeral. The family didn’t speak much because they were mourning. I will speak to them on Monday.” Kashmir Singh’s father Ram Singh, who retired from the Indian Army as a havildar, said, “I was always ready to sacrifice my life for the nation when I was in the Army. I am proud that my son has sacrificed himself for the cause of the farmers. If needed more members of my family will sacrifice themselves for the movement.” Additional superintendent of police Arun Kumar Singh said, “Heavy police force was deployed considering the law and order situation in the village. Efforts were made to ensure that no one could misuse the situation and ignite violence.”

The Times of India

2021-01-04

Bareilly