These are the latest developments:
- Large numbers of farmers trying to enter Delhi to protest against the new agricultural laws were detained by the police at the Singhu and Tikri border points. On Friday, they were asked to move to Sant Nirankari Ground in north Delhi, but thousands of people remained at the border points, undecided whether to go to the rally site identified by the police.
- Those gathered at the Tikri border continued to protest. A decision is expected on Saturday whether they will go to the designated place for the protest.
- The Center called on agricultural leaders to suspend their agitation and attend talks scheduled for December 3. The agriculture ministry convened two rounds of talks with the Punjab Union, in addition to other interactions between Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and a different group.
- Although the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march was planned for only two days, the unrest will now continue from Nirankari’s field in Burari.
- On Friday he witnessed how the police used tear gas shells, water cannons and multi-layered barriers to block protesters and farmers who were throwing stones and breaking barricades in some places in their determination to move forward as part of their march. ‘Delhi Chalo’ against the new agricultural laws of the Center. .
- After a meeting between peasant leaders and senior police officers, the Delhi police had allowed the protesters to hold a peaceful demonstration at Nirankari Ground, but the main peasant leader
Darshan Pal He then said that they would stay at the border points on Friday night and that a decision would be made on Saturday on whether or not to go to the identified location of the protest.
Why are farmers protesting?
Farmers have been demanding a legal guarantee for the purchase of crops at a minimum support price (MSP) and the repeal of the three recently enacted core agricultural laws.
In addition to demanding the repeal of three core farm laws, farmers’ organizations have also called for the withdrawal of the 2020 Electricity (Amendment) Bill that seeks to end direct subsidies. Under the proposed law, all consumers, including farmers, will be required to pay the fee and the subsidy will be sent to them via direct benefit transfer (DBT).
Agricultural groups under the Coordination Committee of the ‘Samyukt Kisan Morcha’ have said that the Center should at least stop its confrontational attitude of denying the largest sector of society the opportunity to be heard. They said that the Center should initiate a sincere dialogue.
Meanwhile, the Center has always held the position that the new laws will eventually help farmers by giving them more options to sell their produce and get a better price. The government tried to make it clear over and over again that the MSP will continue and there should be no fear of its disruption in the minds of farmers.
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