A joint forum of about 30 farmers’ unions on Sunday rejected the Center’s offer to hold early talks to resolve the deadlock in farm laws. These farmers’ bodies said protesting farmers will only engage with the government in the absence of any preconditions.
The joint forum also said that the place of protest for thousands of farmers is no longer a problem as they have started an indefinite dharna on the roads leading to Delhi.
Earlier on Saturday, Union Interior Minister Amit Shah appealed to farmers and said his government was ready for talks. “I appeal to protesting farmers so that the Union government is willing to hold talks. The Minister of Agriculture has invited them on December 3 for a discussion. The government is willing to deliberate on each problem and demand of the farmers, ”he had said.
Thousands of farmers from Punjab and Haryana have taken to the streets and highways in recent weeks to protest against the three agricultural laws, claiming that the laws will reduce their profits in the market and give more power to corporations.
On Friday afternoon, Delhi Police had agreed to let the protesters in, provided they moved to the Burari field, but not before a series of clashes between farmers and police that used tear gas projectiles, lathis and water cannons.
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