Updated: December 12, 2020 10:35:00 pm
Farmers block a road on the Singhu border between Delhi and Haryana. (AP Photo)
There seems to be no end in sight for him deadlock between the Center and the farmers even as the ongoing protests outside New Delhi completed their seventeenth day on Saturday. The farmers’ unions have announced that they will intensify their agitation against the controversial farm laws and said their union leaders will meet on a hunger strike on December 14.
“If the government wants to hold talks, we are ready, but our main demand will continue to be the elimination of the three new agricultural laws. We will move on to our other demands only after that, ”farmer leader Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu on the Singhu border told reporters.
He also announced that thousands of farmers will start their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march from Rajasthan’s Shahjahanpur via the Jaipur-Delhi highway at 11am on Sunday.
Earlier on Saturday, protesting farmers picketed some toll plazas in Haryana, not allowing authorities to collect fees from travelers while demanding the repeal of the new laws.
The escalation of protests occurred on the day that Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government is committed to protecting the interests of farmers.. Addressing the 93rd annual FICCI convention, Modi said that agricultural reforms will provide farmers with new markets and access to technology, and will help attract investment in the agricultural sector that will benefit the farming community.
The government has taken various initiatives to improve the income of people involved in the agricultural sector, Modi said, adding that farmers now have options to sell their mandi crops, as well as to third parties.
Delhi Police Increase Security At Delhi Borders
The Delhi Police will deploy personnel “outside the offices of all political parties, the residence of the Minister of Agriculture and Krishi Bhawan” to ensure that law and order are maintained. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)
Meanwhile, Delhi police increased security on Saturday and put up more barriers at various border points as farmers announced their plans to block the Delhi-Jaipur highway and the Yamuna highway.
There are still no protests at Delhi’s borders with Gurgaon and at other points on National Highway 8 that connects the national capital with Jaipur, the PTI news agency reported citing a senior police officer.
Congress criticizes Center for calling farmers ‘Maoists’ and ‘anti-nationals’
Farmers shout slogans on the Singhu border during their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march against the Center’s new agricultural laws, in New Delhi, New Delhi, on Friday, December 11, 2020. (PTI Photo)
Congress has accused the government of labeling its opponents “Maoists” or “anti-nationals”, and urged the Center to accept the demands of protesting farmers.
The opposition party’s statement came a day after Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that “antisocial elements” are conspiring to disrupt ongoing protests under the guise of farmers, and called on the farming community to stand by. alerts against the “misuse” of its platform. .
Making similar comments, Food, Railways and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday was more forthright in his post, claiming that certain “left-wing and Maoist elements” appear to have taken “control” of the unrest.
Tagging a media report on Goyal’s comments, Congressional Chief Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted: “Mr. Modi, autocracy has no place in democracy. It is his policy and that of his ministers to declare all Maoist and anti-national opponents. “
“Apologize to the farmers who are in a sit-in braving the fierce cold and rains, and agree to their legitimate demands immediately,” he tweeted in Hindi.
Haryana Dy CM: hopeful in the next round of talks between the Center and farmers
Even before the three agricultural ordinances, which were notified by the Center on June 5 this year, came into legal force, farmers’ unions in Punjab had raised their flag of dissent against the three bills since June 4. June (Image / PTI)
Haryana’s Chief Deputy Minister Dushyant Chautala has said that he expects the next round of talks between the Center and farmers’ unions to take place in the next 24 to 48 hours.
After meeting with Tomar, Chautala said that the acquisition of crops at the minimum support price decided by the government would be guaranteed for each farmer until the moment they become part of the state government.
Bengal BJP Chief: New Farm Laws Will Help Farmers Get Better Prices
Dilip ghosh
West Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh said the agricultural reform measures will help them gain better access to markets and obtain a higher price for their products. Speaking at the program of a party in the Paschim Medinipur district, he said that farmers in the state have been deprived of obtaining a remunerative price for their produce.
“Before, a farmer was forced to sell his products to intermediaries. They sold potatoes at 5 rupees per kg, while we bought it at 40 rupees. They cannot sell their rice at the minimum support price, ”he said. They have been forced to sell rice paddy at 1,200-1,300 rupees per quintal, instead of an MSP of more than 1,600 rupees, he added.
“The new farm laws will give farmers flexibility to sell their produce in the markets where they get the best price,” Ghosh said.
Shiv Sena seeks the resignation of Raosaheb Danve
Workers of the ruling Shiv Sena in Maharashtra held a demonstration in Aurangabad on Saturday demanding the resignation of Union Minister Raosaheb Danve for his comments against protesting farmers in Delhi.
Danve, who represents Jalna in Parliament, had sparked a controversy when he said that China and Pakistan were behind the farmers’ protests, prompting sharp reactions from various quarters.
(with PTI inputs)
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