Updated: December 2, 2020 8:26:30 pm
A farmer holds a sign on the Singhu border during the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march against the Center’s new agricultural laws, in New Delhi on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 (PTI Photo / Manvender Vashist).
Ahead of the second round of talks with the Center, farmers protesting on Wednesday demanded that the government convene a special session of Parliament to repeal controversial farm laws, even as the Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that all your objections would be addressed.
Fears related to the weakening of the APMC mandi and the minimum support price (MSP) regime are among the main factors behind the ongoing protests, as part of which thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, have been gathered at the gate of the capital. Emphasizing that their demand for repeal of the new farm laws was “non-negotiable”, the farmers also threatened to block other roads leading to Delhi if their demands are not met.
At a press conference, the president of the Krantikari Kisan Union Darshan Pal accused the Center of dividing farmers’ organizations. “The Center should convene a special session of Parliament to repeal the three agricultural laws,” Singh was quoted as saying by PTI. Follow LIVE updates of the farmers’ protest
He also called for the burning of effigies across the country to protest the Modi government and corporate houses on December 5. Gurnam Singh Chadoni, another peasant leader, said they would take further steps in the coming days to pressure his demand if the Center does not do so. withdraw the new laws.
Farmers during their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march against the new farm law, at the Ghazipur Delhi-UP border in New Delhi, on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 (PTI Photo / Vijay Verma)
The leaders of some 32 farmers’ organizations also held a meeting that was also attended by the leader of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, Rakesh Tikait, on the Singhu border. “We had conversations with Tikait Ji and he told us that he is with us. We are together in this fight, ”ANI quoted Darshan Pal as saying.
Meanwhile, Union Interior Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday held discussions with Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal on ways to allay concerns about the new agricultural laws.
Tomar and Goyal, along with State Minister for Commerce Som Parkash, had met with representatives of more than 35 farmers’ organizations on Tuesday. Although the meeting of more than three hours did not produce any results, the two parties agreed to meet on Thursday.
The Minister of Agriculture, Narendra Singh Tomar.
Before the meeting, Tomar said the government was ready to address farmers’ concerns regarding farm laws. “Tomorrow we will hold talks with the farmers’ leaders. Let’s see to what extent the problems can be solved, ”he quoted Tomar to ANI.
“I appeal to farmers that the laws are in their interest and the reforms have been made after a long wait, but if they have any objections, we are ready to address their concerns,” he added.
Farmers have expressed fear that the Center’s farm laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them “at the mercy” of large corporations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has argued that the new laws would provide farmers with better opportunities and accused opposition parties of misleading farmers.
Cong workers try to march to Haryana CM’s house, face water cannons
Punjab Youth Congress workers faced water cannons as they tried to march towards the home of Haryana’s chief minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, in Chandigarh. The police also detained the president of the Punjab Youth Congress, Barinder Dhillon, and several others.
The activists wanted to hold a ‘gherao’ at Khattar’s house to protest against the use of water cannons and tear gas against Punjab farmers last week by the Haryana police, who had tried to prevent them from entering the state .
Water cannon used by members of the Punjab Youth Congress while on their way to the residence of Gherao Haryana CM Khattar in Chandigarh on the issue of farmers on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 (Express photo by Jaipal Singh)
“We came here to wake up the Khattar government,” PTI quoted Dhillon as saying. Will we continue to fight until farmers get justice? added. The roads leading to CM Khattar’s house were sealed off and there was a heavy police deployment nearby.
Carriers threaten to halt operations in North India from December 8
The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), which is the main transport body representing some 95 lakh of truckers and other entities, has threatened to halt operations in North India from December 8 if the government it does not address the concerns of farmers.
“AIMTC has already extended its support to the farmer agitation from day one. We have decided to stop our operations strategically starting from North India and if the government does not address the farmers issue then we can decide to shut down transportation operations across the country in their support ”, AIMTC president told PTI, Kultaran Singh Atwal.
Atwal said the country’s trucking fraternity has extended its full support to farmers who are ‘ann daata’ (food providers).
AIMTC Central Committee Chairman Bal Malkit Singh told PTI: “Starting on December 8, we will stop the movement of supplies throughout North India, including Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. Then it will scale it across the country if the government doesn’t address its problems. “
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