Protesting farmers surround a pickup truck that was part of Manohar Lal Khattar’s convoy
Chandigarh:
Hundreds of farmers protesting against the new agricultural laws showed black flags to Haryana’s chief minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, as he made his way to Ambala today. The BJP-led government in Haryana has been claiming that only some farmers are unhappy with the new laws. However, the number of farmers, some of whom came from neighboring Punjab, has steadily increased and they have entrenched themselves along the border with Delhi.
Farmers today tried to block the long convoy that was escorting Mr. Khattar. Later, the police persuaded them to give in. In the pictures, several farmers are seen waving black flags and even holding sticks in the Khattar convoy.
The chief minister’s convoy had to slow down considerably as large numbers of farmers were seen blocking the road, sources said. Eventually, the convoy had to make a U-turn, they said.
The Chief Minister was going to Ambala to campaign for the BJP candidates in the municipal corporation election.
On December 1, a group of farmers displayed black flags to the Union Minister, Rattan Lal Kataria, in a village in Ambala. He is also the deputy of Ambala.
Farmers and the government have been unable to emerge from the stalemate in the talks. The center says it is willing to modify the laws and even discuss them clause by clause.
Farmers, however, say they want the laws to be repealed entirely. Enacted in September, the three agricultural laws have been projected by the central government as major reforms in the agricultural sector that will eliminate middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the country.
However, protesting farmers have expressed fear that the new laws would pave the way to remove the safety cushion of the minimum support price and end the mandi system, leaving them at the mercy of big business.
Farmers are now entrenched along the Haryana-Delhi border. Conversations between them and the center are expected.
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