Farmers unions protesting at various points along the Delhi border said on Friday that they will hold a tractor march on January 6 if the repeal of the three farm laws is not decided in the next round of meetings on January 4.
“It seems the government is taking the farmers lightly. They were able to disperse the Shaheen Bagh protesters and thought they could do the same to us. But that day will never come. If the government doesn’t make a decision on January 4 , we farmers have to make a decision, “said Yudhvir Singh of Bhartiya Kisan Union.
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“We will carry out the tractor march on January 6 if a concrete decision is not made at the January 4 meeting between the government and the unions,” he added.
Unions have said they are not willing to back down, but will announce dates to close all shopping malls and gas pumps in Haryana if the government fails to end the stalemate at the next meeting.
“In Haryana, all toll plazas will remain free. All gas stations and shopping centers, except private ones, will be closed. The leaders of the BJP and the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) will face protests in the state and this will continue until their government. alliance is broken, “said Vikas Sisar, a farmer leader from Haryana.
Farmers also announced that protesters on the Haryana-Rajasthan border will advance if talks do not progress constructively.
Violence in Rajasthan
The statement came after Haryana police on Thursday charged farmers and fired tear gas canisters after a group broke through barricades at Shahjahanpur in Rajasthan in their attempt to march towards the national capital.
Hundreds of farmers, mainly from Rajasthan and Haryana, have been agitating on the Shahjahanpur border in Alwar district. Tensions flared on Thursday when some of them in tractor trailers tried to make their way to neighboring Haryana.
Regarding the incident, Yogendra Yadav from Swaraj India said on Friday: “In Shahjahanpur yesterday, some farmers broke barricades and advanced. The morcha took place after a consensus of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha here, it was a joint decision. Local leadership and National agreed that Morcha should remain in Shahjahanpur for now. “
“The next round of talks with the government will take place on January 4 and if our demands are not accepted, we will hold a march in Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) on January 6. We will announce a date on when and to move. forward from the Shahjahanpur border, “he added.
Sixth round of talks
Union ministers who held the sixth round of talks with the 40 protesting farmers’ unions on Wednesday told farmers the process to repeal a law is long and proposed setting up a committee to examine the three new agricultural reforms.
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the unions were concerned about an environmental ordinance. “The first issue was an ordinance related to the environment. The unions were concerned about the inclusion of farmers along with those of Parali. Both sides agreed to the exclusion of farmers,” said the minister.
In addition, the government also decided to repeal provisions on stubble burning and an electricity bill.
“Farmers feel that if a reform is introduced in the Electricity Law, they will suffer losses. The unions wanted the electricity subsidy given to farmers by the states for irrigation to continue. A consensus was also reached on this issue,” Toma said.
However, farmers have said that two of their main demands remain unresolved.
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