As farmers continue to protest against the Center’s farm laws for more than 75 days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated on Wednesday that the government was ready to discuss the issue. Agricultural union leaders, under the general body Samuykta Kisan Morcha (SKM), said they were still protesting because the central leadership offered no alternative to the three agricultural laws enacted in September last year.
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The two sides have held 11 meetings so far to end the deadlock on legislation, but the talks have largely been inconclusive as protesting farmers are bent on their demand for a complete rollback of the three contentious laws. and the legal guarantee of a minimum support price (MSP) while the government has ruled out the repeal of laws but has offered to make modifications.
Here’s a look at the latest in agricultural agitation.
* Farmers have decided to intensify their demonstration against agricultural laws and have called for a “rail roko” program on February 18. On February 14, SKM will also hold a candlelight march honoring the soldiers who lost their lives in Pulwama. attack in 2019. “The train stop programs will take place on February 18 … across the country,” said farmer leader Darshan Pal.
* In a video message quoted by PTI news agency, SKM leader Darshan Pal stated that it is “absolutely clear” that the new legislation will kill government mandis (wholesale markets) and farmers will be left at the mercy of mandis. private companies where large corporations will buy and sell will have a monopoly.
* Following Prime Minister Modi’s comment in the Rajya Sabha that a new generation of people has emerged in the country who cannot live without an upheaval, Pal said, the prime minister called those protesting against agricultural laws’ andolanjivis ‘. “The truth is that we are fighting for genuine farmer problems for the last six months and we have not raised any problem or demand further,” he said.
* As farmers continue to camp on Delhi’s borders, key routes have been closed for almost two and a half months, leading to a traffic disruption in the national capital. The Gazipur border is closed in both directions. Traffic going through Ghaziabad via Murga mandi and Gazipur R / A, road no. 56, Vikas marg, IP extension of Aanand Vihar, NH 24 ”, said the Delhi Traffic Police in a tweet. “The border of Tikri, Dhansa and Jharoda is closed to traffic in both directions,” they added.
* Meanwhile, the fight between the government and Twitter has escalated over the latter’s delay in taking swift action against accounts and hashtags spreading misinformation and provocative content surrounding the farmers’ uproar. On Wednesday, the IT ministry made clear that the company must comply with the country’s laws regardless of the platform’s own rules.
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