It has been a month since farmers from Punjab and Haryana, and other states began their protest march to the national capital and camped near the capital seeking the removal of the three controversial farm laws passed by the central government in September. Groups of farmers from other states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu will be either joining the protests or have already joined.
The farmers have refused to hear any of the fake promises of the PM who has time and again tried to cajole the farmers (using religion wherever possible, like visiting Gurudwara) and avoiding direct talks. The PM has remained away from direct interaction which clearly shows either lack of his grasp over the situation or fear of facing scathing criticisms from the farmers.
Till now, five rounds of talks have been held between farmer groups and Union ministers which have remained inconclusive. The protesters had held a meet to discuss the Centre’s latest invitation for talks, with some of them indicating that they might resume dialogue in order to find a solution to the deadlock. Another meeting of farmer-groups was to be held on Saturday where a formal decision was to be taken on the invite for the resumption of talks. Activist Yogendra Yadav said that the farmers are ready to resume discussions from Tuesday, December 29.
The Centre has projected that the new laws will eliminate middlemen and will allow farmers to sell their produce across India. However, the farmers maintain that the laws and their loopholes would demolish the Minimum Support Price (MSP) policy and do away with the wholesale market system.
Bhartiya Kisan Union Spokesperson receives death threat
Rakesh Tikait, Spokesperson, Bhartiya Kisan Union alleged that he received a life-threatening phone call. “It was a phone call from Bihar. They were threatening to kill me with arms. I have forwarded the recording to the police captain. They will do what is needed to be done next,” he said.
MSP should be part of talks: Tikait
Farmer-leader Rakesh Tikait stated that modalities for repeal of the three farm laws, and legal guarantee for MSP should inevitably be part of agenda for talks with government.
RLP quits NDA over farm bills as stated by party chief Hanuman Beniwal
After Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Rajasthan’s Rashtriya Loktantric Party (RLP) chief Hanuman Beniwal also walked out of National Democratic Alliance. While addressing farmers’ rally in Shahjahanpur of Alwar, Beniwal said, “Bye-bye. We are quitting NDA. Nothing is above the pride of farmers in the country.” State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Mukesh Pareekh said that Beniwal’s party is an independent party and one man’s party.
Former Lok Sabha MP Harinder Singh Khalsa quits BJP citing government’s negligence towards farmers
Former Lok Sabha MP Harinder Singh Khalsa resigned from BJP on Saturday citing negligence of government towards the farmers. He said that he is resigning “in protest against the insensitivity shown by party leaders & the government towards the sufferings of the farmers, their wives, and children protesting against the three agrarian laws”.
Saamna said, Centre indifferent towards farm stir
Amid the ongoing farmers’ protest, Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ on Saturday said that the Congress party has turned “feeble and disintegrated” and further suggested that all anti-BJP parties including the Sena should come together under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to provide a formidable alternative. Saamana added that those in power at the Centre were indifferent towards the farmers’ agitation and added that instead of blaming the government, the main opposition party should introspect about its leadership issue.
(Source: PTI )
