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Bharat ke Man ki Baat: Farmers are actively making sure that their Mann ki Baat reaches the PM in written form

Farmer letters

The farmers’ protests are getting more comprehensive day by day because of the determination of the peasants, tillers, farmers and their supporters. The protests are getting a new dimension these days.

While the government may have yielded some ground on the three contentious farm laws proposing to suspend their implementation for 1-1.5 years, the fight for those demanding the repeal of the legislations, including the farmers and their supporters, is far from over.

While the unions deliberate over the government’s offer, some professionals and volunteers are making sure that farmers’ ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on the agri laws reaches the Prime Minister. The farmers & their supporters have chosen to take their voice to the PM in the format he understands best, Man ki baat, but with a difference, a personal touch of letters.

Picking the basic premise of PM’s radio programme in which he opens his heart on several issues, farmers and the general masses are taking to sharing their thoughts on the agri laws with the Prime Minister, their ‘Mann Ki Baat’ being sent to Modi via post cards.

Here is what some of the postcards read.

“Kehte hain boond boond se sagar banta hai, to chalo chhoti si boond hi ban jaate hain, aur aawazon ka ek sagar banate hain (They say little drops make the ocean, let us be those tiny drops and create an ocean of voices””.

“If you eat, Thank God and farmers. Please listen to their voice. I am a corporate worker and no one is farmer in my family. But as I eat, as I belong to this country India, all farmers are my family. Please remove these Bills”.

“Mr PM, It is our humble request that you listen to our beloved farmers. They have been sitting on borders… Many have lost their lives…it is your responsibility to listen to the people”.

“…a very simple definition of democracy is ‘government of the people, for the people and by the people’…Please do not change this definition.”

“It is high time that you give farmers what they deserve for their years of hardwork. Do not wait for more deaths of innocent farmers. Be a human first and a politician after”.

A volunteer associated with ‘Hamari Awaaz’, requesting anonymity, said, “Let us write to PM for farmers’ rights. We want to give power back to the people where their voices are heard. Article 19 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression. If we can respect PM’s Mann Ki Baat as citizens of India, we should also express ‘Bharat Ke Mann Ki Baat’, hence this campaign”.

The volunteer said that many people working for the campaign are hesitant of revealing their identities as they have got scared after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) sent notices to some protesters and their supporters in a case related to Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and Khalistan.

On why the medium of postcard has been chosen as a means to reach out to PM, Kaur said, “Writing postcards or letters for human rights has been successfully used by international organizations. Moreover one can write in whichever language they are comfortable”.d

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GOI offers to hold the farm-laws for 1.5 years-farmers say that they will revert back

On Wednesday, with regards to the ongoing farmers’ protests, GOI proposed to suspend the three contentious farm laws for one and half years and set up a joint committee to discuss the Acts to end the stalemate. But the farmer leaders did not immediately accept the proposal and said that they will revert after their internal consultations. The next round of meeting has been scheduled for January 22.

“During discussions, we said that government is ready to put on hold the farm laws for one or one and half years. I am happy that farmer unions have taken this very seriously and said that they would consider it tomorrow and convey their decision on January 22,” Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on January 20, after the meeting.

During the meeting, farmer leaders also raised the issue of NIA notices being served to some farmers, alleging that it was being done just to harass those supporting the agitation, to which the government representatives said that they will look into the matter.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said that it was “inappropriate” for the court to act on the Centre’s plea seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor rally scheduled on January 26. Stating that it was not for the court to pass orders, the bench said that the question of who should be allowed into Delhi to hold protests is a law and order issue that has to be handled by the police and not the court. The Centre, later, withdrew the petition against the tractor-rally.

Committee meeting

In other news, the Supreme Court-appointed committee of experts held its first meeting in New Delhi and its members said that they would “try to convince” the protesting farmers while seeking views of other farmer organizations and the government. Amid apprehensions among the farmer bodies over the members chosen for the committee, Chief Justice of India S A Bobde observed that a person will not be disqualified from being a member of any committee merely because he or she previously held an opinion on the subject being considered by it.

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As Farmers stand united and undeterred over January 26 tractor rally, GOI goes to the Supreme Court-farmers are determined to sit in protest till May 2024

Agitating farmers, their unions, and various supporters have remained firm on holding a tractor rally on the Republic Day and vowed to continue their stir till the agri-laws are repealed, even as Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar urged them to discuss alternatives to scrapping the legislation at the next meeting scheduled earlier for January 19. The next meeting has been postponed to January 20. The farmers’ protests have been going on for one week short of two months.

“We are prepared to sit in protest till May 2024. Our demand is that the three laws be taken back and the government provide a legal guarantee on the MSP,” Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait told reporters in Nagpur. The statement indicating little change in the unions’ stand came ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on Monday on the issue of Agri-bills and ongoing protests on Delhi’s borders for over 50 days.

Saying that “soldiers were mere farmers in uniform”, Swaraj India national president Yogendra Yadav asserted at a press conference that the farmers too would celebrate the festival of republic. Mr. Yadav said that as per the pre-announced programme, the parade would be held inside Delhi and tractors would travel on the 50-km-long Outer Ring Road. He added that weapons, provocative speeches and violence would not be allowed and there would be no attempts to attack or lay siege to buildings and places of national and historical importance.

The Supreme Court said on Monday that the farmers’ proposed tractor rally on Republic Day is a matter of law and order and has to be decided by the police. During the hearing on a plea seeking an order against the tractor rally planned by the farmers, the Supreme Court also told the Centre that it has all the authority to deal with the matter.

The Supreme Court was hearing a plea of the central government, filed through the Delhi Police, seeking an order against the protesting farmers’ tractor march or any other kind of protest “which seeks to disrupt the gathering and celebrations” of Republic Day on January 26.

“Police is the first authority to decide who should be allowed to enter Delhi. The question of who should be allowed to enter the city [Delhi] and how many people can be allowed to enter are matters to be decided by the police,” the Supreme Court said, adding, “We cannot interfere.”

Addressing the Centre, the court said, “We are not going to tell you what you should do. We will take up this matter on Jan 20. Does the Union of India want the Supreme Court to tell it what powers you have under the police Act? Why do you need the court to tell you that you have power?”

“We have not taken charge of the matter the way you think we have. Apparently, the intervention of the court has been strongly mistaken by you [Centre]” the court said, further adding, “It is for the police to decide on the plea for permission for demonstration in Ramlila maidan.”

Announcement by KKU

Darshan Pal, president of the Krantikari Kisan Union (KKU), said  that the display of unity among the farmers’ outfits and support from several sections of the society have been the driving force behind the ongoing protests against the new farm-laws. He asserted that the farmers would only intensify the  protests further if the Centre did not repeal the laws.

He said that the aim of the proposed “tractor parade’’ by farmers’ outfits on January 26 was not to disrupt the Republic Day celebrations. “Our target is not the India Gate, Rajpath, Lal Quila, or Parliament. All we are asking is for a route in Delhi where farmers can parade on their tractors and vehicles on Republic Day,” he said.

“We only want to show how many people have been protesting for the farmers’ cause for the past two months. The tractor parade is not only going to be in Delhi, but will also be held at State and district headquarters across the country. We want to show that every section of the society is extending its support to the farmers, and they have a constitutional right to exercise it, but if the government tries to throttle the proposed parade, it will stand exposed,” he said.

Farmers would continue to seek permission for the ‘tractor parade’ in Delhi, Mr. Pal said. “All the outfits will soon have discussions on issues surrounding the holding of the tractor parade in Delhi. We will take the opinion of legal experts as well and find a solution.”

Mr. Pal said that the agrarian crisis was not limited to Punjab and Haryana. In fact, every section of agriculture-based society across the country was being impacted, and all of them had extended support to the ongoing protest. “Apart from the new farm-laws, the issue of indebtedness and Minimum Support Price (MSP) have come to the centre-stage through this ongoing agitation. Also, the protests have led to consolidation and unity among farmers’ unions. In this backdrop, I am confident that this movement will only intensify across the country,” he said.

Mr. Pal said that the decision of the Bharatiya Kisan Unions’s Bhupinder Singh Mann to recuse himself from the committee of experts nominated by the Supreme Court for negotiations with the farmers was a welcome move. “It is in fact a humiliation for the government,” he said.

“The pressure of protest is mounting on the government. We have also conveyed a message to Anil Ghanwat, the farmer-leader from Maharashtra who is part of the committee. If he also quits, it will be a shocker for the government,” he said.

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Update on Farmers’ protests-ninth round of talks underway between the farmers’ groups and the GOI- Anna Hazare threatens to join hunger-strike by January end

The ninth round of talks between the farmer-unions and the government is underway, as the farmers’ protests entered 52nd day today. This comes in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling appointing a four-member panel to resolve the impasse. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, who is an MP from Punjab, are holding the talks with the representatives of around 40 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

Also Read: Debate over farm laws in Supreme Court

Tomar had on Thursday confirmed the talks saying that it will be done with ‘an open mind’. “The government’s ninth round of negotiations with protesting farmer unions will take place as scheduled on Friday and the Centre is hopeful of positive discussions. The government is ready to hold talks with farmers’ leaders with an open mind,” he said.

The farmer unions have been maintaining that they were ready to attend the scheduled talks with the government, even as they have said that they do not want to appear before the court-appointed panel and have also questioned its composition. The farmers asserting their demand of repealing the farm-laws had burnt the copies of the laws while celebrating Lohri at the protest sites far away from their families and farm-fields.

On Thursday, two days after the Supreme Court named him as one of the four members of an expert committee, tasked to listen to grievances of farmers opposed to the new agriculture laws and the views of the government, Bhupinder Singh Mann, president of BKU (Mann) and chairman of All India Kisan Coordination Committee recused himself from the court-appointed panel and said “I will always stand with my farmers and Punjab”.

Meanwhile, asking people to join the farmers’ “Satyagraha” against the Modi government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Friday spoke out in support of the ongoing protests and against rising fuel prices in the country. The Congress is observing the day as Kisan Adhikar Divas and will take out protest marches in all state capitals.

Anna Hazare reiterated his decision to launch “the last hunger strike” of his life on farmers’ issues in Delhi

Activist Anna Hazare on Thursday wrote a letter to Prime Minister and reiterated his decision to launch “the last hunger strike” of his life on farmers’ issues in Delhi by January end. The letter comes even as farmers’ unions are agitating on Delhi borders against the Centre’s new farm laws. He will stage the fast by month-end, 83-year-old Hazare said, without specifying the date.

On December 14, Hazare had written to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, warning of a hunger strike if his demands including the implementation of the MS Swaminathan Committee’s recommendations on agriculture were not fulfilled. Another demand made by him was the grant of autonomy to the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices. “On the issue of farmers, I have had correspondence (with the Centre) five times, however, no response came. As a result, I have decided to go on the last hunger strike of my life,” said Hazare in his missive to the prime minister.

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Playing the religion card centre planning to go to Akal Takht Jathedar for mediation regarding the farmers’ protests

With talks deadlocked over the farmers’ protests,  the Centre has started roping in heads of religious sects in Punjab to break the impasse on the farm laws.

While Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar met Baba Lakha Singh of Nanaksar Gurdwara yesterday, the BJP is now contemplating involving Giani Harpreet Singh, Akal Takht Jathedar, for mediation between the Centre and protesting farmers.

Also Read: Components of the Farm bills 2020

“As negotiations are not moving beyond ‘yes’ and ‘no’, we need a third party whom both sides look up to. There has been trust deficit and spiritual leaders can help bridge the gap. We will approach Giani Harpreet Singh, head of the highest temporal seat of Sikhs,” said BJP national spokesperson Kamaljit Soi.

Soi claimed that it was tough to come to a conclusion on any point with around 40 union leaders, attending talks from the farmers’ side. “It is terribly cold and even Baba Lakha Singh was of the view that all farmers, particularly women and children, should return home,” he added.

About the proposed mediation, SGPC chief Jagir Kaur said, “Though the ongoing crisis is no way related to religion, it is up to Giani Harpreet Singh to decide. Moreover, the Centre has a battery of intellectuals who can play mediator.”

BKU (Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan said that by roping in dera heads and priests, the Centre was “trying to play a religious card”. “If we do not agree to what the Jathedar tells us, they might say we are not even following the Akal Takht diktat. It is purely a legal matter and we would not succumb to such tactics,” he said.

Baba Ram Singh, who recently died at the protest site, too was from the Nanaksar sect. Baba Lakha Singh has been running a 24-hour ‘langar’ at Singhu since the protests began on November 25.

“A farmer himself, Baba ji owns plantations and is also an environmentalist. Our minister told him the government’s point of view and he assured us he will talk to the farmers today, which he has done. We are hopeful his message to the farmers will help defuse the situation,” said Soi.

The Nanaksar sect has its headquarters at Kaleran village in Jagraon (Ludhiana), but has centres across Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and even Canada. It was founded by Baba Nand Singh in the 1920s. The sect believes in vegetarianism and the followers wear white turbans.

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GOI looking towards the Supreme Court over the farmers’ protests

The farmers’ protests have heavily damaged the face value and probably also the credibility of the government, which is looking cornered at the present with support pouring in from multiple sources for the farmers.

As the eighth round of talks between protesting farmers and Centre failed to make any headway, the Union government has pinned hopes on the Supreme Court hearing on January 11 on a batch of petitions challenging the three new farm laws and to end protests by farmers on the borders of Delhi. The Supreme court had recently heard the petitions and arguments by various parties like the farmers, the Delhi government and the GOI, in which the Apex court had stated that the protests can go on till the time they are peaceful.

Also Read: Components of the Farm bills 2020

As successive rounds of talks between farmers and Centre have failed, the Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had urged farmers to present their stand before the top court so that a legal, holistic solution can be arrived at. While Centre wants the apex court to hear the pleas on the legal validity of farm laws and agrees to abide by its decision, farmer groups remain insistent that they would not return home till the three new farm laws are repealed.

Various opposition leaders and farmer groups have already moved the top court against the new farm laws, claiming that farm laws cannot be diluted without the consent of individual states since state assemblies are competent to legislate on agriculture and trade laws. Legislative Assemblies of Punjab and Kerala have already passed resolutions to nullify the effect of Central farm laws, and Punjab has even passed a law to ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers in the state.

Many opposition parties and farmer groups have cited past verdicts of the Supreme Court, while stating that Centre cannot frame laws on agriculture. Though agriculture is a part of the state list under the Indian Constitution, the Concurrent List allows both Centre as well as states to decide on production, distribution and supply of all products; including agricultural produce.

Hearing the case last month, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Bobde had expressed empathy towards the plight of farmers, while hinting to form a committee comprising of farm experts and farmer unions to peacefully resolve the dispute.

While the Union government is ready to make amendments in the new farm laws, farmers have resolved to celebrate harvest festivals of Lohri and Baisakhi while sitting at the protest sites, and have refused to budge till the new laws are undone.

Many farmer groups are also wary of moving the court, stating that policy matters are to be decided by governments, not the judiciary which only examines the constitutional validity of laws. And if farmer groups donot come to court, the resolution of this dispute will have to wait at least till the 9th round of their talks with the Union government on January 15.

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Update on farmers’ protests- No decision in the 8th round of talks, next round of talks on January 15- farmers are determined to not relent

The eighth round of talks between the Centre and farm leaders, over the contentious farm laws, at Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan ended on Friday, January 08. Farmers’ protests hence continue with renewed fervour among the farmers and their supporters. The next round of talks between the two will be held on January 15.

Addressing the media after the meeting on Friday, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh said that the discussion on the laws was taken up but no decision could be made.

Also Read: Components of the Farm bills 2020

Tomar added, “The government urged that if farmer unions give an option other than repealing, they would consider it. But no option could be presented, so the meeting was concluded and it was decided that the next meeting would be held on January 15.”

Farmers stated that they would not relent till  the farm-laws are repealed

Speaking at the end of the meeting, Rakesh Tikait, spokesperson, Bharatiya Kisan Union reiterated the demand for the repeal and stated that farmers would not accept anything less.

“Farmers would not relent before the laws are repealed. We will come on January 15 again. We are not going anywhere. The government wanted to talk about amendments. We do not wish to have clause-wise discussions. We simply want a repeal of the new farm laws,” Tikait said.

Meanwhile, Hannan Mollah, General Secretary, All India Kisan Sabha, said that there was a heated discussion at the meeting, where the farmers reiterated that they do not want anything other than the repeal of laws.

Mollah added, “We would not go to any court, this (repeal) will either be done or we will continue to fight. Our parade on January 26 will go on as planned.”

According to a PTI report, Mollah said that farmers are ready to fight till death and that farmer-unions would decide the next course of action on January 11. Farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan told PTI that the government was testing the strength of the farmers but they would not bow down. He added that it seems that farmers would spend Lohri, & Baisakhi festivals at the protest sites.

(Source: PTI)

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Response of Centre on PIL against three farm laws sought by SCI

The Supreme Court sought the response of the Centre on a PIL challenging the constitutional validity of newly enacted three farm laws on grounds including that Parliament lacked power to make legislations on the subject.

The plea also raised questions over the validity of “the Constitution (3rd Amendment Act) of 1954” which allegedly empowered the Centre to frame the controversial laws on agriculture.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, while issuing notice to the Ministry of Law and Justice on the PIL of lawyer M L Sharma, said that it would hear on January 11 all the pleas challenging the new farm laws as also the ones raising issues related to the ongoing Farmers’ protests at Delhi borders. In a hearing conducted through video conferencing, the bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, took note of the petition which also contended that the subject ‘agriculture’ has wrongly been put in the concurrent list in the Constitution by parliament in 1954.

The bench also allowed the lawyer to amend his PIL in which he has also sought quashing of the three laws. Earlier on November 19, the bench had restored the PIL of Sharma which was dismissed on October 12 and he was asked to approach the High Court instead.

The top court has already decided to hear pleas of RJD lawmaker from Rajya Sabha, Manoj Jha, and DMK Rajya Sabha MP from Tamil Nadu, Tiruchi Siva, and one by Rakesh Vaishnav of Chhattisgarh Kisan Congress against the three laws: Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020.

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Update on farmers’ protests: Farmers begin Thursday’s ‘tractor march’ at Tikri border after elaborate preparations

Tractor-march

Amid tight security, thousands of farmers on Thursday started their tractor-march from protest sites, Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders, against the three agriculture laws. The march began after elaborate preparations on Wednesday.

Bharati Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) chief Joginder Singh Ugrahan said that farmers participated in the march with over 3,500 tractors and trolleys.

“There were about 300 tractors when we flagged off the march from the Sampla toll gate. But as we joined the KMP or the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal expressway, there were thousands more, it is no exaggeration to say that there were thousands of tractors and farm vehicles joining is on the road,” said AIKS joint secretary Vijoo Krishnan, who took part in the first stage of the march.

“This is a clear warning to the Modi-led BJP government that unless the three Acts and the draft Electricity Bill are withdrawn, the struggle will continue. This is only a rehearsal, nothing in comparison to what will happen on Republic Day. Not only in Delhi, but in every state, in every district of the country, we are preparing for similar tractor parades,” he added.

Haryana farmers affiliated to the Bharatiya Kisan Union faction headed by Gurnam Singh Chaduni are part of the large group moving from Singhu towards Tikri. “There are several kilometres of tractors here with us, I cannot even estimate how many people,” said Rakesh Bains, a BKU-Chaduni spokesperson who is on the road with this group. “We are sending the message that we are preparing like this for January 26. The government should accept this. To our own farming community, we send the message that they should all come out on January 26, for the sake of our country, and in order to raise the issues important to us,” he added.

Salamudeen Meo, president, Mewat Vikas Sabha said that Ramzan Chaudhary, the co-ordinator for the proposed tractor rally from Nuh to Palwal on Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway in Haryana, was detained by the Nuh Police and four-five more leaders were put under house arrest on Thursday morning ahead of the rally. He further alleged that the police were not allowing the tractors to assemble on the Gurugram-Alwar Highway to march towards KMP.

The family of Mr. Chaudhary, president of All-India Mewati Samaj, claimed that he was picked up from the home around 8 a.m. and the police did not allow them to meet him.

Narendra Bijarniya, Superintendent of Police, Nuh said that Mr. Chaudhary was called to the police station to seek the details of the route for the rally to prepare the traffic plan. He said that the tractor-rally was allowed, but there was a need to regulate the traffic since large numbers of heavy commercial vehicles plied on Gurugram Alwar Highway (NH-248A). He denied allegations of house arrests as well.

Preparations for the march a day before

Unlike other days, Wednesday evening was busy for Jaspal Singh, a farmer from Fazilka in Punjab, camping at Pakoda Chowk at Tikri-Bahadurgarh border as he was gearing up for ‘Tractor March’ to be taken out on the call given by the Sankyukt Kisan Morcha on Thursday.

He tied a flag on his tractor, filled the fuel tank with diesel and checked the music system installed on the tractor so as to be ready for participating in the first cavalcade of 400 tractors that left for the Singhu border on Thursday morning. Jaspal started helping other fellow farmers too after finishing his preparations.

“Farmers, especially the youngsters, are enthusiastic about the tractor march and are also ready to lead it from the front. As the march will start at 9 am hence we have tied flags on the tractors and filled their tanks today to save time next morning. Even, music system installed on the tractor has also been checked,” said Jaspal.

He said that three farmers will board on a tractor, while women protesters will not be part of this march. They are planned to remain at protest sites to do routine affairs like attending dharna along with other farmers and preparations of langar. The march (which began this morning) would be peaceful and the tractor would move in a row, he added.

Like Jaspal, other farmers too were excited about the march at Tikri and were seen on Wednesday discussing it with their elderly. “My tractor suddenly developed some technical issue yesterday but I got it rectified today to ensure my participation in the march,” said Jaskaran Singh, another farmer from Punjab.

On Wednesday, Joginder Nain, state president, Bhartiya Kisan Union, said that the farmers would assemble at old bus stand in Bahadurgarh town in the morning. “Thereafter, they will proceed towards Aasodha village for taking the route of KMP highway to go to the Singhu border. Similarly, farmers from Singhu will proceed towards Tikri,” he added.

(Source: PTI)

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Farmer-leader Tikait asserted the strong stance taken by the farmers-will not back down

The Delhi border regions have become the hotbed of farmers’ protests  since November 26, 2020. In the protests, such media houses, who are allegedly affiliated and oriented to the government, are not being allowed to interview the farmers and the leaders. But, the farmers are giving interviews and expressing their views over other media channels and digital platforms. In one such interview held at the Delhi-UP border after the seventh round of talks, Rakesh Tikait put forth the farmers’ stance in crystal clear terms, without mincing any words.

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait clearly stated that the farmers are in no mood to return to their homes and villages empty handed. In an interview held after the recently held inconclusive meeting (7th round) between the farmers and the GOI, Tikait made it abundantly clear that the farmers will not go back to home-ghar wapasi, without making the government repeal the three contentious farm-laws which have so many faults. Taking a jibe at the government in the context of the pandemic, Tikait stated that the anti-dote for the protests is repealing of the farm-laws, nothing less.

The farmer-leader stated that government can do whatever it thinks fit, but the farmers would not back down until the laws are repealed. He asserted that there are more than 500 farmer-unions across the country and that the farmers are planning for a tractor march on January 06. The farmers have also planned for a large-scale tractor march on Republic day. The farmer-leader stated that the matter would resolve only with the repealing of the three laws and that no official order can deter the farmers away from the protests.   Tikait went on to say that even if the Police are sent to fire upon the farmers, then also the farmers would not turn their back, but rather face and take the bullets on their chest. On the deliberations by the government, he added that the government is trying to create a divide between the farmer unions, which would not be successful, as the farmer-leaders are now extra careful about how to interact with the government during the talks. He stated that the current regime at the centre is nothing but the spawn of the colonial masters who want to serve just their own interests.