Anna Hazare threatens to launch hunger strike against the farm-laws and issues of farmers

Social activist Anna Hazare, who was a prominent face of India against corruption movement, has threatened to go on a hunger strike if his demands on issues concerning farmers are not met by the Union government by the end of January next year, and said that it would be his “last protest”. “India against corruption” movement had launched the political career of present CM of New Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal.

Hazare said that he had been holding protests for cultivators for the last three years, but the government has done nothing to resolve the issues.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal “challenged” any Union minister to debate the laws with the protesting farmers

On Sunday, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the Singhu border to interact with the protesting farmers and “challenged” any Union minister to debate the laws with the protesting farmers so that it becomes clear “how beneficial or harmful these laws are.” Kejriwal had earlier visited the Singhu border, which has emerged as the epicentre of the stir, on December 7.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi criticizes the indifferent BJP leaders over the Farm-laws

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Monday said that the government should listen to the farmers and take back the farm laws which have numerous flaws. “It is a sin to use the kind of words they are using for farmers. Government is answerable to farmers. Government should listen to them and take back the laws,” she tweeted.

Meanwhile, the PM, who has remained away from direct interaction with farmers clearly showing either lack of his grasp over the situation or fear of facing scathing criticisms from the farmers will flag off the 100th Kisan Rail from Sangola in Maharashtra to Shalimar in West Bengal.

On Sunday, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar described the farm unions’ decision to return to the negotiation table as a “good step” and expressed hope that a solution would be found to the stalemate over the new farm laws through discussions.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, meanwhile, reaffirmed that the Centre has no intention of scrapping the minimum support price (MSP) regime, and that no “mai ka lal (no one)” can take away land from the farmers. The next round of talks between the farmer-unions and the government is slated to be held tomorrow. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of 40 farm organizations, on Saturday wrote to the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, announcing the resumption of talks.

Farmer unions in Haryana announced that they would continue to allow toll-free movement of vehicles on highways until the Centre accepted their demands. In other news, Singhu and Ghazipur borders saw a noisy morning on Sunday, with the farmers banging thaalis during Prime Minister’s monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address. The man ki baat has witnessed an increasing number of dislikes over social media and YouTube, which shows gathering disenchantment and discontentment of people with the vacuous talks with no substance.

Congress MLAs protest against farm laws in Madhya Pradesh

Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh held a peaceful protest opposing the Centre’s new farm laws on Monday. Congress has alleged that the three-day assembly session was postponed fearing farmer-protests by the party.

The Assembly session, scheduled to begin today, was postponed after 60 officials and staffers, including five MLAs, tested positive for Covid19, officials said on Sunday.

Delhi’s borders with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, continue to stay closed

Protests against the Centre’s three contentious agricultural laws entered day 33 on Monday as the government and the farmers’ unions prepare for the sixth round of talks on Tuesday. The farmers’ unions had on Saturday accepted the government’s second proposal to hold the sixth round of talks at a date and time as per the unions’ convenience, having rejected an earlier invitation.  Delhi’s borders with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana continue to stay closed. The Ghazipur and Chilla borders with UP are closed for those coming from Noida and Ghaziabad.

(Source: PTI)