New Delhi, Nov 30,2020: Tens of thousands of farmers remained massed at the National Capital’s border on Monday, the fourth consecutive day, as no breakthrough was achieved with the Centre over their demand of repealing the new farm laws.
The Tikri and Singhu border points of Delhi are totally blocked by the farmers, who have come mainly from Punjab and also from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The traffic problem is expected to worsen from Tuesday, as offices and business establishments will reopen after three days of holidays.
The farmers’ organisation again made it clear that their demands — repealing the new laws, assuring Minimum Support Price (MSP), reading down electricity ordinance and fine on burning stubble — are “non-negotiable”.
The Central government has agreed to talk to farmers only if they shift to Burari site near north Delhi. However, the proposal has been categorically rejected by the farmers’ organisation, saying they will vacate the border roads only if allowed to move to Jantar Mantar, a historical protest site in central Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking at the inaugural function of Varanasi-Prayagraj National Highway Project, claimed that farmers have been ‘misled’ by the Opposition parties. “Propaganda is spread that although the decision is right, about things that haven’t happened or never happen,” Mr Modi said.
He again asserted that the laws were much needed and are for the betterment of farmers who will now have more options to sell their produce.
The laws allow private companies to purchase directly from the farmers and also gives farmers a room to sell anywhere they want.
However, farmers organisations are worried that such laws will do away with the “Mandi system” and the MSP and leave peasants at mercy of corporates. Punjab and Rajasthan Assembly have moved resolutions against the laws.
Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav, in a press conference, stated claims of middlemen not farmers holding the protest are ‘rubbish’. Targeting Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, he said every farmer of the state is supporting the protest, which has now become a “movement”.
The protest by farmers has been supported by almost all parties in the Opposition. In a blow to the National Democratic Alliance, one of its constituent parties, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP), has urged the BJP government to read down the new laws immediately.
In Haryana, an Independent MLA, Sonbir Sanghwan, who was the chairman of the Livestock Department Board, resigned from the post in support of agitating farmers. The five Left parties–CPI(M), CPI, CPI (ML), RSP and AIFB–gave their full support to the farmers and asked their respective cadres to give more wings to the protest.
On the other hand Congress launched an online campaign, #SpeakUpForFarmers, to stand unitedly with farmers. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in a twitter post alleged that NDA-led government in Centre is trying to muzzle the voice of farmers but it will not succeed.
Also, Taxi unions of Delhi-NCR issued a letter warning if demands of farmers are not met within two days, they will also join the protest.
As per reports, farmers at borders have temporarily settled themselves at border roads as some were seen erecting thatch roofs as a shield from cold winds while many took out gas stoves, cylinders and utensils and started cooking. Some NGOs and civil society organisations have started distributing food, all indicating that they are here to stay.
Apart from new farm laws, the farmers have also raised apprehensions against the Electricity ordinance under which the power supplied to fields will be charged. Many farmers are also calling penalties against stubble burning unfair as according to them the government has failed to provide stubble management machines, leaving them with no options but to put the paddy residuals on fire.
