BJP leaders from Punjab today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi amid protests by farmers at Delhi’s borders against the Centre’s three new farm laws for nearly six weeks. The deadlock over the repeal of the contentious farm laws continued, with the Centre and the farmers unable to get on the same page in the seventh round of discussions. Sources said the government had proposed to discuss the farmers’ demand for a legal guarantee for support price of crops, but the farmers’ union leaders insisted on discussing the repeal of farm laws. The two sides have agreed to meet again on January 8.
Sanyukt kisan Morcha, the farmers’ union which is part of the protests, has called a meeting to decide to decide on future course of action of the farmers protesting against the farm laws. The meeting at the Singhu border is being attended by 40 farm union leaders.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the central government should regularly talk to farmers, accept their demands to revoke the new farm laws and not make it a prestige issue.
“Why is the central government taking four days in between every meeting with the farmers? The farmers have clarified that central government must withdraw new agricultural laws. In this cold weather, the government should talk to farmers daily and must accept their demands,” Mr Gehlot tweeted.
Farmer unions today hinted at intensifying their protest against contentious agriculture laws and said that they would boycott BJP and its allies in National Democratic Alliance (NDA), reported news agency ANI. Addressing a press conference, Krantikari Kisan Union President Darshan Pal said that “Azad Hind Kisan Diwas” will be celebrated on January 23, on the occasion of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary.
“From January 6 to 20, Jan Jagaran Abhiyan will be held. We will continue to boycott the products and services of Adani and Ambani. Toll plazas in Haryana and Punjab will be free. We will expose BJP and their partners in NDA. We will boycott them and will show them black flags,” Mr Pal said.
“On January 18, Mahila Kisan Diwas will be held. On January 23, on the occasion of birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Azad Hind Kisan Diwas will be celebrated and on January 25, 26, tractor parades will take place,” he added. ( NDTV )
