Farmers ready to escalate stir to counter govt’s ‘repressive’ steps
UNION ANNOUNCES SERIES OF EVENTS BEGINNING FEB 23, BKU-UGRAHAN ASKS FARMERS TO REACH DELHI IN LARGE NUMBERS FOR FEB 27 RALLY
NEW DELHI: Protesting farmers on Sunday announced a series of events from February 23-27 to intensify their agitation against the three new agricultural laws as they accused the government of adopting “repressive” measures against them. They also said they will soon devise a strategy to keep the protest going for long.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is spearheading the protests, said at a press conference that under their proposed escalation programme, February 23 will be observed as “Pagdi Sambhal Diwas” and February 24 as “Daman Virodhi
Diwas”, essentially to underline that farmers must be respected and no “repressive measures” should be taken against them.
The union said February 26 will be observed as “Yuva Kisan Diwas” (youth farmers day) and February 27 as “Mazdoor Kisan Ekta Divws” (farmer-labourer unity day).
Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at Delhi’s borders since November 26, demanding a repeal of these laws.
“The government is adopting all the repressive measures, mischief and manipulation, including arrests, detentions and registration of cases against the protesters. The Singhu border has been fortified and appears to be an international border,” farmer leader Yogendra Yadav said.
A long-term plan for movement will be discussed in view of the Parliament session from March 8, and the strategy will be shared in the next meeting of the SKM, he said. Another leader, Darshan Pal, also alleged “repression” by the government.
He said around 32 people have got bail out of 122 arrested by Delhi Police in connection with the violence and vandalism in the national capital during the farmers’ tractor rally on Republic Day.
Don’t make it a prestige issue: Amarinder to govt
Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday appealed to the Centre not to make revoking its three farm laws a prestige issue and consider so to find a long-term solution to the problem.
He said an early resolution to the issue was critical to the safety of Punjab.
CHANDIGARH : Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday said his statement on the extension of the Centre’s agriculture laws was taken out of context and that it was in reference to the feedback received on the issue from certain farmer unions.
Also, the CM ruled out mediation unless sought.
“The statement was presented as my personal suggestion for a compromise. Instead of being seen in the context of my full statement, a particular point on the 24-month suspension of the farm laws was shown as a separate communication,” he claimed in a press statement.
An early resolution, he added, was critical to security in Punjab which has witnessed a surge in smuggling of weapons from across the border in the past 5-6 months.
“My government continues to stand with the farmers. Even in my speech submitted to the Niti Aayog for circulation at Saturday’s meeting categorically underscored the need for an urgent resolution of the ongoing agitation,” he said.
Amarinder expressed surprise at Niti Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar’s claim that no one spoke about the farm laws in the sixth governing council meeting on Saturday.
“Though I could not attend the virtual conference , my speech was submitted on Thursday clearly highlighted the issue. I have reiterated our government’s stand that agriculture is a state subject and legislating on it should be left to the states in the spirit of cooperative federalism,” the CM said. The stance of the Punjab government has been consistent all this while at every forum and the state amendment Bills passed were an endorsement of the same, he said.