Respectful solution needed: Farmer leaders
Next round of talks with government tomorrow Heightened security deployment has continued at the Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana border) as farmers’ protest against three agriculture laws entered the 67th day on Sunday.
NEW DELHI/GHAZIABAD: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government was just a "phone call away" for talks with the farmers agitating against the farm laws, union leaders on Sunday said a "respectful solution" should be found but they will not agree to anything "under pressure". Farmer leaders Rakesh and Naresh Tikait demanded that the government release the protesters to create a conducive environment for talks. As hundreds of farmers continued to converge at Ghazipur following a tearful BKU leader Rakesh Tikait's impassioned appeal on Thursday, the ripples spread deeper in western UP where a mahapanchyat was held in Baghpat in support of the stir.
The next round of talks between the farmers and the Centre is scheduled for February 2.While the protest at Ghazipur border by the farmers (Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border) has entered Day 65. Security has been beefed up as more farmers are coming to the protest site for the past two-three days. “Government is changing the goal-post. It is a bad thing. They are not taking any decision. The government should repeal the laws. It will be better for the farmers and the government,” Shyam, a protesting farmer at Ghazipur border said.
Another farmer Ram Beer Singh said, “We will not accept the proposal. We will continue to protest. We have not done anything bad and we want the repeal of the laws.”To ‘maintain public safety and averting public emergency’, the Union Home Ministry has temporarily suspended internet services at the three borders and their adjoining areas from 11 pm of January 29 to 11 pm of January 31.
The Haryana government has also extended the suspension of internet services in 17 districts till 5 pm on January 31. The Delhi Police has also closed the NH-24 route.
During all party-meeting on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated that the proposal of government given to farmers on January 22 still stands and should be communicated to all by the leaders of the political parties. Prime Minister has also said that Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar was just a phone call away for protestors. On January 22, during the 11th round of talks with protesting farmers, the government proposed to suspend the new legislations for one-and-a-half years.
Meanwhile, the Delhi police has sent over 50 fresh notices to people, including farmer leaders, in connection with the violence that broke out during the tractor parade on Republic Day, officials said on Sunday. The police had earlier issued notices against 44 people. The police have identified several people and sent notices to them, a police officer said, adding that process will continue further.