Farmers up pressure, hold day-long hunger strike
NEW DELHI: Leaders of farmer unions across the country participated in the day-long hunger strike to protest against the contentious farm laws, as farmers intensified their agitation that entered the 18th day on Monday.
Farmers organised sit-in protests and observed a fast from 8 am to 5 pm. “The hunger strike call given by farmer leaders was successful,” said Baldev Singh, a farmer leader at the Singhu border between Delhi and Haryana where a large number of farmers are gathered since November 27.
Elsewhere, a large group of farmers tried to block the key Delhi-Jaipur national highway at Shahjanpur on the Haryana-Rajasthan border, but were prevented from doing so by the police. At Ghazipur on the DelhiNoida border, traffic was blocked for some time by members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Takait) faction. Soon after, farmer leader Rakesh Takait said that the traffic was blocked to tell the administration that they can block the movement of vehicles but were not doing so that people are not inconvenienced.
Farmers raised slogans outside the offices of district commissioners and took out protest marches in Punjab and Haryana following a nationwide call given by their unions against the new central laws. The Haryana Police closed the Ambala-Patiala highway after protesters gathered at the Shambhu border point
adjoining Punjab. Many of these farmers were on their way to Singhu border, which has become the epicentre of the protests.
The ruling Congress also held protests in Punjab, with the state unit chief Sunil Jakhar participating in one near the Shambhu border. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) workers protested in Amritsar. Farmers also protested in several districts of the state, including Ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Bathinda, Moga, Faridkot, Ferozepur and Tarn Taran.
“Farmers held protests outside the offices of deputy commissioners at several places in Punjab,” Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan said. This farmer Union had, however, not participated in the daylong hunger strike saying they were not consulted.
In Haryana, the farmers came out in large numbers and took out protest marches before holding the day-long demonstrations outside the offices of deputy commissioners as the agitation against Centre’s three farm laws evoked massive response on Monday. Not only opposition parties but also different employees’ associations – including the Haryana Sarv Karamchari Sangh and Asha Workers Association — extended support to the peasants protests, which remained peaceful.
“Everybody should come forward to join this fight for the future of the farming community. We are happy with the support from different sections and sectors,” said Ratan Mann, Haryana BKU (Tikait) state president.
In Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) workers clashed with the police at various places as they were prevented from heading towards collectors’ offices. Many of them were taken into custody. Clashes were reported from Lucknow, Hardoi, Agra, Gorakhpur, and Etawah, among others. In Agra, the police used mild force to disperse protesting the SP workers.
Farm bodies also organised protests at district headquarters in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar, Odisha, Telangana and Kerala. In support of farmers, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues observed a day-long fast and appealed to the Centre to listen to the farmers. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot also asked the Centre to repeal the farm laws as being demanded by 32 farmer organisations protesting at the Delhi-Haryana border.
In view of the nationwide protest, the Delhi Police enhanced security at city border points. Containers, multi-layered cemented barriers, barbed wires and additional police force were deployed at various borders.
Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the government is ready for discussion anytime. The farmer leaders have to “decide and convey” when they are ready for the next meeting. “The meeting will definitely happen. We are engaging with farmers,” Tomar said.
Earlier, Tomar met home minister Amit Shah and discussed about the way forward to end the deadlock. Later, the agriculture minister also met a delegation of farmers led by the All India Kisan Coordination Committee (AIKCC) which extended support to the farm laws.