New Delhi: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.
