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The Centre on Friday mentioned it was contemplating the calls for made by farmer unions on protest for 9 days and expressed confidence of a breakthrough in fifth spherical of talks scheduled for Saturday. Hardening their place on the eve of the assembly, agitating farmers have introduced a ‘Bharat Bandh’ on December 8 and threatened to accentuate the protests.
In an interview to Information18, Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar sought to guarantee farmers that their fears of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) being scrapped had been unfounded. “I assure the farmers that there will be no change in the MSP. Ready to give this in writing as well if the unions want. Strengthening the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) is also our priority,” he mentioned.
Cautioning in opposition to politicization of the problem, Tomar mentioned the federal government is contemplating the calls for made by the protesting farmers. “We want resolution through talks. We are moving towards ending the deadlock. Most farmers unions are from Punjab. No politics should be done here,” the minister mentioned.
Delhi’s border factors remained choked on Friday as hundreds of farmers from Haryana, Punjab, and different states held demonstrations for the ninth consecutive day, after talks with the federal government did not yield any decision on Thursday. The farmer neighborhood has expressed apprehension that the brand new legal guidelines are “anti-farmer”, and would pave the way in which for dismantling of the minimal assist value system, leaving them on the “mercy” of massive firms.
However, the federal government has maintained that the brand new legal guidelines will convey farmers higher alternatives and usher in new applied sciences in agriculture.
Addressing a press convention earlier within the day, farmer chief Gurnam Singh Chadoni mentioned if the Centre doesn’t settle for their calls for throughout Saturday’s talks, they are going to intensify their agitation in opposition to the brand new farm legal guidelines.
Harvinder Singh Lakhwal, one other farmer chief, mentioned the unions have determined to name a ‘Bharat Bandh’ on December 8, Tuesday. “In our meeting today, we have decided to give a ‘Bharat Bandh’ call on December 8 during which we will also occupy all toll plazas. We have planned to block all roads leading to Delhi in the coming days if new farm laws are not scrapped,” Lakhwal said.
Rakesh Tikait, spokesperson of Bharat Kisan Union, which is spearheading the protest at Delhi-Ghazipur border, said, “Farmers want the government to take back the laws and make a fresh draft. Currently, it is for the corporates. The law should be for the farmers and they must be consulted. Either the government will agree to our requests tomorrow or we will keep protesting. More farmers are ready to come here.”
President of Tarai Kisan Sangathan Tejinder Singh Virk said resonated the same sentiment, “If the government does not accept our demands tomorrow, we will choke the supply of milk, vegetables and fruits going to the national capital. Blocking the roads was a mere first step. We will decide on the next step tomorrow.”
Plea Against Protest in SC
A petition moved in the Supreme Court on Friday sought the immediate removal of protesting farmers alleging that “they are blocking roads to hamper emergency/medical services”.
Delhi resident Rishabh Sharma said in his plea that the removal of the farmers from their protest sites was also necessary in view of the fears of community spread of Covid-19.
The plea claimed that more than 3 lakh farmers had gathered on the Delhi borders and protesting against new farm laws, despite government advisory against public gatherings not exceeding 50 people.
The petitioner urged the top court to issue directions for the immediate removal/ dispersal of such mass gatherings of protestors on the Delhi borders and shifting them to the place already allotted by the Delhi Police in view of immediate threat of spread of the coronavirus infection.
Farmer Leader Rajewal Complains of Dizziness
Prominent farmer leader and Bharatiya Kisan Union president Balbir Singh Rajewal, who has been holding talks with the Centre, complained of dizziness on Friday and was taken to Fortis Hospital in Gurugram for a check-up.
Rajewal, 77, was among a group of more than 34 farmer leaders who put out a five-point set of demands that seeks to frame a specific law on MSP and end the punishment provision for stubble burning, during Thursday’s talks with the central government.
BKU general secretary Onkar Singh said that after undergoing certain tests, Rajewal was declared “perfect in health”.
Mamata Dials Protesting Farmers
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday spoke to various farmers’ groups protesting at Delhi’s Singhu border and assured them that the TMC stands by them, party leader Derek O’Brien said. O’Brien, who spent almost four hours with the agitating farmers, facilitated the interactions over the phone.
“The CM spoke to the farmers. Four phone calls to completely different teams from Haryana and Punjab, they shared their calls for and so they had been clear that they needed the farm payments (legal guidelines) repealed,” O’Brien said. “They additionally thanked the CM for her present of solidarity. They additionally expressed their gratitude for all her assist to farmers and land actions prior to now,” he said.
India-Canada Spat
India on Friday summoned the Canadian High Commissioner and conveyed to him that the comments made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and some other leaders there on the farmers’ agitation constituted an “unacceptable interference” in the country’s internal affairs. The Canadian diplomat was also told that such actions, if continued, would have a “critically damaging” impact on the bilateral ties, the external affairs ministry said.
Trudeau, backing the agitating farmers in India, had said that Canada will always be there to defend the rights of peaceful protests, and expressed concern over the situation.
“The Canadian High Commissioner was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs right now and knowledgeable that feedback by the Canadian Prime Minister, some Cabinet Ministers and members of Parliament on points regarding Indian farmers represent an unacceptable interference in our inside affairs,” the MEA mentioned, including a demarche was made to the envoy.
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