Farmers’ protest: Farmer leaders sit on 1-day hunger strike as thousands set to join to intensify stir
The hunger strike which began from 8 am and will go on till 5 pm on Monday is part of the farmers' plan to intensify their agitation from December 14.
FollowNew Delhi: As the deadlock between the Centre and the protesting farmers continued for the 18th day, farmer leaders on Sunday announced that the heads of all farmer unions will observe a one-day hunger strike on Monday, December 14.
The hunger strike which began from 8 am and will go on till 5 pm on Monday is part of the farmers' plan to intensify their agitation from December 14.
This is the second nationwide protest in less than a week after highways were blocked last Tuesday as a part of countrywide shutdown call backed by opposition parties and trade unions. Despite several rounds of talks with the government, farmers have said the agitation will continue till the new laws are scrapped.
With 10,000 more protesters expected to join those already at the protest site amid signals from Rajasthan that hordes of farmers there are straining at the leash to proceed to the capital, the Singhu border in Delhi is bracing for the biggest logjam.
Addressing a press conference at Singhu border farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni said, he leaders will observe the hunger strike at their respective places. "Also dharnas will be staged at all district headquarters across the country. The protest will go on as usual," he told reporters.
"There are groups that are ending protest and saying they are in favour of laws passed by the government. We want to clarify that they are not associated with us. They have been hand-in-gloves with the government, they conspired to sabotage our protest. The government is hatching a conspiracy to derail the ongoing farmers' protest," added Chaduni.
Meanwhile, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is set to hold a one-day fast in support of the farmers' protest on Monday. In response to a call given by the agitating farmers, he also urged his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) volunteers, supporters as well as the people of the country to join the farmers' agitation.
