Farmers’ protest: Farmer unions threaten Delhi march on Jan 26 if demands not met
The farmer leaders have, however, so far, not sought any permission for their march on January 26.
FollowNew Delhi: With the government still to decide on two of their four key demands, farmer unions opposed to the new agriculture laws Saturday threatened to lead a tractor rally into Delhi and hold 'Kisan Gantantra Diwas Parade' (Farmers Republic Day Parade) on January 26 if the demands are not met by then.
The protesters said they chose Republic Day "because it represents the supremacy of the people of India", and also January 26 will mark the completion of two months of the biggest protests in the farm sector in years.
Thousands have been camping on the outskirts of the city since late November, demanding repeal of the three laws.
The government and farmer unions are scheduled to meet again on January 4 to decide on demands to repeal the three newly enacted farm laws and provision of legal guarantee on the minimum support price for procurement — farmer unions are pressing for the enactment of a central MSP Act, covering 23 crops grown in the country.
"On January 26, we will hold a massive rally in Delhi with tricolours on tractors. We give a call for countrywide protests at all headquarters (of the unions)," he added. The farmers' parade will take place after the annual Republic Day parade, the union said in a press statement.
"We intend to be peaceful and we told long ago to the government during our talks that it has only two options - either repeal the three central farm acts or use force on us to evict us," the press statement read.
The farmer leaders have, however, so far, not sought any permission for their march on January 26.
