Farmers’ protest: Protesters ask Centre for ‘concrete’ proposal; SAD condemns Centre’s refusal to budge
Delhi is likely to face more traffic congestion on Friday as police are stepping up border checks to not allow farmers block highways as they had earlier threatened to do by December 12.
FollowNew Delhi: The ongoing protest of the farmers against the three new agriculture laws enters 16th day with the farmers’ unions now threatening to block railway tracks. According to their earlier plan of blocking Delhi-Jaipur, Delhi-Agra highway by December 12, more farmers are likely to join the protests on Friday.
Leaders of farm unions on Friday said they have not “shut the doors” for talks over the new agricultural laws, but the government must come up with a “concrete proposal” and address their demands in earnest.
This came after Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar once again made attempts to assuage the farmers’ anger, saying the government was unconditionally willing to hold talks with them “without any ego” to reach a common ground.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday condemned the central government's stand of not taking back the three farm laws against which farmers have been protesting, saying that the press conference held by the Centre proved that they were against the country's 'annadatta'.
Speaking at a press conference here, Badal said that such laws were only passed by dictatorships and the Centre was trying to communalise the farmers' agitation in and around the national capital.
"We called an emergency core committee meeting on the Central government's farm laws and we decided that we strongly condemned the decision taken by the centre.
Today's press conference by the Centre proves that they have decided to fight against the country's 'annadata'. Such laws passed are only passed by dictatorships. They are trying to communalise the farmer agitation," Badal said.
He further said, "If farmers do not like the laws then why is the Centre forcing it on them like the GST and demonetization? What is the purpose of this? Farmers are not illiterate; you cannot manipulate thousands of them. The SAD is the biggest organization of farmers and we will do anything for this agitation."
Six rounds of talks have taken place between the Centre and farmer leaders regarding the laws, but no headway has been made on the front.
The farmers are protesting against the Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmer (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
