NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, DEC 13
The heads of all farmer unions protesting against the Centre’s new agri laws for over two weeks now will observe a one-day hunger strike on Monday, farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni said here on Sunday.
The hunger strike between 8 am and 5 pm on Monday is part of the farmers’ plan to intensify their agitation from December 14.
Addressing a press conference at Singhu border, where the farmers have been camping in agitation, Chaduni said the 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-glove with the government, they conspired to sabotage our protest. The government is hatching a conspiracy to derail the ongoing farmers” protest,” added Chaduni.
Farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakka said, “government agencies have been stopping farmers from reaching Delhi, but the protest will continue till their demands are met”.
“Our stand is clear, we want the three farm laws repealed. All farmer unions participating in this movement are together,” he said.
Another farmer leader, Rakesh Tikait, said, “if the government gives another proposal for talks, our committee will decide on it. We appeal to all to maintain peace during the protest”.
Sandeep Gidde, another farmer leader, announced at the press conference that the proposed indefinite hunger strike by farmers from December 19 has been cancelled and it will be a day-long strike on Monday instead.
Form ‘Kisan Aayog’ to decide MSP, give Rs 10K monthly pension to farmers: BKU (Bhanu)
A group of farmers camping at the Noida-Delhi Chilla border in support of tillers’ demands to scarp the three central farm laws, on Sunday sought the government to set up a “Kisan Aayog” to decide the minimum support price for their crops.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu) spearheading the sit-in at Chilla border also demanded the statutory provision for the pension to farmers. BKU (Bhanu) chief Thakur Bhanu Pratap Singh raised the demand saying they would provide succour to farmers across the country. “We demand the creation of a ”Kisan Aayog” (farmers commission) which will have farmers as representatives and will set the minimum support price for crops,” Singh said.
He said the way industrialists and businessmen decide the price for their products, farmers too will decide the price of their crops and the government will have to procure it at that rate. The government can then distribute the crop to the needy people on subsidised rates as it is doing now and the remaining crop could be exported, said Singh, camping at the Chilla border since December 1.
He also demanded a pension of Rs 10,000 monthly for farmers and cultivators who have reached an age of 60 years.
“The MPs and MLAs who are elected by us are entitled to pension even after losing an election. Give something to the public also. There should be a government compensation of Rs 1 crore for family of a farmer who dies, Rs 2 crore for martyrs in police and Rs 5 crore for martyrs in defence forces,” he said.
“Had I been the prime minister, I would have fulfilled these demands in an hour. But I am not the prime minister,” he said.
The protestors have gathered at the Noida border and want to proceed to Delhi to join the larger congregation of farmers from Haryana and Punjab camping at Delhi’s various border point with Haryana. Thousands of farmers are currently staying put at Delhi’s borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in protest against the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
BJP to hold awareness meets in Gujarat, UP
To make people aware about the recent farm laws brought by the Centre, the ruling BJP will organise farmers’ meets at various places in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, the party said in a statement issued here on Sunday.
These “kisan sammelan” will begin on Monday and continue till December 18.