Despite the Government making efforts for a breakthrough in talks with the farmers’ unions, the agitating farmers on Sunday announced to intensify their protest against the three farm laws.
Besides a day-long relay hunger strike at all protest sites along national Capital on Monday, they decided to halt toll collections in Haryana from December 25 to 27.
“Farmers will begin a day-long relay hunger strike on Monday at all sites of protest against the new agri laws. It will be started by a team of 11 members at protests sites here,” Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav said at a press conference at the Singhu Border. He also urged people demonstrating against the laws across the country to observe a day-long hunger strike at their respective protest sites.
Announcing the next move, farmer leader Jagjeet Singh Dalewala said, “On December 27, during Prime Minister Modi’s Mann Ki Baat, we would appeal to everyone to beat ‘thali’ at their homes during the programme.”
Farmers’ leader Rakesh Tikait, who was also part of the press conference, alsong with Yadav and Dalewala, said that farmers protesting the new agri laws will celebrate Kisan Diwas on December 23 and “we request people to not cook lunch for a day”.
On Sunday, the agitating farmers paid tribute to the farmers who lost their lives during this agitation, and condolence meets were organised at different places. Punjab farmer leader Gurvinder Singh, associated with the BKU, said tribute is being paid to the farmers who lost their lives during the agitation while fighting for their basic rights. As many as at least 30 farmers have died since the protest started.
Protesting farmers’ unions had earlier responded to PM Modi and Agriculture Minister Tomar in an open letter saying their statements were “factless” and that the Centre has zero sympathy with farmers.