Unions to intensify stir if demands not met in Mon meeting
The farmers’ union on Saturday delivered an ultimatum to the Centre and said they will take out a tractor parade towards Delhi on January 26, when the country will celebrate Republic Day, if their demands are not met in the next meeting scheduled for January 4.
Addressing a Press conference at Press Club, the farmers’ leaders said that they intend to be peaceful and they have told long ago to the Government during their talks that it has only two options — either repeal the three Central farm Acts or use force to evict us.
The Press conference was addressed by Balbir Singh Rajewal, Darshanpal Singh, Gurnam Singh Chadhuni, Ashok Dhawale, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Abhimanyu Kohad and Yogendra Yadav.
“The time has come for decisive action here, and we have chosen January 26 because the Republic Day represents the supremacy of the people and also because we would complete on the day two months of peaceful demonstration at Delhi’s borders in extreme weather conditions with our resolve to get our demands met,” said the farmer leaders.
Sanyukt Kisan Morcha also announced their plan of action according to which they will intensify their movement.
“A fortnight of nationwide campaign will be started to counter the Government’s propaganda called “Desh Jagriti Abhiyan” during January 6 to 20 which will include rallies, conferences and dharnas all over the country,” said the farmers’ union.
“Lohri and Sankranti festivals will be marked as Kisan Sankalp Diwas by burning the copies of these three laws. On January 18 farmers will celebrate Mahila Kisan Diwas to underline the role of women farmers while Azad Hind Kisan Diwas will be marked on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary on January 23 by protesting outside Governors’ official residence in all State capitals,” said the farmers union.
On Friday, the farmers had announced that if the talks on January 4 do not succeed, farmers will march on KMP Expressway on the January 6 and subsequently the Shahjahanpur blockade will also move towards Delhi.
“It is a “plain lie” that the Government had accepted 50 per cent of the farmers’ demands. In last round of talks, the Government agreed to two minor demands of the farmers’ movement and even these are yet to be secured in writing or legal form while the major demands of the protesting farmers remain unresolved,” said Yogendra Yadav.
“On the demand to repeal the three Central farm laws, the Centre had asked the farmers’ organisations to come up with ‘alternative proposals, and the farmer leaders responded by saying that there is no alternative other than repeal. The Government has refused to agree, even in principle, to our demand for legal right to purchase at MSP,” said Gurnam Singh Chadhuni.
“We have no alternative and if the Government does not meet our demand by the 26th of January, we will be left with no option other than to start marching peacefully into Delhi,” he said.
The farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, in these chilling winters are protesting at various borders including Singhu, Tikri, Chilla and Ghazipur borders of the national Capital for more than a month against these three new laws.
The protests have also led to traffic congestion forcing police to divert vehicular movement. Taking to Twitter on Saturday, the Delhi Traffic Police alerted commuters about the routes that remained closed owing to the agitation and suggested them to take alternative roads.
“Tikri, Dhansa Borders are closed for any Traffic Movement. Jhatikara Borders is open only for LMV (Cars/ Light Motor Vehicles), two wheelers and pedestrian movement,” it tweeted.
“The Chilla and Ghazipur Borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida & Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. Please take alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Apsara, Bhopra & Loni Borders.
“Singhu, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari, Saboli & Mangesh borders closed. Please take alternate route via Lampur Safiabad, Palla & Singhu school toll tax borders. Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba and GTK road. Please avoid Outer Ring Road, GTK Road & NH-44,” they tweeted.
“Available Open Borders to Haryana are Jharoda (Only Single Carriageway/Road), Daurala, Kapashera, Badusarai, Rajokri NH-8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam Vihar and Dundahera Borders,” the Delhi Traffic Police said in a tweet.