New Delhi: The NDA government continued with its tinkering politics of dividing the farmers while the majority of the agitating farmers observed fast on the whole of Monday. The farmers have been camping at Delhi border for more than two weeks demanding a repeal of the three contentious agricultural marketing laws made recently. The government has been trying to hold talks with whoever was prepared to break the ranks with the protesting farmers.
The national convener of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), a farmer group leading the protests, VM Singh, said he was prepared to hold separate talks with the government representatives. The leaders of the union then decided to do away with the post of national convener. They said henceforth all decisions would be taken collectively by working committee of the organization. Meanwhile, the blockage of Delhi-Jaipur highway began on Monday.
Also Read : Why protests? What is the logic?
Even as the agitation by 32 farmers organizations was going on, the union agriculture minister Narendra Sigh Tomar held talks with representatives of farmers’ unions from Telangana, Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Bihar. Those who participated in talks with the ministers were supporting the three laws. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, union ministers Hadeep Puri and Som Prakash also spoke to the farmers. Sambit Patra, BJP national spokesman, said the recent wins in elections by BJP would not have been possible without farmers and the poor supporting the party.
At Singhu border farmers from 32 organisations under the banner ‘Samyukta Kisan Morch’ had observed fast from 8 am to 5 pm. HS Lakhowal, the leader of the BKU (Lakhowal) said they would not step down from their stand until and unless the black laws were removed from the statute.
Also Read : Farmers on hunger strike, dharnas in district headquarters
