New Delhi: As protests against the controversial agrarian laws passed by the central government enter its 25th day, farmers from more states have returned to Delhi to intensify the agitation. Farmers have threatened to close the Gazipur border between Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. Despite the central government’s promise to ensure a minimum support price for agricultural produce, farmers are adamant that they will not back down without withdrawing the bills.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has come out against the central agencies’ targeting of agricultural intermediaries in Punjab. Fourteen agricultural agents in Punjab have received notices from the Income Tax Department. Amarinder said the move to conduct income tax raids against them would backfire on the BJP.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reiterated his support for farmers’ laws. He said the reforms implemented by the Center in the agricultural sector have benefited the farmers. Meanwhile, farmers’ organizations have denied allegations by the central government that opposition parties are misleading protesters. The All India Kishan Sangharsh Coordinating Committee has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar stating that the farmers have no affiliation with any political party. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said that talks will resume in a day or two. After the meeting with the agriculture minister, Khattar said the government was ready for talks if the farmers came forward and gave up the austerity.
Meanwhile, the agitators had been in touch with farmers’ groups in other states on the basis of their assessment that more farmers should be mobilized to fight against the Center, which is adamant that the controversial laws will not be withdrawn. About 5,000 farmers will leave Maharashtra on Monday to take part in the farmers’ strike in Delhi. Led by the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) at the Nashik Golf Club, the farmers will travel 1,200 km in a motorcade to Delhi on the 24th. In addition to Punjab, Haryana and UP, farmers’ organizations have warned that more roads to Delhi will be blocked in the coming days as farmers come from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
RLP leader Hanuman Beniwal, a member of the ruling alliance, has announced that he will lead a rally of 2 lakh farmers from Rajasthan to Delhi on the 26th of this month. He resigned from three parliamentary committees in solidarity with the farmers. BSP leader Mayawati has said that the Center should be prepared to abandon its stubbornness and withdraw the laws. A prayer meeting was held yesterday at Singhu on the Haryana border led by farmers’ organizations to pay homage to the farmers who died during the agitation.
English Summary: As Protests Enter Day 25, Farmers Threaten UP Border Blockade
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