Al Jazeera News :
Farmers in India have rejected a government offer of “conditional talks” and demanded the repeal of agricultural laws they say will benefit only private players, as thousands of protesters camped on the outskirts of the capital New Delhi for the fourth day.
An estimated 20,000 protesters have been blocking the Delhi-Haryana Highway at the Singhu border, demanding that the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi allow them to hold a sit-in in the centre of the capital city.
Another crossing connecting the state of Haryana – governed by Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – and Delhi is also blocked by farmers, most of whom have travelled hundreds of kilometres from northern Punjab state by foot, tractors or back of trucks. Holding flags and sticks, the farmers listen to their representatives and activists amid chants of slogans against Modi government: “Modi sarkaar murdabad” (Down with the Modi government), “Inquilab zindabad” (long live the revolution) and “Kaale kanoon wapas lo” (repeal the black laws).
The laws passed by India’s parliament in September have sparked concerns among the farming community over the edge they give corporations, but the government says private players will bring much-needed investment to an agriculture sector that has stagnated for decades. The protesters have set up langars – free kitchens – at the Singhu borders, areas that have emerged as epicentres of the protests. Volunteers, men and women, served food, tea and fruit to the protesters.
On Monday, farmers held special prayers on the occasion of the Guru Nanak Jayanti, marking the 551st anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak Dev – the founder of the Sikh religion.
The farmers have come prepared, with rations, vegetables and blankets in their trucks and tractors, proof that they are here for the long haul.
Hundreds of police and security forces carrying batons, shields and tear gas guns are also stationed at the protest site, with water cannon vehicles at standby.
Al Jazeera’s Elizabeth Puranam, reporting from New Delhi, said thousands of farmers from the northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have organised a protest on another highway connecting the capital with Uttar Pradesh.
“The numbers here are just getting bigger and bigger with each passing day.
“These farmers say they would rather continue to block these highways and create as much disruption as possible until the government not just negotiates with them about these laws but also repeals these laws which they say will remove a minimum price for their produce.”
India’s Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday urged farmers to shift the protest to a designated place, as his government offered to hold talks to address the farmers’ concerns.
But Jagjit Singh, a farmer leader, rejected the conditional offer during a press conference and said that Shah should have offered talks “with an open heart without any conditions”.
Farmers in India have rejected a government offer of “conditional talks” and demanded the repeal of agricultural laws they say will benefit only private players, as thousands of protesters camped on the outskirts of the capital New Delhi for the fourth day.
An estimated 20,000 protesters have been blocking the Delhi-Haryana Highway at the Singhu border, demanding that the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi allow them to hold a sit-in in the centre of the capital city.
Another crossing connecting the state of Haryana – governed by Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – and Delhi is also blocked by farmers, most of whom have travelled hundreds of kilometres from northern Punjab state by foot, tractors or back of trucks. Holding flags and sticks, the farmers listen to their representatives and activists amid chants of slogans against Modi government: “Modi sarkaar murdabad” (Down with the Modi government), “Inquilab zindabad” (long live the revolution) and “Kaale kanoon wapas lo” (repeal the black laws).
The laws passed by India’s parliament in September have sparked concerns among the farming community over the edge they give corporations, but the government says private players will bring much-needed investment to an agriculture sector that has stagnated for decades. The protesters have set up langars – free kitchens – at the Singhu borders, areas that have emerged as epicentres of the protests. Volunteers, men and women, served food, tea and fruit to the protesters.
On Monday, farmers held special prayers on the occasion of the Guru Nanak Jayanti, marking the 551st anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak Dev – the founder of the Sikh religion.
The farmers have come prepared, with rations, vegetables and blankets in their trucks and tractors, proof that they are here for the long haul.
Hundreds of police and security forces carrying batons, shields and tear gas guns are also stationed at the protest site, with water cannon vehicles at standby.
Al Jazeera’s Elizabeth Puranam, reporting from New Delhi, said thousands of farmers from the northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have organised a protest on another highway connecting the capital with Uttar Pradesh.
“The numbers here are just getting bigger and bigger with each passing day.
“These farmers say they would rather continue to block these highways and create as much disruption as possible until the government not just negotiates with them about these laws but also repeals these laws which they say will remove a minimum price for their produce.”
India’s Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday urged farmers to shift the protest to a designated place, as his government offered to hold talks to address the farmers’ concerns.
But Jagjit Singh, a farmer leader, rejected the conditional offer during a press conference and said that Shah should have offered talks “with an open heart without any conditions”.
