Farmers ask for ‘concrete’ proposal; no nod for Congress march

Thousands of farmers continued their protest on Thursday (December 24) against the Centre’s three farm laws and remained put at Delhi’s borders and asked the government to come up with “concrete” offer to resume talks instead of “meaningless” amendments and sending “love letters”.

Despite cold weather, farmers have continued their agitation and it entered 29th day. They are asking the Union government to repeal the three farm laws. Due to the protest, traffic movement was again affected as Delhi Traffic Police advised commuters to take alternate routes.

Also read: PM Modi to hold virtual meet with 9 crore farmers

“The chilla,Gazipur borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida & Gaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. People are advised to take alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anad Vihar, DND, Apsara,bhopra& Loni borders (sic),” they said in a tweet.

Traffic Alert
The chilla,Gazipur borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida & Gaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. People are advised to take alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anad Vihar, DND, Apsara,bhopra& Loni borders.

— Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) December 24, 2020

In another tweet, they wrote, “Singhu,Auchandi,Piau Maniyari, Saboli & Mangesh borders closed. Pl take alternate routes via Lampur,Safiabad,Palla & Singhu school toll tax borders.Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba & GTK road. Pl avoid Outer Ring Rd,GTK road & NH 44 (sic).”

Traffic Alert,

Singhu,Auchandi,Piau Maniyari, Saboli & Mangesh borders closed. Pl take alternate routes via Lampur,Safiabad,Palla & Singhu school toll tax borders.Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba & GTK road. Pl avoid Outer Ring Rd,GTK road & NH 44.

— Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) December 24, 2020

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in support of the farmers, will lead a demonstration from Vijay Chowk to Rashtrapati Bhavan and will submit a memorandum containing 2 crore signatures to President Ram Nath Kovind.

As per a report on News18, permission has not been given to Congress leaders for the march and Section 144 has been imposed by Delhi Police. Only three leaders will be allowed to meet the president.

On Wednesday, Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav said that if the government takes one step, farmers will take two, and asked it to stop writing “love letters”.

All India Kisan Sabha leader Hannan Molla alleged that the government wanted to tire out the farmers out so that the protest would end.

In a letter to Union Agriculture Joint Secretary Vivek Aggarwal, Sankyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of 40 unions protesting at several Delhi border points for the last 27 days, alleged that the government is treating the farmers as its “political opponents”.

“We have already told Home Minister Amit Shah that protesting farmers will not accept amendments,” farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakka told reporters, after a meeting of union leaders that lasted for over three hours.

“Farmer unions are ready to hold talks with the government and that they are waiting for the government to come to the table with an open mind,” said Yadav, who is also a member of Morcha.

He alleged that the Union government is holding parallel talks with farmer unions that have no relation with the protest and termed it as an attempt to derail the ongoing agitation against the three farm laws.

“We urge you (government) not to repeat those meaningless amendments that we have already rejected but come up with a concrete proposal in writing that can become an agenda for fresh talks,” Yadav said while reading out the reply sent to the Centre’s letter dated December 20.

“We are surprised that the government is not able to understand our basic objections. Representatives of farmers have demanded a complete repeal of these farm laws…but the government wants to cleverly project our demands for amendments.

“In our previous talks, we have clearly told the government that they don’t want amendments,” Morcha said in its letter.

(With inputs from PTI)