Agitating farmers in Delhi threaten tractor rally on Republic Day

On a day (January 2) a farmer agitating against the Central farm laws committed suicide by hanging himself at Ghazipur-Uttar Pradesh border, protesting farmers near Delhi borders threatened to hold a tractor rally in the national capital on Republic Day.

Reports said the farmer, identified as Kashmir Singh Ladi from Uttarakhand’s Bilaspur, hanged himself inside a toilet at the Ghazipur border. Reports stated that Singh left behind a suicide note in which he accused the government of ignoring farmers’ demands and being responsible for their current condition.

The agitating farmers have threatened to hold a ‘Kisaan Parade’ on Republic Day. Their warning came two days ahead of the next round of talks with the government.

Also read: Farmers call Round 6 talks ‘unfruitful’ despite consensus on 2 demands

“We are going to hold talks on January 4. The Supreme Court will hear the matter on January 5. If there is no resolution and the talks fail, we will hold a tractor march on Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway in Haryana on January 6. We will protest for a fortnight,” Dr Darshanpal, a farmer leader told the media.

“On January 26, we will hold a massive rally in Delhi with the Tricolor on tractors. We give this call for countrywide protests at all the headquarters,” he added.

Other farmers’ leaders also alleged that the government is misleading them over the minimum support price. “They’re saying the MSP won’t be abolished. But we’re demanding that a law should be created for it… it’s our right,” said another farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chadhuni.

On December 30, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had said a consensus had been reached on two issues out of the four demands placed by the farmers.

Also read: At Delhi borders, farmers bang utensils to boycott PM’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’

The next meeting will be held on January 4, the minister said. The minister also said that the talks were held in a good environment and ended on a positive note. The government offered to withdraw the electricity amendment bill and to amend the ordinance to remove the penal provision on farmers in stubble burning cases.

Tomar had also said the government was ready to set up a committee to examine the new farm laws.