The Central Government on the 27th of November, allowed peaceful protests by the farmers of Haryana and Punjab.
On the 25th of November, the farmers of Punjab and Haryana, called for the “Chalo Delhi” protest.
Besides men, convoys of women protestors also headed to Delhi. From 14 districts of Punjab nearly 10,000 women joined the “Chalo Delhi” protest against the three farm bills.
The three farm bills are, the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill 2020, the Farmers Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill 2020 (Empowerment and Protection) and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020, were cleared by the President of India.
According to the passed bills, the Minimum Support Price (MSP,) area of trading would be under the purview of the Indian Government
The reason behind the farmers protest is their fear of being at the mercy of corporates or zamindars for crop prices. The new bills would also demolish the Minimum Support Price (MSP) advantages for farmers.
Despite several attempts of the Delhi Police and Haryana Police, farmers managed to enter the borders of Delhi and stage protests.
Defying barricades, braving tear gas, water cannons and clashing with security personnel, thousands of farmers entered the national capital on the evening of the 27th of November.
However, thousands of others who were undecided to go to the identified demonstration site are still there at border points.
After a meeting between farmer leaders and senior police officers, the Delhi Police at 3:00 P.M., allowed them to enter Delhi and hold a silent protest.
The farmers were given permission to stage a silent protest at the Sant Nirankari Ground in Burari, one of the biggest in New Delhi.
While Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh welcomed Central Government’s decision of holding talks with the farmers, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar claimed it to be a political sponsorship.
Mr. Khattar said, “This movement is primarily being sponsored by political parties in Punjab and some organisations there. I have tried several times to talk to the Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh, over the last 3 days regarding the movement, but he did not speak to me. We dialed 6-7 times but each time his staff just kept saying we will get it done now, we will get it done in some time.”
Meanwhile to control the situation, Union ministers like Rajnath Singh, the Defence Minister of India, Narendra Singh Tomar, the Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Minister of Rural Development and Minister of Food Processing Industries, invited farmer unions’ leaders to hold talks on the 3rd of December.
Representing the Central Government , Mr. Rajnath Singh and Mr. Tomar urged the protesting farmers to end their agitation as the Union Government is ready to discuss all issues with them.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Government also announced no jail time for the farmers. Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi and the President of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) refused the appeal of Delhi police of converting the city’s stadiums into temporary jails in view of the protest by farmers against the new farm laws.
The Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain said every Indian citizen has the constitutional right to protest peacefully for which they cannot be put in jails.
The Delhi government also welcomed the protesting farmers as their guests and made elaborate arrangements for their food, drinking water and shelter.
Delhi Jal Board Vice Chairman Raghav Chadha said he had made arrangements for drinking water at the site on the directions of Arvind Kejriwal.
The farmers are still protesting in Delhi and are likely to continue until talks between the farmers and the Union Government are completed.
Stay tuned for further updates.
