Union threatens to cut off Capital from NCR cities if demands not met
Braving cold, farmers protesting at Delhi’s Singhu border against the Centre’s agriculture reform laws on Wednesday asked the Central Government to call a special session of Parliament to repeal new agriculture laws and threatened to block other roads of the national Capital if their demands are not met.
Addressing a press conference, Krantikari Kisan Union president Darshan Pal accused the Centre of dividing farmers’ organisations by projecting the ongoing protests as Punjab-centric. “The Centre should call a special session of Parliament to repeal new three farm laws. We will continue our agitation till these farm laws are repealed,” Pal told reporters.
Meanwhile, the protest at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in Ghazipur intensified, leading to the closure of a key route connecting the national Capital with Uttar Pradesh. At the Chilla Border, which connects Delhi with Noida, more farmers from Firozabad, Meerut, Noida and Etawah started gathering, prompting the authorities to close the key road stretch for the second consecutive day.
Representatives of farmers’ organisations from other parts of the country will also be involved under Kisan Samyukt Morcha to decide the future course of action against the new farm laws, Pal said.
The Krantikari Kisan Union president said representatives of farmer organisations will give their point-wise objections to the Union Ministers at a meeting scheduled for Thursday.
Another farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chadoni said that if Centre does not withdraw the laws, more steps will be taken in the coming days to press their demands.
Before the Press conference, leaders of around 32 farmer organisations held a meeting which was also attended by Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait at the Singhu border.
The talks between the Centre and agitating farmer unions on Tuesday failed to end the standoff, and the two sides will now meet again on December 3.
The farmer unions rejected the Government’s offer to set up a committee to look into issues raised by them and said they will intensify their stir until their demands are met.
Farmers from the neighbouring States of Punjab and Haryana have been camping at five border points of Delhi for a week now. The number of protesters swelled at Delhi border points on Wednesday. Police stepped up security after thousands blocked key gateways into the national Capital.
As farmers are in for long haul at Noida-Delhi border, Chilla route was partially re-opened on Wednesday.
The Noida Traffic Police in the morning advised commuters heading to Delhi to take the DND or Kalindi Kunj route instead of the Chilla route through the Noida Link road which was closed due to the demonstration since Tuesday evening.
One of the carriageways on the route was opened in the evening, allowing commuters coming from Delhi to enter Noida as the protestors continued to sit on the other side of the road amid heavy police deployment.
The Delhi Traffic Police said beside the Tikri and Singhu borders, the Jharoda and Jhatikra borders have been closed for all kinds of “traffic movement”. The Badusarai border is open only for two-wheelers. Available open borders to Haryana are Dhansa, Daurala, Kapashera, Rajokri NH 8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam Vihar and Dundahera.
he farmers, who have come from the neighbouring States of Punjab and Haryana, start their day with a bath at petrol pumps, where they also wash their clothes. They return the favour by cleaning the petrol pumps.
Then they cooked on the roadside. Anyone visiting the protest site is also offered a wholesome meal which includes dal, rice, paranthas and kheer on different days.
A continuous supply of tea helps the protesters brave the cold weather conditions. Before they retire for the day, they gather in groups, singing songs and playing drums to keep their spirits high.
A protester, Sonu Kumar, said, “We came here on Tuesday and will stay till our demands are accepted by the central government. We have enough ration to stay here for months.”
“Everyone is making their own food and distributing to others. We are Punjabis and know how to stay happy even in difficult situations. We are also getting help from locals. They are providing us water and other necessities,” he said.
The protesters start preparing ‘langar’ every morning and food is distributed throughout the day.
“Different dishes are being made, including dal, paranthas, rice and kheer. Tea is also being served to people,” another protester said.
Medical camps have also been set up at Singhu border for protesters who are sleeping on roads under the open sky, in or under their tractors.
Dr Vimal Sharma said, “As they are walking a lot so they get wounds in their legs. Many have gastric issues. Joint pain is also very common. Those who are sleeping outside their tractors are complaining of fever or cold.”
Dr Sukhwinder Singh Brar from Chandigarh said, “The protesters have different issues. Most of them are suffering from pain in legs due to old age.”
The blood pressure of the elderly people is also being monitored. Farmer unions said the three new laws will lead to the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system, leaving farmers at the mercy of corporate houses. But the Government said the MSP system will continue and the new laws will give farmers more options to sell their crop.
Thursday, 03 December 2020 | Shekhar Singh| New Delhi
