Image Courtesy:hindustantimes.com
Thousands of farmers atop tractors will travel towards Delhi on December 13, 2020 via toll-freed Jaipur-Delhi highway to participate in the nationwide protest, said farmers’ leaders at Singhu border on December 12. Additionally, they mentioned that leaders intend to fast during nationwide protests on Monday.
“At 11 AM tomorrow [Sunday] farmers will make their way towards Delhi. We will take care of all necessary facilities like bathroom, food, water without government assistance,” they said.
Further, farmers said that while people across India will observe dharnas at the district-level, farmers’ leaders in Delhi will observe fasts on-stage from 8 AM to 5 PM on Monday.
Taking stock of the toll-free movement by farmers around Delhi, a farmers’ representative said that all toll plazas between Haryana and Delhi have been freed. Similarly, Punjab farmers opened all toll plazas between Punjab and Delhi on October 1. The call for opening tolls was also answered in other parts of India although the exact details are yet to reach Delhi farmers.
On Saturday, protesters also received messages that the government had once again attempted to barricade the Khanauri border in an attempt to prevent Punjab’s farmers from reaching Delhi.
“People have once again broken barricades and are heading towards Delhi. We remind the government that farmers will not relent in this movement,” they said.
They also asserted that protesters are dedicated to peaceful protests as well as the withdrawal of the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance & Farm Services Act, the Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act and the Essential Commodities (Amendment).
Meanwhile, the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) condemned the “nefarious, diversionary tactic” of the central government to divert the focus of the farmers’ protest.
“First the central government claimed that the entire farmers’ movement is sponsored by political parties. Then by foreign forces. Then it said it is a Punjab-specific movement with pro-Khalistani forces. They said Famer Unions have walked away from talks, even though unions participate in all talks,” said the AIKSCC in a press release.
They also called out the government for blaming farmers for intensifying protests after merciless assaults, barricades, excavated roads, water cannons in the cold, tear gas shelling, to reach their own capital city and talk to their government.
“It is not clear what it wants to achieve by defaming its own farmers, its own citizens. Farmers of India wish to know from the government – is this part of its plan to promote Foreign and Indian Corporate?” they said.
Related:
Tolls freed! Government bows down to farmers’ strength
My conscience doesn’t allow me to receive this award: Dr Virendra Pal Singh
Rain, cold wave, congestion, the farmers brave it all!
15 farmers die in two weeks, the central government continues to refuse farmers’ demands
MP Adivasi farmers send memorandum to Prime Minister decrying Centre’s farm laws
Are the new farm laws constitutional?