Tractor Rally To Go Ahead On R-Day As Farmers Reject Govt Offer, Want Total Repeal Of Farm Laws
The biggest breakthrough yet to end the impasse, over the ongoing farmers' protests at the borders of Delhi has failed to produce any results as the farmers' unions have rejected the government's latest offer too.
Late on Thursday, the farmers' unions rejected the proposal of the government that it is ready to put new farm laws on hold for about 18 months, and insisted on their demand for the repeal of the three laws.
A press release issued by Samyukta Kisan Morcha after a full general body meeting on Thursday said that "the proposal put forth by the Government yesterday was rejected".
Full repeal needed
"A full repeal of three central farm laws and enacting legislation for remunerative minimum support price (MSP) for all farmers were reiterated as the pending demands of the movement," said the release signed by Krantikari Kisan Union leader Darshan Pal.
Noting that 143 farmers had died during the protest, the release said, "these companions have been separated from us while fighting this mass movement".
"Their sacrifice will not go in vain and we will not go back without farm laws being repealed," it stated.
Major setback ahead of Republic Day
With this, the government's attempts to end the protests and stop the farmers from carrying out a massive tractor rally next week has suffered a major setback.
The government had been trying to stop the tractor rally which it feels will be an embankment for the country on such a significant day.?
The farmers protesting against the new farm laws will take out a tractor rally on Delhi's busy Outer Ring Road on January 26, which is celebrated as Republic Day in India.
The farmers said Delhi Police had requested them during a meeting to not to hold "parade" in Delhi while the farmers restated their plan of taking out the parade on the outer ring road of Delhi.
"This peaceful movement is becoming the people's movement. Farmers are uniting for Republic Day through vehicle rallies in many places in Karnataka. Farmers tractor marches are taking place in many places in Kerala. Farmers of Bilaspur and Rampur in Uttarakhand are preparing for the farmers' parade in Delhi by organising tractor march. Farmers in Chhattisgarh will march towards the Raj Bhavan on January 23 and a group of farmers will also leave for Delhi," the release said.
Haryana Police cancel leaves of its personnel
On Thursday, the Haryana Police cancelled the leaves of its personnel till further orders.
According to a Haryana Police order, ¡°In view of the ongoing farmers' agitation in the state, it is directed that leave of all kinds, except in emergent circumstances with the prior approval of competent authority, are stopped forthwith till further orders.¡±
Farmer unions have been holding tractor rallies at many places in Punjab and Haryana to mobilise people for their planned tractor parade in Delhi on Republic Day.
The unions had announced that they would hold the parade on Delhi's Outer Ring Road as part of the protest against the new agri-marketing laws enacted by the Centre.
