Farmers Begin Relay Hunger Strike Today, To Bang ¡®Thaalis¡¯ During PM Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat'

The farmers' protests, which began in late November around the borders of Delhi, have intensified with several rounds of talks between the farmer unions and the Centre resulting in a stalemate.

The farmers will today begin an indefinite relay hunger strike against the government's new agricultural laws as farmers harden their stand.

After five rounds of negotiations failed, the government on Sunday asked the protesting farmers to pick a date for the next round of talks.

Reuters

The relay hunger strike is the third big national event staged by farmers after a nationwide shutdown earlier this month and a hunger strike last week.

The agitation has been intensifying despite repeated assurances from the government over Minimum Selling Price or MSPs.

Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav, who is one of the leaders of the protest, told reporters: "We will hold an indefinite relay hunger strike here, in which 11 people will take it in turns to fast for 24 hours each."

AFP

The protesters have also appealed to people around the country to skip a meal on Farmers' Day or Kisan Diwas on Wednesday "to honour the men and women who put food on your table for three meals a day".

Protesters on Sunday also hit out at the government and said they will "bang thalis during PM Modi's next Mann ki Baat ". "On December 27 when the Prime Minister gives his Mann Ki Baat radio address, farmers will say 'we are tired of listening to your Mann ki Baat, when will you listen to our Mann ki Baat?' So we will bang utensils so that the noise of his Mann ki Baat doesn't reach us," Swaraj India's Yogendra Yadav said.