Farmer's Protest: ‘Govt Trying To Threaten Annadata’, AAP Says As Farmer Leader Seeks Release Of Those Detained

Jagjit Singh Dallewa, Kisan leader, criticised the heavy security measures by the Haryana government at the Punjab-Haryana borders, which obstruct farmers from joining the protest.

New Delhi: Delhi Ministers and Aam Aadmi Party leaders slammed the Modi government over the restrictions imposed in Delhi and Haryana ahead of the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march scheduled for February 13. Minister Gopal Rai criticised the detention of farmers saying, "On the orders of the centre, the Haryana govt is trying to stop the farmers...They are putting up barricades everywhere and the internet has been shut in border areas...All this didn't happen even during the British rule. This govt is trying to end democracy".

Delhi Minister Saurabh also deemed the treatment "shameful". "It is shameful that if the country's 'annadata' wants to come to the national capital, the government is trying to threaten them with force. I believe that the central government's arrogance has increased; and this time too, farmers will break their pride," he remarked.

Jagjit Singh Dallewal, farmers' leader, raised concerns over the detention of agriculturists from states like Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka who were en route to support the 'Delhi Chalo' march. These detentions, according to Dallewal, are contradictory to the dialogue efforts initiated by the government, news agency PTI reported.

"On one side, they (the Centre) are holding dialogues with us and on the other hand, they are detaining our people. Then how will this dialogue take place", PTI quoted Dallewal as saying. He further sought to release farmers. "We do not have any intention to indulge in ruckus and cause any damage. We are such people who hold peaceful protests", said Dallewal, who is the president of Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur), as per PTI. 

As per PTI, Dallewal said farmers' leaders will hold their meeting at 3 pm at Amb Sahib in Mohali. He criticised the heavy security measures by the Haryana government at the Punjab-Haryana borders, which obstruct farmers from joining the protest.

Modi Govt Meet With Kisan Leaders Ahead Of 'Delhi Chalo' Protest

Three Union ministers, Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda, and Nityanand Rai, are slated to hold a second round of talks with farmers' leaders on Monday.  The meeting will be held at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26 at 5 pm. The agenda for the meeting includes discussions on various demands put forth by the farmers, chief among them being the enactment of a law to ensure MSP for crops, reported PTI.

The first round of meetings with the three Union ministers was held on February 8 in which detailed discussion with the leaders of farmers' organisations that planned 'Delhi Chalo' march to press for their demands, including a law to guarantee a minimum support price for crops, took place. 

Additionally, the farmers are advocating for the implementation of recommendations laid out by the Swaminathan Commission, pensions for farmers and farm laborers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases against protestors, and justice for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

Notably, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have announced that more than 200 farm unions would march to Delhi on February 13 to press the Centre to accept several demands, including the enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

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