"We've decided that we'll never go to Burari Park as we got proof that it's an open jail. Delhi Police told Uttarakhand Farmer Association President that they'll take them to Jantar Mantar but instead locked them at Burari Park," BKU Krantikari President Surjeet S Phul said in response to Home Minister Amit Shah's offer to hold talks before December 3.
The move has come a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday appealed to the agitating farmers to shift to the Sant Nirankari ground in Burari that was offered to them for peaceful protests. Shah said that the Centre was ready to hold talks with farmers as soon as they move to the designated place in the national capital.
Reacting to this, Surjeet S Phul further said "The condition put forward for talks is an insult to farmers. We will never go to Burari (Delhi). It is not a park but an open jail. Instead of going to open jail in Burari, we've decided that we will gherao Delhi by blocking 5 main entry points to Delhi. We've got 4 months ration with us, so nothing to worry. Our Operations Committee will decide everything."
Several national and regional farm unions, comprising many leaders are stationed at Delhi's Singhu and Tikri borders to protest against the Center's agricultural reforms enacted by the Centre in September. The protest has now entered the fourth day, and farmers have decided to hold a key meet to discuss their next move.
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Farmer unions believe the recent laws enacted at the Centre will dismantle the minimum support price (MSP) system. Over time big corporate houses will dictate terms and farmers will end up getting less for their crops, they argue.
They are also pressing for the withdrawal of the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020, fearing it will lead to an end to subsidised electricity. Farmers say rules against stubble burning should also not apply to them.