Bilkis Dadi Returned From Sindhu Border As Farmers' Deadlock With Govt Over Farm Bills Continues

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are stationed at Delhi's Singhu and Tikri borders to protest against the Center's agricultural reforms enacted by the Centre in September.

As farmers 'Dilli Chalo' protest continues to day six, several leaders, political parties and social activists have backed the kisan andolan against the recently enacted three farm laws. The latest in the row to join farmers' agitation is the 82-year-old Shaheen Bagh activist Bilkis Dadi, who was stopped by Delhi police at the Singhu Border in National Capital on Tuesday. Bilkis Dadi, the face of Shaheen Bagh and the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protest held in national capital earlier this year, expressed her willingness to join the farmers' protest at the Delhi-Haryana border at Singhu.  "We are the daughters of farmers, we'll go to support farmers' protest today. We will raise our voice, the government should listen to us," Bilkis Dadi said. However, she was stopped by Delhi Police personnel at the border due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and escorted by the police team to her home in southeast Delhi. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North) Gaurav Sharma told PTI that she is a senior citizen and due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we stopped her at the Singhu Border and requested her to return for her own safety and betterment. To avoid any kind of any inconvenience to her, she was escorted by the police team to her home in southeast Delhi. Earlier today, news agency ANI  reported that Bilkis Dadi was detained by Delhi Police at the Singhu Border as security was beefed up amid talks between farmer leaders and the Central government at Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are stationed at Delhi's Singhu and Tikri borders to protest against the Center's agricultural reforms enacted by the Centre in September. Farmer unions believe the recent laws enacted at the Centre will dismantle the minimum support price (MSP) system. They are also pressing for the withdrawal of the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020, fearing it will lead to an end to subsidised electricity. Govt Holds Talks With Farmers The Centre has invited representatives of farmer groups for the next round of talks today. Government has called the Punjab delegation at 3 pm. Later, the government will hold meeting with delegations from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Delhi at 7 pm today. 36 Farmer leaders have agreed to hold parleys with the Centre regarding their demands here on Tuesday afternoon. A group of 36 farmer leaders was on way to the talks' venue in the central Delhi. Of the 36 farmer union leaders, 30 hail from Punjab and remaining six owe allegiance to Sanyukt Kishan Morcha and other farmer organisations from Haryana and other places.