Mega Agitation Continues As Farmers' Union Moves SC Against New Farm Laws, Govt Says Open For Talks | Details

Thousands of farmers hailing from different parts of the country have gathered around the Delhi border and are protesting against the new farm laws.

Farmers shout slogans at Singhu border during their 'Delhi Chalo' protest march against the Centre's new farm laws, in New Delhi. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: Alleging that the new farm laws will make farmers vulnerable to corporate greed, the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) on Friday approached the Supreme Court. The development comes after the farm unions rejected the Union Government’s proposal by saying there was nothing new in the draft and that they were going to continue their protest against the agriculture laws that liberalize farm trade. ALSO READ | Farmers Should Reconsider Govt's Proposal, Withdraw Agitation: Union Agriculture Minister Tomar Government is open for talks: Union Agriculture Minister As the farmers’ stir continued unabated on its sixteenth day with the protesters planning ahead for further intensification of the agitation, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday reiterated the government's position and said that it is open for talks. “In our proposal, we have made an effort to suggest a solution to their objections. They should leave agitation and take the path of discussion. Government is ready for talks,” he said. Thousands of farmers hailing from different parts of the country have gathered around the Delhi border and are protesting against the new farm laws that were inducted by the Union Government in September. Laws have been made to change the lives of farmers Narendra Sing Tomar told the media that the farm laws have been made to change the lives of farmers and to remove the injustice that is being done to them for years. “Laws made by the government have been formed after a lot of deliberation -to bring a change in the lives of farmers, to remove the injustice that was being done to them for years. It was done to ensure that farmers could live better lives and indulge in beneficial agriculture,” he said. According to the Agriculture Minister, during the agitation that has been going on for the last 16 days, the Union Government met the Farmer Union leaders six times but the meetings yielded no result, the government is ready to figure out a way through talks and every concern of the farmers have been noted. Tomar further said during the fifth meeting, when the farmer union leaders were asked about how to strengthen the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), they fell silent and it was decided that a meeting would be held again. BJP to hold Chaupals, Jan Sampark and Press Conference to educate people on farm laws As the farmer protest is gaining momentum, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to organize series of measures including press conferences, 'chaupals' and Jan Sampark, in all the districts of the country on the issue of the new farm laws from Friday onwards. According to sources, the party will be holding as many as 700 press conferences, hundreds of 'chaupals' and Jan Sampark will be organized in the coming days to clear the rumors on the new laws and explain the importance of the agricultural reforms. Thousands of farmers across the country have been protesting at Delhi’s Singhu and Tikri border against the new farm laws. With no results coming from the meetings, the farm leaders called for “Bharat Bandh” on December 8 and have also planned to intensify the agitation over the next few days in which they have planned to block highways leading to Delhi. Meanwhile five people have lost their lives since the agitation has started.