Farmers' Protest | 'Ready For Talks With Centre, 200 People To Agitate Near Parliament From July 22' Says Rakesh Tikait

Previously, Rakesh Tikait had said the farmers are ready to resume talks with the union government but emphasised that the discussions should be held without conditions.

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New Delhi: Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Saturday revealed that 200 people will hold protests near Parliament from July 22, in view of the ongoing farmers' protests.

While speaking to news agency ANI, Tikait said, "If the Centre wants discussion on farm laws, we're ready for talks. But, if talks do not happen or reap fruitful results, then from July 22 onwards, 200 of our people will hold protests near Parliament."

Previously, Tikait had said the farmers are ready to resume talks with the union government on the contentious agrarian laws but emphasised that the discussions should be held without conditions.

His remarks were in response to the statements by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar who had said the government is ready to resume negotiations with the protesting farmers to discuss desired changes in the legislation while the option for a complete repeal out of question. 

Speaking about this year's Republic Day incident, Tikait today said, "We did not say that we'll take up the issue of new farm bills at United Nations. We'd responded to a question over January 26 incident. Is there any agency here that can conduct an impartial investigation? If not should we take this matter to the UN?"

Farmers mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been camping at Delhi borders since November last year, demanding that the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 be rolled back and a new law made to guarantee minimum support price for crops.

Several rounds of talks between farmers and the government have failed to break the deadlock.

Meanwhile, in a significant announcement, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday said that if voted to power, the SAD-BSP alliance will "honour martyrs of Kisan Andolan".

The alliance has committed to providing several benefits for kin of those who died in the Farmers' protests. These include 1 government job per family, free education to their children and grandchildren till post-graduation, and health insurance cover.