Highlights:
- The ongoing protest has been intensified as the farmers’ union leaders to observe a hunger strike today
- The protest has been going on for almost 20 days now
- The farmers are demanding that the three laws passed by Parliament in September should be revoked
At different border points near Delhi, farmers protesting against the three farm laws passed by the Centre started their hunger strike today. The farmers’ unions have also said that there will be protests in other parts of the country as well.
“We want to wake the government up. So, 40 farmers’ representatives of our United Farmers’ Front will be sitting on a hunger strike today between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at all border points and as per the plan 25 of them will be at the border of Singhu, 10 at the border of Tikri and five at the border of Uttar Pradesh,” said the general secretary of BKU (Bharatiya Kisan Union) Harinder Singh Lakhowal, in Punjab.
Delhi: Farmers' leaders sit on hunger strike at Tikri border as their protest against Centre's farm laws enters 19th day.
— ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2020
"Centre is being stubborn about our demands. This is an attempt to wake them up," says Balkaran Singh Brar, Working President, All India Kisan Sabha, Punjab pic.twitter.com/KY7mgGwJiT
At the Ghazipur border in Delhi, the protesters say they are ready for the day-long fast. “It happens that we miss meals for 24 hours when we take our sugar cane trolleys to the mills. We’re ready for fast,’ ANI news agency quoted a Lakhimpur Kheri farmer.
The protest is going on for almost 20 days now, with the farmer demanding that the three laws passed by Parliament in September be repealed. The protests continued across the Delhi border on Sunday, with more farmers joining the Singhu stir (Haryana border).
The protesters chanting slogans against the government, singing songs, marched with banners and posters, and took part in speeches delivered from the stage.
One farmer also celebrated his daughter’s first birthday by cutting cakes on Sunday with fellow protesters on the Tikri border. With colorful balloons and banners, the farmers decorated the protest location, wishing the little girl a very happy birthday. The poster includes a picture of the girl with her family as well.
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My daughter is celebrating with her mom and our relatives back home. We had promised, when we left our homes, not to return until our victory. “I fight for my daughter’s generation and for the protection of their land rights,” said farmer Jagat Singh.
So far, the government has held five rounds of discussions with farmers’ organizations, including a meeting called by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to offer changes to the laws and written assurances, but the stalemate has been persisting.
