Over 1,500 vehicles, including about 1,300 tractor-trolleys, from nearly 1,000 villages in seven districts. This is the size of a new convoy of protesters from Punjab that is expected to reach the Delhi border over the weekend, according to the Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee (KMSC), which launched the first major protest in the state against the Centre's farm laws with the rail blockade from September-end.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Friday moved the Supreme Court challenging the controversial agriculture laws, claiming that these legislations will make farmers “vulnerable to corporate greed”, news agency ANI reported. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, on the other hand, reiterated that the government is ready to talk with the farmers and urged them to stop agitation in the "interest of the common people" and take the path of discussion. He further said that the government is willing to make reforms in the laws after talks, ANI reported.
Meanwhile, two senior Delhi Police officers heading security arrangements at Singhu border, where thousands of farmers have been camping for two weeks, have tested positive for Covid-19, an officer said. Hundreds of police personnel have been deployed at the Singhu border point to prevent the protesters from entering the national capital.
The Centre Thursday issued a fresh call for farmers to end their agitation and join the next round of talks. Having rejected the Centre's proposals, the farm leaders reacted to the new appeal by saying they would continue their protests for repeal of the laws. "We are against the three laws. We will block railway tracks if the Prime Minister doesn't listen to us," said Boota Singh, chairperson, BKU (Dakaunda), which is part of the stir.
Meanwhile, the farmers said the residences of BJP leaders, ministers and offices would be gheraoed, and dharnas would take place at district headquarters across the country on December 14. In the southern states, the protests would continue indefinitely.
A 20-page proposal offered by the Centre was rejected by farmer unions on Wednesday for being "vague". Farmers, who are steadfast in their demand that the three farm laws be repealed, said any further talks with the government would be based on the proposals they receive.
In its proposal, the Centre had offered significant concessions including a written assurance on continuation of minimum support price (MSP)-based procurement and ensuring parity in transactions inside and outside existing Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis. The proposal had been sent a day after 13 farmer leaders met Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Meanwhile, breaking his silence on the standoff between the Centre and farmers’ unions, Haryana's Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala on Thursday said that the Union government has accepted the “farmers’ demand of assuring MSP in writing” and that there is “no logic” to continue with the agitation when “written assurances are being given”. The JJP chief also said that he is a “farmer first” and “will be the first one to resign” if he fails to ensure that a farmer gets “MSP for each and every grain of his crop”.
However, a section of JJP MLAs do not seem to be on the same page with Dushyant as discussions have begun within the party on withdrawing support to the BJP in Haryana amid the farm protests. Seven of the 10 JJP MLAs have earlier come out in support of the farmers protesting against the central farm laws.
