Farmers sit at the site during their ongoing protest against farm laws (ANI photo)
NEW DELHI: A day after sending a proposal for talks to the government, agitating farmers’ unions on Sunday gave a call for a nationwide protest on new year’s day urging the public to take a pledge to support the farmers’ struggle and demand repeal of the three central farm laws.
The protesting farmers’ umbrella body, AIKSCC, has also planned protest rallies in Patna and Thanjavur on December 29, and in Manipur and Hyderabad on December 30.
Waiting for govt response to our talks offer: Kisan leader
We have not yet got any communication from the government. We have already told the agriculture ministry whatever we have to say in our letter on Saturday. We are waiting for the response, Darshan Pal, farmer leader and Punjab president of the Krantikari Kisan Union, told TOI. He said all our protest programmes will continue as scheduled.
Punjab farmer unions say ‘our focus only boycott’, blame ‘miscreants’
CM Amarinder had issued an appeal on Friday asking farmers not to disrupt state s telecom services as internet network was important for many working from home, to hospitals, for online education and many other services in day to day life. December 28, 2020 8:22:33 am
Sources said power to more than 150 mobile towers had been snapped in the past 24 hours. (Image/PTI)
Despite Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s appeals against the same, some farmer groups continued to disrupt power supply to Reliance Jio mobile towers Sunday. Sources said power to more than 150 mobile towers had been snapped in the past 24 hours. Till date, power supply to over 1,338 such mobile towers has been cut off.
Chandigarh, December 25
Amid the stalemate, farmers in Punjab on Friday stepped up their agitation, not allowing BJP leaders to hold functions in memory of Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth anniversary. In Jalandhar, Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal) activists held a protest outside the residence of former Cabinet Minister Manoranjan Kalia. Several farmers received minor injuries as they tried to breach the police barricade outside Kalia’s house.
In Bathinda, farmers disrupted a function at Amrik Singh road, forcing the BJP workers to flee. A video of the incident went viral on the social media.
Farmers held a protest outside a hotel in Muktsar where a BJP function was underway. Sources said the BJP activists escaped from a back door of the hotel under police protection. Farmers led by the Krantikari Kisan Union picketed outside the residence of the Patiala district president of the BJP. While in Malout the farmers closed the gate of a hall where a BJP function was being held, a huge
Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar said unions do not allow any political party to use their stage.All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee secretary Avik Saha said the PM on Friday only addressed farmers from six states and wondered why he did not address issues of protesting peasants
Repeal farm laws: 11 Oppn parties
In a joint statement on Thursday, leaders of 11 Opposition parties demanded repeal of the three farm laws. They also termed the allegations levelled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has accused the parties of lying to the farmers, as “baseless”, stating that such accusations were a “complete travesty of truth”.
Helipad dug up, Dushyant’s visit off
Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala’s visit to the Uchana Kalan segment in Jind was cancelled after protesters dug up a helipad on the school premises where his helicopter was to land. TNS
Farmer unions rejected the letter terming it yet another “delaying tactic” by the government. Leaders of various unions will hold a meeting tomorrow to decide the further course of action. They want a written assurance on the MSP “even though that is not a part of the three laws”.