Leader of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation farmers, Sarwan Singh Pandher, has warned the BJP-led government that it will be accountable for ‘whatever happens now’, only hours after they rejected the Centre’s proposal to buy cotton, maize, and pulses at MSP.
The farmers who are protesting have said that they will resume their march towards Delhi on Wednesday, February 21, following the breakdown of negotiations with the administration.
According to Pandher, who spoke on Tuesday morning, the administration has made it plain that it will not permit them to enter Delhi.
“The administration made it quite evident that they would stop at nothing to prevent us from entering Delhi…We should be free to march in the direction of Delhi if you’re unable to work with farmers to find a solution, he told ANI.
Pandher added that the scenario in Haryana is similar to that in Kashmir, referring to the police’s extraordinary efforts to stop the march.
“We were shelled as we approached Delhi…Additionally, bullets were employed on the tractor tyres. According to DGP Haryana, farmers are not subjected to tear gas. We demand that those who use it then be punished. Additionally, false comments are being made…Haryana’s circumstances are similar to those in Kashmir. On February 21, we will march towards Delhi. The government has offered us a plan that would force us to renounce our initial demands. Whatever occurs from now on will be the responsibility of the government,” he continued.
Three Union ministers on a panel on Sunday suggested that government agencies purchase pulses, maize, and cotton crops at minimum support prices (MSP) for five years during the fourth round of negotiations with farmer representatives. The government’s proposal was met with resistance by the farmers on Monday, who claimed it was an attempt to “divert and dilute” their demand for MSP.
They said that the farmers would not accept anything less than the recommendations made in the report of the Swaminathan Commission.
Pandher stated yesterday that they ought to be permitted to travel to Delhi by the administration.
“We will move to Delhi peacefully at 11 am on February 21,” he stated.
Farmers are requesting that a law proclaiming all crops to be at minimum support prices be passed by the government. MSP on all crops, according to the administration, will put a strain on the national coffers. In BJP-ruled Haryana earlier this month, police fired tear gas shells at farmers who were demonstrating.
Pandher stated on Monday that the farmers wished to travel peacefully towards Delhi and did not intend to breach the barricades. The authorities ignored their requests for a location at Jantar Mantar for their demonstration.
“Our only goal is to have our demands realised, but we will have to take action if the administration won’t listen to us. Farmers and ‘jawans’ (police and paramilitary) are on opposing sides of the divide. Violence is not what we desire. Pandher has stated that “people in the country will consider whether such people should be in power or not if the government engages in ‘jabar’ (oppression).
Among other things, the demonstrators want the reinstatement of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, debt forgiveness, and farmer pensions.