Farmers reject talks with Amit Shah

As union home minister Amit Shah agreed that he would hold talks with farmers on Sunday, protesting farmers rejected it saying that government should have approached them with an open heart and not put preconditions. Shah’s request for farmers to move to Burari was also denied. Farmers said that their decision was final especially after Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed his support for the farm bills through his radio show ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday. A seven member committee of farmers decided to turn down the proposal.

Protesting farmers said that they will sit in borders of Delhi-Haryana for now. They also stated that the government shouldn’t be explaining the new farm laws to them, but instead reform it.

Farmers from Uttarakhand, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and other states marched towards the national capital two days back in hopes of getting the three farm bills reformed. But the union government is adamant on standing firm with the laws and initially denied to have any talks. As the protests got violent when farmers reached Delhi, police had to use tear gas to control the crowd that came in thousands.

Apart from Congress, other opposition parties also slammed BJP led central government for their insensitive attitude towards farmers and their needs. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday said that if the prime minister himself is supporting farm bills, then what the point of a discussion with farmer’s means.