Farmers say rain hasn’t dampened spirits; to stage own ‘Republic Day parade’ in Delhi if demands not met

Even as farmers' agitation on the Delhi borders continued for the 39th day on Sunday amid harsh cold and rain, the protesters were adamant that they would protest till the government withdrew the three new farm laws.

Harinder Singh Lakhowal, General Secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal), told media that despite inclement weather, farmers were not ready to leave the protest site, but rather another group of farmers from Punjab would join the protesters on Sunday.

Talking about their problems owing to rain, Harinder Singh said that water had accumulated in tents set up by farmers at protest sites, but they won't move away from roads. He said that they are arranging for more waterproof tents to tackle rain.

Meanwhile, leaders of various farmer organisations will hold their next round of talks with the Centre on Monday at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi.

Earlier, leaders of farmer organisations had announced that they would intensify their protest if the next round of talks with the government failed to break the deadlock on their main demands or a repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) state President Gurnam Singh Chaduni announced at a press conference in Jammu that farmer agitation across the country would be intensified on January 5 if negotiations failed to yield concrete results.

In a press conference at the Press Club in Delhi on Saturday, leaders of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha said that farmer unions would enter the national capital on January 26 with tractor-trolleys and other vehicles and celebrate 'Farmers Republic Day Parade'. Several programmes at the local and national levels have also been announced by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha before January 26.

“There will be a tractor parade from Singhu, like a Republic Day parade... From 6 to 20 January, we will give a call to organise rallies across the nation to pressurise the government. On 26 January, farmers all over India will parade their tractors with flags... and there will be tractor march around Delhi,” Darshan Pal, Krantikari Kisan Union president said, as per media reports.

“If the demands aren’t met by 26 January, farmers who are stationed at the Delhi borders will enter Delhi and exercise their democratic rights and go on a parade,” he added.

The farmers’ Republic Day parade, it was said, would be held after the official parade.

The farm leaders also announced the ‘Desh Jagriti Abhiyan’ – a fortnight-long campaign with planned conferences, rallies and dharnas to be held between 6-20 January.

On the day of Lohri celebrations, on 13 January, copies of the three new legislations will be burnt as a mark of protest.

A press note released by the committee said, “18 January will be celebrated as Mahila Kisan Diwas to underline the role of women farmers. Azad Hind Kisan Diwas will be marked on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary on 23 January by protesting outside the Governor's official residence in all state capitals.”

Farmer organisations have also announced a protest march on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway on January 6, if talks on January 4 failed.

(With IANS inputs)