Modi works for Ambani, Adani; we’ll die but not relent on demand for repeal of farm laws: Farmers before talks

Hardening their stand and saying that anything less than a repeal of the three farm laws enacted by the NDA government is not acceptable to them, the farmers agitating in Delhi have said they will take a bullet and die rather than going back to Punjab.

Speaking to National Herald, Jagmohan Singh Patiala, general secretary, BKU (Dakonda), who had just boarded a bus with other farmers’ leaders to attend a meeting with the government’s representatives, reiterated that the demands of farmers are non-negotiable.

Asked if they will relent if the government guarantees an MSP regime and asks farmers to compromise on the APMC Act, Patiala said, “Not going to happen.”

“All three farm laws are non-negotiable. The MSP regime is useless without the APMCs. Both are linked to each other,” he said.

APMCs are government-controlled marketing yards or mandis.

He asserted that if the Modi government does not “correct its mistake”, farmers will take to the street all over the country.

Attacking PM Narendra Modi for ‘backstabbing’ farmers, Patiala, who is in his late 60s, said, “I have seen many politicians and PMs…but have not seen any one like Modi. He speaks mega lies. He promised to double farmers’ income by 2022 but in reality, he dug the grave for the whole community.”

Saying that the farm laws are aimed at connecting corporates such as Reliance Industries Ltd and Adani Enterprises Ltd directly to the farmers, bypassing government-regulated wholesale markets, Patiala said, “Tomorrow, farmers will protest all over the country against Ambani, Adani and Modi. Farmers will burn their effigies also.”

“If our demands are not met, we will intensify and extend our protest for as long as it takes,” vowed Patiala.