Our demands are non-negotiable, have come to Delhi for decisive battle, say farmer leaders

Farmers protesting against the Centre's new agri laws at Delhi border points on Monday said they have come to the national capital for a "decisive battle" and asserted that they will continue their agitation until their demands are met.

Addressing a press conference at Singhu border, a representative of protesting farmers said that they want Prime Minister Narendra Modi to listen to their "mann ki baat'.

"Our demands are non-negotiable," he said and claimed the ruling party "will have to pay a heavy price" if it does not heed to their concerns.

"We have come here to fight a decisive battle," he said.

Darshan Pal, President of the Krantikari Kisan Union's Punjab chapter, said, "The Modi government speaks something else on face but has a dagger on its side. The BJP is a communal, fascist and authoritarian."

Pal said that the farmers will hold another meeting to strengthen the movement.

"We reject the proposal. We have come here to tell our story and we won't step back," he said, rejecting the offer of the government to move to the Burari ground for the protest.

Darshan Pal, President of the Krantikari Kisan Union's Punjab chapter, said, "The Modi government speaks something else on face but has a dagger on its side. The BJP is a communal, fascist and authoritarian."

Pal said that the farmers will hold another meeting to strengthen the movement.

"We reject the proposal. We have come here to tell our story and we won't step back," he said, rejecting the offer of the government to move to the Burari ground for the protest.

Another farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni said that around 31 cases have so far been registered against protestors to "suppress" their agitation.

Chaduni said that farmers will continue their agitation until their demands are met.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had appealed to the farmers to shift to the Burari ground and had said the Centre was ready to hold discussions with them as soon as they move to the designated place.

A meeting of over 30 farmer groups on Sunday rejected Shah's offer for talks before the scheduled date of December 3 and demanded an unconditional dialogue.

Thousands of protesters refused to budge and spent another night in the cold at the Singhu and Tikri border points.

Their representatives had said that Shah's condition that they shift the protest is not acceptable and claimed Burari ground is an "open jail".

With input from agencies