Congress backs farmers’ nationwide strike call
The Indian Congress Party yesterday expressed its whole-hearted support to the 'Bharat Bandh' (nationwide strike) called tomorrow by farmer unions over new agriculture laws after latest round of talks between the government and farmers failed to ease tensions.
In a statement, the party said that a 10-member team will reach Delhi soon to join the farmers who have been camping at various borders of the national capital seeking repeal of three farm laws enacted in September.
On Saturday, Protest leaders rejected the government's offer to amend some contentious provisions of the new farm laws, which deregulate crop pricing, and stuck to the demand for total repeal.
They said they would intensify their agitation and occupy toll plazas across the country on the strike day if the government didn't abolish the laws.
The two sides will meet for further discussions on Wednesday.
The farmers say the laws will lead the government to stop buying grain at minimum guaranteed prices and result in exploitation by corporations that will push down prices.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government insists the reforms will benefit farmers. It says they will allow farmers to market their produce and boost production through private investment. But farmers say they were never consulted.
Saturday's talks between Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and 35 farmer leaders were the fifth since the laws were passed in September.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for UN chief Antonio Guterres and a group of 36 cross-party UK parliamentarians have come out in support of the agitating Indian farmers, saying people have a right to demonstrate peacefully and authorities should let them do so.
These reactions came even as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated his support for the protesting farmers despite India's strong reaction to his earlier remarks that Canada will always be there to defend the rights of peaceful protests.
"As to the question of India, what I would say to you is what I've said to others when raising these issues is that people have a right to demonstrate peacefully, and authorities need to let them do so, Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for the UN Secretary General, said on Friday while responding to a question on the farmers' protest in India.
Farmers in the northern states of Punjab and Haryana have been protesting against the laws for nearly two months. The situation escalated last week when tens of thousands marched to New Delhi and clashed with the police on the outskirts.
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