Agitating farmers’ group here yesterday announced of holding a parade in the national capital on the occasion of Republic Day if their demands are not met by then.
They declared they they would hold the march into the city with tractors and trolleys after the end of official parade.
The farmer leaders also made their position clear, giving message to the government through media that “repeal the three central farm acts or use force to evict us” - a declaration which comes amid the ongoing protest entering 38th day yesterday, after six round of government-farmer talks and the next dialogue fixed on January 4.
In its first press conference organised by a seven-member Co-ordination Committee of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha in the national capital, the farmers’ movement delivered an ultimatum to the government of India, announcing that the “farmers will march into Delhi on January 26, 2021 with their tractors, trolleys and other vehicles.”
It was clarified that the “farmers’ Republic parade” will take place after the official parade. The decision was announced in a press conference addressed by farmer leaders Balbir Singh Rajewal, Darshanpal, Gurnam Singh Chadhuni, Ashok Dhawale (in place for Hannan Mollah), Jagjit Singh Dallewal, and Abhimanyu Kohad (in place for Shiv Kumar Sharma Kakkaji) and Yogendra Yadav.
“We intend to be peaceful and we told long ago to the government of India during our talks that it has only two options - either repeal the three central farm acts or use force to evict us,” said the farmer leaders. “The time has come for decisive action here, and we have chosen January 26, because the Republic Day represents the supremacy of the people and also because we have demonstrated patiently and peacefully at Delhi’s borders for two full months in extreme weather conditions in our resolve to get our demands met.”
Samyukt Kisan Morcha also announced their plan of action until January 26, to intensify and deepen the movement.
“A fortnight of nationwide campaign to counter the government’s propaganda called ‘Desh Jagriti Abhiyan’ from January 6-20 will include rallies, conferences and dharnas all over the country. Lohri or Sankarnati will be marked as Kisan Sankalp Diwas by burning the copies of these three laws. January 18 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 January 23 by protesting outside the Governors’ official residence in all state capitals.”
On the demand to repeal the three central farm Acts, the government of India had asked the farmer organisations to come up with ‘alternative proposals’, and the farmer leaders responded saying that there is no alternative other than
repeal.
The farmer leaders raise hands to show solidarity towards protesting farmers against the central government’s recent agricultural reforms during a joint press conference in New Delhi, yesterday.