Centre to hold talks with protesting farmers today; PM Modi targets Opposition

The Centre on Monday night invited agitating farmer unions for talks on December 1, two days ahead of a scheduled meeting, as their stir against the new agri-marketing laws appeared to intensify despite a strong defence of the legislation by the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi who accused the opposition of “playing tricks” on farmers again through misinformation.

The development came a day after the protesting farmers rejected the Centre’s offer to start talks as soon as they move to Burari and continued to stay put Singhu and Tikri borders of the national capital.

“Keeping in view the cold and COVID-19, we have invited leaders of farmer unions for discussion much before the scheduled December 3 meeting,” Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told PTI and urged the farmers to end their stir.

The opposition parties too stepped up pressure, asking the Centre to “respect the democratic struggle” of the farmers and repeal the laws.

Security was beefed up by the Delhi Police and concrete barriers placed at all borders points connecting the city with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as the farmers threatened to block all highways to the national capital.

Long queues of vehicles choked the roads as the Delhi Police kept the Singhu and Tikri borders closed and heightened checking at others.

Amid the rancour of protests, farmers were seen performing ‘Ardas’ (prayer) at the Haryana-Delhi border and distributing ‘karah parshad’ among the people on Guru Nanak Jayanti.

At dusk, earthen lamps were placed on the barricades by the protesting farmers who exchanged sweets while preparing for another winter night in their tractor-trollys which have been turned into makeshift shelters.

Many protesters said that they have come prepared for a long haul with rations and other necessities.