The ongoing farmers protest will soon complete a month and the protesting farmers began a relay-hunger-strike on Monday. Meanwhile, the central government has urged the farmers to share their concerns and date for further discussions.
The first batch of farmers who sat on the hunger strike had 11 farmers. Punjab farmers have been protesting the recently passed three farm laws, for 26 days now.
Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said he will quit politics if “MSP (Minimum Support Price) is abolished”.Earlier, Haryana government had said, “Haryana CM assured the farmers that there is no threat to MSP & government is thinking beyond MSP through the new agricultural laws. MSP will continue like before. He also assured them that mandis will also continue to function.”
In a letter to the union leaders, agriculture ministry joint secretary Vivek Aggarwal said, “I request those previously invited protesting union leaders to provide details of their remaining concerns and doubts and suggest a date as per convenience for next round of talks.” Earlier, five rounds of talks between representatives of farmer unions and the government have proved to be futile.
On Monday morning, tributes were paid to the 42 farmers who died amid the protests since September 15.