Amidst the ongoing farmers’ protest, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait is set to attend a farmers’ “maha-panchayat” in Haryana’s Jind district today. The maha panchayat aims to gather support for the agitation against the Centre’s new farm laws.
Speaking to the media, Tikait on Wednesday said such panchayats will be held across the country until the government accepts the demands of farmers. Earlier, the BKU leader had said the farmers will organize a pan-country tractor rally of 40 lakh tractors if the government does not listen to them until October.
Meanwhile, elaborate arrangements have been put in place at Jind’s Kandela village for the event, where several khap leaders are also expected to arrive, Sarv Jatiya Kandela Khap head Tekram Kandela said on Tuesday. He also said that it will be a big gathering to muster support for the farmers’ agitation. The Kandela khap, which had spearheaded a farmers’ agitation in Haryana nearly two decades ago, has lent its support to farmers against the new farm laws. Several other khaps too are backing the agitation.
Tekram Kandela said at Wednesday’s event, issues including the demand to repeal the farm laws and a legal guarantee of the minimum support price will be taken up.
Kandela asserted “the Centre should talk to farmers and immediately find a resolution as thousands of farmers have been holding the agitation for months now. The prime minister should himself talk to the farmers to find an early solution”.
It is noteworthy that farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws: Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.