Farmers to block Delhi-Jaipur Highway, invite labourers and women to join the protests

Farmer leaders have decided to intensify the ongoing agitation against the Centre's three new farm laws. In a press conference held at Singhu (Delhi-Haryana) border on Saturday, farmers' representatives said they never shied away from discussing their demands with the central government but amendments to the said laws are simply not acceptable to them.

Addressing reporters at Singhu border, farmer leader Kamal Preet Singh Pannu of the Sanyukta Kisan Andolan said thousands of farmers are set to begin a tractor march at 11 Sunday from Shahjahanpur in Rajasthan. This march will result in a blockade of the Delhi-Jaipur Highway. "After our nationwide call, all toll plazas of Haryana are free today," he added.

Pannu also said that all farmer leaders will sit on a fast while sharing the same stage at Singhu border from 8 am to 5 pm on December 14. He went on to add, "We want the government to take back the three farm bills. We are not in favour of amendments. Centre wants to thwart our movement but we will continue it peacefully."

"The government wants to leave this hanging but people from our villages are already on their way. We have broken the barricades put in place to prevent people from coming here," Kamal



Preet Singh Pannu said adding that farmers will stage 'dharnas' outside the offices of district magistrates across the country on December 14. "If the government wants to hold talks, we are ready, but our main demand will remain the scrapping of the three laws. We will move onto our other demands only after that," he added.

Claiming that farmers are joining the agitation which is a peaceful one, Pannu accused the government of provoking the protesters and making attempts to dividing them. "The first, second and third laws are combined which is why we are asking for them to be repealed," he said.

Farmer leader Kamal Preet Pannu also said that a meeting of the Sankyukta Morcha will be called after December 14.

"After December 15, all labourers, women will come to our meetings, that has been decided," Kamal Preet Singh Pannu told reporters at Singhu border on Saturday.

Alleging that farmers' trolleys are being stopped on their way to Delhi, farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni appealed to the Centre to allow farmers to reach the national capital. "If the government does not accept our demands before December 19, we will start a fast from the martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur on the same date," Charuni said.