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Farmers continued their protest at the Ghazipur-Ghaziabad (Delhi-UP) border against the farm laws amid security deployment on Sunday evening, reported ANI.
Visuals shared on ANI indicated farmers pushing against police barricades, while security personnel, many fully clad in riot gear and armed with batons, pushing back.
Farmers remained put at the Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana border) on Monday, 30 November, ANI reported, as their protest against the farm laws continues.
The Delhi Traffic Police on Monday said that Tikri and Singhu borders are closed for any traffic movement.
Security has been tightened and barricading has been done at the Ghazipur-Ghaziabad (Delhi-UP) border, where farmers have gathered in protest against Centre’s farm laws.
Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar reportedly met late on Sunday, 29 November, night at BJP chief JP Nadda's Delhi house, sources said, according to NDTV.
During the meet, the sparring between the chief ministers of Haryana and Punjab in the last few days over the farm laws was also discussed, according to the report.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said that the protests by farmers are happening due to misconceptions.
“The central government wants to talk to farmers to dispel the fear of issues in the procurement mechanism. So I believe that dialogue should take place. The protests are happening on account of misconceptions,” Kumar said, according to ANI.
A medical camp has been set up at the Singhu border to help farmers who are protesting.
According to Hindustan Times, volunteer doctors at the camp have urged the government to carry out tests among the protesting farmers as health protocols were not being followed at the site.
“We should conduct COVID-19 tests here. If there is any possibility of a super spreader, the disease might spread to other people which will be disastrous,” a doctor told news agency ANI.
Farmers' union in Tiruchirappalli staged a protest against the new farm laws by flinging paper planes with their demands written on them, reported news agency ANI.
The farmers told ANI that they were stopped by the police as they tried to march to Delhi.
“The new agricultural reforms have given farmers new options and legal protection,” said Prime Minister Modi, who is in Varanasi to inaugurate the Prayagraj-Varanasi Highway.
The prime minister added that the farmers are being empowered by giving them options for a bigger market. He further added that the Opposition is spreading rumours and misleading the farmers regarding the farm laws.
Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) convenor and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal has threatened to quit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) if the new farm laws aren't rolled back.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has claimed that Aam Aadmi Party volunteers are serving the farmers sitting on protest on the borders of Delhi-Haryana and Delhi-UP.
“I have directed the AAP volunteers to provide the farmers with food, water, medical facilities, toilets, and ensure that all the requirements of the farmers are fulfilled,” Kejriwal said.
Addressing a press conference at the Singhu border, Swaraj India founder Yogendra Yadav said that the protests have crushed all lies peddled by the government in the name of the new farm laws. He urged the government to listen to the demands of the farmers.
Union Minister Hardeep Puri told news agency ANI that the government is willing to address genuine concerns of the farmers by the means of dialogue and their demands will be considered.
“Our senior leaders have invited farmers for talks & are willing to address genuine issues. Talks are always held without preconditions or preconceived notions. I firmly hope that all their genuine demands will be considered and issues will be resolved,” he said.
Speaking to the media, Delhi Police Commissioner SN Srivastava said that the police force is ready to face any situation.
“There is adequate police force present. We are ready to face any situation. We have requested them to shift to the allotted protest site in Burari,” he said.
Farmers lit candles on the occasion of birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev at the Singhu border, during their ongoing Delhi Chalo protest against Centres new farm laws, reported news agency PTI.
The Congress party has launched a social media campaign #SpeakUpForFarmers to gather support for the farmers who are protesting on the borders of the national capital against the new farm laws.
As part of the campaign, Rahul Gandhi among other leaders shared a video asking people who are they siding with, ‘farmers or the corporates’.
Sombir Sangwan, Dadri MLA and the chief of Sangwan Khap has resigned from the post of the chairman of Haryana Pashudhan Board to support the protesting farmers, news agency ANI reported.
Addressing a press conference at the Singhu (Delhi-Haryana) Border, farmer leaders emphasised that the government must listen to their demands, as they rejected the "conditional" invitation by the Centre.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his visit to Varanasi, accused the Opposition of misleading the farmers using ‘rumours and propaganda’ and stressed that the new reforms will help farmers reach a bigger market.
Earlier, on Saturday, Home Minister Amit Shah had said that the government is ready to “deliberate on every problem and the demands of the farmers,” given the protest is shifted to the “designated place”. The farmers have, however, rejected Shah's offer.
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