Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Sunday, 27 December, visited Guru Tegh Bahadur Memorial at Singhu Border to mark the martyrdom of the ninth Sikh guru.
Addressing a gathering at the border, Kejriwal, according to ANI, said that it pains him to know that 40 people have lost their lives there, amid the ongoing farmer protests.
“Our farmers are forced to sleep on streets in open amid the cold, since last 32 days. Why? It pains me that over 40 people have lost their lives here. I appeal to the Centre to listen to them and repeal the farm laws.”Arvind Kejriwal
Further, Kejriwal said that the “Centre is not talking about the benefits of the laws, all they are saying is that it will not cause any harm.”
“Why have you brought the laws then? Tear and throw it away,” added Kejriwal, according to ANI.
Kejriwal also, reportedly, challenged “those from the Central government who know the most about the farm laws to debate with the farmer leaders in public.”
“They say that farmers do not know enough, it will be proven who knows more.”Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
Meanwhile, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia lauded the CM for “working 24 hours to make efforts to reduce the troubles faced by the farmers.”
“Our CM has been working 24 hours to make efforts to reduce the troubles faced by the farmers. Despite all the pressure, the stadiums weren’t converted into prisons. It would have been a black spot in history if we had done that.”Manish Sisodia
More Details
Thousands of farmers have been protesting at Singhu border for over a month against the three controversial agriculture laws that are allegedly called ‘anti-farmer’ laws.
As part of the two day ‘Shaheedi Diwas’ organised by Punjabi Academy at Guru Tej Bahadur Memorial at Singhu, Kejriwal will supposedly join in and participate in the singing of hymns, reported NDTV.
Kejriwal tweeted in Punjabi saying, “On the day of martyrdom of Chhote Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh Ji, Baba Fateh Singh Ji and Mata Gujri Ji, I salute them”.
In Solidarity with Farmers
The Delhi CM had previously visited the Singhu border, and was the first CM to visit the protest site on Monday, 7 December, where he also reviewed the facilities for farmers at the spot.
Speaking during his visit to Singhu border, the Delhi CM had said, “We support all demands of farmers. Their issue and demands are valid. My party and I have stood with them from the very beginning.”
He added that at the beginning of their protests, the Delhi Police had sought permission to convert nine stadiums into jails. “I was pressurised but didn't permit,” he said. He also reiterated that the AAP and its leaders have been serving farmers as 'sevadars'.
Eleven opposition parties had previously put out a joint statement on Thursday, 24 December, asking for the scrapping of farm laws by the Centre.
(With inputs from NDTV)
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