New Delhi : Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait on Monday accused the BJP government at the Centre of ‘cheating’ the farmers and said if the government continues its ‘stubborn’ attitude over the three new agricultural laws, then the movement will continue for next 10 years.
“Farmers have been protesting at various borders of the national capital since 10 months demanding the withdrawal of the three agricultural laws. If the government continues its stubborn attitude, then the movement will continue for 10 years,’ Tikait said, adding, Monday’s ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by the farmers is a part of the ongoing farmers’ agitation.
The leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) further said, “We are raising our demands in a democratic manner. The government is not repealing the laws but wants to talk with the farmers. Government thinks farmers are fools ”
On ‘Bharat Bandh’, Tikait said the farmers have not sealed any roads and all essential services have been exempted from the bandh.
He also appealed to the people to support the ‘Bharat Bandh’ by staying in their homes.
Several opposition parties, including Congress, have extended full support to ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by the farmers organisations seeking repeal of the three agricultural laws enacted in September last year.
The three laws — The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020 — were passed by Parliament last year. The Centre has been projecting the three laws as major agricultural reforms.
