Farmers decide to stay put at Delhi border, reject Centre’s offer for talks

New Delhi: Thousands of farmers, protesting against Centre’s new farm laws, rejected Union Home Mminister Amit Shah’s proposal for a discussion on their grievances. They have been marching from Punjab under the “Dilli Chalo” campaign.

The farmers said the offer was a conditional one as the Home Minister wanted them their protest to move to a designation spot in the national capital, if they agreed to talks.

They have decided not to move to Delhi’s Burari ground and rather stay put at the border.

The farmers’ decision also holds significance as PM Modi, in his  monthly radio address ‘Mann ki Baat’, hailed the farm laws and said that “agricultural reforms” have “unshackled” the farmers and given them “new rights and opportunities”.

Farmers were seen sitting together and discussing their future plans regarding the protest. During the meeting, the farmers raised anti-government slogans, saying that “fulfill our demands” and “we will not go back”.

“Will block 5 entry points to Delhi,” says farmers’ leader

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Meanwhile, Tikri border has been closed for any traffic as the farmers continue to protest the Centre’s farm laws, said Delhi Traffic Police. With this, the available open borders to Haryana are Jharoda, Dhansa, Daurala Jhatikera, Badusari, Kapashera, Rajokri NH 8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam Vihar and Dundahera.

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“Tikri border is closed for any traffic movement. Available Open Borders to Haryana are following Borders Jharoda, Dhansa, Daurala Jhatikera, Badusari, Kapashera, Rajokri NH 8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam vihar and Dundahera borders,” Delhi Traffic Police tweeted.

Manjeet Sheoran, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) East District said that the farmers have not been allowed to move anywhere except Burari.

“If they (farmers) are planning to move towards Burari, we will accompany them till there but permission has not been granted to them to move somewhere else. We have outside forces and Delhi Police constables are with us. We have all the adequate arrangements,” said Sheoran.

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On the other hand, commuters headed towards the national capital from other states said they are facing problems due to road blockade at the Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana border).

Security has been beefed up at the Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana border) as farmers’ protest continues, some protesters are expected to conduct a meeting at 11 am on Sunday to discuss their next strategy.

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Farmers at the border decided yesterday that they will continue their protest here and will not go anywhere else. The security has also been tightened on the Delhi-Haryana border as farmers, who are opposing the farm laws, stayed put at the Delhi border points.

The farmers further said the government should come forward with an “open heart” and not with a “condition”.

The Delhi administration has allotted the Burari ground to the farmers for protesting. While some hundred shifted there on Saturday morning after they were allowed to enter Delhi through the Tikri border, thousand others are demanding that they be allowed to enter the heart of the city.