Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia observes fast in support of farmers

New Delhi: As many as 40 farmer leaders of the United Farmers Front began their day-long hunger strike on Monday at various border points near Delhi against the Centre’s newly enacted farm laws, thereby intensifying the ongoing agitation in the national capital region.

As the farmers’ agitation on Monday entered the 19th day, Harinder Singh Lakhowal, General Secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) said that with the hunger strike, the union leaders want to “wake up the government.” “We want to wake up the government.

LIVE UPDATES

Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Ministers and MLAs hold ‘hunger strike’ in support of farmers who are protesting against Centre’s #FarmLaws.

Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, ministers Satyendar Jain, Gopal Rai and party leader Aatishi Marlena are present. pic.twitter.com/oEBoEof0MI

— ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2020

Our police & administration personnel are in constant contact with the farmers’ leaders and we will ensure that mischevious elements are unable to infiltrate the farmers’ agitation: Prashant Kumar, UP ADG (Law & Order)

10 organisations from various states like Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Bihar and Haryana, associated with All India Kisan Coordination committee, are meeting Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, to extend their support on 3 Farm Bills. pic.twitter.com/FMnzpoO2c1

— ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2020

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is observing a day-long fast today in support of farmers’ protest.

“Annadata, the farmer of the country is on hunger strike demanding the withdrawal of the three laws of the introduced by the Central Government for the sake of saving their pleasant livelihood. In support of the demand of farmers, today I am also observing a fast with all my colleagues in the Aam Aadmi Party office,” said Sisodia. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is also set to hold a one-day fast in support of the farmers’ protest today.

अन्नदाताओं के समर्थन में आम आदमी पार्टी के नेताओं और कार्यकर्ताओं का अन्नत्याग https://t.co/kmkZzijrCR

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) December 14, 2020

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar reaches Home Minister Amit Shah’s residence.

Singhu, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari, Sabholi & Mangesh borders are closed. Please take alternate routes via Lampur, Safiabad & Singhu school toll tax borders. Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba & GTK road. Please avoid Outer Ring Road, GTK road & NH-44: Delhi Traffic Police

Ghazipur border is closed for traffic coming from Ghaziabad to Delhi due to farmers’ protests. People are advised to take an alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Chilla, Apsara & Bhopra borders: Delhi Traffic Police

Delhi: Farmers’ leaders sit on hunger strike at Tikri border as their protest against Centre’s farm laws enters 19th day.

“Centre is being stubborn about our demands. This is an attempt to wake them up,” says Balkaran Singh Brar, Working President, All India Kisan Sabha, Punjab pic.twitter.com/KY7mgGwJiT

— ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2020

Slamming Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the call for a day-long fast in support of the framers’ protest, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday said that this is nothing but hypocrisy.

Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Javadekar said “@ArvindKejriwal this is your hypocrisy. You promised amendment to APMC Act in Punjab assembly elections. You notified one farm law in Delhi in November 2020 and you are on fast today. Nothing but hypocrisy.” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is set to hold a one-day fast in support of the farmers’ protest today.

There’s no rift among farmers. 3 leaders of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu) faction resigned because they were upset with their President Bhanu Pratap Singh, as to why he compromised: Rakesh Tikait, Spokesperson, Bhartiya Kisan Union on 3 BKU (Bhanu Faction) leaders’ resignation https://t.co/HzBAECmhrk pic.twitter.com/Vk7BUhvt69

— ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2020

Delhi: Farmers’ leaders including Rakesh Tikait of Bharatiya Kisan Union sit on a hunger strike from 8 am-5 pm at Ghazipur (Delhi-UP border), where the protest entered day 17 today. pic.twitter.com/I2Zkdhxvav

— ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2020

We want to wake the govt up. So, 40 farmer leaders of our United Farmers Front will sit on hunger strike today at all borders points between 8 am-5 pm. 25 of them will sit at Singhu border, 10 at Tikri border & 5 at UP border: Harinder Singh Lakhowal, General Secy, BKU (Punjab) pic.twitter.com/khQ9VNMC1O

— ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2020

Protesters will also hold a nationwide demonstration at all district offices on Monday and a hunger strike from 8 am to 5 pm. The hunger strike is a part of the farmers’ strategy to intensify their agitation.

Thousands of farmers have been protesting on the outskirts of Delhi since late November 26 demanding the government to repeal the newly enacted farm laws.

However, the government has held six rounds of talks with farmers’ organisations including the meeting called by Union Home Minister Amit Shah offering changes to the laws and written assurances.

Farmers have been protesting at the borders of Delhi demanding the repeal of the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.