Home Minister Amit Shah has called farmers for talks this evening at 7 pm as Protests enter day 13
The Home Minister has invited farmers for a meeting today evening. Today a nationwide shutdown, Bharat Bandh was announced and observed by protesting farmers. The bandh had allegedly hit road and rail traffic across the country, blocking highways and shutting down markets; affecting supplies.
Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait stated that "I received a phone call. Amit Shah has called a meeting. We have been called at 7 pm, we are going to Singhu Border now and from there we will go to the Home Minister". Several opposition parties, including the Congress, AAP, DMK, TRS, have backed today's protest.The last meeting which was on Friday between the centre and farmers, failed to end the deadlock and was rescheduled for Wednesday.
Protest group stated that they would not accept anything short of the scrapping of three new laws enacted in September, which they fear will reduce their earnings and leave them at the mercy of the corporate.
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar, who led the negotiations, stated that the government "has no ego" but made it clear that the government would not repeal the laws and amends the farm laws.
A leader of All-India Kisan Sabha Balkaran Singh Brar, stated that that "The government suggested an amendment in all three laws. But the farmers' organisations unanimously said all the three laws should be repealed. The government assured that they can consider new laws on Minimum Support Price".
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