Farmers threaten to block major borders in Delhi, intensify protest

Farmers protesting against the Centre’s new agricultural laws have threatened to block the Ghazipur border between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

The farmers, who are camping near Delhi’s borders, are looking to intensify their protest, which has entered its 25th day.

The government maintains that it is willing to address the farmers’ concerns about the laws, but a repealing the laws seem unlikely.

After 14 Arhityas (farm agents) across Punjab received tax notices, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh slammed the Centre for oppressive action.

On Friday, Tomar had said that the protests may be resolved by the end of this year as the government continues talks with farmer leaders.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court allowed the farmers to protest but withheld them from blocking access to Delhi.

Meanwhile over 20 people have died since the protest began. The protestors will on Sunday pay tribute to those deceased.

The protesters have said that they are not associated with any political parties, and have also argued that lakhs of people collectively could not be misinformed as alleged.

In a letter to Modi and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Saturday, the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee—one of the protesting farmer bodies—said they are not linked to any party.

For months, farmers have protested against the three farm laws passed in September.
The protests intensified by the end of November end as thousands of farmers from several states reached Delhi, braving a police crackdown.

Farmers fear that by allowing trade outside APMC mandis, the laws will weaken the mandis and they would be deprived of Minimum Support Prices (MSPs), leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by corporations.