On the second day of the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ (Let’s go to Delhi) march, Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda reiterated that the government is reportedly ready for talks with the farmers’ unions.
“I have said this before that we (the government) are ready to hold constructive talks with the farmers. We should consider all points and then hold a discussion. Secondly, the farmers should understand that the protest should not create problems for anyone and does not affect normal life,” Munda told reporters.
The farmers protesting at the Shambhu border post between Punjab and Haryana resumed their march towards Delhi but couldn’t proceed further as police used tear gas and water cannons to prevent them from reaching the barricades.
Meanwhile, farmers flew kites at the border to deter police drones from dropping tear gas shells at them.
Talking about holding talks with the federal government, Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said that farmers will not hold talks with the government unless security officials stop using tear gas against them.
Apart from this, the largest farmers’ organisation in Punjab, the Indian Farmers Union (Ugraha), has announced that railway tracks will be blocked on February 15 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. (IST) as a protest against police using tear gas and baton charge on them.
Security Stepped Up in Delhi, Mock Drill Performed
Meanwhile, security arrangements in Delhi have been stepped up in view of the farmers’ march. All the major borders including Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur have been heavily barricaded and thousands of police personnel have been deployed.
A mock drill was also performed at Tikri border. Sharing the information about the mock drill, a deputy commissioner told the media that any “arresting party" should be competent enough to "catch" farmers in a series of controversial comments.
“We want people who can catch the protesters. The arresting party should have that in mind,” he said.
Meeting Ministers
According to latest media reports, farmer unions are likely to have another meeting with the federal ministers in Chandigarh at Raj Bhawan.
“It has come to us through media that [Bharatiya Janata Party politician] Anurag Thakur has said that they are ready for talks and finding resolution to our issues. We do not want to leave any room for them to say that we did not accept their offer. We took permission from our friends, and now we will hold talks (with the government). Our priority is that talks are held in Chandigarh or anywhere near the protest site,” Sanyukta Kisan Morcha leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said.