Farmers protesting against the three new farm laws at Ghazipur border have started their day-long hunger strike on Monday. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader said, "The day-long hunger strike started at 8 a.m. will end at 5 p.m. This is today's strategy and if the government still does not agree to our demands, we will decide a new strategy for tomorrow.”
The farmer’s leaders on hunger strike will address a press conference in the evening.
"We will continue to protest till the farm laws are not repealed. The government should listen to our concerns and discuss them. We will continue to protest if the government fails to do so," Tikait added.
Around 15 farmer leaders at the Ghazipur border are sitting on a hunger strike after they rejected the proposal of the government on making amendments in the new farm laws. Adamant with their demands, farmers said talks with the government is possible only when it agrees to roll back the "black laws".
Leaders of AAP will also go on hunger strike while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is fasting to express solidarity with farmers. "Fasting is pure. Wherever you are, please fast for our farmer brothers. Pray to god that they succeed as they struggle. In the end, they'll win for sure," Mr Kejriwal tweeted this morning in Hindi.
The Farmers' organisations on Sunday announced that they would fast for a day on Monday at the Delhi border. The farmer leaders said that the farmers will sit on a day-long hunger strike at district headquarters across the country, as well as places like Singhu, Tikri, Palwal, Ghazipur etc.
The farmers had also called for 'Bharat Bandh' on December 8 which was supported by various political parties and trade unions.
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Some political parties are supporting the farmers' protest.
The Centre government has alleged that the farmers were being wrongly influenced by pro-Left and Extreme Left elements and their agenda was being hijacked by political parties in the opposition. While the protesting farmers stand by their claims that the new farm laws passed in September during the Monsoon Session of Parliament will damage their livelihood and put them under the mercy of the big corporates.