Home Minister Amit Shah has called the farmers for a meeting today evening at seven, a day before the sixth round of government’s negotiations to bring a conclusion to the extensive protests against farm laws. The invite has been made amid the countrywide ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by the farmers protesting at the Delhi border.
Roads, transportation, rail traffic and vehicular movement have been disrupted in several parts of the nation. Protesting people have blocked highways and shut down markets, affecting supplies.
Rakesh Tikait, Spokesperson, Bharatiya Kisan Union, “We have a meeting with the Home Minister at 7 pm today. We are going to Singhu Border now and from there we will go to the Home Minister. ,” adding farmer leaders protesting on the highways near Delhi will be attending the meeting.
Several opposition parties, including the Congress, AAP, DMK, TRS, have supported today's Bandh.
After the last meeting on Friday between the centre and farmers, lasting for seven hours failed in finding a conclusion; farmers union decided to call for a Bandh to put pressure on the Center.
Farmer groups said they want the three farm laws to be repealed and will not stop the protests until all their demands are met.
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"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 But the farmers' organisations unanimously said all the three laws should be repealed.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," said Balkaran Singh Brar, a leader of All-India Kisan Sabha.
In the previous meeting, the farmer’s leaders have given a 39-point presentation on the inadequacies of the laws.