The agitating farmers have achieved another success on Saturday as Union Home Minister Amit Shah had to take notice of their problems and appealed to them to shift to the Nirankari Ground in Burari in the outskirts of Delhi. The appeal followed a meeting with Joginder Singh, a leader of Bharatiya Kisan Union. Shah once again extended the offer of talks with farmers on Dec 3.
The government is saying that since it is not possible to accommodate such a huge number of farmers in Jantar Mantar it has allotted them space in Burari. However, notwithstanding the appeal a large number of farmers from Punjab and Haryana are camping at various places on Delhi-Haryana border.
The Union government has softened its stand towards the farmers following pressure from within and alliance partners. For example, the JJP of Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala on Saturday asked the Haryana government to look into the demands of the farmers with sympathy.
Though Chautala has been stating that the three farm laws would benefit the farmers many of his party’s MLAs have expressed their opinion against the new legislations. The JJP is supporting Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana.
The Centre has come under pressure because even larger number of farmers have started converging to Delhi—this time not only from Haryana and Punjab but other states too. Though the government has offered Dec 3 as the date for talks, the farmers are insisting for immediate talk and acceptance of their demands.
Incidentally, Guru Nanak Jayanti is to be observed on November 30. It is to be seen as to how the government tackles this issue as a large number of famers are Sikhs from Punjab.
