Ahead of the Centre’s sixth round of talks to end protests against contentious farm laws, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has called farmers for discussion today at 7 pm. Rakesh Tikait, the farmer leader, confirmed that a meeting is scheduled. “I received a phone call. Amit Shah has called a meeting. We have been called at 7 pm,” he said.
He added that the representatives of protesting farmers would be attending the meeting at the Vigyan Bhawan in Central Delhi. The meeting with Home Minister is going to happen on the day the agitating farmers have called for a nationwide bandh. Earlier, a meeting between the Centre and protesting farmers failed to end the deadlock on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Bilaspur police arrested left party leaders KK Ragesh and Krishnaprasad for revolting in solidarity with the protesting farmers. Also, CPM leaders Amra Ram and Mariyam Dhavla were also held by the police.
Besides, Bhim Army Chief Chandrasekhar Azad, who was on his way to join the protesting farmers, was also arrested by the police at his home in Uttar Pradesh. Last week, Azad had joined the agitating farmers against the contentious farm laws. He had criticised the government for using water cannons and tear gas against the farmers when they began to march to the national capital last month. Also, CPM Polit Bureau member Subashini Ali is under house arrest.
Reportedly, ALCC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi has also said that the Congress workers from UP were also arrested for organising protests to express solidarity with the protesting farmers.
On Saturday, the farmers had even burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing their opposition to the three contentious farm laws. The farmers, who began their protests about two weeks ago, have called for a Bharat Bandh today against the three controversial farm laws, which were passed by the Parliament in September.
