Farmers' protests would continue even in case of a lockdown: Rakesh Tikait

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait informed that the farmers' protests would not end even if a lockdown is imposed countrywide given the looming threat of the pandemic.

"We will not let the Centre make the farmers' protest another Shaheen Bagh movement. Lockdown may be imposed in the entire country, but the farmers' stir will continue. The requisite Covid guidelines will be followed by the farmers sitting at the protest sites," he said.

Despite the number of Covid-19 cases having gone up to 6,79,962 after 3,548 new cases were reported on Monday in the capital, the farmers are adamant about continuing their protests that started on November 26 last year, braving the threat of contracting Covid-19. The farmers are protesting against the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act 2020, Farmer (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020. Though there have been eleven rounds of negotiations between the protesting farmers and the government, the government hasn't yet conceded to the farmers' demands to repeal the three laws. Though both parties are ready for further negotiations, they are yet to meet.