Prepared to go to jail but protest will continue in Delhi: Farmers' leader

New Delhi: Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday alleged that the government wishes to shift the ongoing farmers' protests from near Delhi borders to Jind in Haryana. He added that the ploy would not be allowed to succeed as farmers won't leave their protest site at any cost.

"The Central government wants that agitation should shift from Delhi borders to Haryana's Jind. But we will not allow their ploy to succeed," Tikait said.

"They want that the agitation centre points to be shifted from Delhi borders to Haryana. But we will not leave Delhi borders at any cost," he reiterated while adding that the protests, which kickstarted in November against the three farm laws passed by the Centre, would continue until the demands of farmers are met.

Regarding the multiple cases registered against the protestors, Tikait said, "During any agitation, such as this, one should be prepared to go to jail and not be afraid of that." Tikait further added that the farmers would continue to protest until the three controversial farm laws are repealed and that they are ready to resume talks with the Centre.

"When the government wants to talk, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha will talk," he said. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha spearheading the protests is an umbrella organization of over 40 protesting unions. They had written to PM Modi last month urging to hold talks over the controversial farm laws. The last talk between the two parties was held on January 22, 2021.

The protesting farmers are of the demand that the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 be repealed and a new law be implemented to guarantee minimum support price.