NEW DELHI: A day after the proposed blockade of the Delhi-Jaipur highway (NH-48) failed, farmers from Delhi's neighbouring states are set to march again on Sunday attempting a second blockade of the crucial interstate highway.
Farmers have been protesting for 18 days now demanding the Centre to repeal the three farm laws which were passed by the Parliament in September mid strong protests by opposition parties.
Here are the highlights: - Farmers prevented the collection of fees at toll plazas in Haryana and parts of western UP on Saturday, the 17th day of protest on Delhi borders.
- Farmers leaders have announced that they will be observing a day-long hunger strike on December 14, if the government does not concede to their demands.
- While the heads of all the 32 farm organisations will sit on fast from 8 am to 5 pm, BKU (Chadauni) president Gurmeet Singh Chadauni said he would go on indefinite hunger strike from December 19, the martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
- On Saturday during a rally to express solidarity with the agitating farmers in India, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in front of the Indian embassy in the US was defaced and vandalised by certain "Khalistani elements", said the embassy.
- The Indian embassy in its statement said that "it strongly condemns this mischievous act by hooligans masquerading as protesters against the universally respected icon of peace and justice."
- The Chilla border opened for Noida-Delhi traffic on Saturday evening for the first time since December 1. The Delhi-Noida carriageway was vacated earlier in the week. The Noida-Delhi lanes of Link Road opened on Saturday following farmers' meeting with defence minister Rajnath Singh and agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar.
- The protesters will remain at the site but will restrict themselves to the central verge and a lane on the Noida-Delhi carriageway.
- Protesting farmers at the Dalit Prerna Sthal got their heads shaved on Saturday despite a brief spell of rain. They said that they were observing the funeral of the three farm bills. A hawan will be performed and on December 23 and a bhog will be organised.
- On a cold Saturday morning that saw some rain, the protesting farmers at Singhu border had to find different ways to keep themselves warm. So, while the younger ones played cricket, the older farmers lit fires or bundled themselves up in blankets.
- Mobile phones are the only way farmers can stay connected to their families back in the village. In order to recharge their mobile phones, farmers have come up with novel ways and are using solar panels and sockets in their tractors to recharge the batteries.
The three farm laws are anticipated to bring "reforms" in the agriculture sector by removing middlemen and allowing farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country. Farmers worry these laws will eliminate the safety net of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and do away with mandis that ensure earning. But the government says the MSP system will continue and the new laws will give farmers more options to sell their crop.
Farmers from different parts of the country, including Haryana and Punjab, have been camping at various border points of Delhi for two weeks to demand a repeal of these laws.
They have rejected a government offer to amend the farm laws and give a "written assurance" on continuing the MSP system.
(With inputs from agencies)