Rise in COVID cases, high temperatures compel farmers to postpone hunger strike

The farmers, who have been protesting against the three Central farm laws for more than five months now, have now decided to postpone their hunger strike amid the soaring COVID cases and high temperatures.

Ghaziabad:The protesting farmers, who used to sit on a hunger strike on a rotational basis, have now decided to postpone the strike amid the surge in COVID cases across the country. It was a daily routine for eleven farmers to sit on the makeshift stage on a hunger strike to protest against the three agri-sector laws.

As the farmers stir against the three agricultural farm laws inches towards the five-month mark- crowds at the major protest site- Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur border visibly appear to be thinning. However, the farmers are time and again reiterating that their movement is getting stronger with each passing day.

President of Bhartiya Kisan Union President Rajveer Singh Jadon said, "In view of the soaring temperatures, we have decided to postpone the hunger strike as of now. The situation will remain the same till April. A review meeting will be held in April and a final call will be taken after that."

READ:Nitish Kumar busy in politics, not bothered by Covid in Bihar: LJP

The leader said that the farmers may face dehydration issues if they continue with the hunger strike and there are also high chances that the agitators may contract the virus.

Samkuyt Kisan Morcha had urged the government to set up vaccination centres at the farmers' protest sites and provide necessary equipment and instructions to them for protection from the virus.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar urged the protesting farmers agitating at Delhi borders against the farm laws to call off their protests. Tomar said the government is ready for a discussion whenever they come with a concrete proposal.

READ:Covid deaths in Gujarat under-reported: Chidambaram

Enacted in September, the three farm laws have been projected by the central government as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middleman and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.

However, the protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of MSP and do away with the mandi system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates. The government has repeatedly asserted that the MSP and mandi systems will stay and has accused the Opposition of misleading the farmers.

READ:Delhi couple violates Covid 19 curbs, misbehaves with cops

With PTI inputs