New Delhi/Gazhipur: As farmers across the nation gear up to mark the first anniversary of their protests today, farmers union leader Rakesh Tikait reiterated his demands on MSP. Farmers who lost their lives during the protest will be offered tributes as part of the anniversary programmes, he added.
The farmers union will hold protests and demonstrations across the country today as part of the anniversary. When asked whether they got the permission to enter Delhi for the protests, he said, "Why do we need permission? Is this China? Or is this Korea? Why do you need to have permissions to go somewhere?"
Also read: Protest wont end yet, next decision on Nov 27: Rakesh Tikait
The farmers union leader hopes that the government will step forward and talk to the farmers about the MSPs as soon as possible.
Tikait also said that the farmers will discuss the future course of the protests as well as the demands at the November 27 meeting. "The protests will end only after the government talks to us and arrives at a solution. The government is not talking about the MSP issue at all. How will this work if there's no communication?" he questioned.
The Delhi Police, on the other hand, has put barricades in the areas around Delhi borders. But the farmers have agreed to enter the capital only through the roads that the police authorities have kept open for entry.
Tikait also informed the sources that he won't be attending the meeting to be held on 27th, as he will be in Amritsar on the same day, and in Maharashtra on the next day for a programme.
At the farmers' panchayat on the Ghazipur border on Friday Tikait said, "just like coronavirus, farm laws also came like a disease, which has now been treated." At the same time, he alleged that a new conspiracy has started to defame the farmers' movement. Apart from this, Tikait said that "in the year 2011, the then Chief Minister of Gujarat had placed the demand of guarantee on MSP in front of the Centre in his report.
He said that back in 2011, when the current Prime Minister was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, a committee was formed, in which the then Chief Minister of Gujarat was the chairman of the committee. At that time he had sent a report to the central government that a guarantee law should be made on MSP, but the then central government also did not make a law on MSP.
Tikait also said that "the demand was ignored by the then Central Government, but the then Chief Minister of Gujarat is now the Prime Minister, so why not listen to his own demand." Yogendra Yadav and Medha Patkar were also present in the panchayat held on the border.
