Farmer leaders in Haryana urge families to send one member for Jan 26 tractor march

NEW DELHI:

Farmer leaders have stated that they will visit every household in Haryana to urge families to send at least one member for a 'tractor march' to Delhi on Republic Day if the government does not consent to repeal the three farm laws.

The talks between the government and the agitating farmers on January 4 were inconclusive, further intensifying the farmers' protest.

“From January 9, on the death anniversary of Chaudhary Chhoturam, the leaders and workers of farmer unions in Haryana will visit every village in the state and ask them to send one member from each family for January 26 march," Swaraj Abhiyan Chief Yogendra Yadav tells media in a press conference.

“Despite the cold and rain, on all the borders of Delhi, the hunger strike of farmers continues. This resolve of farmers is clear evidence that they will not go back home until their two key demands -- repeal of the farm acts and legal entitlement of Minimum Support Price (MSP) -- for farmers are not secured,” said the farmers union.

Farmers across the country have been protesting against the three reforms — Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.

The march will begin at 11 am with a large batch of tractors from all borders on January 7.

"Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan and other states will join the march in large numbers with thousands of tractors. At least 10 tractors from each village of Haryana will be joining the march as per the current plan,” said a Sanyukt Kisan Morcha representative.

The farmer leaders will be meeting the government on January 8 for the next round of talks.