Farmer unions to begin relay hunger strike today as govt presses for next round of talks

Farmer unions protesting at Delhi border points have announced to observe a relay hunger strike at all the protest sites to press for their demand to repeal the three farm laws. Farmers said that they will also halt toll collection on highways in Haryana from December 25 to 27.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, are protesting against the laws for the last over four weeks at various border points of Delhi.

Meanwhile, the Centre has invited representatives of the protesting farmers for fresh talks to end the deadlock as their agitation entered its 26th day on Monday. The letter, written by Joint Secretary, Agriculture, Vivek Aggarwal to the farmers’ representatives who had earlier participated in talks with the government, said, “Please provide a list of apprehensions and give appropriate dates so fresh talks can be initiated in Vigyan Bhavan so that the protest ends soon.”

In the letter, the government said that it is serious about farmers issues and had held many rounds of talks and also that it is trying to talk to farmers’ unions separately and take their feedback.

READ MORE: ‘With folded hands…’ PM Modi makes fervent appeal to farmers over farm laws; blasts opposition

The government had held five rounds of talks with the farmers’ union with the last one held with Union Home Minister Amit Shah but the farmers had rejected the offers given by the government.

The farmers, on December 9, had unanimously rejected the proposed amendments suggested by the Centre to the three controversial farm laws and had sought a complete rollback of the laws.

READ MORE: Govt reaches out to protesting farmers again, asks them to choose date for next talks

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