New Delhi: The farmers have been protesting against the agricultural laws, which were passed a year ago, since November. Their demand to have the three laws repealed by the Central government has fallen on deaf ears.
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a three-day US visit, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait on Friday thought of making their protest heard on a global level.
Hours ahead of Modi’s meeting with the US President, Tikait put out a tweet in which he urged Joe Biden to “focus” on the three contentious farm laws passed by the Indian government during their talks.
“Dear @POTUS, we the Indian Farmers are protesting against 3 farm laws brought by PM Modi’s govt. 700 farmers have died in the last 11 months protesting. These black laws should be repealed to save us. Please focus on our concern while meeting PM Modi,” the Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson tweeted with the hashtag #Biden_SpeakUp4Farmers.
Dear @POTUS, we the Indian Farmers are protesting against 3 farm laws brought by PM Modi’s govt. 700 farmers have died in the last 11 months protesting. These black laws should be repealed to save us. Please focus on our concern while meeting PM Modi. #Biden_SpeakUp4Farmers
— Rakesh Tikait (@RakeshTikaitBKU) September 24, 2021
Thousands of farmers, who have been protesting at different points of Delhi’s border for over 300 days, have vowed to continue till the laws are not rolled back.
While farmers fear these laws will leave them at the mercy of big corporations, the Centre has maintained that they are pro-farmer and offered to amend them.
Leaders of farmer unions have had 11 rounds of meetings with government ministers and representatives, but the impasse has not been resolved.
The protesting farmers have said they are ready for further talks with the government, but with no change in their demands.