Chhavi Bhatia

New Delhi—With the farmers’ protest on various borders of Delhi set to complete six months next week and 11 rounds of talks between the farmer unions and the government ending into a deadlock, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday warned the Centre to “not test their patience, initiate the dialogue and accept the demands”.

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, are holding peaceful sit-in at three Delhi border points – Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur – for almost six months, demanding repeal of the controversial three farm laws and legal guarantee for the minimum support Price (MSP) among two other issues.

“… More than 470 farmers have been martyred in the farmers’ movement. Many agitators have had to leave their jobs, education and other work. The government’s attitude meanwhile shows how inhuman and careless it is towards its own citizens, the ”anna daatas”. If the government cares about its farmers and wants their welfare, then it should initiate dialogue with the farmers and accept their demands,” the SKM said in a statement, warning the government to “not test the patience of farmers”.

Since the agitation began, 11 rounds of talks between the protesting unions and the government have been held, all inconclusive as both the sides remain steadfast on their stand.

In January, the government had offered to suspend the farm laws for 12-18 months, which was rejected by the farmer unions.

The Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the laws till further orders and set up a committee to resolve the impasse.

When this government, which “pretends” to do the welfare of farmers, takes “full credit” for increasing production or export in any crop or state, it should also take responsibility for every “human loss and other loss” taking place on the borders of Delhi, the SKM, an umbrella body of agitating farmer unions, said.

The incessant rains that lashed Delhi on Wednesday as an impact of cyclone Tauktae, according to the protesting farmers’ union, caused massive “disruption and losses” at the different protest sites.

“It has been a chaotic situation with regard to food and accommodation, due to the rain. Roads and several parts of the protest sites have been filled up with rainwater,” the union said.

“… For six months now, in all such circumstances, in the absence of any government facilities and support, the protesting farmers themselves are handling such situations,” it further said.

The centre says the new farm laws will free farmers from middlemen, giving them more options to sell their crops.