Farmers vs Modi Govt: Cong to observe Jan 15 as Farmers’ Rights Day

The Congress party announced that it will observe 'Kisan Adhikar Diwas' (Farmers' Rights Day) on January 15 amid the ongoing farmers protest at the borders of Delhi. The event will be held on the next date of talks between the government and protesting farmer unions. Announcing the day's plan, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that party workers will hold 'Jan Andolans' at all state headquarters. Congress will also hold protest marches across the country and gherao the Governor's office in every state.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Surjewala said, “Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has decided that in support of agitating farmers, the party will organise ‘Kisan Adhikar Divas’ in its offices and will also gherao the Raj Bhavans in the state headquarters on January 15.”

Questioning why the government has now decided that the deadlock with farmers will be broken through a decision in the Supreme Court, Surjewala said, "People have elected this government and not the Supreme Court. Then why does the government want people to go elsewhere?"

The Congress party has time and again slammed the Union government over the farm laws. Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party is anti-farmers while Congress works towards their betterment. He said Congress will fight with the farmers to get the three farm laws repealed.

Earlier on Jan 8, the central government and the farmer unions held the eighth round of talks at the Vigyan Bhawan. The talks, however, remained inconclusive as the government told the farmer unions that it can't and won't repeal the farm laws the farmers are protesting against.

Several rounds of between the two sides held earlier have failed to resolve the deadlock, with the government firm the laws won’t be repealed, while the farmers are adamant on a complete rollback. Thousands of farmers have been camping at border points in Delhi and neighbouring states since November 26.

The next round of discussions will be held on January 15.