Farmers to fast today

New Delhi: Amid the deadlock over talks between farmers and the Centre, farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni announced on Sunday that the heads of all farmer unions will observe a one-day hunger strike on Monday. The hunger strike, between 8 am and 5 pm, is part of the farmers' plan to intensify their agitation from Monday.

Addressing a press conference at the Singhu border, where the farmers have been camping for the past three weeks, Chaduni said the leaders will observe the hunger strike at their respective places. "Also, dharnas will be staged at all district headquarters across the country. The protest will go on as usual," he said.

Farmers' leader Shiv Kumar Kakka said, "Government agencies have been stopping farmers from reaching Delhi, but the protest will continue till their demands are met. Our stand is clear, we want the three farm laws repealed. All farmer unions participating in this movement are together."

Another farmers' leader Rakesh Tikait said, "If the government gives another proposal for talks, our committee will decide on it. We appeal to all to maintain peace during the protest." Earlier in the day, Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Som Parkash met Union Home Minister Amit Shah amidst farmers' protests against the Centre's three agriculture laws. The ministers were accompanied by BJP leaders from Punjab. Tomar and Parkash, along with their ministerial colleague Piyush Goyal, had led the government's negotiations with the protesting farmers.

The Delhi Police on Sunday stepped up vigil on the national capital's border with Haryana as farmers plan to block the Jaipur National Highway-8, which passes through Gurgaon, as part of their. The city police had on Saturday had made elaborate security arrangements by deploying additional personnel and placing more concrete barriers after the farmer organisations announced their Delhi Chalo march from neighbouring states of Rajasthan and Haryana.