New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Dy CM Manish Sisodia interact with the farmers while visiting the Guru Tegh Bahadur Memorial Delhi Museum to review the arrangements for the farmers agitating against new farm laws, at Singhu border in New Delhi, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said that the government wanted to arrest farmers to foil their bid to protest against the three farm laws. Speaking to reporters during his visit to the Singhu border (Haryana-Delhi border), where the farmers are protesting for the last 12 days, Kejriwal said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will extend support to the Bharat Bandh called by farmers on Tuesday.
"We support all demands of farmers. Their issue and demands are valid. My party and I have stood with them from the very beginning. At the beginning of their protests, Delhi Police had sought permission to convert 9 stadiums into jails. I was pressurised but didn't permit," the chief minister said.
"Our party, MLAs and leaders have been serving farmers as 'sevadars' ever since. I haven't come here as CM but as a 'sevadar'. Farmers are in trouble today, we should stand with them. AAP supports Dec 8th Bharat Bandh, party workers will participate in it across the nation," he added.
The AAP convenor also spoke to protesting farmers and inspected arrangements made for them by the city government. The CM was accompanied by his deputy Manish Sisodia and other ministers.
"The chief minister is talking to the farmers and we are inspecting the arrangements made in the area," Sisodia said.
Kejriwal had earlier said all AAP workers across the country will support the nationwide strike and appealed to all citizens to support the farmers. "The Aam Aadmi Party fully supports the ‘Bharat Bandh’ call made by farmers on December 8. AAP workers across the country will support it peacefully. There is an appeal to all countrymen that everyone should support the farmers and participate in it," he had tweeted.
AAP leader and Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said all volunteers and workers will participate in the strike to support the farmers.
"This is not just the farmers fight but the fight for all countrymen. India is an agricultural country and if farmers are unhappy then the country is affected. I appeal to all to join the protest," Rai said, in a video message.
Hardening their position, agitating farmers on Friday announced a 'Bharat Bandh' on December 8 and said they would occupy toll plazas on that day if their demands for repealing the agri-marketing laws are not met.
Talks between farmer leaders and Union ministers have turned out to be futile so far.
The farmers have rejected the Centre's proposal of amending the laws and have instead demanded that a special session of parliament be called to repeal the laws.
