NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Centre over the ongoing farmers’ protest at the Shambhu border, accusing the government of being “anti-farmer and anti-student” and alleging that it was acting solely for political gain.“This government is anti-farmer. This government is anti-student. It is acting solely for its own self-interest, for political gain. It cares neither for the farmers nor for the youth. But when the farmers, especially those from Punjab, arrive in Delhi, this government will be forced to flee Parliament,” Raut said.Meanwhile, the Haryana government said it had received the farmers’ memorandum and assured them that a meeting with Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan or other central government representatives would be arranged within the next 10 days.Haryana minister Shyam Singh Rana also said he would speak to chief minister Nayab Singh Saini regarding the arrest of BKU Charuni leader Gurnam Singh Charuni and resolve the matter by Tuesday evening.Rana said, “I have received the demands submitted by the farmers’ union, and we will forward them to the appropriate authorities so that all issues can be resolved. Regarding the matter concerning Gurnam Singh Charuni, I will speak to the Chief Minister and ensure a resolution by this evening. We will arrange a discussion with Union Minister Shivraj Chouhan, or whoever the central government designates, within a week or 10 days.“Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said the future course of the agitation would be decided only after the release of Charuni and another farmer leader, BM Singh.Pandher said the Haryana government had accepted the farmers’ demand for talks with the Centre and promised to send a formal communication confirming the meeting within eight to 10 days.“Haryana’s Agriculture Minister accepted our memorandum of demands; when we asked him to arrange a meeting with Union Minister Shivraj Chouhan, he said he would make the necessary arrangements. He assured us that his office would send us a letter within 8 to 10 days confirming the meeting. The dialogue will move forward from there; the outcome of the meeting is a matter for later. Secondly, we demanded the release of all farmer leaders and farmers. Officials stated that after consulting the Chief Minister, they would release Gurnam Singh Chaduni and BM Singh; these two demands were accepted,” Pandher told ANI.“Once they are released, we will discuss the matter and decide the future course of action for this movement whether to continue the sit-in here or proceed only after the talks,” the farmer leader added.Farmers held a “Chalo Delhi” protest against the proposed India-US trade deal, when they were stopped by the police force at the Shambhu Border.The farmers launched the protest after India agreed to “eliminate or reduce tariffs” on several American food and agricultural products, including dried distillers’ grains, red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruits, soybean oil, wine and spirits.(With ANI inputs)
