What we are saying is not a new demand. That was a commitment to us by the Government. We had tried to draw the attention of Government towards those commitments again and again. But the Government showed no seriousness to date.
The Modi government has been in favour of farmers right from day one. We brought many schemes for them. The talks are failing because new demands are being added every day. We are ready to sit and talk. Violence and stone-pelting is not the solution, only peace can bring a solution.
This is Teokar Border on the Patiala-Pehowa Road. All arrangements have been made here. Sufficient force deployment has been done.
The situation that has formed is a matter of concern. The deadlock too is a matter of concern. I would like to tell the State government as well as the Central government that peaceful protest is everyone's right but attempts to suppress any protest against the Government is undemocratic. Putting up blockades in the path of anyone who wants to hold a peaceful protest is not a healthy democratic process. If the Government announces something and accepts demands but does not implement it - this is a huge matter. Shiromani Akali Dal has always stood with the farmers, stood with their rights. I would like to tell the Centre to implement the demands that they had accepted.
"They wanted to talk to the central government, but the central government (officials) has come here to talk. Talks have been held twice and they are not denying having further talks with them. Still, they are adamant about going to Delhi...Why do they want to go to Delhi? It seems that they have some other motive...We will not let peace be disturbed. They should withdraw their call..."
The demands that they (farmers) have requested, the majority of them have been fulfilled by the government. And about the remaining demands, concerned ministers like Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda, and Nityanand Rai have been talking to them (farmers) since last week.
Farmers had given a notice to the (Haryana) government for this peaceful protest long back. Not only water cannons and tear gas shells were used, rubber bullets were also fired (on protesting farmers). Such security arrangement, on Punjab-Haryana border and Delhi-Haryana border, is not there even on India-Pakistan border.
BJP must focus on humbling inflated egos, power-hungry ambitions instead of suppressing farmers' protest