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Agencies

Farmers head to Delhi to join agitation at borders; to block more highways today
12-December-2020

Protesting farmers have threatened to escalate their stir today and are likely to block more highways around Delhi. This comes after the government on Friday asked farmers to be vigilant against their platform being hijacked by "anti-social" as well as "Leftist and Maoist" elements. Photographs of some protesters at the Tikri border seen holding posters demanding release of activists arrested under various charges had gone viral, prompting Tomar to say that these "anti-social elements" are conspiring to spoil the atmosphere of the peasants' movement under the guise of farmers. Earlier on Thursday, the farm leaders had announced they would block railway tracks across the country if their demands were not met by the government and would announce a date for that soon.

At least five rounds of formal talks have taken place between the Centre and representatives of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, protesting on various borders of the national capital for about two weeks, but the deadlock has continued with the unions sticking to their main demand for the repeal of the three contentious laws. The sixth round of talks between the government and farm union leaders, which was scheduled for Wednesday morning, was cancelled.