Raj Thackeray urges PM Modi to intervene and talk to farmers: 'How long will this go on?'

Lashing out at Centre over ongoing farmers' protest, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday, urged PM Modi to intervene to get a breakthrough in Centre-farmers' talks. Pointing out that PM Modi h said that he was a 'phone call away', he said that Centre must think about farmers sitting at Delhi's borders protesting. farmers held a 3-hour 'Chakka Jam' peacefully across India in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu, Maharashtra, Tamil Nu, Andhra Presh etc, as farmers continue to protest for 73 days.

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Thackeray: 'PM must intervene' 

"In “Mann ki Baat”, PM Modi was talking about some phone call. If that is case, n he should make that call and end stir. This is laughing matter. If agriculture minister and ors are failing, n PM should intervene. How long will this go on? How long will we let m sit in cold?

Talking about external forces' involvement, he said, "If re is some or force behind it, n tackle those. But think about rmal farmers sitting re. This is a matter that states and Centre can sit toger and resolve. law is good, but re could be some shortcomings in it which need to be ironed out."

Flag bearing Khalistani Bhindranwale's portrait spotted at Farmers' Chakka Jam in Ludhiana

Chakka Jam

umbrella body for farmers' protest, Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) called for a 3-hour 'Chakka Jam' from 12 on to 3 PM on Saturday, across India except Delhi, Uttar Presh and Uttarakhand.  BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said that sugar-cane farmers from UP and Uttarakhand were inconvenienced- opting to issue a memorandum to state government detailing ir demands, hence two states were exempted. Tikait said that farmers will provide food and water to people stuck in traffic, while explaining to m 'what Govt was doing to m'.

Rakesh Tikait gives three different reasons for ' Chakka Jam' in UP and Uttarakhand

Centre-Farmer talks stall

After 11 rounds of Centre-farmer talks, two parties failed to reach a middle ground on Friday after a five-hour meeting with associations refusing to agree to Centre's proposal for suspending implementation of aforesaid legislation for one and a half years. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar categorically said that Union government is rey for ar meeting only if farmers want to discuss this proposal. Supreme Court has stayed three laws and constituted a 3-member panel to hold talks with farmers. While Centre has welcomed this move, farmers have refused to participate in it, insisting to talk only with Centre.

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