Farmers' demands are valid, CM Kejriwal lends support to Bharat Bandh call

The visit comes a day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) extended its support to the 'Bharat Bandh' called by farmers' organisations on Dec 8

As farmers' organisations all set to go ahead with the Bharat Bandh, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday visited the Delhi-Haryana border at Singhu where thousands of farmers are protesting against three controversial farm laws and reviewed the arrangements made for them by his government.

Kejriwal was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, other ministers and party MLAs during the brief visit during which he said they were working as 'sewadaars'. He said he came there not as Chief Minister but as a 'sewadaar' to serve the farmers and that it was his responsibility to support the farmers.

He said, "I hope soon a solution is reached...We were under a lot of pressure to allow the use of stadiums as temporary prisons. The Centre had a full proof plan to put the farmers into jails located in the stadiums to end the movement. But we listened to our conscience and refused to do it," Kejriwal said.

Follow latest updates on the farmers' protests here

Kejriwal's visit comes a day after AAP announced its support for the December 8 Bharat Bandh.

The Chief Minister said AAP will participate in the nationwide strike and expressed hope that the whole country joins it peacefully. He appealed to people to join and support the farmers.

"I have come to survey the arrangements. The toilets are clean. Water isn't reaching all points so a motor and a pipeline will be placed.The farmers said they are happy with the arrangements. Our MLA Jarnail Singh spent the night here in support of them. All our volunteers and party members are involved in serving the farmers," he said.

He said the farmers had put in all their hard work and efforts and grown food for us. "They are in a huge problem today, and it is the responsibility of all the citizens of the country to stand with the farmers and work for their service," he said as he pledged support for the Bharat Bandh.

Separately, Delhi Agriculture Minister Gopal Rai said he has requested the Centre to legalise the Minimum Support Price regime by following the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission.

Attending a meeting with Union Ministers of State for Agriculture Purushotham Rupala and Kailash Choudhary Narendra Singh Tomar and his counterparts in Punjab and Haryana, he said the Centre should not delay in accepting the demands of the farmers and resolve the deadlock on a priority basis.

"I have also told the Centre that they must listen to the demands of the farmers because for the last 11 days the farmers are protesting in this winter sitting on the streets. I have requested that tomorrow’s discussion with the farmers should be the last one and at the end of this, the government should accept the demands of the farmers. I have requested the Central Government to look into the matter with more empathy because senior citizens, women and children are on the streets this winter,” he said.