Kejriwal visits Singhu border, reviews arrangements for protesting farmers
New Delhi, December 7
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday visited the Singhu border, where thousands of farmers are protesting against the Centre’s new farm laws, and checked arrangements made for them by the city government.
The visit comes a day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) extended its support to the ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by farmers’ organisations on December 8.
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Kejriwal was accompanied by his Cabinet ministers and some party MLAs during the brief visit to the protest venue on the Delhi-Haryana border.
“I checked the arrangements. We received a lot of pressure to allow the use of stadia as temporary prisons but we did not give permission and I feel this helped the movement. Since then our party MLAs and ministers have been involved in ensuring that farmers do not face any discomfort,” he said.
“We are working like ‘sewadaars’. Here I have not come as a chief minister but as a ‘sewadaar’ to serve the farmers. It is our responsibility to support the farmers,” he told reporters.
On the bandh called by farmers on Tuesday, the Chief Ninister said, “AAP will participate in the nationwide strike. I hope the whole country joins it peacefully and I appeal to them 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,” he said.
“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,” Kejriwal added.
Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at various border points of Delhi against the new farm laws.
The Centre’s offer to amend the contentious laws failed to cut ice with farmer groups during the fifth round of talks on Saturday. PTI
