India observes Kisan Diwas amid farmers’ protest in Delhi

Kisan Diwas or National Farmers’ Day that is observed on the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, December 23, is being witnessed in India on Wednesday amid extensive farmers protests in parts of the country, majorly at different Delhi border points. 

The National Farmers’ Day is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Singh, the fifth prime minister of India, who was born in a family of farmers and was known for his farmer-friendly policies. The Kisan Diwas is being observed in the nation since 2001 after the government decided to mark Charan Singh’s birthday as the national farmers’ day.

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However, this year the day is observed amid an intensified stir by the farmers, majorly from Punjab and Haryana who are staying put at the different border points to the national capital, including the Singhu border and the Tikri border in protest.

The farmers are protesting against the Centre’s three new farm laws, which were enacted in September, and their ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation has entered its 28th day on the occasion of Kisan Diwas. 

The farmer leaders have been demanding a complete withdrawal of the farm laws and they have held five rounds of talks with the central government, all of them which remained inconclusive. 

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday expressed hope that they will soon resume the dialogue over farm laws, but protesting farmer unions deferred a decision for fresh talks to Wednesday.