Will die for the farmers but will not bow down to anyone – Arvind Kejriwal

AAP leaders, including Kejriwal, volunteers observed hunger strike across the country in support of farmers

…Bhagwant Mann, Manish Sansodia, Jarnail Singh observed hunger strike in Delhi, Harpal Cheema, other leaders in Chandigarh

AAP MLAs, leaders, volunteers, participate at district level ‘dharnas’ in response to farmers call

Chandigarh, December 14

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab state unit President and MP Bhagwant Mann, along with  party MLAs, volunteers and senior leaders, observed a hunger strike on Monday in response to the nationwide protest call given by the farmers against the central farm laws. At the same time, various party MLAs and local leaders took active part in the district level farmers’ protests in the state.

Arvind Kejriwal also said that Aam Aadmi Party is with the farmers and their struggle in full spirits. He said that we will die for the farmers of this country but we will not bow down to anyone’s pressure. Kejriwal appealed to the central government that the simple demands of farmers be met and the central farm laws be revoke, and, legal guarantee on the purchase of MSP be provided.

In a statement issued from party headquarters on Monday, senior leader and Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema said that to send a strong message to the Union Government in support of the protesting farmers, party’s National Convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, MP Bhagwant Mann, Deputy Chief Minister Munish Sinsodia, Punjab Affairs In-charge Jarnail Singh, along with all MLAs and Rajya Sabha members, went on a hunger strike in Delhi, whereas he (Cheema) himself sat on hunger strike, along with MLAs and other leaders in Chandigarh, in solidarity with the farmers.

The Deputy Leader of Opposition Sarabjit Kaur Manuke participated in farmers’ ‘dharna’ at Ludhiana, MLA Prof. Baljinder Kaur at Bathinda, MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan at Faridkot, MLA Principal Budhram at Mansa and MLA Jai Krishan Singh Rouri at Hoshiarpur participated at the district level farmers’ dharna with local leaders and volunteers.

Harpal Singh Cheema on the occasion said that the Modi government wanted to torpedo the peasant movement before it reached any conclusive end, by converting the nine stadia in Delhi into temporary jails for the protesting farmers, but Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal foiled the attempt of the Modi government by flatly refusing the proposal, and supported the cause of the farmers fighting the big battle for survival and sustenance and stood rock solid with their movement, following which the Modi government was daggers drawn with the Kejriwal-led Delhi government.

Cheema said that both the Congress and the Akali Dal had been acting as the ‘B’ team of the ruling BJP and were trying to weaken the farmer movement, by siding with the corporate houses of Adanis and Ambanis. The LoP further said that the Congress had given a proof of this by holding a separate rally at the Sambhu border today, adding that  the farmers had been sitting on ‘dharnas’ at the Sambhu border for the last two months, questioning that where was the captain then. He said that the Aam Aadmi Party had been participating in the programs only in accordance with the action taken by the farmers’ organizations.

Harpal Cheema said that the Aam Aadmi Party workers had been standing shoulder to shoulder with the struggling farmers in their agitation sans any political ambitions using no flags, banners or other party symbols, as true ‘sevadars’ of the farmers, adding that the party’s  national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal himself had visited the Singhu border to meet the protesting farmers there and to review the facilities being provided by his government. He added that the very next day the Delhi Police, at the behest of the ruling BJP, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was put under house arrest.

Taking a jab at the Punjab chief minister Captain Aamrinder Singh, the LoP said that while the farmers of the country, including Punjab, were, on the one hand fighting their battle against Adanis, and other corporate houses, on the other, he (Captain) went on to ink a power pact with them, which amounted to stabbing the farmers in their back, saying he was indulging in skulduggery with the country’s ‘annadata’ at the behest of the Modi government.