Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that he will observe one-day fast on Monday in order to show his support for farmers protesting at Delhi borders. Kejriwal also urged his party workers and supporters to do the same.“I appeal to AAP workers and supporters and the public to observe one-day fast tomorrow in support of farmers. I will also fast tomorrow,” Kejriwal said. The chief minister also attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and asked if everyone supporting the farmers’ agitation was anti-national. “Some central government ministers and BJP leaders are saying that farmers are anti-national. Many ex-servicemen, national and international players, singers, celebrities, doctors, traders are supporting the farmers. Want to ask BJP are all these people also anti-nationals,” he said.
The government has tried to engage leaders of the farmers' organisations with even Union Home Minister Amit Shah stepping in for talks, offering changes to the laws and written assurances, but the demonstrators have held their ground. The protesters, who braved a brutal police crackdown last month in BJP-ruled Haryana before being allowed into Delhi, have threatened to intensify their demonstrations by blocking national highways and holding a nationwide hunger strike on Monday. Voted through parliament in September with little debate, the laws only give an additional option to farmers to sell their produce, the government argues, but small farmers fear that once big corporate players enter the market, they will lose guarantees on prices.