Kejriwal to fast for farmers cause today

New Delhi: AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said he would hold one-day fast on Monday in support of farmers protesting the three farm laws and also urged the workers and supporters of his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to join him.

Kejriwal also asked the Union government to roll back the three farm laws, which were implemented by the Centre in September, and demanded a new Bill to ensure minimum support prices (MSP) for farmers – currently a policy issue – be drafted and tabled.

"I request all party (AAP) supporters and people across the country to observe fast for a day tomorrow (Monday) in solidarity with protesting farmers. I shall be observing a day's fast too… Let's support our farmers from our homes. I understand that it is not possible for many of us to be physically present in the (state) border points where the protesting farmer groups have gathered," Kejriwal said in a virtual media briefing on Monday.

On the people being called "anti-national" for supporting the protesting farmers, Kejriwal reminded of 2011 Anna Hazare-led movement against corruption, saying that the Congress then had done a similar thing to disregard the movement. "In the last few days, I have seen several ministers and BJP leaders calling the protesting farmers anti-national. I have a question for them: So many ex-servicemen, sportspersons, artistes, doctors, lawyers, businessmen have been supporting the protests in some way or the other – are they all anti-national?