United Opposition urges President Kovind to support farmers, persuade govt

Till early in the day, government representatives said they were hopeful the problem would be resolved.

From Shiv Sena to Shiromani Akali Dal, every malcontent that has any grievance against the government banded together to assure protesting farmers of their support as the government assessed its options in dealing with the second phase of the agitation after the farmers turned down assurances on minimum support price and other farm issues. 

“All our adversaries have been brought on one stage, because of these Bills,” said a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader.

The agitating farmers and the government are now locked in a classical stand-off, both adopting maximalist positions, with even the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated farm bodies unable to