As thousands of farmers staged fresh protests at the Delhi-Noida border, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar raised concerns over the lack of dialogue between the government and the agitating farmers. Addressing an event in Mumbai on Tuesday, Dhankhar directly questioned Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan about the government's unfulfilled promises to farmers and called for urgent action to address their grievances.

The Vice President criticized the absence of meaningful engagement with farmers, describing it as a reflection of flawed policymaking. “Why is there no dialogue with the farmers? Why hasn’t this initiative taken place so far?” he asked, emphasizing that ignoring farmers' issues could lead to severe consequences for the nation. He warned against testing their patience, stating, "No force in the country can suppress the voice of the farmer without the nation paying a heavy price."

Drawing inspiration from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's role in unifying India, Dhankhar urged Minister Chouhan to view resolving farmers' issues with equal importance. "You are the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. Sardar Patel united the nation, and today, this challenge lies before you. It is no less significant than the unity of India," he said.

The Vice President also expressed concern over the plight of farmers, questioning why they continue to suffer despite the country’s growing global reputation. “A prosperous India cannot exist if our farmers remain in distress,” he remarked.

At the same event, Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan acknowledged the critical role of farmers in India's economy, stating, "Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and farmers are its soul." However, he refrained from addressing the ongoing protests directly.

The protests at the Delhi-Noida border intensified after farmers from Uttar Pradesh, whose "Delhi Chalo" march was stopped, demanded action on land compensation and unfulfilled promises. They warned of resuming their march to the national capital if their demands were not met within seven days.

In addition, a separate group of farmers from the Haryana-Punjab border, agitating since February for the legalisation of Minimum Support Price (MSP), has announced plans to march towards Delhi on foot starting December 6.

The farmers’ growing unrest underscores the urgent need for dialogue and concrete action to address their concerns.