Boris Johnson meet India Farmers at Singhu, amidst UK Lockdown

New York City NY

03 January, 2021

11:50 AM

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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Sunday that COVID-19 lockdown measures there are “probably going to get tougher” since the country needs to be “realistic” about the alarming spread of a new, more contagious strain of coronavirus. Johnson said that there are “obviously a range of tougher measures that we would have to consider” as each region remains under a different tier of lockdown. “What we are doing now is using the tiering system, which is a very tough system… and, alas, probably about to get tougher to keep things under control,” Johnson told the BBC’s “The Andrew Marr Show.” Most of the country is currently at the highest Tier 4 level, which requires the closure of nonessential stores and places like gyms and recreation centers. Johnson said he wouldn’t “speculate” about what new rules might be enforced to stop the spread of the virus, but suggested that curfews and closing schools are on the table for areas with worsening outbreaks. “It’s not something we necessarily want to do,” Johnson said of the potential school closures. But Johnson said there’s likely to be a “tough period ahead” as a new strain of the virus continues to spread rapidly throughout the nation. “We’ve got to be realistic about the pace of which the new variant is spreading,” Johnson told the news show. “We’ve got to be realistic about the impact it’s having on the [United Kingdom National Health Service]. And we’ve got to be humbled in the face of this virus.” As the seventh round of talks between the famer groups and the central government will be held on Monday, farmer groups said on Friday that they would intensify their agitation if the government failed to resolve their demands for the repeal of the three controversial farm reforms and a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) during the meeting. Speaking to reporters at the Singhu border in Delhi, the leaders of the groups pointed out that only five per cent of the issues raised by them have discussed in meetings with the Union ministers. The farmers have also warned of a tractor rally on Wednesday if the reforms are not repealed. It has been over a month since farmers have been protesting against the farm reforms at several border points in the national capital. Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar told news agency PTI said that the Centre was hopeful of a positive outcome at the seventh round of talks with farmer groups adding that the previous meet held on December 30. Congress President Sonia Gandhi, appealed to Prime Minister Narender Modi to repeal the 3 #Farmlaws2020, passed in India Parliament, without holding any discussion with India Farmers Associations. Indus Foundation, UK, USA and Canada, have written to Prime Minister UK, Boris Johnson,  to meet India Farmers at Singhu Border, on his forthcoming visit to New Delhi, as Chief Guest on India's Republic Day-January 26th 2021., said Vikram Bajwa, President Indus Foundation. More than 50 Farmers have died in cold weather protesting to repeal #Farmlaws2020. Meanwhile the Government of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, K. Palaniswami has released Rs. 600 Crores, for farmers, as compensation, hit due to cyclones in Tamil Nadu. Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot are both slated to meet Prime Minister of UK., Boris Johnson on his forthcoming visit to India.