New Delhi: The farmers' representatives have turned down the Centre's second pitch for a committee to discuss the contentious farm laws, protests against which are intensifying by the day. "Now is not the time for a committee," sources quoted farmers' representatives as saying at the meeting with three central ministers this evening.
A second meeting will be held on December 3. More farmers from Punjab and khaps from Haryana are making their way to the national capital, demanding that the laws be repealed. The farmers have said they will continue the protest if their demands are not accepted.
Over the last five days, thousands of farmers, braving water cannons, tear gas and barricades of the Haryana police, have reached the borders of Delhi. While some of them have managed to enter the city, the rest are sitting at the border areas, saying they are ready to do what it takes to see the end of the three farm laws passed by parliament earlier this year.
Here are the live updates of the farmers' protest:
Dec 02, 2020 00:06 (IST)
"Identify Specific Issues": Centre To Farmers After 3rd Round Of Talks
Farmers protesting the controversial new farm laws have been given 24 hours to identify "specific issues" related to the Farm Reforms Acts ahead of a fourth round of talks with the central government, the Agriculture Ministry said Tuesday night after a meeting with reps from 32 farmers organisations.
"During the interaction, it has been suggested by the Government to the representatives of Farmers Union to identify specific issues related to Farm Reform Acts and share (these) with the Government for consideration. These issues will be discussed during the fourth round," a ministry statement said.
Dec 01, 2020 22:28 (IST)
"Come To Our Langar ForJalebi, Pakoda Tea": Farmer Leaders To Minister
Farmer union leaders on Tuesday invited Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar to their protest site and offered to serve him ''jalebi'' and ''pakoda'', along with tea at their langar (community kitchen), after they were offered tea by the minister during a marathon meeting with the government over their ongoing agitation against three new farm laws.
"Tomar Saheb requested us to have tea during the break between the meeting, but we in return extended him an invitation to accompany us to our protest site where we are serving tea along with jalebi and pakodas in langar. This led to laughter all around," Jamhuri Kisan Sabha's Kulwant Singh Sandhu told PTI.
Dec 01, 2020 21:42 (IST)
More Farmers Likely To Join Protests, Cops Told To Show Restraint
Numbers swelling at Delhi's borders amid huge protests against the controversial farm laws, security forces have been told by the government to show restraint, officials have told NDTV.
Many more farmers' bodies are likely to join the protesters, according to the inputs received by the Home Ministry. "We have information that farmers from Nanital and Amritsar would be joining protesting farmers," a senior officer revealed.
According to him, these group of farmers are arriving in large number in tractors and trucks. "Farmers from Amritsar and Nanital are reaching Gazipur border (Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border), and since there are restrictions on entering the national capital, they have been camping on the outskirts," he adds.
Dec 01, 2020 21:25 (IST)
"Should They Come With Oxen?": AAP On VK Singh's Comment On Farmer Pics
Shortly after Minister of State VK Singh said the thousands of men and women protesting the centre's new farm laws "do not appear to be farmers", Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hit back and asked if they needed to "come with plough and oxen to appear like farmers".
"Many of the people in (the) pictures do not appear to be farmers," Mr Singh was quoted by news agency ANI on Tuesday evening, in comments that suggested a "farmer" must have a certain look.
"What is in the interest of farmers has been done. It is not the farmers who have a problem with this (the farm laws) but others. Besides (the) opposition, people who get a commission are behind it (the protests)," the union minister added.
Dec 01, 2020 20:35 (IST)
BJP's Haryana ally urges Centre to find quick solution to farmers' issues
Amidst the ongoing farmers' protest at Delhi-Haryana border and central government's meeting with farmer unions, Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) founder Ajay Chautala on Tuesday asked the central government to come up with a "quick and unanimous solution" to farmers' issues.
Ajay Chautala, the founder of JJP, BJP's ally in the Haryana government, told reporters, "The Centre should take note of the demands of protesting farmers. A unanimous solution should be implemented quickly to put an end to farmers'' troubles. The sooner the solution to the farmers'' problem, the better. We have urged for the same from those who are sitting in the government."
Dec 01, 2020 20:04 (IST)
"Should They Come With Oxen?": AAP On VK Singh's Comment On Farmer Pics
Shortly after Minister of State VK Singh said the thousands of men and women protesting the centre's new farm laws "do not appear to be farmers", Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hit back and asked if they needed to "come with plough and oxen to appear like farmers".
"Many of the people in (the) pictures do not appear to be farmers," Mr Singh was quoted by news agency ANI on Tuesday evening, in comments that suggested a "farmer" must have a certain look.
"What is in the interest of farmers has been done. It is not the farmers who have a problem with this (the farm laws) but others. Besides (the) opposition, people who get a commission are behind it (the protests)," the union minister added.
Dec 01, 2020 16:56 (IST)
"Ill-Informed": India Reacts Sharply To Trudeau's Farmer Protest Remarks
Comments by Canadian leaders relating to farmers in India are "ill-informed" and "unwarranted", India said today after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau weighed in on the farmers' protest, saying the "situation is concerning".
"We have seen some ill-informed comments by Canadian leaders relating to farmers in India. Such comments are unwarranted, especially when pertaining to the internal affairs of a democratic country," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said in the government's rebuttal to Mr Trudeau's statements.
"It is also best that diplomatic conversations are not misrepresented for political purposes," India said in the terse message.
Dec 01, 2020 16:18 (IST)
"I have withdrawn my support to this anti-farmer government. This government instead of sympathising with farmers' cause used all measures like water cannons, tear gas to stop them from marching to Delhi. I cannot continue my support to such a government," Sombir Sangwan, Haryana MLA, said.
