New Delhi: Punjab farmers today rejected Union home minister Amit Shah's proposal for a discussion on their grievances against the Centre's new farm laws. The farmers said the offer was a conditional one - the minister had said they should move their protest to a designation spot in the national capital if they agreed to talks.
They decided not to shift to the Burari ground in the national capital and stay put at the Delhi borders.
“We have decided that we will stay put at the Delhi borders. We will not go to Burari,” Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dakaunda) president Buta Singh Burjgill said.
The farmers' decision came after a meeting this morning, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his monthly radio address Mann ki Baat, showed support for the farm laws, saying the "agricultural reforms" have "unshackled" the farmers and given them "new rights and opportunities".
Thousands of farmers continue to camp in and around Delhi as their protest against the centre's contentious agricultural laws enters the fourth day.
Here are the highlights of the farmers' protest march in Delhi:
Nov 29, 2020 22:24 (IST)
Farmers' Protest Live: If Amit Shah can address public 1,200 km away, why can't he meet farmers? asks Congress
The Congress party on Sunday asked why Union Home Minister Amit Shah could address the public 1,200 km away in Hyderabad but not meet protesting farmers 15 km away.
"The farmers are sitting on the streets in the cold winter, but the Home Minister says that he will not have a conversation before they come to Burari. If you can travel 1,200 km to address a public meeting in Hyderabad, then why not talk to the farmers on the 15 km distant Shambhu border," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told ANI.
Mr Shah visited Hyderabad on Sunday to campaign for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections. The Centre has invited the protesting farmers for a talk on December 3.
Nov 29, 2020 21:50 (IST)
Farmers' Protest Live: Farmers' unions should create atmosphere for talks by leaving agitation, says agriculture minister
After the protesting farmers rejected Central government's proposal for dialogue on December 3, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday said the Centre is ready to hold talks but farmers' unions should create an atmosphere for the same by leaving the route of agitation.
"The government has proposed to meet on December 3 for the fourth time. So, talks are already going on, nobody should think the government isn't ready for it. The government is open for talks, but farmers' unions should create an atmosphere for it. They should leave the route of agitation and choose a way of talks," said Mr Tomar while talking to ANI.
Talking about farmers' demands, the minister said the laws were amended to bring in reform in the life of farmers and are ''definitely'' in their favour.
Nov 29, 2020 19:40 (IST)
Farmers Protest Updates: Haryana Chief Minister slams Punjab counterpart over "lack of coordination" on farmers protest
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday hit back at his Punjab counterpart Captain Amarinder Singh over "lack of coordination" on farmers protest.
"If any dangerous situation arises due to coronavirus, the Punjab government will be responsible for it. I tried to speak to Amarinder Singh on this matter but he denied receiving any call. Later when I showed the proof, he was left speechless," Mr Khattar said.
"A Chief Minister of one state doesn't use cuss words against a CM of another state. I am not going to comment on this, people are already expressing their views on social media and elsewhere. Provacating protest is a pre-planned strategy of Congress party and Punjab government," the Haryana Chief Minister said.
Nov 29, 2020 18:58 (IST)
Farmers Protest Live: Amarinder Singh Slams Haryana Chief Minister
"If he (Haryana Chief Minister) was so concerned about farmers spreading COVID-19 in Haryana whose track record in the pandemic remains extremely poor, he should not have stopped them within the State, but should have allowed them to move quickly to Delhi," said Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh
Nov 29, 2020 18:23 (IST)
Farmers Protest Live: Opposition parties, middlemen misleading protesting farmers, says Junior Minister
Asserting that farmers are being instigated by certain political parties and middlemen, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Sunday said there are no protests by farmers against the farm laws in any part of the country except Punjab.
"There are no protests by farmers in any part of the country except Punjab. The farm laws are for the welfare of the farmers. The farmers protesting in Delhi are unaware of this or they are being purposefully instigated by certain political parties," Mr Muraleedharan told reporters.
Claiming that the farm laws have guaranteed protection to farmers from middlemen, Mr Muraleedharan said that these middlemen are now angry and misleading people.
Nov 29, 2020 17:51 (IST)
Farmers Protest Live: Farmers should leave agitation and choose talks, say Agriculture Minister
"Government has proposed to meet on December 3 for fourth time. So, talks are already going on, nobody should think government isn't ready for it. Government is open for talks, farmers' unions should create atmosphere for it. They should leave agitation and choose talks," said Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar
Nov 29, 2020 17:31 (IST)
Farmers Protest: Won't allow any political party leader to speak on our stage, say farmers
"We have decided that we won't allow any political party leader to speak on our stage, be it Congress, BJP, AAP or other parties. Our Committee will allow other organisations, who are supporting us, to speak if they follow our rules," said Surjeet S Phul, President, BKU Krantikari (Punjab).
Nov 29, 2020 17:17 (IST)
Farmers Protest Live: Will go home if Centre accepts our demands, say farmers
"We were told there will be a meeting on Monday without any conditions but we received a letter with conditions. If they accept our demands, we will go back home," said farmers.
Nov 29, 2020 17:12 (IST)
Farmers Protest Live: MSP will stay till the old system is in place, say farmers
"They are saying MSP will stay. But, it will only stay until the old system is in place. If the old system makes way for the new one, it will fall in the hands of corporate and they will try to buy produce in their own prices. The price will fall and the economy of the state will crash due to this," said farmers.
Nov 29, 2020 17:08 (IST)
Delhi Protest Site An Open Jail, Won't Go There, Say Farmers
"The condition put forward for talks is an insult to farmers. We will never go to Burari ground . It is not a ground but an open jail," said Surjeet Singh Phul, State President of BKU Krantikari (Punjab) on ,Union Home Minister Amit Shah's offer to hold talks before December 3.
Nov 29, 2020 17:06 (IST)
Farmers Protest: We want penalty on stubble burning to be scrapped, say farmers
"Government is imposing a penalty of Rs 1 crore and jail term for stubble burning. We don't agree to this. They should scrap it. The Supreme Court had done a survey that Indian farmers only cause 4-5 per cent pollution. This was a way to penalise and punish farmers," said farmers.
Nov 29, 2020 17:03 (IST)
Farmers' Protest Live: We want new farm bills scrapped, say farmers
"The three new laws are anti-farmers. We want them scrapped. These laws are anti-farmer and pro corporate, so we want them removed," said farmers.
Nov 29, 2020 17:00 (IST)
Farmers Protest Live: The Centre's offer was conditional, say farmers
"The Centre put conditions on their offer, which is wrong. They should have been generous with their offer. The government is at one hand saying that farmers are coming in the cold and on the other hand handing out conditional letters. We would not have been so aggressive had the government welcomed us at the border and sat with us for talks," said farmers in a press conference.
