Farmers' Protests: The farmers have called a nationwide shutdown on Tuesday.
Farmers protesting the centre's new farm laws have agreed to a sixth round of talks - scheduled for Wednesday - after today's meeting yielded no breakthrough on the key issue - the repeal of the three farm laws. The government, during the meeting, said it needs more time for internal discussion. It told the farmers that it will place the proposal on December 9.
During the fifth round of talks between the government and protesting farmers in Delhi, the farmers' representatives asked the Centre to give a point-wise written reply of the last meeting, to which the government agreed. Farmers, during the talks at Vigyan Bhawan, said that they need a solution or commitment. Farm leaders have said that they will end their protests only after the government promises a "complete rollback" of the controversial farm laws.
Earlier today, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter's residence, where, sources say, amending the laws was discussed. "Farmers' doubts will be cleared in today's meeting with the centre. Opposition is instigating the protesters. We expect farmers will roll back protest," Junior Agriculture Minister Kailash Choudhary said earlier today.
The farmers have called a nationwide shutdown on Tuesday, saying they will occupy all highway toll gates across the country and not allow the government to collect tolls as part of the December 8 strike.
Here are the Highlights on farmers' protests:
"Don't test their patience": Congress to PM Modi on farmers' protestsThe Congress told Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to test the patience of farmers and said he should immediately repeal the "black" farm laws after apologising to them.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that farmers in Bihar are in trouble without the MSP system and APMC Act and now the entire country has been "pushed into this well".
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said: "The interests of capitalists cannot be bigger than crores of farmers of the country. Follow Rajdharma." "Modi ji, Why are you playing with the country's food providers and public sentiment? Don't test their patience. Pick up the pen and apologize to the food providers and repeal the black farm laws immediately," he wrote on Twitter.
Centre's ordinances turned into "death warrants" for farmers: TMC's Abhishek BanerjeeWith talks between the central government and agitating farmers deadlocked despite several rounds of talks over the last few days, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee lashed out at the Centre for introducing three agricultural laws, which he said have affected the farmers.
Taking to Twitter, he said: "Under Narendra Modi ''s watch, the government passed three ordinances that have turned into ''death warrants'' for our farmers - the very backbone of our society. The ordinances were passed without consulting farmers and by simply silencing all voices."
Farmers Protest LIVE: Uttar Pradesh chief minister asks officials to hold dialogue with farmer unions over protestsUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials to maintain vigil in view of the farmers' agitation and also hold dialogue with their representatives, according to an official statement.
Mr Adityanath has asked the officials to hold a dialogue with representatives of farmer unions in all the districts of the state on the issue of the scheduled nationwide strike on Tuesday, as well as other programmes. He directed the commissioners, district magistrates, police chiefs to take all necessary precautions, the release said.
Noida police diverts traffic towards DND due to farmers' protestsThe Noida police has diverted traffic towards the DND (Delhi Noida Direct) flyway at the inter-state border after protesting farmers blocked the road leading to Delhi.
"Farmers sitting on Chilla border road have blocked Noida to Delhi. We have diverted traffic towards the DND (Delhi Noida Direct) flyway, so the public should not face any inconvenience. We have diverted traffic to two-three different points, which are our inter-state border points," Love Kumar, Additional CP (Law and Order), Noida said.
Farmers Protest LIVE: Heavy traffic as protests continue at Delhi bordersTraffic moved at a slow speed on key routes in Delhi as thousands of protesting farmers stayed put at the national capital's borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for the 10th day on the trot.
The Delhi Traffic Police took to Twitter to inform commuters about the closure of Singhu, Lampur, Auchandi, Safiabad, Piao Maniyari, and Saboli borders. It also said that National Highway-44 was closed on both sides.
The police instructed commuters to take alternative routes via National Highway-8, Bhopra, Apsara border, and Peripheral expressway. "Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba & GTK road. Avoid Outer Ring Rd , GTK road, NH 44," the Delhi Traffic Police tweeted.
Farmers Protest LIVE: No threat to MSP, says agriculture ministerAgriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar says the government is ready to strengthen the APMC. "If anyone has any doubts, we will clear them."
"Today, different issues were discussed. We wanted a fair solution, but it couldn't happen during the talks. There will be a meeting on December 9. We have said that the MSP will continue, there is no threat to it."
He said the government has told the farmers that it will deliberate on all their issues. "We will try to find a solution." The minister said: "If we would have got some solutions from the farmers' leaders, it would have been easier. We will still wait for that."
He also requested the farmers' unions to send the elderly and the children home from protest sites due to winter and the risk of COVID-19.
Farmers agree to sixth round of talks on WednesdayFarmers protesting the centre's new farm laws have agreed to a sixth round of talks - scheduled for Wednesday - after today's meeting yielded no breakthrough on the key issue - the repeal of the three farm laws.
The government, during the meeting, said it needs more time for internal discussion. It told the farmers that it will place the proposal on December 9.
Centre proposes another meeting on Monday, farmers hold silent protestDuring the ongoing talks with the government, the farmers held placards written "Yes or No". They are on a silent protest asking the government to answer whether they will repeal the laws or not.
The farmers have told the government that they don't want this meaningless discussion to continue. They want the answer whether government will repeal the law or not.
The Centre has proposed another meeting on Monday.
J&K Congress protests in support of farmers' agitationThe Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Congress today staged a protest in Jammu to express solidarity with the ongoing farmers' agitation and demanded the immediate rollback of the recently introduced farm laws in the country.
Led by J&K Congress vice president and former minister Raman Bhalla, the protesters assembled outside the party headquarters at Shaheedi chowk and held a peaceful protest to show their opposition to the "anti-farmer farm laws".
Farmers' Protest Latest News: Congress did nothing for farmers in 50-year rule, says Union MinisterUnion Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for criticising the Centre over the farmers' protest and said that the party who ruled the country for maximum years failed to bring reforms for the farmers.
"The people making such statements are the ones who ruled the country for 50 years and they did not work in the interest of farmers and agriculture. They never introduced reforms that would have benefited farmers, their lands, or their livelihoods," Mr Naqvi said.
Farmers' Protest Updates: Rashtriya Janata Dal protests in Patna in support of farmersRashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), along with other Mahagathbandhan parties, held a demonstration in Patna's Gandhi Maidan in solidarity with the protesting farmers across the country.
"The bill is against farmers, and we demand that the Centre repeals the black laws and resolve all the issues of farmers. In India more than 60 per cent people are farmers. We stand with their demands," said RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.
Farmers' Protest LIVE: Left parties support call for Bharat Bandh on December 8The Left parties have extended their support to the farmer organisations' call for a "Bharat Bandh" on December 8 and urged other opposition parties to join forces against the recent farm laws.
The parties, including Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), Revolutionary Socialist Party and All India Forward Bloc, also extended their solidarity with the ongoing agitation by farmers.
The Left parties condemned the BJP for its "malicious campaign on preposterous charges" against the farmers, who it said are struggling to safeguard Indian agriculture and the country's food security. They also supported their demand to scrap the three farm laws and demanded the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020, be also scrapped.
Farmers' union to go through minutes of the last meetingThe Centre has given the minutes of the last meeting and their proposal in written to the farmers' union representatives.
The farmers' union will go through it and the meeting will resume after 15 minutes.
Farmers Protest Latest News: Centre for Indian Trade Unions issues statement to support Bharat Bandh
Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) issues a statement to support the call given for Bharat Bandh on 8th December by the protesting Farmer Unions.
"Centre of Indian Trade Unions expresses its total support and solidarity to the Janata Curfew/ Bharat Bandh called by the Delhi Chalo Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the joint platform of peasants' organisations on 8th December 2020," it said in a statement.
Farmers Protest Latest News: Farmers Add Music To Long Days Of Protest, Install DJ System On Tractor
Indicating their preparedness to camp along Delhi borders for as long as it takes for a rollback of the three contentious laws on agricultural reforms, farmers have added another "essential" to the exhaustive list of supplies they are carrying - a DJ system. (Read full story
here)
Just In: Fifth round of talks begin between centre and farm leaders at Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan.
Farmers March in Delhi LIVE Updates: "Won't Accept Government's Offer To Amend Laws," Say Farm Leaders
Farmer leaders have said that they will not accept government's offer to amend the laws. "We want the withdrawal of the laws. We won't accept government's offer to amend the laws," Harsulinder Singh of Doaba Kisan Sangharsh Committee was quoted as saying by ANI.
Farmer leaders with government officials ahead of talks at Vigyan Bhawan. A farmer leader reportedly told officials that they will not even drink water provided by the government the during meeting. During the fourth round of talks, farmers had refused to accept food and tea offered by the government. "They offered us food, we denied and are sticking to our langar which we have brought with us," a farmer leader said.
Farmers Protest Latest News: Key Delhi-Noida road closed due to farmers' stir
A key route connecting Noida and Delhi was completely closed on Saturday. The Delhi-Noida Link Road via Chilla border had one carriageway (Delhi to Noida) open until Saturday morning, however, the protesters blocked it at around 11 am.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Ganesh Saha said, "The closure of the route is not official and we are assessing the situation." The district traffic police had earlier advised commuters to opt for the Delhi-Noida Direct expressway or Kalindi Kunj routes instead of the Chilla border to travel to and fro Delhi.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) holds protest at Patna's Gandhi Maidan against the Centre's Farm laws. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, "We demand that the Centre repeals the black laws."
Only repealing of agri laws will end farmers'' stir: Farmer leader
Only repealing of the new farm laws will end the stalemate, an All India Kisan Sabha official said on Saturday, according to news agency PTI
"There is no doubt in our minds that only repeal of the laws will end the agitation. We will not budge. We want the government to take their proposals to the Parliament and let a Parliamentary committee discuss the issues. We will not agree to anything short of repeal of the laws," AIKS finance secretary Krishna Prasad said.
Farmer leaders leave from Singhu border for Vigyan Bhawan to hold fifth round of talks with the Central government on the farm laws. (ANI)
Farmers Protest Updates: Centre, farmers to hold 5th rounds of talks at 2 pm
Today's talks - the third in a week - will take place at 2 pm at Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan where Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Union Minister Piyush Goyal will be present.
Farmers' doubts will be cleared in today's meeting with Centre: Junior Agriculture Minister
The government has said it was confident that the farmers will roll back protest against the farm laws. "Farmers' doubts will be cleared in today's meeting with Centre. In recent meetings, some issues were clarified. It's Opposition's politics, they're instigating the protest. The meeting will be fruitful & we expect farmers will roll back protest," MoS Agriculture, Kailash Choudhary, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
JUST IN: Meeting between PM Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar is over. The meeting took place at PM Modi's residence ahead of the fifth round of talks between the government and protesters over the contentious farm laws.
Farmers Protest Latest News: Government May Agree To Amend Farm Laws, PM Meets Top Ministers, say Sources
Sources say that the centre may consider amending the controvversial farm laws. Thousands of farmers camping around Delhi-borders are insistent on the laws being repealed.
Farmers Protest Updates: Rahul Gandhi hits out at Centre over MSP, APMC
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today hit out at PM Modi over the minimum support price (MSP) and Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act and also urged citizens to support the protests led by farmers.
"Farmers of Bihar are in a lot of trouble without MSP-APMC and now the PM has pushed the entire country into this well. In this situation, it is the duty of every citizen to stand with farmers," read Gandhi''s tweet roughly translated from Hindi.
"Government has no ego": Agriculture minister suggests government open to expand talks on farm laws
The Central government has defended the new laws and said they only give an option to farmers to sell to private buyers. After a seven-hour long meeting on Thursday, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said "the government has no ego", suggesting it is open to expand the discussion.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar arrive at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence ahead of centre's talks with farmers: Sources
Farmers Protest Latest News: Farmers, Centre to meet at 2 pm at Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan
Farmer union leaders will hold fifth round of talks with the government today. The talks - the third in a week - will take place at 2 pm at Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan. Thursday's talks fell through after the farmers' representatives made a 39-point presentation on the inadequacies of the contentious new farm laws. Before the massive protest began last week, the centre had held similar discussions twice before, trying to convince farmers that new agricultural laws are meant to bring reforms.
A nationwide shutdown has been called by the protesting farmers on Tuesday (December 8). Last evening, as 40 farmers' union met at Delhi-Haryana border, they said they'll block all roads to the national capital, adding they'll also occupy all highway toll gates across the country.
RSS-affiliate farmer union says it is against use of force on farmers
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh- affiliate Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) has urged the Centre to resolve issues being raised by farmers regarding the three agriculture laws through dialogue and also urged the farmers to not become victim of ploys by political parties, reported news agency ANI.
"We are awaiting talks with the government scheduled for December 3, for taking any decision on this. On December 3 the government has called all agitating farmers unions for talks. Pending the outcome of this meeting, the BKS will take a decision on the issue," BKS organizing secretary Dinesh Kulkarni told ANI.
Farmers' protest: Railways diverts, short terminates trains in Punjab again
Western Railway on Friday said it had to divert a few trains and short terminate and accordingly short originate some others.
Bandra Terminus-Amritsar Special train, whose journey commences on December 5, will be short terminated at Chandigarh and remain partially cancelled between Chandigarh and Amritsar.
Consequently, Amritsar-Bandra Terminus Special train will short originate from Chandigarh on December 7 and will remain partially cancelled between Amritsar and Chandigarh.
Harsimrat Badal vs Amarinder Singh amid farmers' protest
Political leaders in Punjab have been accusing each other of politics over farmers' protest. On Friday, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh attacking former Union minister, Shiromani Akali Dal's Harsimrat Kaur Badal, over the contentious farm laws passed by the Centre recently.
"Is she illiterate that she can't read?" Mr Singh said in a statement, pointing out that Ms Badal, who resigned when outrage against the laws mounted, was part of the union cabinet when they were passed.
In her reply, Ms Badal tweeted:
India Protests Trudeau's Remarks On Farmers' Agitation: "May Impact Ties"
India on Friday summoned Canadian High Commissioner Nadir Patel, and told him that the comments made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and others in his cabinet on the farmers'' protest constituted an "unacceptable interference" in the country''s internal affairs and these actions, if continued, will have a "seriously damaging" impact on the bilateral ties. (Read full story
here)
"Block All Roads To Delhi": Farmers Call For 'All-India Bandh' On Tuesday
Farmer union leaders will hold fifth round of talks with the government today over the controversial farm laws that they want repealed. The farmers have called a nationwide shutdown on Tuesday, saying they will occupy all highway toll gates across the country and not allow the government to collect tolls as part of the December 8 strike. (Read full story
here)
For all the updates on yesterday's developments, click
here