Farmer protests: The agitation near Delhi's border began late November.
BJP leaders from Punjab today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi amid protests by farmers at Delhi's borders against the Centre's three new farm laws for nearly six weeks. The deadlock over the repeal of the contentious farm laws continued, with the Centre and the farmers unable to get on the same page in the seventh round of discussions. Sources said the government had proposed to discuss the farmers' demand for a legal guarantee for support price of crops, but the farmers' union leaders insisted on discussing the repeal of farm laws. The two sides have agreed to meet again on January 8.
Sanyukt kisan Morcha, the farmers' union which is part of the protests, has called a meeting to decide to decide on future course of action of the farmers protesting against the farm laws. The meeting at the Singhu border is being attended by 40 farm union leaders.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the central government should regularly talk to farmers, accept their demands to revoke the new farm laws and not make it a prestige issue.
"Why is the central government taking four days in between every meeting with the farmers? The farmers have clarified that central government must withdraw new agricultural laws. In this cold weather, the government should talk to farmers daily and must accept their demands," Mr Gehlot tweeted.
Here are the live updates on farmers' protests:
Issue Will Be Resolved Soon: Punjab BJP Leaders After 2-Hour Meet With PM"PM Modi knows a lot... all will be resolved and something good will happen. I cannot disclose what transpired in the meeting but something good will happen... when something is being conceived there are fears that it might get miscarriage," BJP's Harjit Singh Grewal told news agency PTI after the meeting. The prime minister understands Punjab very well, he is looking after the party's work and has travelled across the state, he said, adding that all issues related to Punjab were discussed in the meeting.
Farmers Protest: Farmer Unions To Boycott NDA Allies, Celebrate "Azad Hind Kisan Diwas" On Netaji's Birth AnniversaryFarmer unions today hinted at intensifying their protest against contentious agriculture laws and said that they would boycott BJP and its allies in National Democratic Alliance (NDA), reported news agency ANI. Addressing a press conference, Krantikari Kisan Union President Darshan Pal said that "Azad Hind Kisan Diwas" will be celebrated on January 23, on the occasion of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary.
"From January 6 to 20, Jan Jagaran Abhiyan will be held. We will continue to boycott the products and services of Adani and Ambani. Toll plazas in Haryana and Punjab will be free. We will expose BJP and their partners in NDA. We will boycott them and will show them black flags," Mr Pal said.
"On January 18, Mahila Kisan Diwas will be held. On January 23, on the occasion of birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Azad Hind Kisan Diwas will be celebrated and on January 25, 26, tractor parades will take place," he added.
Farmers Protest: No Justice For Farmers Fighting For Their Rights In Bitter Cold, Says Congress
As the nation approaches Republic Day, there is no relief for migrant labourers or justice for farmers protesting in the bitter cold, said Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Anand Sharma today, reported news agency ANI. Mr Sharma tweeted, "We are living in strange times. No relief for the migrant labour, no justice for India's farmers fighting for their rights in bitter cold, pouring rain, tear gas and braving lathis. As we approach Ganatantra Diwas, we need to reflect on the state of the republic."
Farmers Protest: Farmers Postpone Tractor Rally By A Day Over Bad Weather Forecast
Protesting farmer unions today deferred their proposed tractor march from January 6 to January 7 due to a bad weather forecast, even as they asserted they will intensify their stir in the coming days, reported news agency PTI. Addressing a press conference at Singhu Border, union leaders said thousands of farmers will take out a tractor rally from all protest sites to the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) on January 7. Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav said the decision to defer the march was taken over forecast of bad weather condition on Wednesday.
BJP Leaders From Punjab Meet PM Modi In Delhi Amid Farmers' ProtestBJP leaders from Punjab today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi amid protests by farmers at Delhi's borders against the Centre's three new farm laws for nearly six weeks. BJP leaders Surjit Kumar Jyani, who is also a former Punjab minister, and Harjit Singh Grewal met Prime Minister Modi at his residence. Surjit Jyani was chairing the BJP's Kisan Coordination Committee for interacting with farmers in Punjab last year on the three farm bills which at that time had not been passed by the parliament.
Farmers Protest: NGO Planning To Set Up 2-Bed Temporary Hospital At Singhu Border
Volunteers of an non-governmental organisation (NGO) are planning to set up a temporary hospital with two beds for the protesting farmers at the Singhu border, reported news agency PTI. The NGO, Life Care Foundation, had set up a medical camp at the Singhu border on November 30 last year. Sadiq Mohammad, a pharmacist and a volunteer of the NGO, said rain delayed their plans. "We had planned to start the emergency hospital from Wednesday, but it has been delayed due to rain. Our tent started leaking. We will install a tent with better waterproofing tomorrow. In another couple of days, the hospital will be set up in a portion of the tent," he said.
Farmers Protest: Will Begin Tractor Rally On January 7 At 11 AM, Says Yogendra Yadav
"We will deepen and broaden our movement. Earlier it was planned that on 6th we will organise a tractor rally. But now on 7th, we will march with tractors from the expressway on four sides at 11 am. We will approach from Kundli and Tikri. On the eastern side, we will march from Rewasan and Ghazipur. January 9 is the death anniversary of Sir Chhotu Ram. We will remember the peasant leader who gave us Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs). On January 13, Lohri will be celebrated as Farmers' Resolution Day. From tomorrow, we will run an awareness campaign across the country for two weeks," Yogendra Yadav said.
Farmers Protest: Delhi Traffic Police Ntify Alternate Traffic Routes As Entry Points To Delhi Remain ShutThe Delhi Traffic Police today informed that the Chilla and Ghazipur borders will remain closed for traffic, reported news agency ANI. They also advised commuters to take alternate routes.
"The Chilla and Ghazipur Borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida and Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. Please take alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Bhopra and Loni Borders," Delhi Traffic Police tweeted,
In another tweet, Delhi Traffic Police said, "Singhu, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari, Saboli and Mangesh borders closed. Please take alternate route via Lampur Safiabad, Palla and Singhu school toll tax borders. Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba and GTK road. Please avoid Outer Ring Road, GTK Road and NH-44."
"Tikri, Dhansa Borders are closed for any Traffic Movement. Jhatikara Borders is open only for LMV (Cars/ Light Motor Vehicles), two-wheelers and pedestrian movement", they added.
It also informed about alternate routes for entering Haryana.
"Available Open Borders to Haryana are following - Jharoda (Only Single Carriageway/Road), Daurala, Kapashera, Badusarai, Rajokri NH-8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam Vihar and Dundahera Borders", they tweeted.
Farners Protest: BJP Favouring Wealthy People Over Farmers, Says Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav today accused the BJP of favouring wealthy people over farmers, reported news agency PTI. Tweeting in Hindi, Akhilesh Yadav said, "The biggest problem with the BJP government is that it does not consider itself as a public representative (jan pratinidhi) but as wealth representative (dhan pratinidhi)." Hence, for the wealthy people, it is putting farmers' interest at stake, he said, adding that the BJP has forgotten that the ones it is causing harm to constitute two-third of the country's population.
The protesting farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been at the border points of the national capital for almost 40 days now, braving the bone-chilling cold weather in the region.
Over 500 women in Haryana learn to ride tractors ahead of big Jan 26 protest
The Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), one of the key bodies representing the protesters, is training these women from villages to lead the protest marches. More than 500 women are being trained by the farmers' body. Tomorrow, they will take out a rally on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway in Haryana. (Read full story
here)
Delhi Sikh Body has arranged makeshift elevated beds for farmers
Delhi and nearby areas have been witnessing sporadic rain in the last couple of days, leading to waterlogging at various camp sites set up by farmers. The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has arranged makeshift elevated beds in a tent provided by the organisation at the demonstration site near Singhu bordern news agency PTI reported.
The tent, located right beyond the main stage at the site, is pitched on the lower end of the highway, making it susceptible to waterlogging.
Deadlock continues despite seven rounds of talks between government-farmers
On Monday, the seventh round of talks were held to resolve the deadlock. The unions stuck to their demand for a complete repeal of the new farm laws they find pro-corporate, while the government wanted to discuss only "problematic" clauses or other alternatives. The two sides will meet again on January 8. The farmers have threatened to hold a rally on Republic Day, January 26, if their demands are not met.
Protesting farmers have been undeterred in the face of severe cold, rains and waterlogging. They are firm on their demands for repeal of farm laws.
Farmers group calls meeting at Singhu border to decide future strategy
The Sanyukt kisan Morcha has called for a meeting to decide to decide on future course of action of the farmers protesting against the farm laws. The meeting will take place at the Singhu border and will be attended by 40 farm union leaders.
Repeal farm laws, don't make it prestige issue: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok GehlotRajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the central government should regularly talk to farmers, accept their demands to revoke the new farm laws and not make it a prestige issue.
"Why is the central government taking four days in between every meeting with the farmers? The farmers have clarified that central government must withdraw new agricultural laws. In this cold weather, the government should talk to farmers daily and must accept their demands," Mr Gehlot tweeted.
"Minister Said Won't Repeal Law, Go To Supreme Court": Farmers After Meet
The deadlock over the repeal of the contentious farm laws continued, with the Centre and the farmers unable to get on the same page in the seventh round of discussions. Sources said the government had proposed to discuss the farmers' demand for a legal guarantee for support price of crops, but the farmers' union leaders insisted on discussing the repeal of farm laws. The two sides have agreed to meet again on January 8. The farmers have threatened to hold a rally on Republic Day, January 26, if their demands are not met.
For all the updates on yesterday's developments, click
here