New Delhi: 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:
Jan 05, 2021 19:13 (IST)
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."
Jan 05, 2021 19:09 (IST)
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.
Jan 05, 2021 18:26 (IST)
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.
Jan 05, 2021 17:51 (IST)
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.
Jan 05, 2021 16:56 (IST)
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.
