Farmers' Protest Updates: The farmer protests against farm laws entered its 28th day today.
The government is holding talks with farmers "with full sensitivity", Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said today as he wished farmers on Kisan Diwas or Farmers' Day, which marks the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, the fifth Prime Minister of India. The day coincides with the 28th straight day of protests by farmer groups against the controversial new farm laws.
"On Farmers' Day, I greet all annadaatas (farmers) of the country. They have provided the country with food security. Some farmers are agitating against farm laws. The government is holding talks with them with full sensitivity. I hope that they'll end their agitation soon," Mr Singh tweeted in Hindi.
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar will meet with farmer groups this afternoon as the government tries drumming support for the farm laws. The farmer NGOs are expected to lend a "conditional support" to the farm laws, sources said.
On Tuesday, protesting farmers said that a decision on the centre's offer for fresh talks has been deferred to today, even as they stuck to their demand to repeal the three farm laws.
A group of protesters showed black flags to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and even tried to block his convoy in Ambala City, as demonstrations were held in several states in support of the thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, who are on a sit-in since November 26 on the borders of the national capital demanding the repeal of the three laws.
The sixth round of talks on December 9 was cancelled following a deadlock with the farmer unions refusing to budge from their demand for repealing the three laws.
Here are the Live Updates on farmer protests:
Farmers Protest: Raise Your Voice Against Farm Laws, Chaudhary Charan Singh's Grandson Tells Farmers
Rashtriya Lok Dal national vice-president Jayant Chaudhary on Wednesday asked farmers to unite against the farm laws and said his party will back them, reported news agency PTI. Paying tributes to his grandfather and former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh on his birth anniversary, the RLD leader said if farmers failed to raise their voice against the laws, then they may lose their land and identity.
Farmers Protest: Dialogue Way Forward To Resolve Farmers' Issues, Says Venkaiah Naidu
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday emphasised that dialogue was the way forward in resolving the issues raised by the protesting farmers, reported news agency PTI. Interacting with a group of "progressive farmers" at his Hyderabad residence to mark the "Kisan Diwas", Mr Naidu said any issue could be resolved through talks. He pointed out that the government has already declared that it was always ready to hold a dialogue with the farmers' organisations, an official statement said.
Farmers Protest: Left Exploited Farmers In Tripura, Kerala, Bengal, Alleges BJP
Terming the Left parties' stand on the three farm laws as "hypocritical", the BJP on Wednesday accused them of "exploiting" the farmers while they were in power in Tripura, Kerala and West Bengal, reported news agency PTI. Wherever the Left parties were in power, there was "nothing left" for the farmers and the economy, party spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters. "For 25 years, till 2018, there was a Left government in Tripura. I feel sad in saying that there was no MSP in the state for 25 years. Today, the Left leaders are acting as well wishers of the farmers, but all they did was to exploit them," he said.
Farmers Protest: Congress Workers Protest In UP's Gorakhpur Against Farm Laws
Congress workers protested in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur on Wednesday against the three contentious farm laws by clapping and clanging of pots and pans, reported news agency PTI. The Congress workers, led by Gorakhpur district president Nirmala Paswan and city chief Ashutosh Tiwari, surrounded the house of BJP MLA Radha Mohan Das Agarwal.
Farmers Protest: Ready For Talks, Centre Must Send Concrete Proposal, Say Protesting Farmers
Protesting farmer unions on Wednesday asked the government to not repeat "meaningless" amendments to the new farm laws that they have already rejected but come up with a concrete proposal in writing for another round of talks, reported news agency PTI. Addressing a press conference, a farmer leader said they were ready for talks, but the government should send a concrete proposal for that to happen.
Farmers Protest: Dialogue Only Way, Says Bhartiya Kisan Union Spokesperson
As the farmers' protest entered its 27th day on Wednesday, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday said a solution will come out through dialogue and his organisation is ready for it. Speaking to news agency ANI, Rakesh Tikait said that farmers under the BKU will not accept anything less than a complete rollback of the laws.
Farmers Protest: More Farm Reforms Due, Says Agriculture Minister
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday said the government will continue with reforms in the farm sector as they are still due in many areas, even as he reiterated his hope that protesting farmers will soon come forward to resume their dialogue with the Centre to resolve their concerns over three new farm laws, reported news agency PTI. The minister said any agitation can be resolved only through dialogue as has been the case always in history and urged the protesting unions to fix a date and time for the next round of talks.
Tukde-Tukde Gang Instigating Farmers Against Three Agri Laws: Narottam Mishra
Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Tuesday slammed the Congress party for supporting the ongoing farmers'' agitation against the three central farm laws and said ''tukde-tukde gang'' is misleading farmers. Addressing media in Bhopal, Mishra said, "Congress leader Kamal Nath ji, who never visited farms of a farmer in 15 months, will ride a tractor. Rahul Gandhi, who drove ''sofa-cum-tractor'' do not even know if potatoes grow above or below the ground,"
TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's direction, 5 party MPs comprising Derek O'Brien, Satabdi Roy, Prasun Banerjee, Pratima Mondal & Md Nadimul Haque today met and interacted with farmers from who are on a relay hunger strike at Singhu border.
Farmers ''Spine'' Of Country, But Government Ignoring Their Woes: Sanjay Raut
Terming farmers as the country's "spine", Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said it is unfortunate that the central government is "ignoring" the plight of peasants. Talking to reporters here on the occasion of the National Farmers'' Day, Sanjay Raut, without taking any names, alleged that attempts are being made to weaken cultivators to benefit some industrialists.
Central Government Not Respecting Farmers: Pinarayi Vijayan
As farmers' protest against the Centre's agricultural reforms entered their 28th day today, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan slammed the BJP-led Central government for not ''respecting'' the ''annadata''. Kerala Chief Minister was addressing a demonstration by farmers' organisations in Thiruvananthapuram against the three newly enacted farm laws.
Unfortunate That Farmers Have To Protest For Rights: Sharad Pawar
NCP chief Sharad Pawar today said it is the responsibility of those in power to aptly honour farmers, but unfortunately cultivators are now forced to stage protest for their rights. On the occasion of the National Farmers' Day, the former Union agriculture minister in a post on Twitter wished for justice to the farmers. Thousands of cultivators have been protesting at the border points of Delhi since November 26 against the Centre's three new farm laws.
Farmers Urge People To Skip 1 Meal On Kisan Diwas, Pay Homage To Chaudhary Charan Singh
A decision on the government's offer for fresh talks to resolve the deadlock over contentious farm laws is likely to be taken later in the day by protesting farmer unions who urged people on Wednesday to skip one meal on ''Kisan Diwas'', the birth anniversary of former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, in support of their stir. Several farmers visited ''Kisan Ghat'' today morning to pay tributes to Chaudhary Charan Singh, who was known for his farmer-friendly policies.
Farmers Pride Of Country, BJP Should Stop Insulting Them: Akhilesh Yadav
The BJP should stop "insulting" farmers as they are pride of the country, Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav said on Wednesday while paying tributes to former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh on his birth anniversary, which is celebrated as the Farmers' Day. Born on this day in 1902 in Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, Chaudhary Charan Singh championed the farmers' cause and is credited with shaping several policies that helped cultivators. He died in 1987.
Centre Gave Freedom To Farmers Under New Farm Laws: Ravi Shankar Prasad
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said various lies are being spread about
"mandis" and added that the Centre has given the freedom to farmers under the new farm laws.
The chilla, Gazipur borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida and Gaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests.
Farmers protesting against agricultural laws on the Ghazipur border.
Farmers Protest: Havan Being Performed At Delhi-UP Border In Ghazipur
Farmers perform 'havan' at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in Ghazipur on the occasion of the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh.
All India level meeting will be held at 2 pm today to decide on government's invitation for further talks. All 40 union leaders including Punjab, Haryana, UP, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha and Kerala will be meeting. The farmers are also observing Rashtriya Kisaan Diwas by not eating one time meal today.
Farmers Protest: I Hope Farmers Will End Their Agitation Soon, Says Rajnath Singh
On Farmers Day, I greet farmers of the country. They have provided the country with food security. Some farmers are agitating against farm laws. Government is holding talks with them with full sensitivity. I hope that they'll end their agitation soon, says Defence Minister Rajnath Singh