New Delhi: The Congress has decided to support the Bharat bandh called on December 8 in support of the farmers protesting against the Centre's new agriculture laws. "Congress party has decided to support the Bharat bandh on December 8. We will be demonstrating the same at our party offices. It will be a step towards strengthening Rahul Gandhi''s support to the farmers. We will ensure that the demonstration is successful," party spokesperson Pawan Khera said.
The fifth round of talks held between the centre and farmers protesting the new farm laws yielded no breakthrough on Saturday. After the meeting Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said a new proposal would be placed before the farmers on Wednesday, when the next rounds of talks will take place.
Faced with the biggest farmers' agitation in recent years the centre has offered to amend sections of the laws, but the farmers, thousands of whom are camped out around Delhi's borders and have threatened a blockade of the national capital - insist they must be scrapped.
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 live updates on farmers' protests:
Dec 06, 2020 20:35 (IST)
Farmers' stir: Narendra Singh Tomar to consult junior ministers
With the fifth round of talks between the Centre and farmers' unions remaining inconclusive, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar will hold a meeting with Ministers of State Kailash Choudhary and Parshottam Rupala on Sunday.
Mr Tomar, during the fifth round of meeting with the farmers' representatives on Saturday, said that Agricultural Produce Market Committees will not be weakened and minimum support price will continue as he urged the farmer unions to give up their agitation and get their grievances addressed through talks.
The fifth round of talks was held with the representatives of 40 farmer unions held at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi on Saturday.
The next round of talks will take place on December 9.
Dec 06, 2020 20:19 (IST)
Akhilesh Yadav extends support to Bharat Bandh call against farm laws
As several opposition parties came out in support of farmers' agitation near Delhi border, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav has extended his support to Bharat Bandh call against farm laws.
In a tweet, Mr Yadav said, "Farmers Bharat Bandh has the full support of Samajwadi Party."
Farmer unions have decided to intensify their agitation against the farm laws calling for Bharat Bandh on December 8 and stated that they were not satisfied with amendments being proposed by the government.
"Those who fill our stomach and are the backbone of our economy are being treated badly. Thousands of farmers are protesting in this cold winter near Delhi but there is no one to listen to them," Mr Yadav said in a press conference in Lucknow.
Dec 06, 2020 19:49 (IST)
RJD, Congress organise march in Ranchi in support of protesting farmers
As the farmers' agitation against the new farm laws entered the 11th day on Sunday, several political parties in Jharkhand organised marches and demonstrations in support of farmers protesting at Sant Nirankari Samagam ground in Burari on the outskirts of Delhi and other border areas.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and other parties protested in Ranchi in support of farmers protesting against agricultural laws.
They started the march from Ranchi University Campus and staged a demonstration on Albert Ekka Chowk in Ranchi.
Dec 06, 2020 18:57 (IST)
Farmers should agree on mid-way solution: JD(U)
Janata Dal (United) spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad on Sunday suggested that the protesting farmers should agree on a mid-way solution to support the country''s economy.
"Agriculture is an important field that can help to solve the economic problems of the country. Both the parties should agree on a middle path," Mr Ranjan said.
He added the Centre is very serious about the farmers'' protest. "The government has cleared its stand that if any amendment is needed in the newly enacted laws (against which the farmers are protesting), it will come up with a new draft. The Centre will also talk to the states if needed," he said.
Dec 06, 2020 18:44 (IST)
Farmers roots of our business: ITTA, Delhi Goods Transport Association extend support to ''Bharat Bandh''
The Indian Tourist Transporters Association (ITTA) and Delhi Goods Transport Association have given a call for strike on December 8 in the national capital in solidarity with farmers'' call of ''Bharat Bandh''.
"A total of 51 unions decided to support farmers. Farming and transporting are like two sons of a father," said Satish Sherawat, chief of ITTA.
"We are supporting our farmer brothers. They are the roots of our business," said Parmeet Singh Goldie, president, Delhi Goods transport Association.
The farmers are protesting on various borders of the national capital since November 26. Five rounds of talks bwtween farmer leaders and central government have been held in the national capital. The next round of talk is scheduled for December 9.
Dec 06, 2020 18:30 (IST)
Akali Dal extends support to farmers' call for Bharat Bandh on Dec 8
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday extended his party''s support to the December 8 Bharat Bandh call given by the farmers who are protesting against the farm laws.
Badal posted a video on Twitter and urged Punjabis to extend support to Bharat Bandh.
"For the last 11 days, farmers are protesting at Delhi borders peacefully. They are braving the cold. Farmers have decided to give a call for Bharat Bandh. I urge all Punjabis to extend their support to this on December 8. It is a fight of all Annadata in the country against the central government and I hope that government will accept our demands," he said.
"For the past three months, SAD and other parties are requesting the central government to withdraw the three black laws. They are knowingly delaying the repeal of these laws. Our workers will also work wholeheartedly to make this Bharat Bandh a complete success and ensure repeal of the anti-farmer agricultural laws," he added.
Dec 06, 2020 17:59 (IST)
TRS to support Bharat bandh on December 8
TRS Member of Legislative Council (MLC) K Kavitha on Sunday announced that her party will support the Bharat bandh on December 8 called by the agitating farmers.
Opposing the new farm laws, the TRS leader, who is the daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, said that the minimum support price (MSP) has not been assured in the legislation. She claimed that farmer is insecure because if mandi structure is dismantled there is no alternative structure in this country.
"The TRS had opposed the Bills in Parliament and will continue to do so," Ms Kavitha said.
Meanwhile, Mr Rao in a press release on Sunday announced the party's total support to the nationwide bandh call. He said that the TRS rank and file would participate actively in the proposed bandh.
Dec 06, 2020 17:54 (IST)
Farmers' protest day 11: Delhi Traffic remains affected due to closed borders
As the ongoing farmers'' agitation entered the eleventh day, the traffic movement remained affected in the national capital region on Sunday morning with multiple borders between Delhi and neighbouring states still closed for commuters.
Delhi Traffic Police on Sunday appealed to citizens to take alternative routes as along with Singhu, Auchandi, Piao Maniyari, Mangesh borders, Tikri, and Jharoda borders are closed for all kinds of traffic movement. NH 44 is also closed from both sides.
The traffic police said Jhatikara border is open only for two-wheeler traffic, while the Badusarai border is open only for light motor vehicles like cars and two-wheelers.
Commuters coming from Haryana are advised to take alternate routes via Safiabad, Saboli, NH8/Bhopra/Apsara borders/ Peripheral expressway.
Available open borders between Delhi and Haryana are-- Dhansa, Daurala, Kapashera, Rajokri NH 8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam Vihar, and Dundahera.