Farmers' Protests: Members of Bharatiya Kisan Union during their "Delhi Chalo" protest, in Noida.
The farmers' protest - the biggest in years - has entered the seventh day, with thousands of people from several states camped out on the outskirts of Delhi. Farmers' organisations met at one of the Delhi-Haryana borders today to decide their strategy, a day after they turned down the centre's second pitch for a committee to discuss the contentious farm laws against which they have been holding massive protests near Delhi. Farmers' groups will meet again shortly, with more groups joining in.
The meeting at Vigyan Bhawan yesterday remained inconclusive and the government has called for another round of discussions on Thursday, December 3, union leaders said.
More farmers from Punjab and khaps from Haryana are making their way to the national capital, demanding that the laws be repealed. The farmers have said they will continue the protest if their demands are not accepted.
The farmers' protests against the Centre's farm laws also led to the shutting down of key roads connecting Noida and Delhi. A key route in east Delhi, connecting the capital to Noida in Uttar Pradesh has been closed as around 300 farmers from different parts of Uttar Pradesh continued their sit-in at the Noida-Delhi border for the second day.
Here are the Highlights on the farmers' protests:
British Sikh politicians voice support for protesting farmers
British Sikh Opposition politicians have voiced their support for farmers agitating in India against the new farm laws and called for a "peaceful solution" as soon as possible.
India has called the remarks by foreign leaders on protests by farmers as "ill-informed" and "unwarranted" as the matter pertained to the internal affairs of a democratic country.
A number of Opposition MPs in Britain have been speaking out over the issue on social media, with Labour Virendra Sharma calling for a "peaceful solution" as soon as possible.
"Farmers work tirelessly to earn an honest living and to feed millions of people. I find it distressing that thousands of the farmers from Punjab feel the need to march in Delhi to ask for a fair standard of living," he said, adding that he "applauds the bravery" of Home Minister Amit Shah in stepping forward and offering to negotiate.
Kanhaiya Kumar joins Left parties' protest against farm bills
CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar said the ongoing farmers' protest against farm bills was an uprising to save democracy from crony capitalism and deplored attempts to discredit the agitations.
Mr Kumar, a former JNU students union president, appealed to people from all walks of life to lend their support to the movement launched by the farmers.
He coined a slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Samvidhan" to underscore that the protest had far-reaching implications.
Replace "crocodile tears" with "Kejriwal tears": Sukhbir Singh Badal on farm laws in Delhi
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of stabbing farmers in the back by implementing the farm laws.
Accusing him of having "fake" sympathy for farmers, Mr Badal also suggested changing the term "crocodile tears" to "Kejriwal tears".
"This is not just political dishonesty in the extreme but also an inhuman betrayal of the simple-hearted and trusting farmers," said Mr Badal.
Punjab Chief Minister lashes out at Arvind Kejriwal for "low-level politics" on farmers' issue
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has alleged that his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal was "stooping to shamelessly low level of politics" and indulging in "brazen double-speak in a desperate bid to wriggle out of his own failure to protect the interests of the farming community."
This comes hours after Mr Kejriwal hit out at Mr Singh, over his allegations that Delhi Chief Minister had passed the three farm laws in Delhi. Mr Kejriwal had asked: "How can he do such low-level politics at this crucial time?"
Bar Council of Delhi opposes farm laws, supports farmers
The Bar Council of Delhi came out in support of farmers and urged the Prime Minister for repealing farm laws and to give an audience to them to come out with an amicable solution.
It also said there was a need to bring a legislation for the welfare of farmers.
The bar body said the farm laws are more detrimental to the interest of legal professionals across the country and the "Bar of Civil Court jurisdiction" will substantially affect the district courts and high courts in some states.
Aam Aadmi Party women's wing forms human chain in Delhi in solidarity with farmers
Hundreds of members of the Aam Aadmi Party women's wing and party volunteers formed a human chain at the ITO intersection in Delhi in solidarity with farmers camping at the national capital's borders to protest the Centre's three agriculture reform laws.
The demonstration was led by the women's wing president Nirmala Kumari.
PM Modi should directly hold talks: Congress leader Randeep Surjewala
The Centre must suspend the three "black" farm laws without delay and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should directly hold talks with the protesting farmers, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said.
The talks between the Centre and agitating farmer unions a day ago had failed to end the standoff over the new farm laws, and the two sides will meet again on Thursday. The outfits rejected the government's offer to set up a committee to look into issues raised by them.
"The agriculture minister (Narendra Singh Tomar) is incompetent to even hold the conversation, so the prime minister must hold this conversation by leaving aside all prejudices and prefixed notions," Mr Surjewala added.
Transporters threaten to stop operations in North India in support of farmers
Coming forward in support of agitating farmers, transporters' top body All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) has threatened to halt operations in northern India from December 8 if the government fails to address concerns of the farming community.
The AIMTC represents about 95 lakh truckers and other entities.
"AIMTC has already extended its support to the farmer agitation from day one. We have decided on stopping our operations strategically starting from North India and if the government does not address the issue of the farmers then we may decide to go for shutting down of transport operations nationwide in their support," AIMTC President Kultaran Singh Atwal said.
"Anger of farmers" is clear, says Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said he fully understood the conspiracy aimed at the farmers in the name of new laws by those who had made false promises of doubling their income.
"The anger of farmers is clear. The farmers of BJP-ruled states are also agitated," he said, adding that the government was targeting the Opposition over the protests only to complicate the issue.
He alleged that the government has adopted a stubborn attitude on the issue in order to prove itself right.
Chilla border partially opened for traffic
In the morning, the Noida Traffic Police advised commuters travelling to Delhi to avoid using the Chilla route and instead take the DND or Kalindi Kunj route.
In the evening, however, the Chilla border was partially opened for traffic movement.
Centre should repeal farm laws: Farmers' union
Darshan Pal, President of Krantikari Kisan Union, says: "We demand that the Central government should call a special Parliament Session to repeal the farm laws"
Centre deceived farmers of UP, Uttarakhand: Farmers' organisation
"The Home Minister had said that the government will talk to farmers who will sit in Burari. After his appeal, farmers from Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh came here but the government didn't invite us for talks yesterday," says Sardar VM Singh, convenor of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee.
"It shows that the government will talk to those who take the law into their hands. Now that the government has deceived the farmers of UP and Uttarakhand, there is no point in staying here in Burari (Delhi)," he adds.
Police remove barricades at Delhi-Noida border allowing movement of traffic.
Amid Farmer Protest, Navjot Singh Sidhu Claims Country On Path To Extreme Hunger
Amid the ongoing farmer protests in and around the national capital, Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Tuesday claimed that the country was on the path to extreme hunger and famine, and lamented on the unequal distribution of wealth in the country. Taking to Twitter, Sidhu said, "India's richest 1 per cent hold more wealth than the bottom 70 per cent. Poor toil, while rich consolidate wealth, farmers labour, but capitalist earn. Ambani added 90 Crore every hour to his wealth in the last six months, while Adani''s wealth increased by 61 per cent."
Punjab Youth Congress workers protested in front of Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar's residence, demanding an apology from him for the alleged use of force against the protesting farmers.
Traders say there is spike in vegetable & fruit prices due to farmers' agitation.
Students from various universities have also joined the farmer protest at Singhu border.
Farmers Protest LIVE: Meeting At Amit Shah's Residence
A meeting is underway at the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah; Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal present.
Farmers Protest: Traffic Police Deployed To Manage Vehicular Movement Near Chilla VillageDelhi Police appealed to citizens to avoid Noida Link Road for going to Noida and use National Highway-24 or Delhi Noida Direct (DND) Flyway instead, in light of the ongoing farmers' protest at the borders of the national capital.
Farmers' Protest Enters Seventh Day
The farmers' protest against the three agricultural sector laws passed by the central government in the last monsoon session entered seventh day on Wednesday with demonstrations on Sant Nirankari Samagam ground in Burari on the outskirts of Delhi, besides the border areas. Yesterday night, the Union government held a meeting with the representatives of the protesting farmers and offered to set up a committee to look into their demands, which they rejected.
Farmers Protest Updates: Delhi Border Near Chilla Closed For Traffic
Delhi Traffic Police informed that the chilla border on Noida link road is closed for traffic due to farmers' protests near Gautam Budh Dwar.
Farmers Protest in Delhi Today: Delhi: Farmers Continue To Protest At Singhu Border
Farmers Protest LIVE: Protesting farmers remove barricades at Delhi-UP border
Famers Protest: "Come To Our Langar ForJalebi, Pakoda, Tea": Farmer Leaders To Minister
Farmer union leaders on Tuesday invited Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar to their protest site and offered to serve him
''jalebi'' and
''pakoda'', along with tea at their langar (community kitchen), after they were offered tea by the minister during a marathon meeting with the government over their ongoing agitation against three new farm laws.
Read Here Farmers Protest Updates: No Headway In Talks With Farmers
The farmers' representatives have turned down the Centre's second pitch for a committee to discuss the contentious farm laws, protests against which are intensifying by the day. "Now is not the time for a committee," sources quoted farmers' representatives as saying at the meeting with three central ministers this evening. A second meeting will be held on December 3.