LIVE: Will block Delhi highways if farm laws not scrapped, say unions

Stay tuned for LIVE updates on farmers' protest across India

Farmers' protest LIVE updates: As thousands of farmers continue to protest at various borders of the national capital demanding the repeal of three new farm laws, the government on Wednesday proposed to give a "written assurance" that the existing Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime for procurement will continue.

However, the farmers' unions rejected the proposal and said they would intensify their agitation until the government accepts their demand for a complete repeal of the three laws. The government also proposed to make necessary amendments on at least seven issues, including one to allay fears about the weakening of the mandi system.
 

The government cancelled its crucial sixth round of talks with 40 protesting farmers' unions that was scheduled for today as farm leaders declined to participate, after a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday night failed to break the deadlock.
 

The farmers are protesting against the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

Stay tuned for farmers' protest LIVE updates

9:57 PM

China, Pakistan behind farmers' protest: Union minister Danve

Union minister Raosaheb Danve on Wednesday claimed that China and Pakistan were behind the ongoing protests by farmers, who are seeking repeal of three new farm laws.

He also alleged that Muslims were earlier misled over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), but as those efforts did not succeed, now farmers were being told that they will face losses due to the new laws.

Danve was speaking at the inauguration of a health centre at Kolte Takli in Badnapur taluka of Maharashtra's Jalna district.

"The agitation that is going on is not that of farmers. China and Pakistan have a hand behind this. Muslims in this country were incited first. What was said (to them)? That NRC is coming, CAA is coming and Muslims will have to leave this country in six months. Did a single Muslim leave?

"Those efforts didn't succeed and now farmers are being told that they will face losses. This is the conspiracy of other countries," Danve said.

The minister, however, did not elaborate on what basis he claimed that the two neighbouring countries are behind the farmers' protests.

8:53 PM

Rejection of Centre's proposal by farmers unfortunate': Punjab BJP chief

Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma on Wednesday dubbed the farmers decision to reject the Centre's proposal to amend the new farm laws as unfortunate. He urged the protesting farmers to review their decision. It was unfortunate that farmer leaders have rejected the proposed amendments to the three agriculture bills, Sharma said in a statement here.

 

He said the Centre has addressed all the major concerns about the minimum support price (MSP) and the mandi system in the proposed amendments which the farmers should accept with grace.

 

"The respect for farmers had prompted the Centre to address the issues which affected the community, and in all fairness, the protestors should have accepted the offer, he said. The BJP leader suggested that the farmers should withdraw their agitation in view of the offer made by the Centre.

8:24 PM

New farm laws meant for welfare of farmers: Uttarakhand BJP chief

The Uttarakhand BJP on Wednesday accused opposition parties of instigating farmers against the Centre for political gains and said the new agri laws were meant for the welfare of the farming community. Pradesh BJP president Bansidhar Bhagat said the MSP regime will continue, the monopoly of middlemen will come to an end and farmers will have the freedom of selling their produce in the market of their choice.

 

"Instead of farmers, it is the opposition parties that are agitating against the new farm laws. They are provoking farmers by spreading lies among them for their own political gains," Bhagat said. "Meant for the welfare of farmers, thenew laws will revolutionise their economy," he said.

 

Bhagat said "no government in the past cared as much for farmers as the Narendra Modi government".

 

Under the Modi government, he said, the budgetary allocation for the agriculture sector rose to 1.34 lakh crore from just Rs 12,000 crore during UPA. Also, no previous government had spent Rs 75,000 crore over farmers in just one year, he claimed. Under PM Kisan Yojana, Rs 92,000 crore has already been credited into the accounts of farmers through DBT mode and a package of Rs 1 lakh crore has been sanctioned by the Centre for the creation of agricultural infrastructure, the BJP leader said.

7:58 PM

Will block Delhi-Jaipur and Delhi-Agra highways on Dec 12: Farmer leaders

Unhappy over not getting a satisfactory solution to their demands, the agitating farmers on Wednesday announced they will block the Delhi-Jaipur highway on or before December 12. After blocking the Singhu, Tikri, Chilla and Ghazipur borders connecting Delhi to Chandigarh, Haryana, Noida (Uttar Pradesh) and Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) respectively, the farmers will now block the Delhi-Jaipur highway that connects the national capital to Rajasthan.

 

The move will disrupt Delhi's supply chain from another direction as the farmers have planned to block the National Highway 48 that starts from Delhi and connects with Rajasthan via Haryana. The decision was taken in the farmers' meeting at Singhu border where thousands of farmers are braving the winter nights under open skies since November 26.

 

In the meeting that started at 12 noon, Kisan Samiti leader Jagveer Singh made the announcement, saying the "Jaipur highway would be blocked on or before December 12." While addressing a press conference after the farmers meeting at Singhu, Singh also appealed the farmers to 'Gherao' (encircle) the residences of Bharatiya Janata Party ministers.

7:35 PM

Opposition delegation meets President, requests him to intervene in farmers' issue

A delegation of opposition leaders which claims to have the support of 25 political parties met President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday, and requested him to intervene in the farmers issue and advise the government to repeal the contentious farm laws. A memorandum submitted to the President by the delegation said, "We urge upon you, as the custodian of the Indian constitution, to persuade your government not to be obdurate and accept the demands raised by Indian Annadatas."

 

The delegation in the memorandum said that the Bills were passed in Parliament in an anti-democratic manner preventing a structured debate. After the meeting, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "the farmers will not sit until the laws are repealed and if these laws are in the interest of farmers why are they on the roads and protesting. We informed the President that it is absolutely critical that these anti-farmer laws are taken back."

 

The delegation comprised of Rahul Gandhi of the Congress, Sharad Pawar of the NCP, the CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury, D Raja of the CPI and DMK leader Elangovan. Sharad Pawar said it is the duty of the government to resolve this issue. "All opposition parties had requested for in-depth discussion on farm bills and that they should be sent to a select committee, but unfortunately no suggestion was accepted and the Bills were passed in a hurry."

7:11 PM

The way farm bills were passed, we feel it's insult to farmers: Rahul Gandhi

6:57 PM

LIVE: Farmers at Nirankari Samagam ground in Delhi, refuse to utilise govt amenities

6:44 PM

Opposition delegation meets President, seeks repeal of farm laws

6:17 PM

Govt offers written assurance on continuing MSP, other amendments; Farmer unions reject proposal

As thousands of farmers continue to protest at various borders of the national capital demanding the repeal of three new farm laws, the government on Wednesday proposed to give a "written assurance" that the existing Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime for procurement will continue. However, the farmers' unions rejected the proposal and said they would intensify their agitation until the government accepts their demand for a complete repeal of the three laws.

 

The government also proposed to make necessary amendments on at least seven issues, including one to allay fears about the weakening of the mandi system. In a draft proposal sent to 13 agitating farmer unions, the government also said it is ready to provide all necessary clarifications on their concerns about the new farm laws enacted in September, but it did not mention anything about the main demand of protesting farmers for the repeal of the laws.

 

At a press conference later in the day, farmer leaders said there was nothing new in the government proposal and they will continue their protest. Separately, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said at a post-Cabinet media briefing that the government is sensitive to the concerns of farmers as he expressed hope that ongoing deliberations with them, which he termed a "work in progress", over the three agriculture-related laws will yield some results soon.

6:04 PM

Nothing new in govt proposal; will continue protest against agri laws: Farmer leader

5:59 PM

Protesting farmers might take a call on crossing Singhu border to enter Delhi

5:57 PM

Farmers unanimously reject Centre's proposal, protest to continue

Protesting farmers on Wednesday unanimously rejected the proposed amendments suggested by the Central government to three controversial farm laws and have sought complete rollback of the laws. This came after the government agreed to farmers' demands by giving its nod on key issues raised by them, including amendments to the three contentious farms laws that were the first and biggest issue driving the ongoing farmers' protest.

 

The government communicated its stand through a written draft proposal to the farmers in which it agreed to two main amendments regarding the minimum support price (MSP) and the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), but rejected their demand to repeal the three farm laws.

 

"We have rejected the proposal given by the Central government. There was no opposition from anyone. Our future course of action is that we will close all the borders in 1-2 days," said Kulwant Singh Sandhu, one of the farmer leaders.

 

In the proposal, the Centre agreed to a written minimum support price (MSP) assurance and uniform tax for private market yard and APMC -- a marketing board established by state governments to ensure that farmers are safeguarded from exploitation by large retailers, as well as ensuring that farm to retail price does not touch excessively high levels.

5:38 PM

Absolutely critical that these anti-farmer laws are taken back: Rahul Gandhi

5:30 PM

Will block Delhi-Jaipur and Delhi-Agra highways on Dec 12: Farmer leaders

5:20 PM

Negotiations 'work in progress', hopefully in last stage: Prakash Javadekar on farmer protest

Sounding optimistic about an early resolution of farmer crisis, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday described the ongoing negotiations with farmer organisations as "work in progress" which hopefully is in the last stage. The Modi government, the minister said, is "sensitive" and has already held several rounds of talks with farmer organisations which are protesting against the three farm laws enacted by Parliament during the last session.

 

"This (ongoing negotiations) is work in progress. Hopefully in the last stage. Let us wait for some more time," the minister said while replying to questions regarding farmers' protest.

 

The government on Wednesday proposed to give a "written assurance" that the existing Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime for procurement will continue as thousands of farmers continue to protest at various borders of the national capital demanding the repeal of three new farm laws. The government also proposed to make necessary amendments on at least seven issues, including one to allay fears about the weakening of the mandi system.

 

In a draft proposal sent to 13 agitating farmer unions, the government also said it is ready to provide all necessary clarifications on their concerns about the new farm laws enacted in September, but it did not mention anything about the main demand of protesting farmers for the repeal of the laws.