LIVE: Farmers to block Chilla border between Delhi and Noida on Wednesday

Farmers' protest LIVE updates Day 20: 'Causing inconvenience to the public is not our aim," say farmers. 'We are sitting here under a compulsion'. Stay tuned for latest updates on farmers' protest

Farmers' protest LIVE updates Day 20: With some key roads blocked for several days now due to their protest against the three newfarm laws, an umbrella body of farmers have apologised with "folded hands" to people for the inconvenience caused to them, but said they were carrying out the demonstration "out of compulsion".

"Blocking roads, causing inconvenience to the public is not our aim," read their pamphlets. "We are sitting here under a compulsion. Yet we apologise with folded hands if our agitation has caused you any inconvenience."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said his government is addressing the concerns of farmers over the new agri laws and accused the opposition parties of misguiding them.

"Farmers gathered near Delhi are being misled as part of a conspiracy. Farmers are told that their land will be grabbed by others if new farm reforms get implemented. I want to ask you, did the dairy owner take your cattle because you are selling milk to him?" the prime minister said.

Farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at Delhi's Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur border points for 20 days now, leading to traffic jams on key roads connecting the national capital with Haryana and Punjab. Protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new agri laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporations.

The government has maintained that the new laws will bring farmers better opportunities and usher in new technologies in agriculture.

Stay tuned for farmers' protest LIVE UPDATES

1:54 AM

Four Independent MLAs meet Haryana CM Khattar, urge ending of deadlock between farmers and Central government

1:53 AM

AMU students extend support to protesting farmers

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) students on Tuesday urged President Ram Nath Kovind to intervene in farm laws issue and demanded that the legislations be revoked.

 

The students also staged a protest and extended their full support to farmers agitating against the laws at various Delhi border points since the last week of November.

9:32 PM

Instead of listening to farmers, BJP government is "defaming" their protests: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav

9:05 PM

BJP govt 'defaming' farmers instead of listening to them: Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday alleged that instead of listening to farmers, the BJP government was "defaming" their protests against the Centre's new agri laws. Yadav alleged that the BJP only misleads people. "Had it believed in democratic values, it would not have resorted to barbaric lathicharge on peaceful protestors. By sending 'samajwadis' to jail for supporting farmers, it has done illegal and undemocratic work," he added.

 

"Disagreement has become a major crime in the BJP regime. They did not like opposition and democratic values. The farmers are agitating for the past 20 days and instead of listening to them, the government has adopted a stubborn attitude. Not only this, but the BJP has also launched a campaign to divide farmers and discredit the movement and defame it," the former chief minister said in a statement.

 

He said the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh was ahead in supporting the "anti-farmer" farm laws.

8:51 PM

LIVE: Farmers to pay homage to deceased protesters on Dec 20

The protesting farmers at Singhu Border have announced that they will pay the homage to the 20 farmers who have died since the agitation began on December 20. Upping the ante further, the protesting farmers' unions have blamed these deaths on the Centre, while adding that their agitation will continue, come what may.

 

"The Modi government is responsible for these deaths. Even if we have to pay with our lives, we will fight till the end and win," said Jagjit Singh Dalleval, a farmer leader. The tributes will be paid from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in all the houses across India's villages, they claimed, adding that they will also take a pledge to up the ante.

 

Dismissing the various allegations against a section of protesters, the farmer leaders said, "The Centre couldn't create a rift among us and hence it is levelling all kinds of allegations."

 

Yudhveer Singh, the General Secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union, was present when the farmer leaders were addressing the media. Indrajit Singh, who is the Vice President of the Haryana chapter of BKU, also joined in along with the likes of Jagjit Singh Dallewala, Rishi Pal Ambavta and Sandeep Gidde among others.

8:41 PM

Farm Acts welcomed in states across India: Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar

8:21 PM

Govt willing to continue talks with genuine farm unions; MSP will continue: Agriculture Minister

As a standoff continue between the government and groups of protesting farmers over three new farm laws, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday said the Acts have been welcomed in various states across the country but the Centre is willing to continue its talks with "genuine farm unions" to find a solution with an open mind.

 

He also said that the Minimum Support Price (MSP), at which the government commits to procure the produce from farmers, is an administrative decision and it "will continue as it is".

 

Tomar's comments followed a meeting with members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Kisan) from Uttar Pradesh, who submitted a memorandum to the minister with suggestions regarding the Farm Acts and the MSP.

 

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Kisan) has also decided to end for now its protest, which it was holding at district levels in Uttar Pradesh. They have not been part of nearly 40 farmers' groups that have been protesting on various borders of the national capital and had attended the recent rounds of talks with the Centre without any breakthrough.

7:50 PM

Conspiracy afoot to confuse farmers: PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said a conspiracy is afoot to confuse farmers over the new agri laws and accused the opposition of using farmers' shoulders to fire their guns. As the protest by farmers outside Delhi entered the 20th day, Modi made a strong pitch for the agri laws enacted in September, describing them as historic and said his government was ready to remove any doubts about the legislations.

 

Without taking names, Modi, on a day-long visit to Gujarat, said opposition parties who are supporting the protest, when in power, were in favour of similar reforms in the agriculture sector. To buttress his point, Modi gave the example of two sectors in Gujarat, his home state, which flourished without government intervention.

 

He said dairy and fisheries sectors in the state grew exponentially without much intervention of the state government as the business is mainly handled by co-operative sector leaders and farmers.

 

"In other parts of the country too, milk producers and the co-operative sector have created a successful supply chain. Similarly, governments do not have any significant control on the trade of fruits and vegetables. "I am giving these examples because a conspiracy is afoot to confuse farmers who have gathered near Delhi at present," Modi said.

7:08 PM

Farmer leaders to completely block Chilla border between Delhi and Noida on Wednesday

7:04 PM

Rajasthan farmers continue blockade at Jaipur-Delhi highway

The Jaipur-Delhi national highway in Rajasthan's Alwar district remained partially blocked on Tuesday as the farmers' protest against the Centre's new farm laws entered the third day. The farmers were led by Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav, CPIM legislator Balwan Poonia and former legislator Amra Ram.

 

We do not know why Haryana Police and government are stopping us. We are not demanding anything from them. This act of Haryana government is undemocratic," Yadav told reporters.

 

Haryana Police has barricaded the entry on its border, preventing farmers to march towards Delhi. The farmers are squatting on the border to press for their demand to repeal the three farms laws. On Monday night, the protesting farmers had their food on the blocked national highway and they slept in tents and vehicles. Kisan Panchayat national president Rampal Chaudhary is also camping in Shahjahanpur demanding the withdrawal of the farm laws.

6:49 PM

Farmers who met me today supported three agri laws: Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar

6:46 PM

I assure farmers that their welfare is our topmost priority: PM Modi

Launching a scathing attack on the opposition parties for misleading the farmers over the three new agricultural laws, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reiterated his government's commitment towards the farmers and said that protecting their interests was its topmost priority. The PM spoke at a host of virtual ceremonies of projects in the Kutch region from Dhordo city in Gujarat on Tuesday.

 

Modi said, "The present agricultural laws had been the demand of farmers since a long time. Even those who are in the opposition today were supporting these bills earlier when they were in power, but could never take a decision on them and pacified the farmers with false assurances. I once again repeatedly convey to my farmer brothers, that for each and every one of the farmers' doubts, my government will stand with you. The interests of farmers has been the topmost priority of my government right from day one."

 

"It is my government's intent and honest effort to bring down the farmers agricultural production costs, provide better alternatives to them, increase their income and reduce their difficulties. I firmly believe that the thousands of farmers who have blessed the government all across the country, will reject all the misguidance provided to them," the Prime Minister added.

6:00 PM

Bharatiya Kisan Union members meet Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar

5:39 PM

Opposition misleading farmers as part of conspiracy: PM Modi

Farmers gathered near Delhi are being misled as part of a conspiracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday. Speaking after laying foundation stones for some development projects in his home state Gujarat, Modi also said his government is addressing farmers' concerns over the new agri laws.

 

"Farmers gathered near Delhi are being misled as part of a conspiracy. Farmers are told that their land will be grabbed by others if new farm reforms get implemented. I want to ask you, did the dairy owner take your cattle because you are selling milk to him," the prime minister said.

 

"Opposition parties, when they were in power, were in favour of these farm sector reforms, but did not take any decision back then. Now when the country has decided to embrace these reforms, these people are spreading falsehood and misleading farmers. I want to reiterate that my government is ready 24 hours to resolve all your doubts," Modi said.

 

5:14 PM

Delhi Congress protests near BJP headquarters in support of farmers

Hundreds of the Delhi Congress activists on Tuesday staged a protest near the BJP headquarters here in support of the agitating farmers. The activists shouted slogans against the Modi government as they were stopped by the Delhi Police meters away from the BJP headquarters at the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg. The police had put barricades to stop the activists from reaching the BJP office.

 

Addressing the party activists, Delhi Congress chief Chaudhary Anil Kumar said, "By delaying the repealing of the black farm laws the government is hampering the interests of the farmers. The government should repeal the three laws immediately.

 

"Congress is in favour of repealing these laws," Kumar said, adding that the government did not discuss the laws with the stakeholders.