Farmers' protests LIVE: Centre ready to resolve differences, says minister

Delhi Metro services from neighbouring cities to the national capital will remain suspended, said DMRC. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

Farmers, who are protesting against three new farm laws, faced water cannons and broke police barriers at the state's border with Haryana as they pushed towards the national capital on Thursday in their 'Dilli Chalo' march. At the Shambhu border, the Haryana Police and Punjab protesters in their tractor-trolleys faced each other off on a bridge over the Ghaggar River.

Delhi Metro services from neighbouring cities to the national capital will remain suspended in view of the 'Delhi chalo' protest march by farmers against the Centre's new farm laws, DMRC said today. However, metro services will be available from Delhi towards the NCR sections.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the new agriculture laws passed by parliament in the monsoon session were "need of the hour" and that the government ready to talk with farmers on December 3, and resolve differences.
 

Stay tuned for the latest news of the day.

12:44 AM

Delhi Chalo march gets overwhelming response from women

Farmers' Delhi Chalo protest on Thursday saw an overwhelming response from women as they joined elderly farmers and youth to press the Centre to scrap three farm laws.
 

Stating that they were ready for a "do or die" battle against the union government, women owing allegiance to various farmers' outfits braved cold weather to set out for Delhi.
 

A number of them travelled on tractor trolleys carrying ration and other essentials to participate in the protest.
 

"We have brought with us enough stocks of ration, quilts, mattresses and other essentials. We are prepared for this 'do or die' battle and will rest only when the Modi government rolls back the farm laws," a 68-year-old woman, who was travelling in a tractor with her family, said.
 

Near the Bathinda-Dabwali border, women under the banner of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugarhan) participated in a sit-in and shouted slogans against the BJP-led government at the Centre.   Ahead of the Delhi Chalo protest, women had led several campaigns in rural areas to seek support of people and create awareness among them about the so-called "black laws".
 

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugarhan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan has said around 25,000 women would participate in the protest march.

12:08 AM

Farmers' protest march LIVE: Medha Patkar stopped at Rajasthan-UP border

On her way to Delhi from Maharashtra to protest against the Centre's farm laws there, Social activist Medha Patkar was on Thursday prevented from entering Uttar Pradesh at its border with Rajasthan, officials said. Patkar was stopped by the Agra district administration officials at Baraitha chowk on Mumbai-Agra National Highway near Dholpur-Agra border where the social activist sat on a dharna with over her 400 supporters, leading to heavy traffic disruption.

Patkar had been sitting on dharna with her supporters till late on Thursday evening, Dholpur District Collector R K Jaiswal said. The Dholpur district collector and superintendent of police also reached the spot to hold talks with Patkar to dissuade her from prolonging the dharna but she refused to withdraw it.

11:14 PM

Why Haryana farmers marching, if I am inciting them: Amarinder to Haryana CM

If you think I'm inciting farmers, then why are Haryana farmers also marching to Delhi: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh to his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar. 

10:28 PM

BJP govt hell-bent on suppressing farmers: Congress

The Congress on Thursday slammed the government for using excessive force to stop the farmers from marching towards Delhi to protest against the recently enacted farm laws, saying the present BJP government is hell-bent on suppressing the genuine demands and concerns of the farmers. "On the eve of Constitution day, farmers have been stopped from entering Delhi, even by using force at some places. Does the Constitution not guarantee rights for our farmers? Has the BJP government reserved the rights only for its privileged friends," asked Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh.

 

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Vallabh said the BJP government is mortgaging the farmers' rights to its corporate friends. The Congress posed three questions -- Whom has this government sworn in to protect? Does it only value its rich corporate friends? Why does it choose to so conveniently ignore the sweat and tears of our farmers? The spokesperson further said which Constitution does the BJP government follow? "When the farmers reach out for their rights, they are suppressed. Why is the government so scared of the farmers? Why is the government not willing to hold discussions with the farmers," Vallabh asked.

10:17 PM

Farmers' protest LIVE: 70 people detained for staging protest at Jantar Mantar

Over 70 people were detained on Thursday when they were staging a protest at the Jantar Mantar here in support of Punjab farmers, who are agitating against the Centre's farm laws. The protestors included members from Left-backed trade unions, the Students' Federation of India. Students from the Jawaharlal Nehru University also participated in the protest. Over 70 people, including women, were detained and later released, a senior police officer said.

 

When they gathered at the Jantar Mantar for the protest, they were warned and it was conveyed to them that they did not have the permission to organise the protest, the officer said. But when they refused to abide, they were detained and taken to a nearby police station from where they were released later, the officer said. Delhi Police personnel have been deployed in large numbers in border areas of the national capital and all incoming vehicles are being checked in view of the 'Delhi Chalo' march by Punjab farmers against the Centre's farm laws. Five sand-laden trucks have been stationed at the Singhu border to stop tractors being driven by the protesters, police said.

9:34 PM

Haryana Police urges people to avoid travelling on NH 10, NH 44 amid farmers' protest

Haryana Police have appealed to the citizens to avoid travelling on National Highway 10 (Hisar-Rohtak-Delhi) and National Highway 44 (Ambala-Panipat-Delhi), in view of  'Delhi Chalo' protest march by the farmers' organizations: Haryana CM's Office

9:24 PM

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee condemns police action on farmers in Haryana, says Centre cannot curb democratic rights of farmers.

9:12 PM

Farmers, heading towards Delhi as part of 'Delhi Chalo' protest march, halt at Panipat toll plaza

8:50 PM

You should have tried to speak to farmers before their Dilli Chalo protest: Punjab CM to Haryana CM

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has suggested to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar that he should have tried to speak to farmers before their 'Dilli Chalo' march.

 

Raveen Thukral, Media Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister in a series of tweets said, "Shocked at your response @mlkhattar ji. It's the farmers who've to be convinced on MSP, not me. You should've tried to talk to them before their #DilliChalo. And if you think I'm inciting farmers then why are Haryana farmers also marching to Delhi?: @capt_amarinder"

 

"It seems your govt has been so busy creating the bogey of the non-existent 'love jihad' that you couldn't see the real problems of the farmers on the ground @mlkhattar ji. Do I need to spell out where the cheap politics and deception is actually happening? :@capt_amarinder," another tweet from Thukral read.

 

In another tweet, he said, "As for endangering lives during #COVID19, have you forgotten that it was @BJP4India led central govt that pushed through those #FarmLaws amid the pandemic, uncaring about the impact they'd have on our farmers? Why didn't you speak out then @mlkhattar ji?:@capt_amarinder."

 

Earlier in the day, Punjab Chief Minister on Thursday condemned the Haryana government's "forcible" attempts to stop farmers from marching to Delhi in protest against the Central farm laws.Urging the ML Khattar government to allow the agitated farmers to pass through the national highway to take their voice to Delhi peacefully, Singh questioned the need to stop them from proceeding, according to an official release by Punjab Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

8:39 PM

Use of water cannons, tear gas on farmers shows true anti-farmer face of BJP: CPI general secretary D Raja

8:39 PM

Left parties slam BJP over use of teargas, water cannons on protesting farmers in Haryana

The Left parties on Thursday hit out at the BJP-led Haryana government for using water cannons and tear gas on farmers moving towards the national capital against the Centre's farm laws, saying it revealed the "anti-farmer face" of the saffron party.

 

Farmers from Punjab faced water cannons and broke police barriers at the state's border with Haryana as they pushed towards the national capital in their "Delhi Chalo" march against the Centre's farm laws.

 

"This is an attack on the farmers by the BJP government. The CPI has always stood in support of the farmers and the violence against them is highly condemnable. This shows the true anti-farmer face of the BJP," said CPI general secretary D Raja.

 

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury posted on Twitter photographs of protests from across the country, including that of farmers in Haryana, saying this was the "real India".

8:07 PM

Centre ready to resolve differences, talks with farmers on Dec 3: Agriculture Minister

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday said the new agriculture laws passed by parliament in the monsoon session were "need of the hour" and that the government ready to talk with farmers and resolve differences. He said that the talks will be held in December 3. The minister also said that the farm laws will bring revolutionary changes.

 

The minister referred to Centre's invitation earlier for talks between a delegation of Punjab farmers and union agriculture secretary to dispel any wrong impression. He said agriculture is top priority for central government.

 

"New farm laws were the need of the hour. In the coming time, it's going to bring revolutionary changes. We'll talk to the farmers on December 3," Tomar told ANI.

7:46 PM

Farmers' protests LIVE: Massive jam on Delhi-Gurugram border

Amid the anti-farm law demonstration by several farmers' outfits on Thursday, the commuters on Delhi-Gurugram Expressway faced huge traffic snarls throughout the day. The commuters on National Highway-48 were stuck near the Delhi-Gurugram border on the Expressway as Delhi Police had put up barricades and were checking every vehicle in view of the "Dilli Chalo" call given by the farmers' bodies protesting the Central farm laws passed by the Parliament in September.

 

Scores of vehicles were seen lined up from the Delhi-Gurugram border to the Shankar Chowk on the National Highway.

 

As a precautionary measure, the Haryana Police were also checking every vehicle to prevent the protesters from entering the national capital. On the other hand, the impact of the agitation by the farmers' organisations was negligible in Gurugram district as the situation remained peaceful throughout the day, with no untoward incident getting reported from anywhere in the district.

7:14 PM

DMRC suspends services from NCR to Delhi till further orders

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Thursday announced that its services from the National Capital Region (NCR) to Delhi will remain suspended till further notice due to security reasons in wake of the farmers' protest.

 

"As advised by Delhi Police, Metro services will be available only from Delhi towards the NCR sections. However, services from the NCR stations towards Delhi will not be available due to security reasons till further notice," DMRC said in a statement.

 

The decision was taken after taking into consideration the law and order situation following the decision of thousands of farmers to enter Delhi to protest against the new farm laws. On Thursday, services between Delhi and NCR Metro stations was cut off on seven corridors till 2 p.m. due to the protest, on the request of the Delhi Police.

7:01 PM

Farmers protest LIVE: Delhi Metro services from neighbouring cities to remain suspended on Friday

Delhi Metro services from neighbouring cities to the national capital will remain suspended on Friday in view of the ''Delhi chalo'' protest march by farmers against the Centre's new farm laws. However, metro services will be available from Delhi towards the NCR sections, they said.

 

Taking to twitter, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Thursday said, "Update for tomorrow (Friday). As advised by Delhi Police, Metro services will be available only from Delhi towards the NCR sections. However, services from the NCR stations towards Delhi will not be available due to security reasons till further notice."

 

In an update tweeted earlier for Thursday, the DMRC said, "From 2 pm onwards Metro services are available from Delhi towards the NCR sections. However, services from NCR sections to Delhi still continue to remain suspended due to security reasons till further notice."