Farmers' protest LIVE: Punjab CM, Amit Shah to meet on Dec 3 ahead of talks

Farmers protest LIVE updates Day 7: Farmers unions on Wednesday demanded that a special Parliament Session be convened to repeal agricultural laws. Stay tuned for latest updates on farmers' protest

2:04 AM

No outside person allowed to interfere in India's internal issues, says farmer leader

No outside person is allowed to interfere in India's internal matters, one of the agitating farmer leaders said about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's support to protest against the Centre's farm laws. At a press conference on Singhu border near Delhi, Madhya Pradesh-based farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakkaji said the agitation would continue till the government withdrew all three farm laws. "No outside person is allowed to interfere in India's internal issues," he said when asked by Trudeau's support to the farmers protest.

He, however, welcomed the Canadian prime minister's concern for the farmers. "They are worried about our issues and we welcome that," he said. Trudeau had on Monday backed the agitating farmers in India, saying Canada would always be there to defend the rights of peaceful protests. "The situation is concerning and we are all very worried about family and friends and I know that is a reality for many of you," Trudeau said while speaking at an online event to mark the 551st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

1:23 AM

Govt indulging in 'divisive agenda' to break farmer unity: Protesters in letter to Agri minister

The leaders of the protesting farmers wrote to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday, demanding a special session of Parliament to repeal the new farm laws and asking the government to not"indulge in divisive agenda" to break farmers' unity. The letter comes a day before the second round of talks is scheduled to take place between the Centre and leaders of farmer unions to resolve the ongoing standoff over the new agriculture laws. "We ask the government not to indulge in any divisive agendas with regard to the farmers' movement which is united in its demands at this point of time.This was clear from the meeting proceedings yesterday (Tuesday),"Samyukt Kisan Morcha Coordination Committee, which is spearheading the protests, said in the letter.

According to the letter, the leaders asked the Centre to ensurethat representatives of various farmer organisations and their alliances are decided by the farmers and not by the government, and that the all-India alliances that have been at the forefront of the agitation get representation in the consultations. Critical talks between three Union ministers and farmer groups ended in a stalemate on Tuesday after they rejected the government's suggestion of a new committee to look into the issues raised by the agitating farmers. The two sides, however, have decided to meet again on Thursday.

In its letter, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha Coordination Committee asked the government to ensure that all consultations happen at the same time without any parallel talks with different organisations at different times and locations. "We once again put forward our demand that Parliament be convened immediately to repeal the three farm acts, and give in writing that the government would not introduce the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 in the Parliament," it stated.

12:55 AM

Time for non-farmer section to stand up, be counted: P Sainath

It is time now that the "non-farmer" section of the society join peasants in their protest against the three farm laws, said agriculture expert-journalist P Sainath, arguing that the Centre made a "bad miscalculation" in passing these legislations amid the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking at a virtual press conference organised by various civil groups to express their solidarity for the farmers movement, Sainath said trade unions and workers had already shown the way during their "massive strike where lakhs and lakhs of workers endorsed the demands of the farmers".

"We thought it is time now that the other non-farmer classes of society stand up and be counted," he said. "The workers have already shown us the way and it is time for us to be counted and we have to be counted as standing for the unconditional repeal of these three laws." Sainath termed the decision of the Centre to introduce the laws amid the pandemic a "bad miscalculation". "The reason was simple. They believed that if you could smash through these laws at this time, all these guys, the farmers, the workers will be in no position to organise and resist. It was really a bad miscalculation," he explained.

Sainath pointed out to the clauses 18 and 19 of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act and Contract Farming Act, explaining how it provides no legal recourse whatsoever for farmers or anyone for that matter.

12:54 AM

'Tukde-tukde gang' turning farmers' stir into Shaheen Bagh: BJP's Manoj Tiwari

Delhi BJP MP and former president of the party's state unit Manoj Tiwari on Wednesday claimed that the so-called "tukde tukde gang" was trying to turn the farmers' stir at the national capital's borders into a Shaheen Bagh like protest. Shaheen Bagh in South Delhi was the hub ofthe agitation against the citizenship amendment act earlier this year, before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

Tiwari, in a statement, said alleged slogans in favour of Khalistan and threat to the Prime Minister by some protesters among the farmers showed that it was a "well planned conspiracy" to create "unrest" in the country. Presence of individuals and groups who opposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) and CAA at Shaheen Baghclearly establishes that the 'tukde-tukde' gang is trying to experiment with Shaheen Bagh 2.0and create unrest under the grab of farmers' protest, charged Tiwari. Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, UP and other states are camping on Delhi's borders demanding that the Centre withdraw the three new agriculture laws.

12:00 AM

Farmers demand special Parliament session to repeal farm laws; threaten to block other Delhi roads

Agitating farmers on Wednesday demanded that the Centre convene a special session of Parliament and repeal the new farm laws as they threatened to block other roads in Delhi and "take more steps" if it failed to do so. As the number of protestors swelled at Delhi's border points, the apex body of transporters -- All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), representing about 95 lakh truckers and other entities -- extended its support to the farmers and threatened to halt operations in northern India from December 8 if the government fails to address concerns of the farming community.

A crucial round of talks between the Centre and the representatives of protesting farmers is scheduled to be held on Thursday. Ahead of the talks, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held deliberations with Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal here on Wednesday on ways to dispel concerns over the new farm laws. Tomar, Goyal along with Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash had represented the Union government on Tuesday during the talks with farmer leaders but failed to reach any breakthrough.

As part of their 'Delhi Chalo' march, farmers have currently been staging protests at four busy border points of the national capital - Singhu, Noida, Ghazipur and Tikri - to press their demands under heavy police deployment. Leaders of around 35 farmer organisations held a meeting which was also attended by Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait at the Singhu border.

10:13 PM

Farmers' protest LIVE: Punjab CM to meet Amit Shah on Dec 3

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh scheduled to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday: official sources

9:54 PM

BCD opposes farm laws, supports farmers, urges PM to come out for amicable solution

The Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) Wednesday 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.

The BCD, in a statement issued by its Chairman and senior advocate Ramesh Gupta, said the nature of subject matters covered under these laws are so vast that all disputes up till now entertained by civil courts will be adjudicated by SDMs or ADMs, who are not part of regular courts. The bar body, in a representation sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Sir, you may be aware that revenue authorities under Land Reforms Act and Revenue Acts deal with limited matters, to maintain revenue records by patwaries and other officers, but under the new law, whole concept and scheme has undergone sea change.

It said the government should have unhesitatingly consulted and taken lawyers into confidence, more so when farm laws are simply not related to routine revenue matters but the ones which are basically contractual and commercial.

8:54 PM

Let's see to what extent issues can be resolved, says Tomar ahead of fourth round of talks with farmers

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has said that the government will hold another round of discussion with farmer leaders on Thursday in which both sides will present their views and it remains to be seen "to what extent issues can be resolved".

 

"We will hold discussions with farmers' leaders tomorrow. They will put their side, the government will present its side. Let's see to what extent issues can be resolved," Tomar told media persons here.

 

The minister said that the farm laws are in the interest of farmers and the reforms have been done after a long wait and the government is ready to address their concerns

 

"The draft that was to be given to the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) would come by night. We are waiting for their draft, we will discuss it tomorrow. I appeal to the farmers that the laws are in their interest and the reforms have been done after a long wait but if they have any objection, we are ready to address their concerns," he said.

 

The government had held talks with farmer representatives on Tuesday. Tomar had said after the meeting that it was "good" and the farmer unions have been urged to share specific issues related to farm Acts which will be discussed during the fourth round of meeting on December 3.

8:40 PM

Farmers from MP's Gwalior head for Delhi to join agitation opposing agri laws

Amid the ongoing protests against the newly enacted three farm laws passed by the Centre, farmers from Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior on Wednesday have left for Delhi to join the movement. Thousands of farmers reached the national capital on November 27 and assembled at the border areas to continue their protest against the three agricultural sector laws.

 

Currently, farmers from Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh are agitating on Sant Nirankari Samagam ground in Burari on the outskirts of Delhi. However, they might move from there as suggested by Sardar VM Singh, convenor of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee earlier today.

 

Speaking at a press conference in Delhi, Singh said: "The Home Minister had said that the government will talk to farmers who will sit in Burari. After his appeal, farmers from Uttarakhand and UP came here but the government didn't invite us for talks yesterday. 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 Police on Wednesday 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 gates of the national capital. However, the Kalindi Kunj border is open for traffic movement.

8:27 PM

Farmer Union leader calls for burning effigies across country on Dec 5

Farmers unions on Wednesday demanded that a special Parliament Session be convened to repeal the three agricultural reform laws.

 

"We demand that the Central government should call a special Parliament Session to repeal the farm laws. We call for burning of effigies throughout the country to protest against Modi government and corporate houses on December 5," Darshan Pal, chief of the Krantikari Kisan Union said while addressing a press conference at the Delhi-Haryana border at Singhu.

 

The Krantikari Kisan Union is one of the farmers' unions which is leading the protests against farm laws at Delhi-Haryana borders. Pal is one of the 32 representatives of farmers' union who attended the meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal at Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital on Tuesday.

 

"We have also held talks with Rakesh Tikait of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, and he has also agreed to fight together with us,". Pal added.

 

Responding to the call given by Darshan Pal, Pratibha Shinde of Lok Sangharsh Morcha said, "We will burn effigies in every district of Maharashtra tomorrow and on December 5 in Gujarat to protest against Centre. Tomorrow is the last chance for the government to take the decision to repeal the laws otherwise this movement will become huge and the government will fall."

8:14 PM

Farmers in for long haul at Noida-Delhi border, Chilla route partially re-opened

Farmers protesting against the new farm laws continued their sit-in at the Noida-Delhi border for the second day on Wednesday, leading to the closure of a key route that connects Uttar Pradesh with the national capital. The route, however, was partially opened for commuters coming in from Delhi.

 

The Noida Traffic Police in the morning advised commuters heading to Delhi to take the DND or Kalindi Kunj route instead of the Chilla route through the Noida Link road which was closed due to the demonstration since Tuesday evening.

 

One of the carriageways on the route was opened in the evening, allowing commuters coming from Delhi to enter Noida as the protestors continued to sit on the other side of the road amid heavy police deployment.

 

One of the carriageways has been opened to allow people coming from Delhi to enter Noida or UP. The law and order situation is under control. Some farmers are still on the other side of the road, Noida Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh S told PTI at 5.30 pm.

8:00 PM

Centre wanted Delhi govt to convert 9 stadiums into jail for farmers: Kejriwal

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday accused the Central government of pressuring his government to convert nine Delhi stadiums into jail as part of its "fool-proof' plan to put agitating farmers there when they moved towards Delhi from Punjab and Haryana last week.

 

The Chief Minister revealed this while addressing a digital press conference here, saying his refusal to convert the nine stadiums in Delhi into jails has "upset the Centre".

 

"Since the time we refused to convert the nine stadiums in Delhi into temporary jails, the Central government is very upset with me. They had a fool-proof plan of putting the farmers into these jails as soon as the farmers reach Delhi," Kejriwal said. The Chief Minister said that he was put under a lot of "pressure to convert these stadiums into jails, and received several calls from people".

 

"But there are some moments in life when you listen to your own conscience without caring about the results." He then hit out at Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, asking "Are you under the pressure of these very same people because of which you are making these false allegations against me, abusing me, and talking on behalf of the BJP?".

7:35 PM

AAP's women wing forms human chain in Delhi in solidarity with farmers protesting agri laws

Hundreds of members of the AAP's women's wing and party volunteers on Wednesday formed a human chain at the ITO intersection here 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 Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) women's wing president Nirmala Kumari. Enacted in September, the three farm laws are anticipated to bring "reforms" in the agriculture sector by removing middlemen and allowing farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.

 

Farmers worry these laws will eliminate the safety net of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and do away with mandis that ensure earning. But the government says the MSP system will continue and the new laws will give farmers more options to sell their crop. Kumari said the three farm laws passed by the BJP-led central government are against the farmers. The AAP opposes these laws.

7:03 PM

Transporters threaten to halt operations in North India from Dec 8 in support of farmers

Coming forward in support of agitating farmers, transporters' apex body AIMTC on Wednesday threatened to halt operations in northern India from December 8 if the government fails to address concerns of the farming community. The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) is the apex body of transporters, representing 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.

 

Atwal said the road transport fraternity of the country has extended its full support to farmers who are 'ann daata' (food providers).

 

AIMTC Core Committee Chairman Bal Malkit Singh told PTI, "Starting December 8, we will halt the movement of supplies in entire North India including Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. We will then escalate it to entire country if the government fails to address their issues."

6:54 PM

Will take more steps, If govt does not fulfil our demands: Farmer leader