LIVE: Farmer leaders plan hunger strike on Dec 14, escalating protests

In a bid to intensify the ongoing protests at Delhi borders, farmers will block the Delhi-Jaipur road today. Stay tuned for latest updates on farmers' protest

2:44 PM

Centre trying to ruin country: Kamal Nath on new farm laws

Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath has hit out at the Centre over the three new farm laws, alleging that the government was trying to ruin the country. Thousands of farmers have been protesting on various borders of the national capital against the three farm laws enacted in September.

 

"The new agriculture laws brought by the Centre will exploit the farmers," the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister told reporters. "This government is working aimlessly and it is going to ruin the entire country," he alleged.

 

"The President gives suggestion to the central government. Now, it is for the central government to take a call. The government should try to understand the reality of the agriculture sector," Nath said in response to a query over opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Sharad Pawar, meeting President Ram Nath Kovind seeking repeal of the farm laws.

2:17 PM

Security up in Gurugram as farmers' plan to block Delhi-Jaipur national highway

After farmers decided to intensify their agitation in support of their demands, Gurugram Police on Thursday beefed up security at several traffic junctions, toll plazas and Delhi-Haryana border areas in view of protesters' plan to block the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway during the week.

 

"We have also beefed up security arrangements at border points in view of ongoing farmers' protests. We have issued an advisory to all officials concerned to take necessary precautionary measures in view of plans to block the expressway and toll plaza," ACP (Headquarters) Usha Kundu said.

 

Police officials have been asked to intensify patrolling in all sensitive locations, especially in border areas and Kherki Daula toll plaza so as to prevent any untoward incident.

 

While the farmers' protest continued for the 15th day on Thursday, Gurugram Traffic Police has issued a traffic advisory for crucial traffic points like Kapdiwas border, Bilaspur Chowk, Panchgaon Chowk, Manesar Chowk, Kherki Daula toll plaza, Hero Honda Chowk, Rajiv Chowk, and Shankar Chowk on the National Highway-48.

1:59 PM

Repeal farm laws, don't make it prestige issue: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury writes to PM

Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to repeal the three agri-marketing related laws without making "this a prestige issue as farmers are protesting against these new legislations. Chowdhury said the three laws are anti-farmer and corporate-friendly, and they will end up "hurting" farmers' earnings.

 

"I request you not to make this a prestige issue, he said in a letter to the prime minister. The government must bow to the supreme will and aspirations of the people and accordingly repeal the farm laws at the earliest, as the livelihood of millions of farmers is at stake," he said.

 

Meanwhile, Congress MPs from Punjab have planned a protest at Jantar Mantar for convening an early session of Parliament to repeal the farm laws. The Congress has also extended its support to the 'Bharat Bandh' call given by farmer unions seeking the repeal of farm laws. Chowdhury said in his letter that through these contentious laws, the Minimum Support Price guarantee, farmers' safety net since the Green Revolution of 1960s, is being "snatched away" under the pretext of giving them more playing ground and better platforms to sell their produce.

12:33 PM

Farmers protest LIVE: Agriculture minister to brief media at 4 pm today

11:29 AM

A new ‘Delhi Chalo' call is being given to all farmers in north India for December 14

According to the union leaders, a new ‘Delhi Chalo' call is being given to all farmers in north India for December 14, while those in the south will be asked to protest at district headquarters. They said all toll plazas across the country will be made toll-free on December 12.

10:44 AM

Married to a cause: Punjab family says no to wedding gifts, keeps donation box for farmers

A family in Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab, asked their relatives and friends to donate money for the protesting farmers, instead of presenting gifts, during the wedding of their son recently.

 

At the ceremony, they put up a donation box in the venue and appealed to guests to make generous donations for the farmers protesting against three recently enacted farm laws in and around Delhi.

 

"This is our struggle and we all must fight it together. Everyone should help them. I would like to urge the young generation to do something for society, and come out in their support," said Abhijit Singh, the groom.

 

A relative of the groom told ANI their entire family agreed to do something for the farmers.

 

"We were celebrating here, while the farmers are protesting; so we thought of extending our support to them," he said.

10:41 AM

Farmers' protest: Over 50 medical camps set up for farmers at Singhu border

Over 50 free round-the-clock medical camps have come up at Singhu, one of the multiple Delhi borders, where farmers have been agitating against the three recently enacted farm laws, braving the winters, for the last 15 days.

 

Free medicines and ambulance services are also being provided to the agitating farmers.

 

Dr Kanwar Pal Singh, a volunteer associated with United Sikhs NGO, which has set up many such camps, told ANI people mostly complained of fever and sore throat here. "Protesters, however, are taking all precautions here amid the COVID-19 pandemic," he said on Thursday.

 

Doctors and volunteers said that many already have existing health problems, for which they need regular medicines and health check-ups.

10:17 AM

Govt intends to weaken the farmers' movement, says Bharatiya Kisan Union's Manjeet Singh

10:15 AM

People Joining the Protest to Protect Democracy: Akhilesh Yadav

10:12 AM

Farmers protest LIVE updates: Farmers' union to meet at 11 am today

9:50 AM

Farmers protest against Centre's farm laws enters 15th day at Tikri border with Haryana

7:15 AM

Farmer leaders said govt's proposal was an "insult" to the farmers

Addressing a press conference, farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakka said there was nothing new in the government's proposal, and that it was "completely rejected" by the 'Sanyukta Kisan Committee'. The farmer leaders said govt's proposal was an "insult" to the farmers and they would intensify their agitation by blocking the Jaipur-Delhi and the Delhi-Agra expressways.