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

4:43 PM

Four farmers returning from protest sites near Delhi killed in two separate accidents

Four Punjab farmers returning from protest sites near Delhi borders were killed in two separate road accidents on Tuesday. In the first incident, two farmers belonging to Patiala were killed in an early morning accident after their tractor-trolley was hit by a truck in Haryana's Karnal district, police said. In the accident, which took place on Taraori flyover in Karnal, a third farmer was seriously wounded while some others sitting on the trolley escaped with minor injuries.

 

Taraori police station's SHO Inspector Sachin said the two deceased were aged around 24 years and 50 years respectively. He said one of the farmers travelling in the tractor trolley told police that the truck driver appeared to have fallen asleep behind the wheels which led to the accident. The truck driver managed to flee from the spot, he said, adding a case under relevant provisions of law has been registered in connection with the incident.

4:30 PM

Farmers who are surrounding Delhi have been misguided: Prime Minister Narendra Modi

4:16 PM

Govt addressing farmers' concerns; opposition misguiding them: PM Modi

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. Modi was speaking after laying foundation stones of a desalination plant, a hybrid renewable energy park, and a fully automated milk processing and packing plant in his home state Gujarat.

 

"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.

4:12 PM

Agriculture reform taking place now exactly what farmers' organisations and opposition parties were seeking: PM Modi

4:04 PM

A conspiracy is going on around Delhi to confuse farmers, says PM Modi in Kutch

3:03 PM

Opposition behind farmers' protest for their political survival: Giriraj Singh

Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Giriraj Singh on Tuesday alleged that opposition leaders are behind farmers' protest for their political survivals. Speaking to ANI, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said that the door of the government is open for the farmers and will remain open.

 

"In a democracy, the solution is only through dialogue. But have you not seen on TV? not seen on channels? derogatory and objectionable comments against Prime Minister. Red flags have come which have nothing to do with farmers. The opposition is behind it for political survival. Those political parties who were in the ICU want to grab the farmers' movement, want to usurp it. That is why they are not talking for the rights of the farmers," Singh said.

 

Union Minister hit out on Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh for doing "politics in the name of farmers" and said, "I want to ask the Chief Minister of Punjab, are private companies in your state not making contracts with farmers to grow potatoes? Did they usurp their land? Why did not you oppose this? Today Nestle is not taking milk from farmers in same Punjab? Our government intention is that farmers get better prices and opportunities."

 

2:42 PM

'Khaps' of UP's Muzaffarnagar to reach Delhi on Dec 17 to support protesting farmers

A number of "khaps" in UP's Muzaffarnagar have extended support to the farmers' agitation against the Centre's new agri laws and will join the ongoing protests at Delhi's border points on December 17.

 

The decision was taken at a meeting of the chiefs of "khaps" (caste councils) held on Monday at Shoram village in the Shahpur police station area here, Subhash Balyan, secretary of All Khap council, said.

 

The "khap" chiefs termed the Centre's three new agri marketing laws "anti-farmer" and called for their repeal, he said, adding that they have decided to reach Delhi on December 17 to support the agitation.

2:29 PM

Farmers' protest over Centre's three new agri bills continues for 20th day

Farmers' protest against Centre's three farm laws continued for the 20th day at Singhu border with Delhi on Tuesday. Several former army personnel also joined the protesting farmers.

 

Speaking to ANI, Kamaldeep Singh said that he has retired from the Army five years ago. "I was posted in different states of the country. We are also the son of a farmer. I come here as a farmer. I have these medals placed because I have done valourous work in the past and stood at the border. We want to show the government that if these black laws are not taken back then we will stay here."

 

"We are farmers and to demand our right is not wrong. We respect every section of society and we are here only against the bills that are against the farmers," he added. READ ON...

 

1:38 PM

LIVE: Farmer leaders meet to decide future strategy

The agitating farmers continue to occupy the borders of the national Capital on the 20th day of their protest. While they are not talking to the Centre presently, the leaders of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha would be holding a meeting among themselves on Tuesday at the Singhu border to decide their further strategy.

 

Harinder Singh, Punjab farmer leader and the BKU general secretary, told IANS that the farmer leaders will be meeting at the Singhu border on Tuesday at noon to decide the strategy ahead. However, when asked about the possibility of holding talks with the Central government, he said till now all the farmer organisations are demanding that if the government considers repealing of the three new farm laws, then only there could be further talks.

 

Singh said the Central government was adamant on the three farm laws. The farmers have rejected its proposals and there was no question of holding further talks on the laws, said Singh. He also said if there is any new proposal from the government, the leaders of all the farmer organisations involved in the agitation would think over it.

1:14 PM

Farmers' protests resulting in daily loss of Rs 3,500 cr: ASSOCHAM

Urging the government and farmers' organisations to resolve the impasse over new agri laws, industry body ASSOCHAM said on Tuesday the ongoing protests are dealing a big blow to inter-connected economies of the region.

 

A daily loss of Rs 3,000 crores to 3,500 crores is resulting in economies of the region from the value chain and transport disruption because of protests, according to ASSOCHAM rough estimates.

11:09 AM

Adani & Ambani groups registered 53 new agro-based companies in the last few months

I have information that Adani & Ambani groups registered 53 new agro-based companies in the last few months. We'll continue our protest till the farmers are not heard: JS Gill, Congress MP from Khadoor Sahib, Punjab, protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar in support of farmers

 

8:31 AM

Anna Hazare warns Centre of hunger strike over agriculture-related demands

Social activist Anna Hazare on Monday wrote to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar warning "resumption of a hunger strike” against the Centre's "failure" to fulfil his demands including the implementation of the recommen­dations made by M S Swaminathan Commission.

 

Hazare's other demand include granting autonomy to the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). Read on...

8:27 AM

Farmers' protests: Crisis woudn't have happened had Centre followed federal approach

The Akali Dal on Monday said the crisis over the new farm laws wouldn't have arisen had the BJP-led government followed a federal approach, claiming that the country has seen a dangerous slide into an increasingly autocratic system under it.

 

"The alarming crisis following the passage of three anti-farmer Acts would not have arisen if the government had followed a federal approach through consultation, conciliation and consensus," Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said in a statement.

 

"The farmers' crisis cannot be de-linked from the ill-advised unitary and dictatorial tendencies in the country. The problem could have been averted through an approach based on federal principles," said Badal after offering prayers at the Akal Takht Sahib complex. Read on...

7:35 AM

Farmers 'apologise' to people with 'folded hands' for road blockade, inconvenience

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."

2:02 AM

Farm laws brought in to benefit some capitalists, says Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday alleged that the farm laws are not only "anti-farmer" but also "anti-people" and have been brought in "to benefit some capitalists".

 

Kejriwal and AAP volunteers across the country held a day-long hunger strike on Monday in support of the farmers protesting against the three farm laws.

 

Addressing the volunteers at the party headquarters, Kejriwal said that "these farm laws are not only anti-farmer but also anti-people and this will cause a massive price hike as these laws have given a license to do the same and these laws are brought only to benefit some capitalists".