LIVE: Man dies by suicide at Delhi border where farmers are protesting

Farmers' protest LIVE updates Day 21: SC may form a committee having representatives of the government and farmer unions across India. Stay tuned for latest updates on farmers' protest

3:52 PM

Centre being 'stubborn' in face of farmers' agitation: Delhi minister

The Centre should give up its "ego" and "stubbornness" and accept the demands of farmers who are protesting against the new farm laws at Delhi's borders despite the biting cold, the city's Development minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday. Rai, also convener of the Delhi unit of the AAP, said the Arvind Kejriwal-led governmentand his party stand firmly with the farmers and have been making certain arrangements for them during their protest.

 

After a visit to the Singhu border, blocked by thousands of farmers camping there for nearly three weeks now, Rai said the Kejriwal government has arranged a Langar Sewa (community kitchen), water and toilet facilities for them.

 

"Our volunteers, MLAs and councilors are also serving here. The AAP and its government fully support the farmers," he said.

 

The farmers are protesting against the three farm laws passed recently by the Central government, even as they face hardships and the cold weather during their demonstrations, Rai said. He described their protest as "unfortunate", saying farmers are the ones who feed the nation.

2:48 PM

Govt will not do anything which is against the interest of farmers: Centre tells SC

2:48 PM

Your negotiations with protesting farmers have not worked apparently till now: Supreme Court to Centre

2:40 PM

SC intends to set up committee comprising farmers' unions, Centre to resolve issues of protestors

The Supreme Court on Wednesday while observing that farmers issue "will soon become a national issue" said that it intends to set up a committee comprising representatives of farmers unions across India, government and other stakeholders to resolve the issues of protesting farmers. A Bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for Centre that it intends to form a committee "because this will soon become a national issue and with the government, it won't work out it seems."

 

The Bench also issued notice to Centre and State governments on a batch of pleas seeking a direction to authorities to immediately remove the farmers who are protesting at several border points of Delhi against three new farm laws. The top court also granted permission to implead farmer organisations and posted the matter for hearing tomorrow.

 

During the hearing, the Bench told Solicitor General that government's negotiation is not working and "it's bound to fail again".

1:48 PM

Business adversely affected due to farmers' protest claim traders at Delhi's Azadpur market

Traders from Azadpur Mandi, one of the largest wholesale markets for fruits and vegetables in the country, say that due to the ongoing farmers' agitation against the three farm laws, their business has been adversely affected.

 

"It is certainly affected. As you know the border is closed. The customers are coming in lesser number than before and so is the supply of goods into the market. There is a lack of supply and also a lack of buyers," vegetable wholesaler, Sumer Singh Saini told ANI when asked whether the business in the market is affected due to the agitation.

 

Manoharlal, a trader of dates and other consumer goods said, "There is a lack of supply of goods and also lesser numbers of traders are coming here due to fear. There is the problem of goods going out from here due to fear that the borders are closed. Many people who use to come from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are not coming into the market."

 

He said that due to the protest rates of goods sold in the market are not affected and added that it is only the consumption that has gone down.

1:30 PM

Noida: Traffic movement disrupted at Noida-Delhi Chilla border, due to blockade by protesting farmers

1:04 PM

Farmers' protest case: SC hearing underway on pleas seeking removal of farmers from border areas

Supreme Court begins hearing pleas seeking a direction to authorities to immediately remove the farmers who are protesting at several border points of Delhi against the three new farm laws

12:33 PM

There are attempts to confuse farmers, take advantage of protests: Gadkari

Attempts are being made to "misguide and confuse" farmers and gain advantage out of their protests, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday and appealed to farmer unions to come forward for a meaningful dialogue with the government to end the stalemate.

 

The senior leader and former BJP President also said that remarks made by international entities on this issue were unjustifiable and uncalled for as India never interfered in internal matters of other countries. Read on...

12:26 PM

Farmers' protest: Security beefed up at Chilla border between Delhi-Noida

Security arrangements were tightened at the Chilla border between Delhi and Noida on Wednesday as farmer union leaders have threatened to completely block the key border point to press for repeal of the Centre's new farm laws.

 

A senior police officer said elaborate security measures are already in place at the Chilla border. Multi-layered barricades, jersey barriers and additional security personnel have been deployed to ensure law and order. Read on...

8:44 AM

Farmers stage a protest against the Centers new farm laws at Singhu border

Farmers stage a protest against the Centers new farm laws at Singhu border, New Delhi, Tuesday, Dec 15, 2020

8:11 AM

Four Independent MLAs meet Khattar, urge ending of deadlock between farmers-Centre

Four Independent MLAs from Haryana met Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday evening and urged that the deadlock between protesting farmers and the Centre over the new agri laws be resolved at the earliest.

 

These legislators along with another Independent MLA, Sombir Sangwan, and a JJP MLA, Jogi Ram Sihag, who has been vocal on farmers' issues, met in Panchkula in the afternoon, before the meeting with the chief minister.

 

The MLAs who met Khattar were Nayan Pal Rawat, Randhir Singh Gollen, Rakesh Daultabad and Dharam Pal Gonder.

 

Later in the evening, barring Sangwan, who had recently withdrawn support to the Khattar government dubbing it "anti-farmer", and JJP's Sihag, the four other legislators met Khattar at his residence

8:09 AM

Punjab MLA demands referendum in Punjab, Haryana over farm laws

Punjabi Ekta Party leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira has said that a referendum should be held in Punjab and Haryana to sort out the deadlock over farm laws.

 

Khaira, who wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said that a referendum seems to be the "only logical and democratic peaceful solution" to the said current deadlock between agitating farmer unions and the government.

 

The MLA accused the central government of disregarding public sentiments in Punjab, Haryana on the farm laws.

7:33 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.

 

AMU students, including former leaders of the students' union, also observed "Black Day" at the campus to mark the same day last year when about 50 students protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) had been injured in police action.