LIVE: Ready for talks, but need concrete proposal, say farmer unions

Farmers' protest LIVE updates: Thousands of farmers have been camping at several Delhi border points in cold-wave conditions against the new farm laws. Stay tuned for latest updates

4:13 PM

Jailed activists in Maharashtra on hunger strike to back farmers' stir

Various activists arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links' case are observing a day-long hunger strike on Wednesday at Taloja jail in Maharashtra in support of farmers who are protesting against the Centre's new farm laws. The activists, in a joint statement on the occasion of the National Farmers' Day, said they are lodged in the jail in Navi Mumbai and cannot participate physically in the farmers' agitation.

 

Hence, they are observing a day-long symbolic hunger strike in the jail.

 

"The demands you (farmers) have raised are absolutely right and just," they said in the statement, conveyed through advocate Nihalsingh Rathod.

 

The activists currently behind bars in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links' case include Sudhir Dhawale, Surendra Gadling, Anand Teltumbde, Hany Babu, Sagar Gorkhe, Ramesh Gaichor, Mahesh Raut, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Father Stan Swamy, Gautam Navlakha and Rona Wilson, Rathod said.

3:57 PM

Will fill all gaps in agriculture sector and benefit farmers: Narendra Singh Tomar

3:51 PM

I'm hopeful of a solution: Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar

3:44 PM

Five TMC MPs meet farmers on relay hunger strike at Singhu border

Following Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee's direction, five lawmakers of the party on Wednesday met and interacted with farmers who are on a relay hunger strike at Singhu border. The five MPs include Derek O'Brien, Satabdi Roy, Prasun Banerjee, Pratima Mondal and Md Nadimul Haque.

 

Earlier, TMC leader Suvendu Adhikari had said his party will not only keep on fighting for farmers' rights but will also continue to work together to strengthen the democracy. The agitating farmer unions recently announced a relay hunger strike and appealed to citizens to skip a meal on December 23 on the occasion of 'Kisan Diwas'.

 

They further said that they had also decided to make the Haryana toll plaza free from December 25 to December 27.

 

Even after several rounds of talks with the government, farmers have been protesting on different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws-Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

2:54 PM

Mamata Banerjee interacts with protesting farmers in Delhi, assures TMC's support

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday spoke to farmers protesting in Delhi against the Centre's new agriculture laws and assured them that her party stands by them, a TMC leader said. The ruling party in West Bengal had recently sent a five-member delegation to interact with the farmers who were on a day-long 'relay' hunger strike on Monday at all sites of protest on Delhi's borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

 

"Our party supremo spoke to protesting farmers over the phone. Some of them requested her to visit the 'dharna' sites. She assured them that the party supports their demand," a TMC leader said.

 

Thousands of agriculturists, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, are protesting against the Centre's reform measures for the last over four weeks at various border points of Delhi and demanding that the laws be repealed. Earlier this month, Banerjee had interacted with the agitating farmers over the phone.

1:48 PM

PM Modi will not let farmers' interests to be hurt: Rajnath Singh

Paying tribute to former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh on his birth anniversary, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday asserted that PM Narendra Modi drew inspiration from the late leader and would not let interests of farmers to be hurt.

 

"I remember and salute Chaudhary Charan Singh ji, former Prime Minister and a pioneer among the most respected farmer leaders of the country, on the occasion of his birth anniversary. Chaudhary Saheb continued to voice the problems of farmers during his lifetime and worked for their welfare. The country will always remember his contribution," Rajnath said in a series of tweets in Hindi.

 

He said that Chaudhary Charan Singh wanted an increase in the income of farmers, remunerative prices for their crops and protection of their honour. "Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew inspiration from him and took several steps for the welfare of farmers. He will not let their interests get hurt."

 

"Today, on the occasion of 'Kisan Diwas', I greet all the contributors of the country. They have provided the country with food security. Some farmers are agitated about agricultural laws. The government is talking to them with full sensitivity. I hope that they will withdraw their protest soon," he added.

1:09 PM

ED arrests main accused in the PMLA investigation into the Rs 6,380 crores Agri Gold Ponzi Scam

ED has arrested Avva Venkata Rama Rao, Avva Venkata Seshu Narayana Rao, and Avva Hema Sundara Vara Prasad who are the main accused in the PMLA investigation into the Rs 6,380 crores Agri Gold Ponzi Scam: Enforcement Directorate

11:43 AM

MP Minister Narottam Mishra hits out at Congress leaders supporting farmers

Congress leader Kamal Nath, who never visited farms of a farmer in 15 months, will ride a tractor. Rahul Gandhi, who drove 'sofa-cum-tractor', doesn't even know if potatoes grow above or below the ground: MP Minister Narottam Mishra on Congress supporting farmers' agitation

11:14 AM

Kisan Diwas: Farmers perform 'havan' at Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in Ghazipur

Farmers perform 'havan' at Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in Ghazipur on the occasion of birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh.

8:33 AM

Kisan Diwas 2020: All you need to know about Farmers' Day amid protests

For nearly a month, a group representing farmers from across India are not on their fields but on the streets, surrounding the country’s national capital, Delhi, to fight for their ‘survival’. 

 

India’s BJP-led government recently passed three farm laws, which the government claims will help reform the agriculture sector. The three farm laws, according to the government, will help in bringing private investment to the farm sector, help the farmers sell their produce to anyone they wish to and loosen the hold of APMC ‘mandis’.  Read on...