Farmers protest LIVE: Have invited farmers for talks on Dec 1, says Tomar

Farmers protest LIVE updates: Supply of vegetables and fruits to the city from other states has been impacted

4:09 PM

Farmers protesting due to misconceptions: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said that the farmers' protests are taking place on an account of misconceptions and dialogue should take place.

 

"The central government wants to talk to farmers to dispel the fear of issues in the procurement mechanism. So I believe that dialogue should take place. The protests are happening on account of misconceptions," said Kumar.

 

Farmers have been protesting at various places in Delhi and Haryana and have rejected the Central government's offer to hold talks on December 3 saying that imposing conditions for starting a dialogue is an insult to them. Around 32 farmer organisations, mostly from Punjab, and a few farmers from Gujarat and Maharashtra as well managed to reach Delhi on Friday and assembled at the border areas to continue their protest.

 

The farmers are protesting against The 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. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has said that the Central government is ready for talks with the farmers' unions on December 3.

3:30 PM

Farmers' protest: Concrete barriers at Delhi-Ghaziabad border point as more join protest

Thousands of farmers continued their stir against the Centre's new farm laws at the Delhi-Haryana border for the fifth day, even as the number of those protesting at the Ghazipur border swelled on Monday, leading police to place concrete barriers and enhancing security at the border point connecting with UP. Security was stepped up after farmers threatened to block more highways connecting the national capital.

 

Peaceful protests were underway at both the Singhu and Tikri borders with no untoward incident reported for the last two days, but the numbers of farmers at the Ghazipur border swelled, with more their counterparts from the state joining them. Rejecting the Centre's offer to hold talks once they move to the Burari ground, the farmers protesting at all Delhi border points said they will not accept any conditional dialogue and have called a meeting to discuss their next course of action later in the day.

 

Farmers, who had reached Nirankarai Samagam Ground in Burari on Saturday, continued their protest there. A Delhi Police officer said the situation at the Ghazipur border near UP Gate remained peaceful. He said, "Cement jersey barriers have been placed to prevent the protesting farmers from entering the national capital.

 

"The protestors do not wish to go to Burari ground and want to carry out their protest at Jantar Mantar," he said. However, the Delhi-Ghaziabad border has not been sealed, police said.

3:02 PM

Amit Shah holding meeting as farmers continue to rally on Delhi borders

Even as farmers continued to protest on Delhi borders, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is chairing a meeting here to deliberate on the issue with senior leaders. The meeting that began on Monday morning at Shah's residence, where Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and other senior BJP leaders were also present, seems to indicate the central government's willingness to hold unconditional talks with farmers.

 

The meeting, sources said, would decide on the future course of action by the Union government to persuade farmers to end their protest and resolve the contentious issues through discussions across the table. Home Ministry sources said that the government could sent out an invite to farmers for talks any time. The development comes a day after the farmers rejected the Centre's offer for parleys if they shifted to north-west Delhi's Burari ground and ended their protest.

 

The meeting comes just two days after the Home Minister announced that "if farmers' unions want to hold discussions before December 3, then I want to assure you all that as soon as you shift your protest to the designated place, our government will hold talks to address your concerns the very next day".

2:47 PM

Focusing on overviewing the law and order: Delhi Police Commissioner

2:36 PM

Farmers Protests LIVE: Traffic congestion at Delhi-Haryana border

2:29 PM

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urges people to raise their voice to support protesting farmers

Questioning how the farm laws were formulated without consulting the farmers, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday urged the people of the country to raise their voice in support of the protesting farmers. The Congress leader, taking to Twitter, also alleged that the farm laws only benefit the billionaire friends of the Central government.

 

"Name is farm law, but only billionaire friends get all the benefit. How can farm laws be made without consulting the farmers? How can farmers' benefits be ignored? The government has to listen to farmers. Come, let us raise our voice in support of the farmers together," she tweeted in Hindi.

 

This comes as thousands of farmers have gathered at the border of the national capital to protest against the farm laws recently enacted by the Central government. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had, yesterday, announced that the Centre is willing to discuss all of the farmers' issues.

2:14 PM

Protests happening on account of misconceptions: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

1:52 PM

Farmers protesting at Delhi border offer prayers on Guru Nanak Jayanti, distribute 'prasad'

The farmers protesting against the newly enacted farm laws at Delhi-Haryana border on Monday offered prayers on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti and distributed 'prasad' among each other and security personnel. To mark the birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism and one of the most celebrated Sikh gurus, farmers protesting at the Tikri border and Singhu border were seen offering prayer here.

 

Speaking to ANI, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Doaba) president Manjeet Singh said that even though farmers from Punjab have come to Delhi to protest against the farm laws, they are celebrating the occasion with great zeal.

 

"Today is a very auspicious day for us. We are fortunate that today is Guru Nanak Dev ji's birthday. This our 'sanskars' in Punjab that we celebrate Guruparva with great zeal. We will do the same tonight as well," Singh said.

 

He said that the 'jatbandi' will do 'kirtan' and then there will be 'Ardas' on stage and 'Deepmala' will also be done in the evening in which farmers will light lamps and candles on the tractor and trolleys in all places.

1:40 PM

Using water cannons on protesting farmers amid cold wave cruel: Shiv Sena

Shiv Sena on Monday slammed the BJP-led regime's treatment meted out to protesting farmers, adding it was cruel to use water cannons on them amid a cold wave sweeping parts of north India.

 

The farmers have been protesting at Delhi's borders since five days against the new farm laws and have said they will not accept any conditional dialogue and threatened to block all five entry points to the national capital. Read on...

1:38 PM

Medical camp organised at Delhi's Singhu border, doctors call for COVID-19 tests of protesters

A medical check-up camp has been set up at the Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana border) where farmers are protesting against the Central farm laws. The volunteer doctors at the camp have urged the Central government to conduct COVID-19 test among protesters due to the health protocols not being followed at the protest site.

 

"We should conduct COVID-19 test here. If there is any possibility of a super spreader, the disease might spread to other people which will be disastrous," said Dr Karan.

 

The doctor also pointed out that the protests could prove to be dangerous and could lead to an outbreak of COVID-19.

10:39 AM

Tikri, Singhu borders shut for traffic movement amid farmers' protest

Tikri and Singhu borders have been closed for any traffic movement as the farmers continue their protest against the Centre's farm laws, said Delhi Traffic Police on Monday.

 

"Tikri border is closed for any traffic movement. Available open borders to Haryana are following--Borders Jharoda, Dhansa, Daurala Jhatikera, Badusari, Kapashera, Rajokri NH 8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam vihar and Dundahera borders," Delhi Traffic Police tweeted.

9:50 AM

Speak up for farmers, tweets Rahul Gandhi

9:42 AM

Security beefed up on Delhi's Burari ground, police say basic facilities available

Delhi Police has beefed up security on Burari ground, the designated spot for farmers' protest on the outskirts of the national capital, even as Surjeet Singh Phul, the Punjab unit chief of Bharatiya Kisan Union Krantikari (BKU), termed the venue as an "open jail".

 

Vijayanta Arya, DCP North West, said that basic facilities are being provided to the farmers staying at the Burari ground.

 

"Burari ground has been designated for the farmers who are coming from different parts of the country to protest. Police have been deployed here for their security. We are also in touch of civic authorities to provide facilities like water, sanitation, electricity and food," she said.

 

"Delhi Police is asking the farmers at state borders to come here. Around 500 to 600 farmers are here and more are coming. We are ensuring the safety and security of every farmer staying here," she added.

9:32 AM

Farmers protest: Protesting farmers camp at Gazipur-Ghaziabad border

Farmers decided to stay at the Gazipur-Ghaziabad (Delhi-UP) border on Sunday late night as their protest against Central Government's farm laws continues.

 

A group of farmers was seen sleeping on the road while others were seen sitting closely in a group around a bonfire amid cold weather.

 

Farmers also stay put at the Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana border).

 

Meanwhile, Union ministers Amit Shah and Narendra Singh Tomar held a meeting at BJP President JP Nadda's residence on late Sunday night to discuss the ongoing farmers' protests, sources said.

8:54 AM

Short of answers or assurances: Govt unable to handle farmer protests, writes Bharat Bhushan

A now viral image of the farmer’s agitation shows a young English-speaking Sikh explaining to a police officer why the farmer’s movement should be taken seriously. It is a revolution or “inquilab”, he says, if not addressed by the government it will “completely redefine the politics of this country”. The trolls of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), completely miss the point by ridiculing him and those who support the protest. The notions that only the extremely poor need to be protected from the free market by government intervention and that anyone who has mastered the language of the elite is disqualified from political sympathy must be quickly given up by the ruling party.

 

Instead of addressing fears of a deregulated market in agriculture, the party has let its trolls play up the ostensible shouting of separatist slogans like “Khalistan Zindabad” and death threats to PM Modi. From here the narrative moves quickly and familiarly in the direction of “Khalistani terrorists and (the) Congress” having conspired to organise riots in the country. For the record, despite the accusations of Opposition forces colluding in the farmers’ protests, the farmers have not allowed established political parties on their platform, writes Bharat Bhushan. Click here to read more