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

2:38 PM

Will thwart Centre's bid to turn farm protest into Shaheen Bagh: Bharatiya Kisan Union

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Sunday asserted that they would thwart all attempts of the Centre to turn the ongoing protest by farmers into "violence that followed anti-CAA protests at Shaheen Bagh" and other areas in Delhi in February.

 

"The Union government wants to make the Nirankari Maidan at Burari as a flashpoint for another re-run of the violent anti-CAA protests in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh area in February. We will not let the government succeed in its attempt," Tikait told IANS.

 

"If we reach the Burari ground, we will be accused of planning a protest similar to the Shaheen Bagh. We will not allow a repeat of the anti-CAA protests incidents with our farmers," Tikait added.

 

Several farmer leaders from western Uttar Pradesh led by BKU leader Tikait will soon lead a convoy of Uttar Pradesh farmers at Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in east Delhi to participate in the protest against the three central farm laws.

2:02 PM

Farmers continue their protest against the farm laws

1:26 PM

Agriculture reforms brought new opportunities to farmers, they have bestowed new rights on them: PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat

1:10 PM

LIVE: Security personnel at Singhu border as farmers' protest continue

Security has been increased at Singhu border of Delhi-Haryana as farmers decided to continue their protest against the three new farm laws on Sunday. Some of the protesters are expected to conduct a meeting before noon today to discuss their next strategy.

 

While some farmers have moved to the Nirankari Samagam Ground in Burari area on the outskirts of the national capital, many remain undecided on heading to the site, allocated to them by Delhi Police to hold their protests. Thousands of farmers are still hunkered down at various border entry points into Delhi deciding that they'll continue their protest at the border and won't go anywhere else.

 

"They (agitating farmers) are sitting peacefully and have been cooperating till now. Our objective is to maintain law and order and to ensure that the arrangements are in place to facilitate their movement," said Surendra Yadav, Joint CP, Northern Range, Delhi.

 

At the Ghaziabad-Delhi border protesting farmers questioned why they were being appealed to shift their demonstration to "Protests happen at Ramlila ground, then why should we go to Nirankari Bhawan, a private facility? We will stay put here today," Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said while speaking to ANI.

1:00 PM

LIVE: Meeting of farmers underway at Delhi-Haryana border

A meeting of farmers is underway at Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana) as they continue their protest against the Central farm laws on Sunday.

 

Farmers were seen setting together and discussing their future plans regarding the protest. This is a key meeting since farmers are yet to decide on moving to Burari from borders after a request from the Centre. During the meeting, the farmers raised anti-government slogans, saying that "fulfill our demands" and "we will not go back".

 

Meanwhile, Tikri border has been closed for any traffic as the farmers continue to protest the Centre's farm laws, said Delhi Traffic Police. With this, the available open borders to Haryana are Jharoda, Dhansa, Daurala Jhatikera, Badusari, Kapashera, Rajokri NH 8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam Vihar and Dundahera.

12:47 PM

New farm laws have begun mitigating farmers' problems in short span of time: PM Modi

Amid ongoing protests by a section of farmers against new farm laws, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asserted that these agriculture reforms have not only freed peasants from various shackles but have also bestowed on them new rights and opportunities. Addressing his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio programme, Modi said the recent agriculture reforms have begun mitigating the troubles of farmers in a short span of time as he cited the example of a Maharashtra farmer who used the provisions of the new laws to get the money promised to him by a trader.

 

"Since ages, these demands of farmers which at one point of time or the other all political parties had promised to them, have now been fulfilled. After deep deliberations, Parliament recently passed farm reform laws," he said.

 

"These reforms have not only freed the farmers from various shackles, but have also given them new rights and opportunities. In such a short span of time, these rights have started reducing the problems of farmers," he said.

 

His remarks come at a time when thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, have dug in their heels at Delhi's border points and hundreds have gathered at the city's Burari ground, united in their determination to hold protests against the new farm laws.

12:37 PM

LIVE: Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee offers food to protesting farmers

12:11 PM

LIVE: Tikri border closed for traffic movement as farmers continue to protest agri laws

Tikri border has been closed for any traffic as the farmers continue to protest the Centre's farm laws, said DelhiTraffic Police on Sunday. With this, the available open borders to Haryana are Jharoda, Dhansa, Daurala Jhatikera, Badusari, Kapashera, Rajokri NH 8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam Vihar and Dundahera.

 

"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.

 

Meanwhile, Manjeet Sheoran, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) East District said that the farmers have not been allowed to move anywhere except Burari.

 

"If they (farmers) are planning to move towards Burari, we will accompany them till there but permission has not been granted to them to move somewhere else. We have outside forces and Delhi Police constables are with us. We have all the adequate arrangements," said Sheoran.

 

On the other hand, commuters headed towards the national capital from other states said they are facing problems due to road blockade at the Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana border).

11:55 AM

Protesting farmers not 'properly understood' new farm laws: Niti Aayog member

Niti Aayog Member (Agriculture) Ramesh Chand has said protesting farmers have not fully or properly understood the new farm laws, asserting that these legislations have potential to increase farm income in a big way. He further said that the motive of the three new farm laws is exactly the opposite of what the protesting farmers have understood.

 

In an interview to PTI, Chand said, "The way, I am reading these farmers, who are protesting, it looks like that they have not fully or properly understood these three laws."

 

"If these new farm laws are allowed to be implemented, there are very high chances of big increase in income of the farmers and in many states, it may even double," he said while replying to a question on whether the government is still confident of doubling farm income by 2022.

 

The Narendra Modi-led NDA government has set a target of doubling farmers' income by 2022. On September 27, President Ram Nath Kovind gave assent to the three farm bills -- The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020.

11:47 AM

LIVE: A meeting of farmers underway at Delhi-Haryana border

11:15 AM

Centre should withdraw 'anti-farmer laws', says Digvijaya Singh

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Sunday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over ongoing protests against "anti-farmer" laws and said that the Centre should withdraw these legislations. Singh added that these laws should be submitted to the Parliamentary Committee for reconsideration after discussing with the farmers.

 

"If Modi ji had discussed with the farmers before bringing the anti-farmer laws, why would this situation have happened? Modi ji should withdraw these legislations. And again after discussing with the farmers, submit these laws to the Parliamentary Committee for reconsideration," he tweeted in Hindi.

 

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 Service Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

11:02 AM

LIVE: Farmers continue their protest against the farm laws at Singhu border

10:44 AM

Farmers Protests LIVE: Commuters facing problems due to road blockade at Singhu border

10:30 AM

It would be better if Centre reconsiders farm laws, says Mayawati

Amid farmers' protests against Union government's agricultural laws, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati said it would be better if the Central government reconsiders the three newly-enacted legislation, stating that the farmers are agitating throughout the country as these laws were made without their consent.

 

"Farmers are quite angry and agitating throughout the country, expressing their disagreement about the recently enacted three laws related to agriculture by the Central government. In view of this, if the Union government reconsiders these laws, made without the consent of the farmers, it would be better," Mayawati tweeted in Hindi.

 

As farmers on Sunday continued their protest against the Central farm laws at the Ghaziabad-Delhi border, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) asked why they were being appealed to shift their demonstration to Nirankari Samagam Ground in Burari on the outskirts of the national capital."Protests happen at Ramlila ground, then why should we go to Nirankari Bhawan, a private facility? We will stay put here today," Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said while speaking to ANI.

10:09 AM

Farmers continue protest against Central farm laws, BKU asks 'why they should shift to Delhi's Burari'

As farmers on Sunday continued their protest against the Central farm laws at the Ghaziabad-Delhi border, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) asked why they were being appealed to shift their demonstration to Nirankari Samagam Ground in Burari on the outskirts of the national capital.

 

"Protests happen at Ramlila ground, then why should we go to Nirankari Bhawan, a private facility? We will stay put here today," Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said while speaking to ANI.

 

This comes hours after Union Home Minister Amit Shah appealed to the farmers' union to gather on Nirankari Samagam Ground, saying the Centre was ready to hold talks even before the scheduled day of December 3. Meanwhile, security has been tightened on the Delhi-Haryana border as farmers, who are opposing the farm laws, stayed put at the Delhi border points.

 

The farmers further said the government should come forward with an "open heart" and not with a "condition". "Amit Shah ji has called for an early meeting on a condition; it is not good. He should have offered talks with an open heart without any condition. We'll hold a meeting tomorrow (Sunday) morning to decide on our response," said BKU's Punjab President.