Farmers' protests LIVE: Unions reject Centre's proposal to set up panel

Farmers protest LIVE updates Day 6: Chilla border that links Delhi to UP through Noida has been closed. Stay tuned for latest updates on farmers' protest

4:45 PM

LIVE: Centre giving detailed presentation to farmers' leaders on MSP and APMC Act

4:43 PM

'lll-informed': India on Canada PM Trudeau's remarks on farmers' protest

India on Tuesday strongly reacted to comments by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other leaders there regarding farmers' protest, calling the remarks as "ill-informed" and "unwarranted" as the matter pertained to the internal affairs of a democratic country.

 

"We have seen some ill-informed comments by Canadian leaders relating to farmers in India. Such comments are unwarranted, especially when pertaining to the internal affairs of a democratic country," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.

 

In a terse message, the ministry further added that "it is also best that diplomatic conversations are not misrepresented for political purposes." In a video posted on his Twitter account, Trudeau said,"the situation is concerning and we are all very worried about family and friends and I know that is a reality for many of you. Let me remind you, Canada will always be there to defend the right of peaceful protest." READ ON...

4:24 PM

Agri reform tells world Indian industry seeks to grow but not at cost of farmers: Smriti Irani

Union Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday said the agricultural reform undertaken by the government sends out a signal globally that the Indian industry seeks to grow without compromising the interests of the country's farming community.

 

"The agricultural reform that has been led by the Prime Minister tells the world and particularly the Indian community, industry and farmers that the industry seeks to grow but not at the cost of our farming communities," Irani said at a virtual conference organised by the industry body CII.

 

However, the minister for textiles and women and child development did not specify any particular agricultural reform. Thousands of farmers continued to camp and protest at various Delhi border points for the sixth consecutive day on Tuesday against the new farm laws, which they fear will dismantle the minimum support price system and corporatise farming.

 

Besides, Irani said over five lakh farmers have benefited by the cotton procurement valued at over Rs 7,500 crore undertaken by the Cotton Corporation of India for the ongoing season. She said Rs 6,314 crore out of the over Rs 7,500 crore has already been digitally transferred to these farmers directly in their bank accounts.

4:18 PM

Police detain Shaheen Bagh activist Bilkis Dadi who reached Delhi-Haryana border to join farmers' protest

4:17 PM

Centre should accept all demands proposed by farmers: Kailash Gehlot

4:08 PM

Govt will reach solution after discussing farmers' issues: Agriculture Minister

The government on Tuesday expressed confidence that it will reach a solution after discussing issues raised by protesting farmers, as a meeting got underway between union ministers and representatives of over 30 farmer organisations. For the meeting at Vigyan Bhawan here, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar was accompanied by Railways and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, also an MP from Punjab.

 

"We are ready for a discussion to resolve their issues. Let's see," Tomar told reporters as he arrived for the meeting.

 

He further said the government will arrive at a solution after hearing the representatives of the farmer organisations.

 

Hours before the meeting. Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Tomar and Goyal, along with BJP chief J P Nadda, had held marathon discussions over the farmers' protest against the Centre's new agriculture reform laws. Peaceful sit-ins by farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, continued at the Singhu and Tikri borders with no untoward incident reported after Friday's violence, while the numbers of protestors swelled at the Ghazipur border on Monday.

4:01 PM

Heavy police force deployed at Delhi border points as farmers' protest enters sixth day

Delhi border points remained under heavy police deployment on Tuesday, with concrete barriers and multilayered barricades in place as protesting farmers continue their agitation against the Centre's new agri laws. For the sixth consecutive day, thousands of farmers have been staging protests at Tigri and Singhu borders amid heavy security deployment but the situation remained peaceful.

 

According to the police, checking of vehicles has also been intensified at the border points as a precautionary measure in view of the "Delhi Chalo" protest march by farmers.

 

Cemented barriers and multilayered barricades have also been put up besides heavy security personnel at Ghazipur border near UP gate where many farmers have been protesting since Saturday, a senior police officer said. The move comes after the agitating farmers threatened to block all entry points to the national capital.

3:57 PM

Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal hold meeting with farmers' leaders in Delhi

3:48 PM

JJP, BJP's coalition partner in Haryana, says Centre should have no problem in giving written assurance to protesting farmers

3:47 PM

Union ministers to meet representatives of over 30 protesting farmer organisations

3:44 PM

Farmers' Protest LIVE: Rajnath Singh to lead talks with unions in Delhi

3:41 PM

Farmers' Protest LIVE: Will reach solution after hearing them, says govt

3:37 PM

Will discuss how to resolve their issues; Govt will reach solution after hearing them: Agriculture Minister

3:35 PM

LIVE: Bhim Army chief visits Ghazipur border to support farmers

Even as scores of farmers owing allegiance to the Bharatiya Kisan Union continued to protest at the Singhu border entry point on the Delhi-Ghaziabad route, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad visited them on Tuesday to extend his party's support to the cause.

 

"I have come to extend support so that farmers don't feel left alone. Farmers, Dalits and labourers are all the same. If the farmer will not cultivate his land, how will a labourer run his household? I come from a family of labourers. How can I abandon the farmers cause?" he said.

 

Azad asserted that he had come just to extend moral support and not lead the farmers' protest, adding that farmers have not come out on the roads happily.

 

"Why is the central government holding talks after six days? The government knows the strength of the Dalits. The government should have held talk on the very first day. In winter season, farmers are sitting on roads, facing tear-gas shells and water cannons. They are the ones who provide us food," the Bhim Army leader said.

 

He said that the government knew that the farmers had come prepared to sustain their protest over a long period of time and hence the Centre had to listen to them.

3:32 PM

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar arrives for meeting with farmers' leaders