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

3:23 PM

The government should listen to us: Bilkis Dadi, Shaheen Bagh activist

3:11 PM

LIVE: Farmer leaders reach Vigyan Bhawan to meet Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar

3:10 PM

Amit Shah likely to join key farmer-ministers meeting

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to participate in a much-awaited meeting between farmers and a high-level cabinet ministers' team on Tuesday. Sources said that Shah may join the meeting scheduled at 3 p.m. at Vigyan Bhawan in Central Delhi as demanded by the farmers.

 

The inputs came after Shah went through two back-to-back meetings on farmers issue at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President J.P. Nadda's Motilal Nehru Marg residence on Tuesday in which union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal participated.

 

However, there is no official announcement on whether Shah, who has been engaged in two meetings since 11.30 a.m., would attend the meetings with a group of 36 farmer unions heading towards the venue.

 

Meanwhile, a source confirmed that Rajnath Singh, Tomar and Goyal will hold talks with farmer unions who would put forth their demands such as rollback of three farm laws enacted in September during the Monsoon Session of Parliament and new amendments to these legislations.

3:04 PM

Saw some ill-informed comments by Canadian leaders on farmers in India: MEA

2:50 PM

Centre's top brass holds discussions ahead of meeting with protesting farmers

Hours before the Centre's meeting with protesting farmers on Tuesday, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, BJP chief J P Nadda and others held marathon discussions on the matter. The central government has called a meeting with all 32 agitating farmers unions at Vigyan Bhawan here at 3 pm.

 

Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah along with Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal held a meeting for over three hours over the farmers protest against the Centre's new agriculture reform laws.

 

Peaceful sit-ins by farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, continue 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. The opposition parties too stepped up pressure, asking the Centre to "respect the democratic struggle" of the farmers and repeal the laws.

 

The farmers have expressed apprehension that the Centre's farm laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporates. The government has maintained that the new laws will bring farmers better opportunities and usher in new technologies in agriculture.

2:32 PM

Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad joins farmers' protest at Delhi-UP border

2:11 PM

Ahead of 3 pm talk with farmers, Union Ministers meet to discuss protests, demands

Ahead of the meeting with the farmer leaders at 3 pm today, amid protests against the recent farm laws, several Union Cabinet Ministers are meeting at the residence of BJP President JP Nadda on Tuesday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar arrived at the residence of Nadda to hold a meeting to discuss the ongoing farmers' protest ahead of a key meeting later today.

 

Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Railways, is also expected to join the meeting. Tomar, speaking to the reporters here, said that all the farmers' organisations have been called for a meeting at 3 pm and reiterated that the Central government is ready for discussions.

 

"Farmer leaders have been invited for talks today at 3 pm. The government is always ready for talks. We can't hold discussions on road. Let them come and sit across the table," Tomar said.

Earlier, several meetings were held between Cabinet Ministers and BJP President JP Nadda over the farmers' protest. According to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been taking feedback from senior ministers including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Narendra Singh Tomar.

1:56 PM

Over 500 farmers from UP's Bundelkhand to join 'Delhi Chalo' protest

Over 500 farmers from Bundelkhand will join the ongoing farmers' protest at Delhi border points against the new agriculture-related laws on Thursday. Bundelkhand Kisan Union (BKU) national president Vimal Sharma said all the preparations for going to the national capital have been completed and district units have been instructed to participate in the movement in a peaceful manner.

 

"Over 500 farmers from Banda, Chitrakoot, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi and Lalitpur will go to Delhi on Thursday from their own means with ration and other necessary things to take part in the ongoing farmers' agitation against the farm laws made by the central government," he said.

 

Peaceful protests were underway at both the Singhu and Tikri borders, where farmers had gathered from Punjab and Haryana, for the sixth day.

1:38 PM

Conspiracy to grab land of farmers: Akhilesh Yadav

1:26 PM

Narendra Singh Tomar leaves from the residence of BJP President JP Nadda

1:22 PM

'Delhi chalo' protest: Farmer unions accept Centre's offer to hold talks over agri laws

Farmer unions on Tuesday decided to attend a meeting with the Centre as protesters continued their agitation at Delhi border points against the government's new farm laws.

 

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday had invited leaders of farmer unions for talks on Tuesday, instead of December 3, citing the COVID-19 pandemic and cold.

 

"In our meeting, we have decided to accept the central government's offer to hold talks at 3 pm today. Representatives of protesting farmers will attend the meeting with Union ministers," farmer leader Baljeet Singh Mahal said.

1:11 PM

Conspiracy to grab land of farmers: Akhilesh Yadav

12:52 PM

Will attend the meeting called by the government at 3 pm today: RS Mansa, State President, Punjab Kisan Union

12:49 PM

Govt in huddle over farmers protest, high level meet at Nadda's residence

In view of the farmers protest gaining momentum, the Centre on Tuesday got in the huddle as the top Ministers of the Narendra Modi government, including Home Minister Amit Shah held talks at the residence of BJP national President J.P. Nadda.

 

Besides Shah, the high level meeting at Nadda's residence is being attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

 

Speaking to the media ahead of the high level meeting, Tomar said, "Farmer leaders have been invited for talks today at 3 p.m. The government is always ready to talk with farmers and listen to their demands."

 

During the meeting, the ministers are likely to discuss the demands of the farmers.

12:46 PM

Farmers' protest LIVE: BJP MPManoj Tiwari slams Rahul Gandhi on issue of farm laws

Attacking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari has termed him as the most "confused leader" and said he has no knowledge about the farm laws passed by the Centre.

 

He also accused the Congress and other opposition parties of provoking farmers against the new agri-marketing laws

 

"Rahul Gandhi is the most confused leader in the world.He does not know about farm laws passed recently.Thefarm laws that Parliament has passed recently have been accepted by all the states of the country except the Congress government of Punjab," Tiwari, who was here for a wedding ceremony on Monday evening, told reporters.

 

Gandhi has been attacking the government over the new agri-marketing laws and urged it to hold talks with farmers protesting on the borders of the national capital.