LIVE: 50 farmers have died so far during the agitation, says union leader

Farmers' protest LIVE updates: The farmers have been demanding the withdrawal of the three laws and legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP). Stay tuned for latest updates

6:35 PM

Will hold tractor parade towards Delhi on Jan 26 if demands not met: Farmer unions

Hardening their position ahead of the next round of talks with the government, protesting farmer unions on Saturday said they will take out a tractor parade towards Delhi on January 26, when the country will celebrate Republic Day, if their demands are not met. Addressing a press conference, the union leaders said time has come for "decisive" action as their demands have not been addressed by the government yet.

 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade at Rajpath on January 26. Farmer leader Darshan Pal Singh said their proposed parade will be called "Kisan Parade" and it will be be held after the Republic Day parade.

 

The next round of talks between the government and the protesting farmer unions is scheduled to be held on January 4. On Friday, the unions had announced that they would have to take firm steps if the meeting fails to resolve the deadlock. After the press conference, farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar told PTI that farm unions are hopeful for the January 4 meeting, but they cannot trust the government going by their experience with them.

5:27 PM

Farmers to march into Delhi on Jan 26 if demands not met: Samyukt Kisan Morcha

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Saturday announced that farmers will march into Delhi on January 26 with their tractors, trolleys and other vehicles if their demands are not met and also said that a "farmers' republic parade" will take place after the official parade.

 

In its first press conference organized by the 7-member Coordination Committee of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha in the national capital, Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a joint front of almost 40 farmer organisations, also announced their plan of action till January 26 to intensify and deepen the agitation. A fortnight of a nationwide campaign called "Desh Jagriti Abhiyan" from January 6 to 20 will include rallies, conferences and dharnas all over the country.

 

Lohri/Sankranti will be marked as Kisan Sankalp Diwas by burning the copies of the three laws and January 18 will be celebrated as Mahila Kisan Diwas to underline the role of women farmers. Azad Hind Kisan Diwas will be marked on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's birth anniversary on 23 January by protesting outside Governors' official residence in all state capitals.

4:09 PM

Govt's commitment to welfare of farmers unparalleled: Javadekar

A day after over 850 academicians came out in support of three agricultural laws, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the central government's commitment to the welfare of farmers is 'unparalleled'.

 

"More than 850 academicians across the country have come out in support of the new farm laws, saying that they will change farmers' fortune and will free farming from all wrong practices. Our government's commitment to the welfare of farmers is unparalleled," Javadekar tweeted.

 

On Friday, over 850 academicians from different parts of the country came out strongly in support of the agricultural reform laws brought by the government, saying these Acts seek to free farm trade from restrictions and enable farmers to sell their produce at competitive prices.

2:38 PM

News that govt has accepted some of our demands is a lie: Yogendra Yadav

1:43 PM

Unions give a call to tractor parade towards Delhi on Jan 26

We have given a call for a tractor parade towards Delhi on January 26, say protesting farmer unions

1:42 PM

50 farmers have been martyred during the agitation: Union Leader

So far, over 50 farmers have been "martyred" during our agitation, says farmer leader Ashok Dhawale at press conference

12:44 PM

Over 850 academicians support new farm laws, say these open market beyond 'mandis'

Over 850 academicians from different parts of the country have strongly supported the agricultural reform laws brought by the government, saying these Acts seek to free farm trade from restrictions and enable farmers to sell their produce at competitive prices.

 

In a statement, the academicians who also include a few Vice-Chancellors, said that union government has repeatedly assured the farmers that these three farm laws will not do away with Minimum Support Price (MSP) "but rather free the farm trade from all illicit market restrictions, open the market beyond 'mandis' and further assists the small and marginal farmers to sell their produce at market/competitive prices".

 

"The new laws also provide full autonomy for farmers to sell their produce. We strongly believe in the government's assurance to the farmers to protect their livelihoods. The government is still firmly committed to delivering the principle of minimum government, maximum governance," the statement said.

 

It said that the laws were brought under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of agenda for agro-reforms to benefit the farmers.

11:50 AM

Farmers to hold tractor rally on Jan 6 if talks fail

Farmers' organisations under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, after a meeting at Singhu border, on Friday said that if the talks with the government on January 4 fail then they will intensify the protest and hold a tractor rally on January 6.

 

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) General Secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal told IANS, "The topics of the next round of talks with the government were discussed in the meeting. The government has agreed to our two demands, but two important demands are yet to be discussed on January 4. If these two demands are not negotiated during the talks with the government, then a tractor rally will be taken out on January 6."

11:04 AM

Trains short terminated/ diverted due to farmers' agitation in Punjab

Due to farmers' agitation in Punjab, some of the trains operated by Northern Railway have been short terminated/diverted.

 

"The 02715 Nanded-Amritsar express of January 2 will be short terminated at New Delhi. Consequently, the 02716 Amritsar-Nanded express of January 4 will short originate from New Delhi and remain partially cancelled between New Delhi-Amritsar-New Delhi," Northern Railway said in a press release. The 02903 Mumbai Central-Amritsar express special of January 1 will be diverted to run via Beas-Tarntaran-Amritsar.

 

The 02904 Amritsar-Mumbai Central express special of January 2 will be diverted to run via Amritsar-Tarntaran-Beas.

 

The 02925 Bandra Terminus-Amritsar express special of January 2 will be diverted to run via Beas-Tarntaran-Amritsar.

 

The 02926 Amritsar-Bandra Terminus express special of January 2 will be diverted to run via Amritsar- Tarntaran-Beas.

 

The 04650 Amritsar-Jaynagar express special of January 2 will be diverted to run via Amritsar-Tarntaran-Beas.

 

The 02025 Nagpur-Amritsar express special of January 2 will be diverted to run via Beas-Tarntaran-Amritsar.

8:26 AM

Farmers threaten to intensify agitation if demands aren't met by Jan 4

Just days ahead of the crucial seventh round of talks with the government, agitating farmers hardened their stand saying that of if no concrete decision is taken by January 4 (the next round of talks) then they will intensify their agitation and hold a massive tractor march two days later on January 6.

 

The farmers’ leaders also said that if talks with the government do not progress in the right direction, those protesting at the Haryana-Rajasthan border will also move towards Delhi. Read on...

7:32 AM

57-year-old farmer dies of heart attack while protesting against Centre’s farm laws at Ghazipur border

57-year-old farmer dies of heart attack while protesting against Centre’s farm laws at Ghazipur border in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad: Police