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

1:23 AM

Haryana Police uses teargas to stop farmers' group from moving towards Delhi

Haryana Police on Sunday evening fired teargas canisters to thwart a march of a group of agitating farmers towards Delhi at Masani barrage in Rewari district.

Farmers first broke police barricades put up near Bhudla Sangwari village and then started moving towards Delhi in the evening.
 

They have been camping at the service lane of the Delhi-Jaipur highway for the past few days, police said.
 

When the farmers' group reached Masani barrage where the barricades were put up, police used teargas to disperse them.
 

“We have stopped them (farmers) at Masani,” Rewari Superintendent of Police Abhishek Jorwal said over the phone.
 

On December 31, a group of farmers had broken police barricades at the Shahjahanpur border with Rajasthan, trying to move towards the national capital.

Police had then too resorted to teargas shelling as well as using water cannons to stop them.

1:23 AM

Cong slams govt over rice procurement from Chhattisgarh for central pool

Accusing the Centre of showing "apathy" towards farmers, the Congress on Sunday said the Food Corporation of India's Chhattisgarh unit was not lifting rice stocks and asked whether the procurement was "halted" because the government's "suit-boot friends" were not involved in managing storage in the state.
 

Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said that despite prior intimation by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to procure 60 lakh metric tonne of rice under the central pool for the kharif season, Chhattisgarh has not received a final consent.
 

After Vallabh made the assertion at a press conference, the Centre said it has restricted the procurement quantity of kharif rice this year for Chhattisgarh at last year's level of 24 lakh tonnes as per the policy because the state government is found to be giving financial incentives to paddy growers.
 

The Centre has decided to allow 24 lakh tonnes of rice to be delivered to FCI under central pool during the 2020-21 kharif marketing season (KMS) which is equivalent to the quantity as allowed in previous years, the Union food ministry said in a statement.
 

This is as per the MoU signed between the Centre, state governments and nodal agency FCI on decentralised and centralised procurement mechanism, it said.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel thanked the Centre for heeding his request and hoped that in future as well procurement will be done as per the assurances given earlier.
 

1:22 AM

People stand with protesting farmers, PM Modi's misconcepiton will be cleared: Rajasthan CM

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said that the "misconception" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah will get cleared as people of the country were with the farmers protesting in Delhi against the farm laws passed by the Centre.
 

He said it is "height of insensitivity" of the Centre that even after 39 days of farmers protest, it is not paying any heed. The government believes that farmers will get tired and the issue will gradually meet an end.
 

"Farmers are sensible that they are protesting peacefully. The feelings of people in six lakh villages are with the protesting farmers. Misconception of Modi ji and Shah ji will get cleared in the times to come," Gehlot said here.
 

The Congress organised a day-long protest on Sunday in support of farmers against the farm laws. Congress leader and former deputy CM Sachin Pilot also joined the protest organised by state Congress at Shaheed Smarak here.
 

CM Gehlot said the Centre does not have the right to decide the fate of farmers. He said the "fascist" government at the Centre does not believe in democracy and wants to destroy the country.
 

They are working to divide Hindu and Muslims and their intention is not right, Gehlot said.
 

He said that this time the government has messed up with farmers, who are wise enough and no one is instigating them.
 

The situation is serious so Congress wants to give a message that each party worker is with farmers and will join the protests with them if it is necessitated, he added.
 

1:21 AM

Rains take down tents but not farmers' spirit at Noida-Delhi border

Protesting farmers at the Noida-Delhi border withstood rains and cold weather conditions as their demonstration against the Centre's recent farm laws continued here on Sunday.
 

Some tents at the protest sites collapsed due to the rain, prompting the farmers to use tarpaulin sheets for shelter as the drizzle continued till late afternoon.

Scores of farmers belonging to the Bhanu and Lok Shakti factions of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) are staying put at the Chilla border and the Dalit Prerna Sthal respectively for over a month now.
 

Despite the adverse weather conditions and a continued impasse with the government over the three new laws and the issue of legalisation of the minimum support price (MSP) for crops, the farmers said their protest will continue till the Centre repeals these legislations.
 

"Some of our tents collapsed due to the rain and the low temperatures also made it difficult for the protesters to sit under the open sky. Many of us took refuge under the structures at the Dalit Prerna Sthal, while tarpaulin sheets were used by others to stay put," BKU (Lok Shakti) spokesperson Shailesh Kumar Giri said.

The situation was similar at the Chilla border, but the Uttar Pradesh unit chief of the BKU (Bhanu), Yogesh Pratap Singh, said his union's "fight" will continue till their demands are met.
 

Meanwhile, the teachers' association of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra and the "Kisan Adhikar - Yuva Rozgaar" association lent their support to the BKU (Lok Shakti) as hundreds of members of these bodies reached the protest site on Sunday.
 

1:20 AM

First time such arrogant govt in power, must withdraw farm laws unconditionally: Sonia

The Congress on Sunday accused the Centre of being apathetic towards farmers protesting the new farm laws in harsh weather conditions, with party chief Sonia Gandhi saying that for the first time since independence such an "arrogant" government has come to power that cannot see the sufferings of 'annadatas'.
 

She also demanded that the new farm laws be immediately withdrawn unconditionally.
 

In a scathing attack on the Centre over the farmers' protests, Gandhi said governments and their leaders who ignore public sentiments in a democracy cannot govern for long and it is now quite clear that the protesting farmers will not bow in the face of the Centre's policy of "tire and pushover".
 

"There is still time, the Modi government should leave the arrogance of power and immediately withdraw the three black laws unconditionally to end the agitation of the farmers who are dying in the cold and rain. This is Rajdharma and a true tribute to the farmers who have lost their lives," she said in a statement in Hindi.
 

The Modi government should remember that democracy means protecting the interests of the people and the farmers-workers, the Congress president said.
 

In the wake of the government's "apathy", so far, more than 50 farmers have lost their lives with some even taking the extreme step due to the government's neglect, she said.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi. (Photo: PTI)

1:17 AM

Farmers hold protest against BJP in Sangrur

A group of farmers on Sunday held a protest in Punjab's Sangrur district against state BJP chief Ashwani Sharma who was there to meet party leaders.
 

The protesting farmers even tried to break barricades put up near the residence of a local BJP leader, forcing the police to use mild force to disperse them.
 

The farmers, shouting slogans against Sharma, wanted to gherao him in protest against the Centre's three farm laws.
 

Heated exchanges also took place between protesters and policemen.
 

A heavy police force was deployed in the area where the BJP leader was to arrive.
 

“There was a programme of Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma in Sangrur. Some miscreants tried to disturb the programme,” Sangrur Senior Superintendent of Police Vivek Sheel Soni told reporters.
 

Denying that police cane charged the farmers, Soni said some people tried to break barricades with tractors.
 

Addressing the media, Sharma questioned how far was it right in a democracy to stop a particular organisation from holding its programmes.

He said the BJP has a right to hold programmes, meet party workers and leaders.
 

Sharma blamed some miscreants for disturbing the party's programmes, stressing that farmers could not do such things.
 

7:02 PM

Will demand repealing of farm laws at tomorrow's meeting: Farmers' leader

We will demand repealing 3 Farm laws in our meeting tomorrow with govt... It's been raining, so we're trying to get waterproof tents although they're not upto govt standard. We're trying to arrange blankets and warm water for women & elderly: Harmeet Singh Kadian, Farmers' Leader

7:01 PM

Won't go back until farm laws repealed, farmers are dying yet govt not taking matter seriously: Leader

Today is 37th day, govt should leave its stubbornness. We won't go back till laws are taken back. It's disappointing that farmers are losing their lives. So many farmers are braving the cold yet the govt is not taking it seriously, said Onkar Singh, Farmers' Leader at Singhu border. Another farmer leader said that sugarcane rate demand letter was given to Punjab Govt, but 1.5 months have gone by & Punjab Govt hasn’t responded. Punjab CM said notification was issued within 1 week. We appeal to Punjab govt to look into the matter. 

6:59 PM

Will celebrate Lohri burning copies of farm laws, will celebrate Kisan Diwas on Netaji's bday: Farmers leader

5:58 PM

Centre unable to give MSP to farmers, providing fixed price to industrialists for running godowns: Rahul

5:56 PM

Farmers at Tikri border amid severe cold, torrential rain forced to demonstrate: Randeep Surjewala

5:53 PM

Rajasthan CM, Sachin Pilot join Congress protests against farm laws

5:44 PM

Modi govt should remember democracy means protecting farmer rights: Sonia Gandhi

5:27 PM

Hope farmers' protest may end tomorrow, says Kailash Choudhary ahead of next round of talks

Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary on Sunday expressed hope that a solution will be found out of talks with farmer unions tomorrow and their agitation against three agriculture laws may end as well. Speaking to ANI, the minister accused the Congress and some other Opposition of adding fuel to fire in the agitation which has been going on for over a month at different borders of the national capital.

"The Narendra Modi government takes the decision in the interest of farmers and stands with them in their problems. Rahul Gandhi is doing politics (on these laws) and is provoking farmers. Why does he forget that he did not go to meet Anna Hazare in 2011 during his government and the way he forced Baba Ramdev to run away from a protest site? These people are talking about justice and injustice. Narendra Modi government stands with farmers to resolve their issues," Choudhary told ANI.

"We are talking to farmers who are protesting. We are hopeful that there will be a positive result out of talks which will be held tomorrow. Seven round of talks were held in a peaceful atmosphere. Congress, AAP and Communists are adding fuel to fire. They will not succeed. We hope that their issues will be resolved in discussions tomorrow and protest too may end tomorrow," he said.

3:59 PM

Heavy rains in Delhi NCR failed to deter protesting farmers' spirits

A sudden drop in temperature coupled with heavy rains on Sunday added to the miseries of farmers protesting against the contentious farm laws at the gates of Delhi. However, farmers seem to be undeterred by the harsh weather. "Rain has spoilt our food, all our clothes and tents have got wet, that is a problem. But, we are determined for our fight. We can bear these small problems but if farm laws are applied then our generations will suffer. We will go back to our homes only when these laws are repealed," a farmer protesting on the Singhu border told ANI.

The national capital received heavy rains on Sunday morning, but the weather failed to lower the spirits of farmers protesting at Singhu Border. However, it did affect food storage. They said that they will not leave the protest site until and unless the government rolls back the three farm laws. Harvender Singh from Ludhiana said that they are habitual of cold weather, he said these are god blessing showering on them. "Rain and cold weather will not stop us. We are here for some reason and will not look back until we succeed," he added.