LIVE updates: Govt-farmer unions' meeting inconclusive; next talks on Jan 8

Farmers' protest LIVE updates: Protesting farmers have been camping at Delhi borders for the last 39 days braving bone-chilling cold and now rains. Stay tuned for latest updates

6:07 PM

Discussion took place on our demands: Bharatiya Kisan Union after govt-farmers' meeting

5:30 PM

Govt-farmers meeting: Stalemate continues over repeal of laws; Ministers in huddle

A stalemate continued on Monday between the government and a representative group of thousands of protesting farmers, as the unions stuck to their demand for the repeal of three farm laws right from the beginning of the meeting even as the ministers listed various benefits of the Acts. The two sides took a lunch break after just about one hour of talks, sources said, during which the three central ministers went into a huddle to discuss the way forward while the union leaders had the langar food arranged by them, as they have been doing for the last few times.

 

However, unlike the last round of talks on December 30, the ministers did not join the union leaders for the langar food and were seen having their own discussion in a separate room during the break.

 

The break continued for more than an hour with no signs of any breakthrough as the government also remained firm on not repealing the laws and is believed to have suggested a panel to take the matter forward. The first hour of talks focussed only on the three laws and the other key demand of farmers for a legal guarantee to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement system did not come up for discussions.

4:08 PM

SC accepts petition sent to CJI seeking inquiry against Haryana Police for using water cannons on farmers

The Supreme Court accepted a letter petition sent to Chief Justice of India SA Bobde by a group of students from Punjab seeking an inquiry against Haryana Police for using water cannons, tear gases shells on farmers to stop them from proceeding to Delhi to protest against the Centre's newly-enacted farm laws.

 

The students wrote an open letter to the CJI and urged that Haryana and Delhi police withdraw all the cases against farmers which were registered under alleged political vendetta. The letter, written by former and current human rights students of the Centre for Human Rights and Duties, Punjab University, also asked that the cases of illegal detention of protesters be looked into.

 

The letter signed by Gurmohan Preet Singh and 34 other students requested that the governments at both Central and State level ensure the safety of all protesters, and provide basic amenities for all, especially women, children and elderly. It also asked for mobile toilet vans to be provided at protest places.

3:26 PM

Meeting between Centre and farmers' leaders underway in Delhi

The eighth round of meeting between the Central government and farmers' representatives is underway at Vigyan Bhawan. Farmers' leaders and officials present at the meeting observed silence to pay condolence to the farmers who died during the ongoing protest. Earlier today Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson, Rakesh Tikait claimed that a total of 60 farmers have so far lost their lives during the ongoing farmers' protest against the new farm laws. He further said that one farmer is dying every 16 hours and it is the responsibility of the government to give an answer.

 

Ahead of talks with representatives of farm leaders, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had earlier said that he is hopeful that the two parties will find a positive solution regarding the issue.

 

Farmers have been protesting on different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws-Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance, and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

3:13 PM

LIVE: Seventh round of Centre-farmer unions' talks begins in Delhi

2:51 PM

Seventh round of meeting between Centre and farmers' representatives begins

1:49 PM

Will discuss every issue in meeting: Agriculture Minister on next round of talks with farmers

Ahead of talks with representatives of farm leaders here today, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that he is hopeful that the two parties will find a positive solution regarding the issue.

 

"I am hopeful that we will find a positive solution today. We will discuss all issues in the meeting," he said. "Baithak mein sabhi vishyon par charcha hogi. ( We will discuss every issue in the meeting)," the minister said.

 

Speaking to ANI Tomar said that government will definitely try to discuss the laws "clause by clause" if farmers remain persistent on their demand of repeal of three farm laws.

 

"We will definitely try to discuss laws clause by clause," said Tomar.

 

While leaving for Krishi Bhawan alongwith junior minister Kailash Choudhary, Tomar said that everytime he goes for discussions, he does so with the intent to resolve the issues for which farmers are agitating.

 

12:59 PM

Farmers protest over agri bills enters day 39, Buddhist monks lend support

As the farmers' protest at the borders of the national capital against Centre's farm laws on Monday entered its 39th day on Monday, a group of Buddhist monks from Lucknow also lent their support to the cause.

 

The monks set up camp at the Gazipur (Delhi-Uttar Pradesh) border and have vowed not to go back till the farm laws are taken back

 

"We have left our temples in Lucknow to join the farmers in their protest against the three laws. We have taken an oath not to leave till the farmers get what they are fighting for - the repeal of the three black laws," a monk told ANI.

11:28 AM

Reliance Jio moves Punjab, Haryana HC; seeks intervention to stop vandalism

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), through its subsidiary Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, in a petition mentioned to be filed in Punjab and Haryana High Court today, has sought urgent intervention of Government authorities to bring a complete stop to illegal acts of vandalism by miscreants, said RIL.

 

These acts of violence have endangered the lives of thousands of its employees and caused damage and disruption to the vital communications infrastructure, sales and service outlets run by its subsidiaries in the two states, RIL said in a media statement. Read on...

10:58 AM

60 farmers have lost their lives during the protest: Rakesh Tikait, Bharatiya Kisan Union at Gazipur border

So far, 60 farmers have lost their lives during the protest. One farmer is dying every 16 hours. It is the responsibility of the government to answer: Rakesh Tikait, Spox, Bharatiya Kisan Union at Gazipur border

 

The seventh round of talks between govt & farmers to be held today.

10:19 AM

Farmers harden stand on the demand for repealing the three farm laws

Ahead of the seventh round of talks with the Centre on Monday, the farmers have hardened their stand on the demand for repealing the three farm laws.

 

The agitating farmers have already announced to take out a tractor parade towards Delhi on January 26, which is the Republic Day, besides a series of programmes in a bid to intensify their protest.

 

Ahead of joining the talks, Harinder Singh Lokhowal, a prominent farmer leader from Punjab and Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) general secretary told IANS, "I will ask the government to take back the new laws and save farmers who they call 'Annadata', as over 50 farmers have lost their lives during the protest."

 

He said, "How many sacrifices the government wants to take?"

 

He also criticised the action taken by state governments of Haryana and Punjab to stop the farmers from approaching Delhi as the Haryana Police fired tear gas at them in Rewari district.

9:53 AM

Chilla, Ghazipur borders closed due to farmers' protest: Delhi Traffic Police

In view of the ongoing farmers' protest, the Delhi Traffic Police on Monday said that Chilla and Ghazipur borders will remain closed and urged commuters to take alternate routes.

 

"Traffic Alert: The Chilla and Ghazipur Borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida and Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. Please take alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Bhopra and Loni Borders," the Delhi Traffic Police wrote on Twitter.

 

The police further informed that the Tikri and Dhansa borders are closed for any traffic movement, while the Jhatikara border is open only for LMV (Cars/ Light Motor Vehicles), two-wheelers and pedestrian movement.

8:42 AM

Govt to hold 7th round of talks with farmer unions today as stir continues

The central government on Monday will hold the next round of talks with the leaders of farmer unions who have been holding protests at different borders of Delhi for more than a month against the three agricultural laws.

 

This will be the seventh round of talks between the two sides.

 

Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary has expressed hope that a solution will be found out in the talks and agitation against three agriculture laws may end as well. Read on...

8:03 AM

At 11 AM, 4th January, the National Metrology Conclave would be inaugurated, tweets PM Modi