Govt-farmers meet LIVE: Consensus reached on stubble burning, power tariff

Farmers' protest LIVE updates: The government told farmer leaders that a committee could be formed to deliberate on the farmers' demands regarding the three farm laws. Stay tuned for latest updates

4:12 PM

Farmers leaders demand justice and compensation for families of farmers who died during protest

3:57 PM

Govt-farmers Round 6: Talks underway to end deadlock

A crucial and 'decisive' sixth round of dialogue between the Centre and the 41 farmers' representatives began on Wednesday here to end the deadlock as the agitation entered 35th day. The meeting started around 2.30 p.m. at Vigyan Bhavan in the presence of Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash.

 

Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal and other Ministry officials also are attending the meeting.

 

Krantikari Kisan Union President (Punjab) Darshan Pal, Bharatiya Kisan Union's Jagjeet Singh Dalewal and Balbir Singh Rajewal, Jamhuri Kishan Sabha Punjab General Secretary Kulwant Singh, and Bharatiya Kisan Union (Uttar Pradesh) President Rakesh Tikait were among the 41 farm union leaders taking part in the meeting.

 

After five inconclusive talks, the government now hopes that this meeting would be "decisive" to end the agitation against three contentious new agricultural legislations enacted in September during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The withdrawal of these laws is the first and the major demand of the agitating farmers.

3:42 PM

Govt's meeting with farmer leaders underway

Meeting between Union government and farmer leaders over three farm laws is underway at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi on Wednesday.

 

Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal also arrived at Vigyan Bhawan to hold talks with farmer leaders.

 

The delegation of farmers from several states, who have been protesting at the borders of the national capital for over a month, maintained that they wanted the farm laws taken back.

 

"Our stand is clear that the three farm laws should be taken back," said a farmer leader before making his way to the meeting.

3:09 PM

Falling market rates forcing farmers to sell crops below MSP: Union leaders

As farmers' protest against three new farm laws continues, union leaders on Wednesday said peasants in some parts of the country are being forced to sell crops including paddy below the Minimum Support Price as market rates have fallen and asserted that the agitation will continue till the government agrees to their demands.

 

"After new farm laws were implemented in Uttar Pradesh, prices of crops have fallen by 50 per cent. Crops are being bought at below MSP. Paddy is being sold at Rs 800 per quintal. We will raise these issues in the meeting," Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said.

 

Before entering the venue of the sixth round of talks between farmer groups and the government, Tikait told reporters that farmers will continue their stir if the government does not agree to our demands.

 

"We will not leave Delhi till our demands are met. We will celebrate New year at borders" he said.

2:53 PM

Sixth round of talks between govt and 40 protesting farmer unions begins

2:34 PM

Three Union Ministers to hold talks with 40 farmer leaders

Three Union Ministers will hold talks with 40 farmer leaders here on Wednesday afternoon in an attempt to find a solution to the demands of the farmers. Farmer leaders left Singhu border for Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, where the sixth round of talks between the two sides was slated to begin at 2 pm.

 

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash would represent the Centre at the talks, where Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal and other Ministry officials would also be present.

 

On December 5, the fifth round of talks were held between the 40 farmer leaders and the three Union Ministers but faced a deadlock as farmers were adamant on their demand for repeal of the three new central farm laws.

2:22 PM

Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal arrive at Vigyan Bhawan to hold talks with farmer leaders

2:12 PM

LIVE: 'Today's meeting with farmers will be decisive', says Union Minister Som Prakash

NDTV: 'Today's meeting with farmers will be decisive', says Union Minister Som Prakash

1:50 PM

Farmers protesting at Delhi borders firm in their demands as Centre, farm unions set to resume stalled talks

Thousands of farmers agitating against the three new central agriculture laws stayed put at their agitation venues near Delhi, which is going through a harsh spell of winter, unrelenting in their demand of withdrawal of the legislations. On Wednesday, a cold wave swept Delhi as the minimum temperature dipped to 3.5 degrees Celsius. It is likely to get even colder on New Year's Eve, the India Meteorological Department predicted, as dry and icy winds barrelled through the plains.

 

The farmers protesting against the new agri laws had reached Singhu border over a month ago.

 

The Centre and the protesting farmer unions will resume stalled talks on Wednesday with the latter sticking to their hardline position that the parleys will only be on the modalities of repealing the three new agri laws and giving a legal guarantee on the MSP among other issues.

 

Security remained tight at the Delhi borders with hundreds of personnel deployed at Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri border points where the farmers have been camping. Enacted in September, the three farm laws have been projected by the central government as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middleman and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.

1:50 PM

A delegation of farmer leaders arrives at Vigyan Bhawan for talks with Centre

1:30 PM

Rahul Gandhi takes a dig at PM Modi, says farmers do not trust him

12:29 PM

Farmers protesting at Delhi borders firm in their demands as Centre, farm unions set to resume stalled talks

Thousands of farmers agitating against the three new central agriculture laws stayed put at their agitation venues near Delhi, which is going through a harsh spell of winter, unrelenting in their demand of withdrawal of the legislations.

11:24 AM

Farmers protesting over new agri laws set to hold talks with Centre today

With a ray of hope, farmers protesting against the new farm laws are set to hold talks with the Centre. They are expected to reiterate the four-point agenda for talks including modalities to repeal farm laws and a mechanism to bring a law for providing a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP).

10:07 AM

Farmers' protest LIVE: Govt-farmers talks at 2pm

Farmers' protest LIVE: Govt-farmers talks at 2pm

10:07 AM

Govt has repeatedly said MSP will continue, says Rajnath Singh

Govt has repeatedly said MSP will continue, says Rajnath Singh