LIVE: Govt proposes to hold farm laws for 1.5 yrs, farmers say will revert

Farmers' protest LIVE updates: Govt proposed to keep the three farm laws suspended for a fixed time period of one year or so. Stay tuned for LIVE updates

3:01 PM

Farmer dies after consuming poisonous substance at Tikri border

A farmer who allegedly consumed a poisonous substance at the Tikri border died during treatment at a hospital here on Wednesday, police said. The deceased has been identified as Jai Bhagwan Rana (42), a resident of Pakasma village in Rohtak district of Haryana. He had consumed Sulphas tablets at the farmers' protest site at Tikri on Tuesday, they said.

 

In a purported suicide note, Rana said he was a small farmer and many peasants have taken to the streets to protest against the Centre's new farm laws.

 

"The government says it is a matter of only two to three states, but farmers from all over the country are protesting against the laws. Sadly, it is not a movement now, but a fight of issues. The talks between the farmers and the Centre also remain deadlocked," he wrote in the letter.

 

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) A Koan said the man was taken to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital by CAT ambulance where he passed away during the course of treatment.

2:54 PM

10th round of talks between farmer leaders and Centre over Farm Laws begins

2:37 PM

Farm laws: Union Ministers arrive at Vigyan Bhawan, meeting to begin shortly

Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal have arrived at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi. The tenth round of talks between farmer leaders and Centre over the three farm laws will begin shortly. 

 

2:24 PM

10th round of talks between farmer leaders and Centre over Farm Laws to begin shortly

2:17 PM

Farmers assemble at Harike Pattan in Tarn Taran district to head to Delhi

2:07 PM

A delegation of farmer leaders arrive at Vigyan Bhawan for tenth round of talks with Centre

1:58 PM

Day 56 of protest: Centre, farmers to hold 10th round of talks

Even as the protest by farmers on the Delhi borders continued for the 56th day on Wednesday, leaders of farmers were slated to hold the 10th round of talks with the Centre on their unfulfilled demands here in the afternoon. The farmers are sticking to their demand for the repeal of three new central farm laws and a legal guarantee for the procurement of crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP) whereas the Union government is ready to bring about amendments in these laws.

 

Over 40 representatives of farmer organisations present in the previous rounds of talks would meet with three Union Ministers at 2 pm at the Vigyan Bhavan here. The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held on January 19 but was postponed by a day.

 

Punjab farmer leader Kirpa Singh said that farmer leaders would first like to deliberate on their core demand for the repeal of the three laws during the latest talks. Punjab-based farmer leader and Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) General Secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said: "In the previous talks, we urged the Union government to discuss the MSP issue. We will again discuss it in this meeting as well."

11:04 AM

Sharad Pawar to participate in protest against farm laws at Mumbai's Azad Maidan on Jan 25

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar is set to take part in a protest against farm laws at Mumbai's Azad Maidan on January 25.

 

The NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said that the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government will be supporting this protest organised by the farmer organizations. They will also take out a march to Raj Bhawan.

 

"NCP chief Sharad Pawar will take part in a protest against farm laws at Mumbai's Azad Maidan on 25th January. MVA government will be supporting this protest organized by a few farmer organisations. Farmers will also take out a march to Raj Bhawan," said Nawab Malik.

 

10:13 AM

SC-appointed committee can't resolve crisis over farm laws: Sukhbir Badal

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday claimed the Supreme Court-appointed committee could not play any constructive role in resolving the deadlock between the farmers and the Centre following the latter's refusal to accept peasants' demand of repealing the farm laws.

 

He also said that 'kisan shakti' had the power to "wipe out" the BJP.

 

Badal was speaking to the media after holding ward-level meetings in Nawanshahr, Banga and Phagwara. Read on...

10:10 AM

There is lack of understanding of fundamentals: Rahul Gandhi over PM's 'silence' on farmers' protest

Taking a potshot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over commenting on the Capitol Hill violence in the US and maintaining "silence" on the farmers' protest, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that the former has a "lack of understanding of fundamentals".

 

"I remember the Prime Minister saying 'Iss baar Trump sarkar'...As a PM of the country, you do not do something like that because you are disrespecting the people of the United States. This is their choice, not yours. So, there is a lack of understanding of fundamentals. Now, of course, Trump lost," replied Gandhi on being asked about PM Modi's reaction to Capitol Hill riots and farmers' protest.

9:36 AM

Request protesters to participate in protest rally near Sangolli Rayanna statue: DK Shivakumar, Congress

I know BJP govt is trying to stop farmers at any cost and not letting them participate in the protest. I request protesters to come to Sangolli Rayanna statue and participate in the massive protest rally: DK Shivakumar, Karnataka Congress chief

9:14 AM

Farmers are more sensible than PM, says Rahul Gandhi amid ongoing agitation against agri laws

Intensifying his attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government over newly-enacted farm laws, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday claimed that "the government feels that farmers can be weary and fooled, but farmers are more sensible than the Prime Minister".

 

Responding to the ongoing deadlock between the agitating farmers' organisation and the Centre, Gandhi said: "Due to arrogance, the government feels that farmers can be weary and fooled, but farmers are more sensible than the Prime Minister."

 

"During the last few years, the government has been handing over all the business to some industrialists close to them and till now the monopoly-protected farming sector is on the agenda and Prime Minister Modi wants to hand over it to some people through these laws," he said.

 

Supporting the ongoing farmers' agitation, Gandhi said, "The farmers of Punjab and Haryana are struggling to save the livelihood of 60 per cent of the population dependent on agriculture."

9:11 AM

Tenth round of talks between govt, farmers over contentious agri laws today

The tenth round of talks between the Central government and farmers' representatives over the contentious agricultural laws will be held today at Vigyan Bhavan at 2 pm.

 

The talks were earlier scheduled for January 19 was later postponed to today. Read on...