Highlights of the day: Farmers say won't march to Delhi for 2 days

Farmers' protest march updates: Catch all the latest updates on the farmers' protest here

2:07 PM

After reports of 14,000 people, 1,200 tractors on Delhi borders, MHA asks Punjab govt to maintain order

The advisory was issued as the farmers were set to resume their Delhi march after they rejected the Centre's proposal to buy pulses, maize and cotton crops through government agencies at Minimum Support Price (MSP) for five years. The Ministry raised strong  concern about the deteriorating law-and-order situation in the state.

1:57 PM

News update: SKM to hold a crucial meeting with farmers from across the nation, says BKU leader Rakesh Tikait

Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Leader Rakesh Tikait today said that a crucial meeting of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) is set for Thursday, where farmers from across the country will decide the future course of the agitation.

 

Tikait has declared that a memorandum outlining crucial demands of the farmers will be submitted to both the state and central governments.

 

"The key issues of the farmers are MSP guarantee, the electricity amendment bill and the implementation of Swaminathan committee report. If there is no guarantee on MSP, farmers of the whole country will face problems," Tikait said.

1:54 PM

Narendra Modi government has done "so much work" for farmers: BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad

The BJP today appealed to farmers to arrive at a solution "peacefully". Addressing a press conference at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters here, senior party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Narendra Modi government has done "so much work" for farmers.

11:56 AM

I invite all farmer leaders for another round of talks, We need to maintain peace: Agriculture minister

"After four rounds of talks, the government is ready for the fifth round of discussions on all issues like MSP, diversification of crops, stubble burning and pending cases. I invite all the farmer leaders for another round of talks. We need to maintain peace," Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda said today.

11:48 AM

'Delhi chalo' news update: Haryana cops ask protesting farmers to not use tractor trolleys

Cops in Haryana have asked  protesting farmers to not use tractor trolleys during their march from Punjab-Haryana border to the national capital.

11:34 AM

LIVE news: Security amped up in Delhi, borders ahead of farmers' march

Cops in Delhi have amped up security in the national capital on Wednesday and directed its personnel to ensure strict vigil at Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur borders after protesting farmers said they were set to continue their 'Delhi Chalo' agitation.

11:30 AM

News update: Government invites farmers for fifth round of discussions

Union Minister Arjun Munda today said that the Centre has invited farmers for the fifth round of talks and is ready to discuss all issues raised by the farmers.

11:20 AM

LIVE news: Tear gas shells fired at Punjab-Haryana's Shambu border ahead of farmers' Delhi march

Tear gas shells were fired by Haryana police personnel after some young farmers were heading towards the multi-layered barricades at the Shambhu border point at Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday. After Haryana police lobbed tear gas canisters at around 11:00 am, young farmers ran for cover, news agency PTI reported.

11:09 AM

News update: Agitating farmers at two border points of Punjab-Haryana to resume 'Delhi chalo' march

Farmers protesting at two border points between Punjab and Haryana will resume their "Delhi chalo" march today after they rejected the Centre's proposal for procuring pulses, maize and cotton at the MSP by government agencies for five years. Thousands of farmers, who began their march to Delhi on February 13, were stopped at the Haryana border. The farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri points between Punjab and Haryana since then.

10:18 AM

Farmers' protest LIVE updates: "Should find solution together", says Union minister Arjun Munda

Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda on Tuesday appealed to the farmers and the farmers' organisations that are connected with the protest to maintain peace.

 

"I would appeal to the farmers and the farmers organisations which are connected with this (protest) to maintain peace. We have to take it forward from discussion to solutions. We must keep discussing this issue. We all want peace, and we should together find a solution to this issue," he said.

 

"We tried to discuss the government's side and several proposals were also discussed. We have come to know that they (farmers) are not satisfied with the proposals but this discussion should continue and we must find a solution peacefully," the Union Minister added.

9:50 AM

News update: Seize earthmoving equipment from farmers' protest sites, says Haryana DGP to Punjab cops

Haryana Police urged its Punjab counterparts to seize bulldozers and other earthmoving equipment from the interstate border which they say protesters will use to break barricades. These could pose a threat to the security forces deployed at the border, Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapoor said in an urgent communication to his Punjab counterpart Gaurav Yadav.

 

9:44 AM

Farmers' protest LIVE news: 14,000 people, 1,200 tractors, 300 cars at Punjab-Haryana border

According to estimates by the central government, 14,000 people have gathered along the Punjab-Haryana border with 1,200 tractor-trolleys, 300 cars, 10 mini-buses as well as small vehicles. The Union Home Ministry  told the Punjab government that the deteriorating law-and-order situation in the state has been a matter of concern over the last few days and asked it to take stringent action against lawbreakers.

9:25 AM

LIVE news: Intention is not to disturb peace, will march peacefully, says farmer leader Dallewal

Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Wednesday said protesting farmers, who have been camping at two border points between Punjab and Haryana after they were stopped by security personnel, will march towards Delhi in a peaceful manner.

"Our intention is not to disturb peace," Dallewal said ahead of the farmers' plan to march towards the national capital.