Farmers' Protest News Highlights: The 'Delhi Chalo' farmers' protest at border points of New Delhi has entered the 56th day today. Thousands of farmers, especially from Punjab and Haryana, are staging a sit-in protest along Delhi borders. The protest started on November 26. The farmers are demanding a complete rollback of the new farm reform laws and a guarantee on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system being retained. Multiple rounds of talks between the Centre and the farmers’ union leaders have ended in a stalemate. Protesting farmers fear that the new laws will dismantle the MSP system and corporatise farming. The next round of talks between the government and farmer unions is scheduled for today. On January 12, the Supreme Court ordered a stay on the implementation of these contentious laws hoping it will end the farmers' protest. However, in their response to what the court called an extraordinary order of stay, the farmer unions made it clear that they will not call off the protest until the three reform laws enacted in September are repealed. The Centre has withdrawn its plea seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor rally on January 26 by farmers protesting against the new farm laws after the Supreme Court said: "it is a police matter".
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | 10th round of talks conclude, next meeting scheduled on 22 January
The 10th round of talks between the farmer and the government has concluded. The next meeting is scheduled for 22 January.
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Farmer Union Leaders consider suspending the laws for a year
Farmer Union leaders considering the suggestion of suspending the laws for a year. A decision will be announcedsoon
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | State Congress chief DK Shivkumar & Siddaramaiah detained while protesting against farm laws
State Congress chief DK Shivkumar & Siddaramaiah and other party leaders detained while marching towards Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru to protest against farm laws.
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Same ministers, same tone, and same rhetoric: Farmers in the 10th round of talks
The 10th round of talks between agitating farmers and the government are currently underway. In the first half of the meeting, the farm leaders raised the issue of NIA notices being issued to various union leaders. The government sought the list of union leaders who have been served notice by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The issue of arrest of agitating farmers in Himachal Pradesh was also raised in the meeting accusing the government of trying to intimidate the protestors. The farmers were assured that the BJP government would punish no innocents.
The farmers also reportedly displayed placards in Punjabi translating to “same ministers, same tone and same rhetoric, will there be another meeting?” during the meeting. In the post-lunch session, the government repeated that it won’t repeal the laws and that the unions can approach the Supreme Court for the repeal of laws
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Farmers bring up NIA notices being sent in the first session
According to one union leader, in the first session, the farm unions raised the issue of NIA notices being sent to those supporting the agitation and the arrests of protesting farmers in Haryana, accusing the government of trying to intimidate the protestors.
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Farmers who have sold produce shouldn't protest: Chhattisgarh CM
"Nearly 17-18 lakh farmers have sold their produce. BJP is protesting... those who don't believe in the system may protest or those who couldn't sell their produce. The ones who have sold paddy and received the money shouldn't protest ", said Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel.
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There might be another round of talks with the police officers tomorrow, a farmer leader, who attended the meeting told news agency PTI.
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Union leaders reject suggestion of alternative route for tractor rally on R-Day
Farmer unions opposing the Centre's new agri laws today rejected a suggestion by police officers to hold their proposed January 26 tractor rally on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway instead of Delhi's busy Outer Ring Road, reported news agency PTI citing sources. Union leaders and officers of the Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana police forces had met at the Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi to discuss the route and arrangements of the proposed rally on Republic Day. The sources said that the farmer leaders were suggested by the police officers to take out their rally on the KundliManesarPalwal (KMP) Expressway, but they did not agree. The Outer Ring Road passes through several areas of Delhi such as Vikaspuri, Janakpuri, Uttam Nagar, Burari Peeragarhi and Pitampura.
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During the hearing conducted through video-conferencing today, the Centre withdrew its plea seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor rally on January 26 by farmers protesting against the new farm reformlaws after the top court said "it is a police matter". The police has the "authority" to deal with the issue pertaining to the proposed tractor march in Delhi on Republic Day, the bench said.
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | SC irked over aspersions cast on members of court-appointed committee on farm laws
The Supreme Court today expressed strong displeasure over the aspersions cast by some farmers' unions on members of the court-appointed committee to resolve the impasse over new farm laws and said it has not given any adjudicating authority to the panel. Controversy had erupted after the apex court appointed the four-member committee as some of the members had earlier reportedly expressed their views and favoured the contentious farm laws, following which one of the members had recused himself.
On the issue pertaining to the committee, a bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde said it had appointed experts in the panel as the judges are not experts on the subject.
"Where is the question of bias in this? We have not given adjudicating powers to the committee. You don't want to appear is understandable, but casting aspersions on someone because he expressed his view is not done. You don't need to brand anybody like this," said the bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | 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 in Delhi today, 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 yesterday, they said.
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|The tenth round of talks between farmer unions and the Centre over the three farm laws begins at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
(Visuals from ANI)
Farmer Protests LIVE Updates
|A large number of Congress workers and farmers havedescended on the city to protest the contentious farm laws of the Centre and condemn the hike in fuel prices.
Farmer Protest LIVE Updates
| The tenth round of talks regarding the farm reform laws will begin shortly. UnionMinisters Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyalhave arrived at Vigyan Bhawanto commence them shortly.
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Protesting farmers start facility for ironing clothes at Singhu border
Protesting farmers at the Singhu border have started a facility for ironing washed garments to dry them faster as the natural process now takes longer than usual amid the cold weather in and around Delhi. Sarvan Singh, whose livelihood as an auto-rickshaw driver in Amritsar took a hit as he is helping run the service for the protesting farmers, said it was necessary to be part of the movement even though his children want him back home. (PTI)
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In the hearing conducted via video conferencing today, the bench said: "We have told you that we will not issue any direction. It is a police matter. We will allow you to withdraw. You are the authority and you have to deal with it. You have the powers to pass orders, you do it. It is not for the court to pass orders."
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Highlights of SC hearing so far today
> Delhi police to decide on tractor rally. SC refuses to intervene, Centre withdraws petition
> SC issues notice to Centre on farmer organization plea to change the committee members
> Eight farmer unions say they will not appear before any committee. Reject any committee
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Matter over adjourned
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Advocate Prashant Bhushan told the bench that he has been counselling them to maintain peace. Even on the republic day, they propose to do it peacefully to celebrate republic day. They have issued a call that there should be absolute peace. In reply, the CJI said he trusts Bhushan's statement that his clients want to do it peacefully.
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Centre withdraws plea in SC against farmers' tractor rally on Republic Day
The Centre today withdrew its plea seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor rally on January 26 by farmers protesting against the new farms laws after the Supreme Court said "it is a police matter". The police has the "authority" to deal with the issue pertaining to the proposed tractor march in Delhi on the Republic Day, said a bench comprising Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.
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Supreme Court records the statement of senior advocates Dushyant Dave and Prashant Bhushan that since the unions represented by them have decided not to appear before the Committee, they have nothing to say on the present application.
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Bhupinder Singh Mann of the Kisan Coordination Committee has resigned. This has resulted in a vacancy, said CJI SA Bobde.
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During the hearing, CJI SA Bobde said "if you don't want to appear before the committee, we cannot compel you. But you cannot malign people like this and cast aspersions on them and also the court. If you don't want to appear, don't appear. Why do you need to brand people like this?," reported LiveLaw.
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During the hearing, CJI SA Bobde asked the lawyer for Kisan Mahapanchayat if his client wants replacement of BS Mann or constitution of whole committee. In reply, the lawyer said the committee members have expressed views in supporting farm laws. On this, the CJI said aspersions are cast unnecessarily. Expressing opinions in a different context doesn't mean disqualification. BS Mann asked for modifications of laws. Branding people like this, we don't appreciate. Even judges express views during the hearing. That doesn't mean they can't decide. The committee has not been given powers to adjudicate. It was asked to listen to protesters and submit a report to the court. Where is the question of bias in that?, asked the CJI
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Advocate Prashant Bhushan refers to the order of December 16 which mentions the names of eight farmers unions which were added as respondents. "Dave and I are representing eight unions," he said.
In the hearing, Dave said, "Kisan Mahapanchayat is not one of the protesting unions. I don't know how they have filed the application for reconstitution of the committee." In reply, the lawyer for Kisan Mahapanchayat said, the union is protesting. But not on Punjab or UP side but in Rajasthan.
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Solicitor General asks if Dushyant Dave can name the union which he is representing.
In reply, Dave said, he appears for the eight unions which were added.
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Lawyer for Kisan Mahapanchayat says his client has filed an application to reconstitute the Committee appointed by the Supreme Court.
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | JUST IN:
The Supreme Court allowed Delhi police to withdraw its application seeking restraint orders against the tractor rally proposed by protesting farmers on Republic Day.
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During the hearing, Attorney General KK Venugopal said, "we had moved an application in the last hearing seeking injunction against tractor rally on Republic Day."
In reply, the bench said, it is highly inappropriate for the court to act as a first authority to allow or disallow protesters. "We can allow you to withdraw the application. You are the executive and have the power to look into this. It's an issue of law and order and of the police," said the bench headed by SA Bobde.
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | JUST IN:
The Supreme Court starts hearing the cases related to farmers' protests.
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | World witnessing live example of Guru Gobind Singh's teachings in farmers 'satyagraha': Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today paid homage to Guru Gobind Singh on his birth anniversary and said the world is witnessing live example of the 10th Sikh Guru's teachings as farmers continue their "satyagraha". Paying tributes to the Sikh Guru on his 354th birth anniversary, Gandhi said his heroic life has taught "us the value of sacrifice in the fight for justice".
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Start on a clean slate: Chidambaram to govt ahead of talks with protesting farmers
Ahead of the tenth round of talks between the Centre and agitating farmers, Congress leader P Chidambaram today urged the ruling dispensation to start afresh and keep the past aside.
"'Start on a clean slate' is the only way forward," Chidambaram tweeted. "The government should offer to begin afresh and hold talks on what needs to be done and what needs to be avoided," he said.
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TheSupreme Court will take up the cases related to farmers' protests shortly. The board is now on item 14. Farmers cases listed as item 18.
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Meeting between farmers' unions and Delhi Police over tractor rally scheduled for Republic Day to begin at 11:30 am
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A group of farm union leaders will meet top officials of Delhi, Haryana and UP police today to discuss the route and arrangements for their scheduled tractor rally on January 26 to protests against the three farm laws, a farmer union leader said. "A group of farm union leaders including Balbir Singh Rajewal and others will meet top officials of Delhi Police to discuss the route and other arrangements for their protest march on Republic Day against the three farm laws," Jamuri Kisan Union leader, Kalwant Singh Sandhu, told news agency PTI.
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Group of farmer union leaders to meet top Delhi Police officials over tractor march on January 26: Kisan union leader Kalwant Singh Sandhu (PTI)
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On January 18, the Supreme Court had orally observed that it is for the Delhi police to decide on the entry of farmers and that the Court cannot be expected to pass orders on a law and order issue.
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A bench comprising Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian will consider the cases against ongoing farmers protests post 11 am.
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A Supreme Court bench led by CJI SA Bobde to hear a batch of petitions regarding the farmers' protests issue. The apex court had appointed a 4 member committee to resolve the stalemate over the farm acts. One out four has recused.
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Three held for trying to protest in support of farmers in Shimla
Three men have been arrested for allegedly trying to hold without permission a protest in support of farmers at the Ridge Maidan in Shimla yesterday, police said. Karandeep Sandhu, Harpreet Singh and Gurpreet Singh from Punjab's Mohali and Chandigarh were arrested under Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) sections 107 (apprehension of breach of peace) and 151 (arrest to prevent cognizable offences) as they had no permission either from the Home Department or from the deputy commissioner to hold the protest, a police spokesperson said.
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Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar: I know the BJP government 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. (ANI)
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The tenth round of talks between the government and representatives of protesting farmers on controversial new farm laws pushed back by a day to January 20, with the Centre saying both sides want to resolve the stalemate at the earliest but it was getting delayed due to involvement of people of other ideologies.
Asserting that the new farm laws are in the interest of the farming community, the government said obstacles do come whenever good things or measures are taken and it is taking longer to resolve the issue as farmers' leaders want a solution their own way.
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Senior BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar has expressed confidence that the next round of talks between the government and farmer unions will be successful and claimed that the three laws, whose repeal has been demanded by protesting farmers, were based on demands made by the farming community over the years. The next round of talks is scheduled for today.
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Congress does not want govt-farmers talks to succeed: BJP
The BJP has accused the Congress of working to scuttle the ongoing talks between the government and farmer unions, hitting back at the opposition party's leader Rahul Gandhi over his attack on the Modi dispensation over farm laws and national security. Senior BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar said the opposition party does not want the talks to succeed and has resorted to obstructive tactics.
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There is a great enthusiasm among people in Punjab to become part of the tractor parade. Our batches will start moving towards Delhi from January 23 and 24, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan said. Bhartiya Kisan Union (Sidhupur) president Jagjit Singh Dallewal said 20,000-25,000 tractors would come to Delhi from Punjab alone for the planned tractor rally on Republic Day.
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | NCP chief, Maharashtra CM to take part in protest against farm laws
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar will take part in a protest to be staged in Mumbai in support of the farmers agitating against the Centre's three new farm reform laws on borders of New Delhi, state Minister Nawab Malik said yesterday. Some farmers' organisations have planned to holdprotests in Mumbai from January 23 to January 25. (PTI)
Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | SC-appointed committee can't resolve crisis over farm laws: Sukhbir Badal
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has 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 has also said that 'kisan shakti' had the power to "wipe out" the BJP. (PTI)
