Farmers' Protest Highlights | HP Congress holds protest outside Raj Bhawan in support of farmers

The Himachal Pradesh Congress on Friday staged a protest outside the Raj Bhawan here in support of farmers agitating against the Centre's new agri laws. The state unit of the Congress observed the day as Kisan Adhikar Divas on he directions of the All India Congress Committee.

State party presidentKuldeep Rathore said 'annadata' of the country has been sitting on the borders of Delhi for the last 51 days in protest against the three agricultural laws enacted by the Narendra Modi-led government. Rathore said the Centre has made every effort to suppress the farmers' movement by unfair means and is just buying time and indulging in unfruitful talks.

More than 60 farmers have died during the agitation so far but the central government is completely insensitive towards them, he said. The Modi government had promised to double the income of the country's farmers by 2023 but has brought them on the road with its oppressive policies, he added.

(PTI)

Bharat Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait on Friday said that they will not go to the Committee constituted by the Supreme Court and talk to Central Government only. Adding more he said, "Our demands of repealing of the three farm laws & MSP guarantee remain."

The ongoing meeting discussing three agricultural laws between Union Govt and farmers did not come to a resolution before the lunch break. The MSP Guarantee act will be discussed after the break. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not respect farmers and wants to tire out those protesting against the Centre's new agri laws, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Friday. He also said that the talks that are being held with the protesting farmer leaders are part of the government's delaying tactics. Farmers will not relent till the laws are repealed, said Rahul Gandhi at Jantar Mantar, where he along with Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined party MPs in their demonstration against the legislations.

"The talks are being held only to delay. PM Modi thinks he has the power and will tire the farmers out, but he is mistaken. Narendra Modi does not have basic respect for farmers. He does not even care if over 100 farmers die. He thinks he has the power and the protesting farmers will tire out after some days, but they will not relent," Rahul Gandhi told reporters.

Three central ministers and farmers unions on Friday committed to continue holding direct talks to resolve the over-one-month-long deadlock over three agri laws, with Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar urging farmer leaders to be flexible in their approach as has been done by the government. The ninth round of talks between protesting farmer unions and three central ministers got underway here on Friday afternoon and discussions were held on all the three laws before the lunch break. "Both the government and farmer unions have reaffirmed their commitment to continue with the direct dialogue process," All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee member Kavita Kuruganti, who is part of the meeting, said. (PTI)

The three (farm) laws have been brought to finish the farmers. If we don't stop this now, it will continue to happen in other sectors too. Narendra Modi does not respect the farmers. The farmers will neither deter nor fear.

Farmers' Protest | Union Ministers Start Ninth Round Of Talks With Protesting Farmer Unions

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at various border points of Delhi for over a month now against the three agri reform laws.... Read More

Rahul Gandhi leads Congress protest in support of agitating farmers

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday led the party's protest in the national capital in support of the agitating farmers, and said his party will not relent till the new farm laws are repealed.He was accompanied by AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders of the Delhi Congress at the protest outside the Delhi LG's residence here as part of the countrywide agitation. Addressing the gathering, the former Congress chief said the Congress party will not step back till the time the government repeals these three farm laws.

"The BJP government will have to take these black laws back. Till the time these laws are repealed, Congress party will not relent," he told the protesting Congressmen. "The Narendra Modi government earlier tried to take away the land of farmers, when it brought the land acquisition Act and the Congress party stopped them at that time. Now the BJP and their two-three friends are once again attacking the farmers and have brought these three farm laws," he also alleged. (PIT)

NGO plans to install blood count measurement machine to help farmers at Singhuborder

Volunteers of an NGO running a medical camp at Delhi's Singhu border plan to install a machine for blood count measurements to help farmers protesting the Centre's three farm laws. Sadiq Mohammad, a pharmacist and a volunteer of the NGO - Life Care Foundation - said there are a number of farmers at the border point having many underlying health conditions and the fast results generated by the Hematology analyzer could help guide the treatment of the farmers quicker.

The machine generates results with an hour and that is why the farmers can be given treatment faster, he said.He said the complete blood count (CBC) test helps to ascertain the blood cell, the platelet count and hemoglobin in the blood."This test can help us to start treatment related to skin, asthmatic, etc. The result of CBC test comes within an hour. If the result comes on time, then we can start the treatment after the result. This will be free of cost and nothing will be charged from the patients. The machine will be installed in couple of days," Sadiq said. The NGO had set up a medical camp at the Singhu border on November 30 last year. (PTI)

The ninth round of talks between protesting farmer unions and three central ministers got underway here on Friday afternoon to break the over-a-month-long deadlock on the three new agri laws.Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, who is an MP from Punjab, are holding the talks with the representatives of around 40 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan here. Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at various border points of Delhi for over a month now against the three laws.

Farmer leaders arrive at Vigyan Bhawan to hold ninth rounds of talks with the Central government over new farm laws. " The government needs to devise a plan to scrap the three laws and give legal guarantee for MSP," says BKU Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait.

Rahul Gandhi seeks public support for campaign in favour of farmers, against fuel prices

Asking people to join the farmers' "satyagraha" against the Modi government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday spoke out in support of the ongoing protests and against rising fuel prices in the country. The Congress is observing the day as Kisan Adhikar Divas and will take out protest marches in all state capitals. Participating in the "SpeakUpForKisanAdhikar" campaign of his party, Gandhi said on Twitter, "The country's farmers are holding a satyagraha against the arrogant Modi Government to win their rights." Read the full story here...

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said the protesting farmer unions will attend the scheduled ninth round of talks with the government and asserted it is necessary to continue the dialogue to resolve the deadlock and end the agitation.While the previous eight rounds of negotiations have failed to end the protests continuing for several weeks on various borders of the national capital, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said earlier in the day that the government is hopeful of positive discussions at Friday's scheduled meeting.

Tikait also said the protesting unions will attend the meeting with union ministers on Friday. Asked if unions have any hope from the Friday meeting, Tikait told PTI: "Let's see what happens tomorrow. But, our meetings will continue with the government till our protest ends as it is necessary." "We will not oppose the meetings with the government," the BKU leader said when asked whether the Friday talks could be the last one if there is no solution. Tomar had said, "The government is ready to hold talks with farmers' leaders with an open mind."