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

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | 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)

Farmers' Protest ​LIVE Updates | We will not go to Committee constituted by the Supreme Court, BKU's Rakesh Tikait

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."

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | 

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)

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | PM doesn't respect farmers, wants to tire out those protesting against agri laws: Rahul Gandhi

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 Farmers will not relent till the laws are repealed, said Rahul Gandhi at Jantar Mantar, where he along with Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined party MPs in their demonstration against the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.

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Govt, farmer unions to continue talks; Tomar asks farmer groups to be flexible

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)

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Congress leader Rahul Gandhi: 

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 LIVE Updates | 

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)

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | 

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)

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Union ministers start ninth round of talks with protesting farmer unions

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.

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | 

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.

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | 

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...

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Farmer unions want talks with Govt to continue to resolve deadlock: Rakesh Tikait

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."

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Rajasthan Cong worker to gherao Raj Bhavan today: 

The Rajasthan Congress will lay siege to the Raj Bhavan today in support of he farmers' agitation against the Centre's new farm laws. The leaders and workers of the state unit of the party will observe Friday as Kisan Adhikar Diwas and gherao the Raj Bhavan from 11 am to 2 pm in support of the farmers' resentment also against the anti-farmer attitude of the Modi government, the Congress said in a statement. All India Congress Committee general secretary and Rajasthan in-charge Ajay Maken, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot will also be present during the gherao of the Raj Bhavan, it added.

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | First physical meeting of SC-appointed panel on farm laws likely on Jan 19: Member Ghanwat

The Supreme Court-appointed panel on farm laws is likely to hold its first meeting on January 19 at Pusa campus here, one of its members Anil Ghanwat said on Thursday and asserted the committee will have no "ego or prestige issue" if it has to go to farmers'' protest sites to talk to them. The panel members were scheduled to have a virtual interaction earlier in the day to discuss its future course of action, but it could not take place after ex-MP and farmer leader Bhupinder Singh Mann recused himself from the committee.

The existing members can hold their virtual interaction on Friday now, Ghanwat said, while asserting that he will not leave the committee unless asked by the apex court and he does not expect any other member to recuse. "The first sitting will have to be held before January 20. It will be held with existing members. Most probably, the meeting will be on January 19 in Pusa campus," Ghanwat told PTI in an interview. Asked if the committee will continue to function with existing members, he said, "The existing three-member committee will function unless the Supreme Court gives a direction to add one more member." (PTI)

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | 

`Truly' independent persons should have been appointed on panel on farm laws: Sharad Pawar

"Truly independent" personsshould have been appointed on the committee formed by the Supreme Court to resolve the impasse over new farm laws, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said.The apex court stayed the implementation of the new farm laws and set up a four-member committee to resolve the impasse between the Centre and the farmer unionsagitating at Delhi borders.

Speaking to reporters here, Pawar, a former Union agriculture minister, said the agitating farmers do not have faith in the panel as these members were said to have supported the new farm laws of the Centre in the past."Hence, the farmers don't think anything will come out of discussions with the committee. And I agree with them. It would have been better if independent -- in a true sense independent -- persons had been appointed," he said.

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Don't be on wrong side of history: BKU (Lok Shakti) to members of SC-appointed panel

Members of the committee appointed by the Supreme Court to resolve farm laws deadlock should follow the suit of Bhupinder Singh Mann and not be on the "wrong side of history", a farmers' union said here on Thursday. Mann, the national president of Bharatiya Kisan Union, on Thursday expressed gratitude over his nomination into the four-member committee but recused himself saying he would give up any position to prevent farmers' interests from being compromised.

"Mann's decision is a welcome move. The other three members of the panel, who have shown pro-new farm laws stance should also follow Mann's suit. This ongoing agitation for rollback of the three agri laws is history in the making, and we urge they should not be on the wrong side of history," Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lok Shakti) spokesperson Shailesh Kumar Giri said. Apart from Mann, Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat, International Food Policy Research Institute's Pramod Kumar Joshi and agriculture economist Ashok Gulati were appointed on the panel.

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | 

The Trinamool Congress on Thursday claimed that the new agriculture laws will leave small and marginal farmers at the mercy of big corporates and demanded that the legislation should be immediately repealed. Prices of vegetables such as potatoes and onions have skyrocketed as these have been taken off the essential commodities list, the party's Barasat MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said, adding that the concept of Minimum Support Price (MSP) has been totally bypassed.

The way the Centre hurriedly passed the farm laws through an ordinance without going for a parliamentary debate clearly shows that the Union government is anti-farmer and anti-people, she told reporters here.

Read:New agri laws will leave farmers at mercy of big corporates: TMC

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | 

Since protesting farmers have announced that they will not appear before the committee, there is no point in being part of it, saidBhupinder Singh Mann, Chairman of All India Kisan Coordination Committee, after recusinghimself from the four-member committee appointed by Supreme Court to resolve deadlock over farm laws. (ANI)

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | 

The government's ninth round of negotiations with protesting farmer unions will take place as scheduled on Friday and the Centre is hopeful of positive discussions, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Thursday."The government is ready to hold talks with farmers' leaders with an open mind," Tomar told reporters here. Clearing the confusion over the fate of the ninth round of talks, which was the only outcome in the last meeting on January 8, in the wake of the Supreme Court on January 11 appointing a four-member panel to resolve the impasse and a key member of the proposed committee subsequently recusing himself, Tomar said the talks between the government and the union representatives will take place as scheduled for 12 pm on January 15.

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | 

The protesting farmers will hold their ninth round of talks with the representatives of the Union government on January 15.This will be the first meeting between the two sides after the January 12 Supreme Court order putting a stay on the implementation of the three farm laws until further orders.

The top court also sets up a committee of experts that will talk to both sides and suggest changes where ever needed in the enactments as opposed by the farmers. The farmers have, however, refused to appear before the committee.While the government said it is hopeful of ending the impasse in today’s meeting, farmers are adamant that nothing less than the repeal of the three farm laws will end their protest.

Read:Another round of talks today; govt expects positive outcome, farmers want repeal of laws

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | 

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) believes the farm bills passed by the Indian government have the potential to represent a significant step forward for agricultural reforms, a spokesperson of the organisation said. There is, however, a need to strengthen the social safety net for those who might be adversely affected by the transition to the new system, Gerry Rice, Director of Communications at IMF, said at a news conference in Washington on Thursday. "We believe the farm bills do have the potential to represent a significant step forward for agricultural reforms in India," Rice said.

Read | Farm bills have potential to represent significant step forward for agricultural reforms in India: IMF

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | JP Nadda slams opposition parties over criticism of new farm laws, says they suggested reforms

BJP president JP Naddamounted a scathing attack on opposition parties over the new Central farm laws, saying though they had earlier promised agricultural reforms, they were now supporting those agitating against the Centre on the matter. The BJP chief's comments here came on a day when Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Madurai slammed the Centreover the contentious legislation, backing the farmers and saying that the union government will be "forced" to repeal the laws in the face of ryots' stiff resistance.

The opposition parties had assured in their own manifestos that farming reforms will be brought in, he saidwithout naming anyone. "They themselves wrote that APMC (Agricultural Produce Marketing committees) have to go or needs changes.They mentioned that Essential Commodities Act is an age-old law that needs to be amended," he said.

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Bhupinder Singh Mann should have taken stand against farm laws: SAD

The Shiromani Akali Dal said Bhupinder Singh Mann should not have recused himself from the SC-appointed committee, saying the BKU leader should have taken a stand for Punjab. Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) national president Bhupinder Singh Mann on Thursday said he is recusing himself from the four-member committee appointed by the Supreme Court to resolve the deadlock between farmers and the Centre over the new agri-marketing laws. Mann should have taken a stand for Punjab and Punjabiyat in the four-member committee formed by the Supreme Court to initiate a dialogue with farm organizations instead of weakening their case by recusing himself from the committee, said SAD leader Maheshinder Singh Grewal in a statement here.

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Anna Hazare writes to PM; to launch hunger strike on farmers' issues in Delhi

Activist Anna Hazare on Thursdaywrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reiterated his decision to launch "the last hunger strike" of his life on farmers' issues in Delhi by January end. The letter came as farmer unions are agitating on Delhi borders against the Centre's new farm laws.Speaking to reporters later, Hazare said the new farm laws do not conform to "democratic values" and people's participation is necessary in the drafting of legislations.
He will stage a fast in the national capital by month-end, 83-year-old Hazare said in the letter to the PM,without specifying the date.

On December 14, Hazare had written to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, warning of a hunger strike if his demands including the implementation of the MS Swaminathan Committee's recommendations on agriculture werenot met."On the issue of farmers, I have had correspondence (with the Centre) five times, however, no response came. "As a result, I have decided to go on the last hunger strike of my life," said Hazare in his missive to the prime minister on Thursday.

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | 

Protesting farmer leaders on Thursday said they will attend the ninth round of talks with the government amid indication that it may be last such meeting with the Centre, but added that they don't have much hope as they will not settle for anything less than the repeal of the contentious farm laws. Since a Supreme Court-appointed panel on farm laws is likely to hold its first meeting on January 19, the meeting on Friday between with the government and the unions may be the last one.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) Joginder Singh Ugrahan told PTI, "We are going to hold talks with the government tomorrow. We don't have much hope from the Friday meeting as the government will cite the SC-appointed panel. The government doesn't have good intention to resolve our issues." Singh said that the unions do not want any committee, adding "we just want a complete repeal of three farm laws and legal guarantee on minimum support price for our crops."
He said that farmers will not call off their protest until their demands are met.

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates | Scrap new agri laws to end farmer agitation, says Bhupesh Baghel

Chhattisgarh Chief MinisterBhupesh Baghel on Thursday pushed for repeal of the Centre's new agri-marketing laws to end the ongoing agitation by farmers outside Delhi. He said after privatisation of airports and railways, the NDA government has now set its eyes on farmers land, the Congress leader said. "But farmers have understood everything that's why they are agitating for more than a month now. The Supreme Court has also taken note of the agitation. "Therefore, the government should withdraw the laws to end the agitation," Baghel said.

Hello and welcome to Moneycontrol’s coverage of the farmers’ protest.

The 'Delhi Chalo' farmers' protest at border points of New Delhi has entered the 51st day today.

Stay tuned to this LIVE blog for the latest updates through the day.