Farmers' Protest Highlights: Farmers' unions ready to resume talks with govt on December 30

Union minister of state for agriculture and farmers welfare Kailash Chaudhary has appealed to farmers' organisations opposing the new agricultural laws to have a dialogue with the government in a cordial atmosphere by abandoning the condition of seeking a response in either 'yes' or 'no' during the next round of talks on Wednesday.

The minister is a firm advocate of the new agricultural laws and says that these laws will bring in a major change in the lives of farmers. Chaudhary says the Modi government has enacted these laws for the betterment of farmers.

The sixth round of talks between leaders of farmers' organisations and the government will be held on Wednesday, seeking withdrawal of new agricultural laws.

(IANS)

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PM Modi flags off 100th 'Kisan Rail'service, says govt will continue to work to strengthen farmers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 28 flagged off the 100th run of the Kisan Rail service in the country between Sangola in Maharashtra and Shalimar in West Bengal, and asserted that his government has undertaken historic reforms in the farm sector to boost agriculture and strengthen farmers.

During his address after flagging off the train via video-conferencing, Modi said his government''s policies are clear and intentions transparent in reforming the agriculture sector.

It will continue to work to strengthen farmers and agri sector with full force and dedication, he said.

SP's Ram Govind Chaudhary urges farmers to be ready for 'do or die battle'with new farm laws

Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly and senior Samajwadi Party leader Ram Govind Chaudhary on Monday exhorted farmers for a "do or die battle" with the government for the withdrawal of the new agriculture laws.

Addressing a ''kisan ghera chaupal'' in Saidpura village under Bansdih assembly segment, the senior SP leader urged farmers'' unions that "till the withdrawal of the three controversial laws and MSP was not made mandatory, they should continue their ''aar-paar ki ladai'' (do or die battle)."

Space for protest, free discussion getting closed, says Amartya Sen; BJP dissents

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has voiced concern over "curtailment of space" for protest and discussion in the country where people are jailed without trial through arbitrarily imposed charge of sedition.

The BJP, which is often the butt of criticism by the economist, rubbished the accusation as baseless.In an e-mail interview with PTI, the 87-year-old Harvard University professor backed the farmers' protests against three agricultural laws, insisting there was a "strong case" for substantial review of the legislations.

During UPA govt, Manmohan Singh ji & Sharad Pawar ji wanted to bring #FarmLaws but they could not stand pressure & influence. We're fortunate that today Modi ji is our PM who works selflessly for development of country & welfare of people: Union Agriculture Min Narendra S Tomar pic.twitter.com/joPQzFVYTP

— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2020

‘Wall of lies’ will soon fall, hopeful of resolving issue: Narendra Singh Tomar on farmers’ stir

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday said a "wall of lies" has been erected in a "planned manner" to persuade farmers against the new farm laws and added that it will not last long and protesting peasants will soon realise the truth.

The minister also reiterated that he remains hopeful about finding an early solution to end the impasse.

Various farmers’ unions from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been protesting the Centre’s new agri laws at various protest sites along the Delhi border.

‘Wall of lies’ will soon fall, hopeful of resolving issue: Narendra Singh Tomar on farmers’ stir

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday said a "wall of lies" has been erected in a "planned manner" to persuade farmers against the new farm laws and added that it will not last long and protesting peasants will soon realise the truth.

The minister also reiterated that he remains hopeful about finding an early solution to end the impasse.

Various farmers’ unions from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been protesting the Centre’s new agri laws at various protest sites along the Delhi border.

False narratives about the new farm laws are doing significant harm to the interest of farmers as well as the economy in general, Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar said on Monday and expressed his disappointment at some economists changing their stance on the new legislations.
As farmers continue their protests demanding repealing of the three new laws, Kumar also emphasised that continued negotiations with protesting farmers is of course the way forward.

"Any argument that these measures (the Centre''s new farm laws) will open the farmers for exploitation by large corporates is completely false because the government has assured Minimum Support Price (MSP) to all the farmers on a range of crops," he told PTI in an interview.

Government has called for meeting with farmers on December 30 at 2 pm, reports News18.

Kerala Governor ArifMohammed Khan on Monday gave his assent for convening the state assembly for a one-day special session on December 31 to discuss and pass a resolution against the three contentious central farm laws against which farmers are agitating in Delhi.

We are with the farmers. We demand the threedraconianagriculture laws be withdrawn.