Farmers' Protest Highlights: Cancellation of UK PM visit our victory, govt's 'defeat': Farmer unions

Cancellation of UK PM visit our victory, govt's 'defeat': Farmer unions

Farmer unions protesting against the three new agri laws Wednesday claimed the cancellation of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's visit to India later this month was a "political win" for them and a "diplomatic defeat" for the government, and asserted their agitation has been receiving global support. Johnson was scheduled to attend the Republic Day celebrations in India as Chief Guest, but the visit had to be cancelled due to the growing health crisis in the UK after a new variant of coronavirus emerged there.

"The cancellation of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's India visit is a political win for farmers and a diplomatic defeat for the Modi government...political and social organisations across the world have been supporting the agitation," Sankyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of the protesting farmer unions, said in a statement in Hindi. The statement said the farmers have already announced a tractor protest march on January 26 and a "rehearsal" for it on January 7.

"The cancellation of the UK prime minister's visit because of all these efforts is surely a big victory for farmers," the statement said. According to a release issued by the Prime Minister's office here on Tuesday, PM Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with Johnson.

"Prime Minister Johnson reiterated his thanks for India's invitation for him as the Chief Guest of the forthcoming Republic Day celebrations, but regretted his inability to attend in view of the changed COVID-19 context prevailing in the UK. He reiterated his keenness to visit India in the near future," it had stated. The protesting farm unions have claimed that around 80 farmers have died they have called them "martyrs" -- since their agitation began.

"Farmers' movement is now becoming people's movement," the Morcha statement said. Meanwhile, All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee, one of the 40 protesting unions, alleged in statement that the Central government is "non-serious" on the demands of peasants.

"The Central government is non-serious about talks and solving farmers' problems. In the 7th round of talks, it finally stated clearly that it has understood that the demand is for repeal and that it will have to undertake 'further consultation'," AIKSCC claimed. The seventh round of talks between the protesting unions and three Central ministers ended inconclusively on Monday as farmer groups stuck to their demand for the repeal of three laws, while the government listed out various benefits of the new Acts for the growth of the country's agriculture sector.

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had said he remains hopeful of a solution in the next meeting on January 8, but asserted that efforts need to be made from both sides for a resolution to be reached (taali dono haathon se bajti hai). While several opposition parties and people from other walks of life have come out in support of the farmers, some farmer groups have also met the agriculture minister over the last few weeks to extend their support to the three laws.

Last month, the government had sent a draft proposal to the protesting farmer unions, suggesting seven-eight amendments to the new laws and a written assurance on the MSP procurement system. The government has ruled out a repeal of the three agri laws.

(PTI)

UP CM Adityanath launches 'Kisan Kalyan Mission'

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday launched 'Kisan Kalyan Mission', an initiative dedicated to farmers' welfare and growth, and reiterated his government's resolve to double the income of farmers. Adityanath urged the farmers to ignore the "misleading and misinformation campaign" by certain elements in furtherance of their ulterior political interests.

"We all together need to focus on making our nation the best," he exhorted. Kick-starting the programme from Dadupur village in Sarojininagar block here, the chief minister attacked the previous governments in the state for their "apathetic" attitude towards the plight of farmers.

He listed a slew of pro-farmer schemes implemented by the Centre and his government for the overall welfare of the farmer fraternity, a government spokesman said. "Lakhs of farmers committed suicide between 2004 and 2014 because no one was there to take care of them. But after our government came into power, farmers are using new farm technologies and are on the path to success," Adityanath said. 'Atmahatya se Aamdani' (from suicide to income) has been the motto of the Uttar Pradesh government for the farmers which is being well manifested by scores of schemes, he said, adding that "had the growth in agri-sector taken place in the 70 years, the Modi government would not have required to take up the task of doubling the income of farmers in the last six years".

Invoking the 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' slogan of the country, the UP chief minister said despite this, the farmers remained marginalised owing to the "politically-motivated" approach of the previous governments, mainly of the Congress. "The farmers have now seen how the pro-farmers policies are implemented and can reach the ground level. Earlier, there was a facade of politics only to garner votes rather than benefiting the farmers," he stressed.

(PTI)

Farm unions will actively arrive at solution after discussion, saysNarendraSinghTomar

Union Agriculture MinisterNarendraSinghTomaron January 6 said those farmer unions, which are protesting against the farm laws, will understand the idea behind bringing laws for reforms in the agricultural sector and actively arrive at a solution after discussion.

"The government of India is committed to the welfare of farmers. We meet those who are supporting the laws and those opposing it. I am sure that farmer unions who are agitating will understand the idea behind agriculture laws and they will think about the welfare of farmers and actively arrive at a solution by a positive discussion,"Tomartold reportershere

We are committed to the welfareof farmers. We meet those who are supporting the laws and those opposing them. I am sure that farmers' unions, who are agitating, will think about the welfare of farmers and actively arrive at a solution.

The Supreme Court had earlier issued notice and sought the Centre's response on a batch of pleas against the three contentious farm laws -- Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020.

The Supreme Court was today hearing a plea filed by advocate ML Sharma challenging the farm laws. The bench issued notice to the Centre seeking its response on Sharma's plea which has alleged that the Central government has no locus under the Constitution to frame these laws.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, while informing the Supreme Court bench that talks are going on between the government and farmers in a healthy atmosphere, said that these matters should not be listed for hearing on January 8.

Farmers' Protest: Supreme Court To Hear Petitions Against Farm Reform Laws On January 11

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said that it was observed that the talks between the centre and the farmers talks had not been able to break the deadlock against the agri laws that were…... Read More

The Supreme Court today said it would hear on January 11 a batch of pleas challenging the new farm laws as also the ones raising issues related to the ongoing farmers' protest at Delhi borders. A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, which observed that there is no improvement on the ground regarding farmers' protests, was told by the Centre that healthy discussions are going on between the government and farmers over these issues.

Makar Sankranti / Lohri / Pongal / Bhogali Bihu (farmers festivals) that bring a lot of joy and celebrations are fast approaching. Farmers should have been happy and celebrating in their homes, but they are out in the bitter cold and rain protesting against farm laws!

Camping at protest venues near Delhi borders for more than 40 days, braving severe cold and sporadic rains, farmers have asserted that their stir against the farm reform laws will intensify in the coming days, even as they deferred today's proposed tractor march over a bad weather forecast. The deadlock continues as the seventh round of talks with the Centre remained inconclusive, with the farmer groups sticking to their demand for the repeal of the three new laws, and the government listing out various benefits of the new Acts.

Interacting through Facebook, All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSSC) leader Avik Saha has said that the government claimed that 50 percent of demands of farmers have been met, but repeal of the farm laws has been a primary demand since day one.
The unions said the agitation against the three agriculture reform laws will be intensified in the coming days.

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and some other parts of the country have been camping at several Delhi border points since November 28, demanding repeal of farm laws, a legal guarantee on minimum support price for their crops and other two issues. Last week, the government agreed to exclude farmers from penal provisions of the Air Quality Management ordinance and to not pursue the draft Electricity Bill.