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Farmers' Protest Highlights: The Delhi Chalo farmers' protest at border points in New Delhi has entered the 22nd day today. Supreme Court today asked the Centre to explore the possibility of putting farm legislation on hold. Observing that the Centre's talks with the protesting farmers have "not worked apparently" and were bound to fail, the Supreme Court had earlier indicated forming a panel to break the three-week-long deadlock. The top court also said the agitation may soon become a national issue. Leaders of agitating farmers have asserted they will "make" the Centre repeal the three new agri reform laws in a hardening of their stand even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a conspiracy is afoot to confuse them and accused the opposition of shooting off farmers' shoulders. Farmers have so far rejected the government's offer of amendments in the new agriculture reform laws and a written assurance on continuing the MSP system. Previous five rounds of talks between the central government and representatives of 40 farmer unions remained inconclusive. Farmers have said that the protest will continue until their demands are met and the laws are scrapped. They fear that the new laws will dismantle the minimum support price (MSP) system and corporatise farming.
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Anti-nationals, leftists, Khalistanis pumping money into protests: Gujarat Deputy CM
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel on December 17 saidthat very few farmers were agitating against the Centre's new agri laws and that the protests were a conspiracy to malign Prime Minister Narendra Modi's image.
"Anti-nationals, leftists, Khalistanis, pro-China elements and members of Tukde-Tukde gang have infiltrated the protests and pumping in money to keep the farmers at protest venues," the BJP leader alleged. (PTI)
Delhi Assembly today rejected all three farm laws andhasappealed Centrethat it should take back these black laws. More than 20 farmers have died during 20 days of protest. On average, one farmer is getting martyred daily in this movement: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (ANI)
What was the hurry to get Farm Laws passed in Parliament during pandemic? It has happened for 1st time that 3 laws were passed without voting in Rajya Sabha...I hereby tear 3 Farm laws in this assembly and appeal Centre not to become worst than Britishers: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal (ANI)
Govt willing to sit and sort out issues with farmers: Puri
The government is willing to sit with the farmers protesting against the Centre's new farm laws and sort out the issues, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said (PTI)
The Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders have come up as the most prominent protest sites for the ongoing farmers' agitation, but one location --- Singhu --- seemingly has been receiving more limelight than the others. While there is no dearth of the fighting spirit among demonstrators at Tikri and Ghazipur either, the facilities at these relatively smaller protest sites are limited. Singhu, which has emerged as the centre of the agitation, has had a constant influx of resources both in cash and in kind.
Over the days, good samaritans, gurdwara committees and NGOs have made large donations as well as pooled technological resources to sustain the agitation. According to Ranjit Singh, who has been camping at the Singhu border since November 26, the site has been receiving higher traction than the other two because it was the first border to be blocked. Singhu hit the headlines earlier than Tikri and Ghazipur, which is why all these organisations came here offering help, but they are also offering similar sewa' at the other borders," the member of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Krantikari) said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address farmers' conferences to be held across Madhya Pradesh on December 18 at 2 pm via video conferencing: Chief Minister Office (CMO)
We'll discuss the future course of action in our Panchayat. We have not blocked roads, barricades have been put up by police. SC is right that issue should be resolved soon. We'll go if we're called. Govt wants amendments while we want them to take back farm laws: Rakesh Tikait, BKU
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday termed the death of Sikh preacher Sant Ram Singh, who was supporting the farmers' protest and allegedly committed suicide near the Singhu border, "an irreparable loss".His Punjab counterpart Amarinder Singh also expressed grief over the death of the 65-year-old preacher.Police said Sant Ram Singh allegedly died by suicide near the Singhu border on Wednesday. A handwritten note in Punjabi, purportedly left behind by the deceased, says he was unable to bear the "pain of farmers". The note is being verified by the police.
Khattar said Sant Ram Singh's death "is an irreparable loss for the Sant Samaj, the country and the state".The Haryana chief minister added that the demise was also an "irreparable loss" to him. "This is a moment of great sorrow," he said in a tweet.Khattar said the real tribute to Singh would be to walk the path of human welfare shown by him.Amarinder Singh too said he was saddened on learning about the preacher's death."Extremely shocked and saddened on learning the tragic news of Sant Ram Singh ji of Nanaksar Singhra wale from Karnal ending his life at Singhu Border in protest against the Centre's Farm Laws. My prayers are with his family and supporters in this time of grief," he said in a tweet.
The Sambhal district administration in Uttar Pradesh has issued notices to six farmer leaders asking them to submit personal bonds of Rs 50,000 each, as a police report warned of breach of peace during the protest against the new farm reform laws, an official said on Thursday. The six farmers who were served notices include Bharatiya Kisan Union (Asli) district president Rajpal Singh Yadav and farmer leaders Jaiveer Singh, Brahmachari Yadav, Satendra Yadav, Raudas and Veer Singh. They have been organising protests in the district over the Centre's three farm reform legislations.
"We've got a report from the Hayatnagar police station that some persons are inciting farmers and there can be breach of peace, and they should be asked to fill personal bonds of Rs 50 lakh each," Subdivisional Magistrate Deependra Yadav said.The farmers said the amount was too much, following which the police station incharge gave another report and they were asked to submit personal bonds of Rs 50,000 each, according to Yadav.
The government is willing to sit with the farmers protesting against the Centre''s new farm laws and sort out the issues, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Thursday.Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and elsewhere have been protesting at various border points of Delhi, including Singhu and Tikri, for over a fortnight, demanding that the Centre repeal the three new farm laws.
"It pains me that many people who are sitting in protest probably are not aware of what they are protesting against... Government is still sending a message to all the farmers that please come and talk," Puri said at an online function of industry chamber HDCCI. There were three demands -- MSP (minimum support price) should not be taken away, mandis should stay and nobody should in a clandestine manner usurp the farmers'' land -- and all these have been granted, he added. "There has been a big misunderstanding... we are willing to sit with anyone and sort this out," Puri added.
Read:Govt willing to sit with farmers to sort out issues: Hardeep Singh Puri
Supreme Court asks Centre to explore the possibility of putting legislations on hold.Supreme Court asks the Attorney General if the government can assure the court that it will not take any executive action on implementation of the law till the court hears the matter.
