Farmers' Protest Updates: Will launch hunger strike on farmers' issues by Jan end in Delhi, says Anna Hazare
Farmers' Protest Updates: Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates: In a letter to prime minister Narendra Modi, Hazare said he had written to the Centre five times on the issue of farmers but had not received any response.
“I have quit the party to express my support to farmers and Punjabiyat,” says Chhabra. “Though farm ordinance was tabled in the month of June, and I have left the party after six months of protests by farmers on this issue, earlier I was fighting for farmers while staying within the party.”
An official from the agriculture ministry tells the newspaper that no firm decision has been taken on continuing talks. However, farm unions say they have not received any notice of cancellation. “There was nothing in the Supreme Court order that says that this process needs to be stopped for two months until the committee submits its report,” says Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav. “That would be a perverse interpretation of the order.”
Farmers will march from Red Fort to India Gate on 26 Jan: Rakesh Tikait
Speaking to ANI, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said the Republic Day parade will be held from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate while the protesting farmers will take out a procession from the Red Fort to India Gate. "We'll meet over there. The farmers will make the the country proud (sar uncha karenge kisan). It will be the most historic parade in the world where on one side we will have 'kisan' (the farmers) and on the other side, 'jawan' (soldiers) and they will meet at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate."
#WATCH | "On Jan 26, we'll take out a procession from Red Fort to India Gate. We will hoist the flag where we'll meet at the Amar Jawan Jyoti. It will be a historic scene where on one side we will have 'kisan' and on the other side, 'jawan'," says BKU Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait pic.twitter.com/aF6JGk1UnP
Will go on hunger strike on farmers issues by January end, says Anna Hazare
Activist Anna Hazare on Thursday wrote 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 comes even as famrer unions are agitating on Delhi borders against the Centre's new farm laws. He will stage the fast by month-end, 83-year-old Hazare said, without specifying the date.
On 14 December, 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 were not fulfilled. Another demand made by him was grant of autonomy to the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices. "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.
In an interview with news agency PTI, Anil Ghanwat said, "I don''t know on what parameters the Supreme Court has chosen us. It must have seen our track record. I respect their decision," on allegations that the member of the committee appointed by the apex court were supporters of the farm laws.
He also thanked the protesting farmers that it was due to their agitation that agriculture is being discussed at such a level for the first time, else farmers were always taken for granted. "Because of them, there is an opportunity to frame a good law. I feel blessed that I have got an opportunity to work," he added.
On the government holding parallel talks with protesting farmers, scheduled for 15 January, after the SC appointed the panel, Ghanwat said, "I think this will be their last meeting with the government. They will say henceforth you (farmers) have to sit with the committee, which will give a report to the Supreme Court."
Jan 14, 2021
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20:55 (IST)
Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa welcomes Bhupinder Singh Mann's recusal
Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa welcomed Mann's decision to opt out of the SC-appointed committee on farms laws and hoped that other three committee members will also recuse themselves. The four-member committee has further eroded the trust between farmer unions and the government, Bajwa said, adding that all four members have publicly written in support of the farm laws. "It is my hope that the other three members of the committee also recuse themselves. It is an unfortunate situation to be placed into, but given their very public support of these farm laws makes their position untenable. It is impossible for the farmers to trust in the impartiality of a committee whose members have vociferously supported the farming laws," Bajwa said in a statement.
PTI
Jan 14, 2021
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20:25 (IST)
First meeting of SC-appointed panel likely on 19 January, says Anil Ghanwat
The Supreme Court-appointed panel on farm laws is likely to hold its first meeting on 19 January at the Pusa campus in Delhi, 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 themselves.
PTI
Jan 14, 2021
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20:16 (IST)
SCBA president Dushyant Dave resigns with immediate effect
Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Dushyant Dave resigned from his post with immediate effect, saying he has forfeited his right to continue. "Following recent events, I feel that I have forfeited my right to continue at your Leader and so I hereby tender my resignation from the post of the President of the SCBA with immediate effect. Our term has already come to an end We sincerely decided to hold virtual election to elect a new body. Now I find it may not be possible to hold them as per the schedule declared by the Election Committee due to reservations held by some of you. I understand their position and have no quarrel with it but to me any further continuation as the President in these circumstances will be morally wrong," the letter said.
Dave had termed the Centre's farm laws as "unconstitutional" and also represented a few farmers unions in the Supreme Court. In an interview with The Wire, Dave had said the Supreme Court has stepped into the political arena by seeking to arbitrate between the farmers and the Centre. The apex court had on Tuesday stayed the implementation of the three Central laws till further orders and announced the formation of a committee to hear the grievances of the farmers and the opinion of the government.
Jan 14, 2021
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19:34 (IST)
Punjab Cabinet passes resolution demanding MSP as statutory right
The Punjab Cabinet also passed a resolution demanding that MSP be made a statutory right and urged the Centre to “repeal the farm laws as agriculture is a State Subject under the Constitution of India."The Council of Ministers demanded that the Centre make MSP a statutory right of the farmers who had been getting extremely low prices for their produce for the past several days despite being responsible for feeding the nation," as per an official statement.
The state Cabinet also observed two -minutes silence in memory of farmers who have died during the agitation. "An estimated 78 farmers have so far lost their lives," said the statement.
Nothing short of repeal of black farm laws will work, stresses Chief Minister @capt_amarinder Singh led Punjab Government. Punjab Cabinet passes resolution demanding MSP as statutory right.https://t.co/VdDx7Bkd8Z
