Farmers' Protest Updates: Tomar says hopeful of resolution soon; call on Centre's talks offer tomorrow, say groups

Farmer block all lanes of NH-9 for eight hours

Farmers camping at UP Gate on Delhi-Ghaziabad border blocked all 14 lanes of the National Highway 9 from 9 am to 5 pm and and lifted the blockade on the carriageway from Delhi to Ghaziabad after repeated requests by the administration. Some protesters also allegedly manhandled a journalist and photographer. On getting a complaint about manhandling of journalists, BKU national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait reprimanded a group of youngsters among protesting farmers for misbehaving with journalists. BKU’s state president Rajbir Singh told PTI that the highway was blocked because tractor trolleys of some farmers coming from Bareilly and Rampur districts were intercepted by local police. Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey said a committee of representatives of all the farmers’ outfits camping at the UP Gate has been formed. The farmers lifted the blockade of one carriageway of the highway after the committee members were apprised of the problems of commuters, he said.

Protesters block highway near Rampur-Moradabad border

Hundreds of protestors blocked a key highway leading to Delhi in western Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday after they were allegedly stopped by police from moving to the National Capital to join the farmers’ stir against the new agriculture laws. The protesters, belonging to districts like Rampur, Pilibhit and Moradabad had gathered on the National Highway-24 at the Rampur-Moradabad border in the afternoon amid heavy deployment of police personnel.  Some of the protesters mobbed the official vehicle of a senior police officer while some others confronted other personnel during the chaos that led to a long traffic jam, according to purported videos that surfaced on social media.  One of the videos showed a senior police officer leaving the site in a Toyota Innova but was waylaid by scores of protesters, prompting its driver to reverse it in a rush as the mob kept banging the exteriors of the car. 

According to a Moradabad police official, The law and order situation broke out after the protesters outnumber the personnel deployed on the highway to control the crowd. 

PTI

Congress to submit two crore signatures seeking repeal of farm laws

Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal in a statement said that a delegation of Congress leaders, led by former party chief Rahul Gandhi, will meet President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday to submit a memorandum 20 million signatures collected from across the country in the past three months seeking repeal of the three farm laws.

Venugopal said that the party had launched a nationwide campaign in September for collecting memoranda of appeals addressed to the President signed by farmers, farm labourers and other stake holders opposing the three new farm legislations and two crore signature calling for the president’s intervention for repeal of these laws had been collected till now.

Farmers from Maharashtra march to Delhi

A group of farmers from Maharashtra has left for Delhi to support the peasants who are protesting at borders of the National Capital since November 26. Reporters travelling with the cultivators tweeted images from the march. Earlier in the day, a group of farmers also staged a protest outside the office of Mumbai suburban
district collector. 

Congress MLAs walk out of Uttarakhand Assembly

The Opposition Congress staged a walkout from the Uttarakhand Assembly in protest against the Centre’s new farm laws, saying they were meant to destroy farmers. The Congress MLAs walked out when state Agriculture Minister Subodh Uniyal accused the party of being hand in glove with middlemen and fomenting the agitation to retrieve its lost political ground. The Congress members led by Leader of Opposition Indira Hridayesh rose from their seats in protest when Uniyal said they did not seem to have read the new farm laws thoroughly and their party was misleading farmers to suit its own political ends. Asking why farmers are out in the streets in severe cold if the new farm laws are in their favour as being claimed by the Centre, Hridayesh said the ongoing agitation by farmers has drawn international attention with even Canada supporting the stir. Accusing the government of being insensitive to the plight of farmers, she said it sits unperturbed while farmers are dying. The heated exchange between the treasury and Opposition benches was witnessed in the Assembly during a debate on the admissibility of an adjournment motion on the new farm laws. 

PTI

Two more groups extend support to farm laws

 Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said he is hopeful that protesting unions would soon complete their internal discussions and resume talks with the government to resolve the crisis. He met two more peasants’ bodies from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh that extended support to the legislations. “Representatives of different farmers’ bodies had come to tell that the laws are good and are in the interest of farmers. They had come to urge the government not make any amendments to the laws,” Tomar said after meeting the two groups. “I am hopeful they (protesting farmers’ unions) will soon complete their internal discussions and come forward for talks. We will be able to find a solution successfully,” the minister said.

Kerala governor declines assent for special Assembly session

Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Tuesday declined approval for a special session of the state Assembly to discuss and pass a resolution against the Centre’s three contentious farm laws, reported LiveLaw.  The session would not be held on Wednesday, as proposed by CPM led LDF government, since the Governor did not accord sanction, sources told news agency PTI. They also told the news agency that the governor had sought a clarification on the urgency for the session after the government forwarded the state Cabinet’s decision to convince such a session. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had replied to him, the sources added.

Protesting farmers to further intensify stir

Farmers’ leaders on Tuesday said they will further intensify their protests, according to reports. “Farmers will make toll plazas free between 26 and 28 December  in Haryana. The Punjabi community will also hold demonstrations at Indian embassies on 25 and 26 December,” India Today quotes farmer leader Kulwant Singh Sandhu as saying at a press conference at Delhi’s Singh border.

As per news agency PTI, Sandhu said that they would also write to Britain MPs, urging them to press their Prime Minister Boris Johnson not to attend India’s Republic Day celebrations on 26 January.  Johnson will be the chief guest at the event next month.

UDF takes out march to Raj Bhavan in Kerala

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition in Kerala took out a march to the Raj Bhavan to express solidarity with farmers protesting at the borders of Delhi. Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, Ramesh Chennithala, former chief minister Oommen Chandy, UDFm convener MM Hassan, and leaders of the front participated in the march and dharna.MPs, MLAs and various farmers organisations of the front also took part in the protest.

PTI

BKU leaders meet Narendra Singh Tomar at Krishi Bhawan: reports

A meeting of Bharatiya Kisan Union leaders and Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar is underway at Krishi Bhawan, reported the Times Of India. Members of Kisan Sangharsh Samiti are also present.

Farmers’ unions to take decision on Centre’s letter tomorrow: report

Farmers groups under the AIKSCC will take a call on the Centre’s letter inviting them for another round of talks after a meeting on Wednesday, reported  CNN-News18.   In a letter to 40 farmers leaders on Sunday_,_ the Union Agriculture Ministry joint secretary Vivek Aggarwal asked them to specify their concerns over its earlier proposal of amendments in the laws and choose a convenient date for the next round of talks so that the ongoing agitation could end at the earliest.

Traffic disrupted for three hours on Noida-Greater Noida route

Hundreds of vehicles queued up on the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway on Tuesday due to a demonstration by a group of farmers who came out on the road in support of the new agri laws, reported news agency PTI, quoting officials.The protestors, mainly residents of Jewar and Dadri in Greater Noida, were allegedly stopped by police at Mahamaya Flyover, the officials said. Normal traffic movement on the Greater Noida-Noida route was restored after a disruption that lasted around three hours, they said. “Normal traffic movement has resumed at the stretch near Mahamaya Flyover after a brief disruption, a Noida Traffic Police official said.

Protesting farmers show black flags to Manohar Lal Khattar

A group of farmers protesting against the Centre’s new agri laws on Tuesday showed black flags to Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar when his convoy was passing through Ambala City, sources said.   Some of the farmers allegedly tried to block Khattar’s motorcade but police managed to provide a safe passage to the chief minister, sources said. Khattar had come to Ambala to address public meetings in support of party’s mayoral and ward candidates for the upcoming civic bodies polls.

The farmers waived black flags at the chief minister’s convoy while it was crossing the Agrasen Chowk. They also raised slogans against the government and said that they would continue to protest till the three farm laws are not repealed. The farmers had gathered at the grain market and also tried to block the Ambala-Hisar highway.

PTI

Centre willing to continue talks, says Narendra Singh Tomar

Interacting with international media from the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that the Centre is ready to continue talks with the farmers protesting at Delhi borders, ‘clause by clause, with an open mind’, as per an official statemen t. Tomar said that the agriculture sector is the backbone of the Indian economy and under the leadership of the Prime Minister Modi the focus will be on doubling farmer’s income by 2022. The minister also claimed that enacting the reform laws was not an overnight decision but it has gone through more than two decades of deliberations, suggested by numerous experts and recommendations by varied committees/groups.

Farmers hold tractor rally in Gautam Buddh Nagar

CPM hits out at Tamil Nadu CM over farm laws

The CPM on Tuesday alleged that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami was supporting the ‘anti-people’ policies of the Centre, like the farm laws, to
save his government and post. The CM should have opposed the three ‘anti-farmer’ laws, which also deprive the  rights of the state, for the benefit
of lakhs of farmers in Tamil Nadu, the party’s state secretary K Balakrishnan told reporters.

PTI

Centre resorting to ‘downright falsehoods’, alleges AITUC

The Central government, including the prime minister, is resorting to downright falsehoods to malign the farmers’ struggle, all for the benefit of their corporate masters, alleged Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary of the AITUC in a statement. The trade unions of the country have been supporting the demand of repeal of three agri laws, the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020 as well as the forced codification of labour laws without any proper consultations with the unions or any discussion inside the Parliament.

PTI

Chilla border closed, says Delhi Traffc Police

The Chilla border of the National Capital has been closed for traffic coming from Noida and Gaziabad to Delhi due to the farmers’ protest, said the Delhi Traffic Police, and advised people to take alternate routes to Delhi  via Anad Vihar, DND, Apsara and  Bhopra borders. The traffic police also said that the Gazipur border has been closed for traffic coming from Delhi. The route had already been closed for traffic from Gaziabad to Delhi. “Traffic has been diverted from Nizammudin Khattha,Akshardham  and Gazipur chowk. Pl go via Anand Vihar, Apsara, Bhopra  and DND borders,” it said in a tweet.

AITUC affiliated unions to skip lunch tomorrow

The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and its associate unions will observe 23 December as “Skip Lunch” day to express solidarity with the relay hunger strike by farmers.  “AITUC Unions to observe 23rd December as ‘Skip Lunch’ day to express solidarity with the relay hunger strike by the joint front of Kisan organisations,” said Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary, AITUC in a statement issued on Tuesday.  “We support the farmers’ demand for a law ensuring Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farm produce.

“We appreciate the growing unity between the workers and the farmers in the national interest and should strive for strengthening it further,” she said. Let us pledge to continue and expand this struggle till the worker-farmer unity emerges victorious, Kaur said. 

PTI

Farmers’ Protest LIVE Updates

SAD to hold Akand Paths to honour farmers’ sacrifices during ongoing stir

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has decided to hold Akhand Paths from January 2 onwards “to commemorate the sacrifice of Sant Ram Singh Singhriwala and 42 others who were martyred during the ongoing farmer agitation” besides “redoubling efforts to reach out to all like minded political parties to force the BJP led central government to repeal the three agri Acts”, reports The Indian Express.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the party’s core committee which was presided over by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Farmers’ Protest LIVE Updates

Farmers protest at Mumbai collector’s office

A group of farmers on Tuesday staged a protest outside the office of Mumbai suburban district collector over their demand for withdrawal of the Centre’s three new farm laws. The protesters claimed the new laws would only benefit big corporates rather than the farmers.

“We want farmer-friendly laws,” one of the protesters told PTI. The protest was supported by the ‘Prahar’ organisation, headed by Maharashtra minister Bacchu Kadu.

Farmers’ Protest LIVE Updates

Maharashtra farmers to join protests in Delhi, to reach on Thursday

Thousands of farmers on Monday had left for Delhi from Nashik in Maharashtra to join the ongoing protests against the three new agricultural laws, reported PTI. They are expected to reach the Capital on 24 December through the Mumbai-Agra national highway.

The protests at Delhi’s borders – Singhu, Tikri, UP Gate, and Chilla – entered its 27th day on Tuesday.

Leaders of the Kisan Sabha are leading the farmers’ protest from Maharashtra. Before proceeding to Delhi on Monday afternoon, the protestors burnt effigies of central political leaders. A Kisan Sabha leader said farmers from 21 districts in the state were making their way to Delhi.

The demonstrators will travel in around 250 vehicles, covering 1,266 km across states, including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

A reporter travelling with the farmers’ tweeted that one of the farmers he spoke to, from Kolhapur, said that he decided to join the protest because he wants “to see the India that Bhagat Singh envisioned.”

Farmers’ Protest LIVE Updates

Delhi High Court women lawyers’ forum to fast tomorrow

Delhi High Court women lawyers’ forum has decided to to fast on 23 December in solidarity with the ongoing farmers protest demanding the repeal of the farm laws, reports LiveLaw.

The core members of the group include advocates Shweta Kapoor, Zeba Khair, Iram Majid, Miriam Fozia Rahman, Kriti Kakkar, Swaty Singh Malik, Geetika Panwar, Ekta Kapil and Nandita Rao.

In a statement, the lawyers’ group said, “It is our belief that while the issue of the constitutionality of the farm laws enacted by the Centre when agriculture is a state subject is subjudice before the Supreme Court, and the issue of the legality of the enactment by a voice vote in the Rajya Sabha is also being heard by the Supreme Court, implementation of irreversible and far reaching farm laws would render these petitions infructuous and could cause irreparable damage to the farm sector in India.”

The lawyers noted the economy of the country at present is badly hit by COVID-19 and about 80 percent of India is dependent on agriculture. They said that imposing such “far-reaching” legislations during such a fragile time was “a matter of grave concern”.

Farmers’ Protest LIVE Updates

62-yr-old woman drives from Patiala to Singhu border to join agitation

Farmers’ Protest LIVE Updates

Modi govt caught in ’ego-clash’ with farmers, says AAP’s Raghav Chadha

Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chadha says the Narendra Modi-led central government seems to be caught in an “ego clash with farmers”. “Demands of Indian farmers are reasonable,” he said, according to ANI. “[The] Centre must let go of this ego and agree to all demands of farmers. No resolution seems to be in sight. Government must repeal three black laws with immediate effect.”

Farmers’ Protest LIVE Updates

Punjab farmer cycles 400 km to join protesters camping near Delhi border

Armed with hope and a revolutionary poem by noted Punjabi poet ‘‘Pash’’, a farmer cycled nearly 400 km from Fardikot to Delhi’s Tikri border to join the massive protest against the new farm laws.

Wearing a kurta-pajama with a sleeveless warm jacket and sporting a bright green turban, Pal Sandhu, a resident of Rameana village in Faridkot district of Punjab, on Monday listened intently to the speeches made by farmer leaders at the protest site near the Delhi-Haryana border.

His cycle, a new model decked up with cardboards displaying the poem ‘‘Sab Ton Khatarnak’’ (the most dangerous) in Punjabi by Avtar Singh Sandhu or ‘‘Pash’’ as the revolutionary was famously known, attracted the attention of protesters and passers-by, many of whom took pictures with him. “I felt restless back home,” the 45-year-old said.

“I could not control myself after knowing about the condition of my fellow farmers who are braving the chilling winter and so many difficulties for a common goal. My brother had come a few days ago in a tractor-trolley, which is parked at the Tikri border protest site. I decided to leave too and rode till here on a bicycle,” Pal  Sandhu told PTI.

Farmers’ Protest LIVE Updates

Shiv Sena takes dig at PM over gurdwara visit amid farmers’ stir

The Shiv Sena on Tuesday wondered what will be the outcome of the ongoing farmers’ protest after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited a gurdwara and sought inspiration from Guru Tegh Bahadur, whose followers are among those protesters.

An editorial in the Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ was referring to Modi’s visit on Sunday to Gurdwara Rakabganj in Delhi where he paid tributes to Guru Tegh Bahadur for his supreme sacrifice.

Guru Teg Bahadur, whose death anniversary was observed on Saturday, was cremated at the Gurdwara Rakabganj.

Thousands of farmers, including Sikhs, have been protesting near the Delhi borders since 26 November against the Modi government’s three new farm laws.

-PTI

Farmers’ Protest LIVE Updates

Politics can wait, development cannot: PM

In his address at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Politics can wait, but development cannot”. Without naming anyone, he said development should not be seen through the political prism. “People spreading negativity can be seen everywhere,” he said without elaborating. His remarks assume significance in the background of the nearly month-long farmers’ protest against three farm laws enacted by the Centre. “There is need to have a common ground to build a new India, that (ground) is Atmanirbhar Bharat, he said.

-PTI

Farmers’ Protest LIVE Updates

Farmers queue up to register for blood donation camp

Several protesting farmers queued up here at the Singhu border on Monday to register their names for a blood donation camp set up by a Ludhiana-based NGO, reports PTI.

More than 240 protesting farmers have so far donated blood at the camp, which began on Sunday and has been set up by Rehras Sewa Society.

A four-member team of the NGO, along with nine members of the blood bank, started their camp here at the Singhu border on Sunday around 10.30 am and by 5 pm, 190 farmers had donated blood.

Protesting farmers block Delhi-Ghaziabad border

“Ghazipur border closed for traffic from Delhi to Ghaziabad. It was already closed for traffic from Ghaziabad to Delhi. Traffic diverted from Nizammudin Khattha, Akshardham and Ghazipur Chowk for onward journey via Anand Vihar, Apsara, Bhopra,” said Additional CP Traffic, Outer Range, Delhi.

Protesters block Ghazipur border

Protesting farmers block Ghazipur (Delhi-Ghaziabad) border on Tuesday. Traffic from Delhi towards Ghazipur and Ghaziabad on Delhi-Meerut Expressway affected as both side carriageways are shut for traffic, ANI reported.

Punjab farm agent to shut shops for 4 days in protest against IT raids

Commission agents known as Arhtiyas in Punjab will keep their shops shut for four days from Tuesday in protest against income tax raids allegedly conducted to intimidate them for supporting the farmers’ stir against the centre’s agriculture laws, according to a body representing them.

The Federation of Arhtiyas said income tax raids have been conducted on the premises of six commission agents in the past a few days.

“We have decided to shut our shops for four days to protest the action of the Income Tax Department against arhtiyas,” said Vijay Kalra, president of the federation.

Will take more than a month to resolve issues: BKU’s Rakesh Tikait

“We have not received any meeting invitation from agriculture minister yet. Farmers have decided they won’t go back till govt takes back all three farm laws. It will take more than a month to resolve all issues. Govt will come to us,” said Bhartiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait.

Farmers from Maharashtra leave for Delhi to join protests

Thousands of farmers from Maharashtra on Monday left for Delhi from Nashik to join the ongoing agitation by cultivators seeking the repeal of three agri laws passed by the Centre.

The farmers, who started off in private vehicles, were led by leaders of the Kisan Sabha. Before proceeding to Delhi in afternoon, the farmers burnt effigies of Central leaders.

A Kisan Sabha leader said farmers from 21 districts in Maharashtra are on their way to Delhi.