Farmers' Protest Updates: Farmers say waiting for Centre to be 'open minded' for talks; Tomar says hopeful of resuming dialogue

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Congress workers stage protests in Gorakhpur against farm laws

Congress workers protested in Gorakhpur on Wednesday against the three contentious farm laws by clapping and clanging pots and pans. The Congress workers, led by Gorakhpur district president Nirmala Paswan and city chief Ashutosh Tiwari, surrounded the house of BJP MLA Radha Mohan Das Agarwal.

A heavy police force reached Agarwal’s house and tried to pacify the protesters, but Paswan was adamant to hand over to the legislator the memorandum that was addressed to the governor.

She handed over the memorandum to the city magistrate after police did not allow them to move further.

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Ready for talks, but govt should send concrete proposal, say farmer unions

Protesting farmer unions on Wednesday asked the government to not repeat “meaningless” amendments to the new agri laws that they have already rejected but come up with a concrete proposal in writing for another round of talks, PTI reports.

Addressing a press conference, a farmer leader said they were ready for talks, but the government should send a concrete proposal for that to happen. “We have already told Home Minister Amit Shah that protesting farmers will not accept amendments,” farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakka said.

“Farmer unions are ready to talk to the government and are waiting for the government to come to the table with an open mind,” said Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav.

All India Kisan Sabha leader Hannan Molla claimed the government wanted to tire the farmers out so that the protest would end.

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AIKS leader says Centre wants to exhaust farmers so that protests ends

All India Kisan Sabha leader Hannan Molla says the government wants to exhaust the farmers so that they end their protest, PTI reports.

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Govt should not repeat ‘meaningless’ amendments rejected by farmers: Yogendra Yadav

Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav says the farmers are ready to hold talks with the Centre, ANI reports. “We’re waiting for govt to take the discussion forward with an open mind and neat intention,” he says while reading the farmers’ letter to the Centre.

He also said that the government should not repeat the “meaningless” amendments rejected by the farmers and come up with a concrete proposal in writing, so that negotiations between the two sides cam begin soon, ANI reports.

We urge the govt not to repeat those meaningless amendments which we have rejected but come up with a concrete proposal in writing so that it can be made an agenda, and the process of negotiation can be started as soon as possible: Yogendra Yadav at Singhu border https://t.co/oAWu3hO97f

— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2020

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BKU leader alleges Centre of trying to ‘break morale’ of protesting farmers

Bhartiya Kisan Union General Secretary Yudhvir Singh alleges that the Centre wants to delay the matter and break the morale of the protesting farmers, ANI reports. “The government is taking our issues lightly, I’m warning them to take cognisance of this matter and find a solution soon,” he adds.

Shiv Kumar Kakka also urges the Centre to leave its stubbornness and accept the farmers’ demands, PTI reports.

The way Centre is carrying this process of talks, it's clear that govt wants to delay this issue & break morale of protesting farmers'. Govt is taking our issues lightly, I'm warning them to take cognizance of this matter & find a solution soon:Yudhvir Singh, Bhartiya Kisan Union https://t.co/JkkfhdMArC pic.twitter.com/AgD9uIIGid

— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2020

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More farm reforms due; hopeful of protesting unions resuming dialogue with govt, says Tomar

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday said the government will continue with reforms in the farm sector as they are still due in many areas, even as he reiterated his hope that protesting farmers will soon come forward to resume their dialogue with the Centre to resolve their concerns over three new laws.

The minister said any agitation can be resolved only through dialogue as has been the case always in history and urged the protesting unions to fix a date and time for the next round of talks.

Protesting farmer unions, who have stuck to their demand for a complete repeal of all three agri-laws, have not yet conveyed their decision on the central government’s offer for fresh talks. Thousands of farmers have been camping on various borders of the national capital for almost four weeks now.

The government has already sent a draft proposal to unions offering at least seven amendments to the three legislations that were enacted in September.

“I am fully hopeful that our farmer unions will discuss… If they give a date and time, the government is ready for the next round of talks… I am hopeful that we will move towards resolving the issue,” Tomar told reporters.

At least five rounds of formal talks with the protesting unions have failed to break the deadlock, but a number of other farm groups have been meeting the government in the meantime to extend their support to the new laws.

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Group of farmers perform yagna for govt’s change of heart on agri laws

A group of farmers here on Wednesday organised a yagna seeking a change of heart by the government on the new agri laws. The yagna was organised on the birth anniversary of former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh.

“We organised the yagna for ‘buddhi-shuddhi’ of the government so that it could understand the repercussion of the new agri laws and withdraw it,” Bhartiya Kisan Union (Asli) divisional president Sanjay Gandhi said.

The government was not ready to hear farmers and now their protest has become a public movement, BKU (Asli) district president Rajpal Singh said.

#WATCH पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री चौधरी चरण सिंह की जयंती के अवसर पर गाज़ीपुर बॉर्डर पर किसान 'हवन' करते हुए। #farmersday

गाज़ीपुर बॉर्डर पर कृषि कानूनों के खिलाफ विरोध प्रदर्शन करते हुए किसानों को आज 26 दिन हो गए हैं। pic.twitter.com/3poaMJvthc

— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) December 23, 2020

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Take farm bills back: BKU (Lok Shakti) chief writes letter in blood to PM Modi

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lok Shakti) chief Sheoraj Singh on Wednesday wrote a letter in blood to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding the repeal of the three new farm laws that have stoked massive protests by farmers’ unions in north India, reports PTI.

The letter by Singh, who is camping at the Dalit Prerna Sthal in Noida along with his faction members since 2 December, came as protestors marked the birth anniversary of the former prime minister and farmers’ leader Chaudhary Charan Singh.

“Take back the agriculture bill, make the law to ensure guarantee on minimum support price (MSP) and form a kisaan aayog (farmers commission),” he wrote in the brief letter addressed to PM Modi.

BKU (Lok Shakti) spokesperson Shailesh Kumar Giri said the letter has been handed over to the Noida administration, whose officials have assured that it would be forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

“I have received the letter from the farmers’ union which has been written in blood. The letter will be sent to the Prime Minister’s Officer through our district magistrate, as per procedures,” Noida City Magistrate Uma Shankar told PTI.

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Will ensure farmers get the right price, says agriculture minister Tomar

“Through various schemes, we will fill all gaps in agriculture sector, which will benefit farmers and ensure they get the right price…Even during Covid-19 pandemic, we saw that work related to farming and agriculture wasn’t affected,” says Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

Tomar also said that the government is ready for a discussion with farmer unions, reports ANI. “Whatever they want to add and subtract from government’s proposal, they should tell us,” says Tomar. “I am hopeful of a solution.”

I'm hopeful that Farmers' Unions will discuss our request. Whatever they want to add & subtract from govt's proposal, they should tell us. We're ready for a discussion at the time & date of their convenience. I'm hopeful of a solution: Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar https://t.co/pDs4qoylHc pic.twitter.com/xliL2EVQKY

— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2020

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ABVP to discuss NEP, farms bills at national conference

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) will discuss the National Education Policy (NEP), farm bills, Atmanirbhar Bharat and the COVID-19 pandemic during its two-day national conference to be held on 26 and 26 December, reports PTI.

At least 1.5 lakh ABVP workers from across the country will participate in the conference, which will be inaugurated by RSS general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi at Dr Hedgewar Smarak Smruti Mandir at Reshimbagh. Union minister Nitin Gadkari will grace the occasion on 26 December.

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Na Khalistani, na Pakistani, hum hai Hindustani: Medha Patkar welcomes farmers at MP border

A reporter travelling with the farmers from Maharashtra, who are on their way to the Singhu border in Delhi to join other farm protesters, in an Instagram post on Wednesday has shared how social activist Medha Patkar welcomed the farmers at the Madhya Pradesh border by saying, “We are not Khalistani, or Pakistan, we are Hindustani (Indians)”

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PM Modi to speak with farmers of 6 states on Friday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak to farmers from six states on 25 December, said his office. Modi will also release the next tranche of funds under the PM-Kisan scheme. 

As per the PIB press release, the Prime Minister will initiate the transfer of more than Rs 18,000 crores to over nine crore beneficiary farmer families. The event is due to start at 12 noon and will be telecast live. Narendra Singh Tomar will also be present,

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Jailed activists related to Elgar Parishad-Maoist links’ case observe hunger strike

Various activists arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links’ case are observing a day-long hunger strike on Wednesday at Taloja jail in Maharashtra in support of farmers who are protesting against the Centre’s new farm laws.

The activists, in a joint statement on the occasion of the National Farmers’ Day, said they are lodged in the jail in Navi Mumbai and cannot participate physically in the farmers’ agitation. Hence, they are observing a day-long symbolic hunger strike in jail.

“The demands you (farmers) have raised are absolutely right and just,” they said in the statement, conveyed through advocate Nihalsingh Rathod.

The activists currently behind bars in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links’ case include Sudhir Dhawale, Surendra Gadling, Anand Teltumbde, Hany Babu, Sagar Gorkhe, Ramesh Gaichor, Mahesh Raut, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Father Stan Swamy, Gautam Navlakha and Rona Wilson, Rathod said.

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Modi wave can be seen at Delhi borders with farmers protesting: Mehbooba Mufti 

Reacting to the BJP’s claims that the DDC election results show that BJP is the single largest party in the Union Territory and that the Modi wave has reached Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti told NDTV , “You can see the Modi wave at the borders of Delhi this time, with lakhs of farmers protesting there”

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Case filed against 13 farmers in Haryana for blocking CM Khattar’s convoy​

Haryana Police has registered a case against 13 farmers on various charges including an attempt to murder and rioting after a group of peasants protesting against the Centre’s new farm laws had allegedly blocked and hurled sticks at Chief Minister ML Khattar’s convoy, PTI reports.

On Tuesday, a group of protesting farmers had showed black flags to Khattar when his convoy was passing through Ambala City. Some of the farmers had allegedly tried to block Khattar’s motorcade but police managed to provide a safe passage to the chief minister after some time.

The case against the farmers was registered late Tuesday on the complaint of some security personnel.

Police on Wednesday said some farmers tried to charge towards the convoy and blocked its movement for some time. They said some farmers also allegedly hurled sticks towards some vehicles in the motorcade.

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Those who don’t want to see farmers happy, misleading them, says Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said the continuation of farmers’ protests despite the government’s attempts to clear their apprehensions on the new agri laws shows cultivators are being “provoked and misled” by the Opposition.

“It is being said repeatedly said that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) will not be abolished but farmers are still getting misled on this. It is being said again and again that the ‘mandis’ will not end. The prime minister has said mandis are being connected with technology, but farmers are being misled on this as well. What kind of politics is this?” Adityanath said. Addressing a program organised on the 118th birth anniversary of former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, the chief minister said, “In order to bring prosperity to farmers, the government has made extensive reforms and brought the new farm laws. But those who did not like progress and development of the country and happiness on the face of the farmers are misleading and provoking them.”

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Are you prepared to listen?: Shashi Tharoor asks Centre over farm laws

Hitting out at the Centre, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor took to Twitter on Wednesday asking whether the government is ready to listen to the demands of the protesting farmers.

He said, “First you pass laws without consulting them. Then You ignore their protests. Then you demonise them as Khalistanis, Pakistanis & Naxals. Finally you say you are prepared to talk. But are you prepared to listen?”

First you pass laws without consulting them. Then You ignore their protests. Then you demonise them as Khalistanis, Pakistanis & Naxals. Finally you say you are prepared to talk. But are you prepared to listen? #KisanDiwas pic.twitter.com/4W8unEb0Xk

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 23, 2020

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TMC leaders meet farmers at Singhu border

Five Trinamool Congress MPs on Wednesday met protesting farmers sitting on relay hunger strike at Singhu border near Delhi. A 5-member delegation comprising Derek O’Brien, Satabdi Roy, Prasun Banerjee, Pratima Mondal and Md Nadimul Haque meet and interacted with farmers at the Singhu Border to show solidarity.

TMC chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also spoke to protesting farmers over the phone and assured them of her full solidarity. Some farmers also requested her to visit the dharna site, the TMC said in a statement, as per Free Press Journal.

Speaking to Mamata, farmers repeated their demand that the Centre must repeal the farmer bills.

Delhi: On TMC chief Mamata Banerjee’s direction, 5 party MPs comprising Derek O'Brien, Satabdi Roy, Prasun Banerjee, Pratima Mondal & Md Nadimul Haque today met & interacted with farmers from who are on a relay hunger strike at Singhu border. pic.twitter.com/wdt0oDkU28

— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2020

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Sanjay Raut slams Centre for ignoring farmers’ plight

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut criticised the Centre on Wednesday, saying the farmers are the “spine of the country”, but the government still chooses to ignore their plight, reports PTI. Without taking any names, Raut alleges that attempts are being made to “weaken cultivators to benefit some industrialists”.

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Farmers pride of country, BJP should stop insulting them: Akhilesh Yadav

The BJP should stop “insulting” farmers as they are pride of the country, Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav said on Wednesday while paying tributes to former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh on his birth anniversary, which is celebrated as the Farmers’ Day.

Born on this day in 1902 in Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, Singh championed the farmers’ cause and is credited with shaping several policies that helped cultivators. He died in 1987.

“Tributes to Chaudhary Charan Singh ji on his birth anniversary! Today, under the BJP’s rule, the country’s history is witnessing such a Farmers’ Day when the farmers are forced to struggle on the streets, instead of celebrating. The BJP should stop insulting the farmers because the farmer of the country is the pride of India,” Yadav said in a tweet in Hindi.

चौधरी चरण सिंह जी की जयंती पर उन्हें कोटि-कोटि नमन!

आज भाजपा के राज में देश के इतिहास में एक ऐसा ‘किसान दिवस’ आया है, जब उत्सव के स्थान पर देश का किसान सड़कों पर संघर्ष करने पर मजबूर है.

भाजपा किसानों का अपमान करना छोड़े क्योंकि ‘देश का किसान, भारत का है मान’.#किसान_दिवस pic.twitter.com/dHrJAtZPFY

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) December 23, 2020

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Unfortunate that farmers are now protesting for their rights, says Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar says it is unfortunate that farmers are now protesting for their rights.

“It is the responsibility of those in power to aptly honour farmer who forms an important part of economy,” the former Union agriculture minister says. “But unfortunately the farmer of the country is now forced to stage protest for his rights and demands. Wishing for justice to the farmer on the occasion of the National Farmers’ Day.”

अर्थव्यवस्थेचा महत्त्वाचा घटक असलेल्या बळीराजाला उचित सन्मान देण्याची प्राथमिक जबाबदारी शासनकर्त्यांची आहे. पण आज दुर्दैवाने देशाच्या शेतकऱ्याला त्याचे हक्क व मागण्यांसाठी आंदोलन करावे लागतेय. देशाच्या बळीराजाला न्याय मिळावा हीच राष्ट्रीय शेतकरी दिनानिमित्त सदिच्छा व्यक्त करतो. pic.twitter.com/3CWWLuHrdV

— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) December 23, 2020

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Medha Patkar welcomes Maharashtra farmers at MP border

A reporter travelling with the Maharashtra farmers to Delhi tweeted that Indian social activist Medha Patkar welcomed them at the Madhya Pradesh border. The vehicular march of Maharashtra farmers towards Delhi entered its third day today as the farmers are expected to reach Rajasthan tonight.

The farmers are expected to reach New Delhi, a distance of over 1,200 kms, on 24 December through Mumbai-Agra national highway

Medha Patkar welcomes the farmers at MP border. #FarmersProtests pic.twitter.com/cDa6d4cqmt

— Parth MN (@parthpunter) December 23, 2020

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Farmers urge people to skip one meal on Kisan Diwas, pay homage to Charan Singh

A decision on the government’s offer for fresh talks to resolve the deadlock over contentious farm laws is likely to be taken later in the day by protesting farmer unions who urged people on Wednesday to skip one meal on ‘Kisan Diwas’, the birth anniversary of former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, in support of their stir, PTI reports.

Several farmers visited ‘Kisan Ghat’ here on Wednesday morning to pay tributes to Chaudhary Charan Singh, who was known for his farmer-friendly policies.

“Several farmers arrived here at Kisan Ghat to pay their tribute on the occasion of Kisan Diwas. They are paying tributes and leaving soon after,” a police officer said. To mark Kisan Diwas, protesting farmers at the Ghazipur border held a ‘havan’.

Farmer leader Kulwant Singh Sandhu had said that 32 farmer unions from Punjab held a meeting on Tuesday and discussed the next course of action.

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Tukde-tukde gang instigating farmers, says Narottam Mishra 

“Congress leader Kamal Nath, who never visited a farm in 15 months, will ride a tractor. Rahul Gandhi, who drove ‘sofa-cum-tractor’ doesn’t even know if potatoes grow above or below the ground. I cannot not understand what is ‘black’ in these farm laws. This ’tukde-tukde gang’ is the one instigating and misleading the farmers. So far, no one could explain the ‘black’ laws,” said Madhya Pradesh minsiter Narottam Mishra on Congress supporting farmers’.

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Kerala stands in solidarity with agitating farmers: Pinarayi Vijayan 

Speaking at the anti-farm laws protest event in Trivandrum, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said that the Central government must listen to “reasonable” demands of the farmers and scrap the fam laws.

“Many people are asking what Kerala has to do with it. If food scarcity hits the country, its maximum impact will be on Kerala, a consumer state. That is why Kerala will also be part of this protest,” said Vijayan.

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PM pays tribute to Chaudhary Charan Singh on Kisan Divas

“Humble tribute to former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh ji on his birth anniversary. He remained devoted to the development of villages and farmers throughout his life, for which he will always be remembered,” said Narendra Modi

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Farmers’ agitation enters 26th day

Farmers performed ‘havan’ at Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in Ghazipur on the occasion of birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh on Wednesday.

Farmers’ agitation against the three farm laws at Ghazipur border entered 26th day today.

Farmers perform 'havan' at Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in Ghazipur on the occasion of birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh. #farmersday

Farmers' agitation against the three farm laws at Ghazipur border entered 26th day today. pic.twitter.com/IQoAR6dDMK

— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2020

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Centre denying due respect to ‘annadata’: Kerala CM at anti-farm laws protest venue

Speaking at the anti-farm laws protest venue in Trivandrum, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the Central government is not giving due respect and recognition to the farmers. 

The protest in Trivandrum came after Governor Arif Mohammad Khan denied permission to convene a special Assembly session.

“Our country has witnessed many historic protests, of which main protests were organised by farmers. Even in Kerala, many such protests have taken place. One of the strongest farmers protests is going on in India right now. Farmers are ‘annadata’ and the present government at the centre is not respecting them,” he said.

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Kerala CM inaugurates anti-farms law protest in Trivandrum

Hours after Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan denied permission to a special Assembly session to discuss new farm laws, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated an anti-farm laws agitation event in Trivandrum.

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Farm union leaders to decide on Centre’s fresh talks offer today

Protesting farmer unions deferred a decision on the central government’s offer for fresh talks to Wednesday, even as Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar expressed the hope that they will soon resume the dialogue to resolve the impasse over the new agri laws.

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Farmer unions to address queries on farm laws via webinar

The newly-formed social media cell of the farmers’ collective announced on Tuesday that a web conference would be conducted to address all queries regarding the three new farm laws and the protest against it.

The webinar, to be hosted on video conference platform Zoom on Wednesday, will be open for the first “10,000 people” registering on the link, which they would disclose. Those who cannot make it to the first 10,000 can watch the webinar on social media platforms, it said.

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PM will not let farmers get hurt, says Rajnath Singh 

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took to Twitter and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is inspired by the former prime minister and will not let farmers get hurt.

He said, “Chaudhary Charan Singh continued to voice the problems of farmers for a lifetime and worked for their welfare. The country will always remember his contribution. He wanted that the income of farmers of the country should increase, their crops should get remunerative prices and the honor of farmers should be protected. With his inspiration, our prime minister Narendra Modi has taken many steps in the interest of farmers. He will not let the farmers get hurt in any case.”

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Rajnath Singh wishes farmers on Farmers’ day, hopes stir to end soon

On the occasion of Farmers’ Day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wished farmers and thanked them for providing the country with food security. Singh said that the government was holding talks with some of the protesting farmers with full sensitivity and hoped that the agitations would soon come to an end.

आज किसान दिवस के अवसर मैं देश के सभी अन्नदाताओं का अभिनंदन करता हूँ। उन्होंने देश को खाद्य सुरक्षा का कवच प्रदान किया है।

कृषि क़ानूनों को लेकर कुछ किसान आंदोलनरत हैं। सरकार उनसे पूरी संवेदनशीलता के साथ बात कर रही है। मैं आशा करता हूँ कि वे जल्द ही अपने आंदोलन को वापिस लेगें।

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 23, 2020