Farmers at Ghazipur border in New Delhi, Thursday.
With the push of a button, Modi enabled the transfer of money at an event which the ruling BJP has made into a mega exercise to reach out to farmers by having its leaders interact with the farming community at more than 19,000 venues across the country. Modi released the instalment of Rs 2,000 to every farmer on the birth anniversary of former prime minister and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which is every year celebrated as "Good Governance Day" by the ruling party.
Meanwhile, Responding to farmer unions, protesting at Delhi’s borders against the new farm laws, who on Thursday said they are open to talks if a more concrete proposal is made, the government said it is ready for “logical resolution” of all issues raised by the farmers. In a letter to 40 representatives of farmer unions, Vivek Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, urged them to decide the time and date for the next round of talks, and also “give details of other issues on which you want to negotiate”.
So far, there has not been any headway after five rounds of talks between the government and farmer unions, who have maintained that their demand for repeal of the three farm laws was “non-negotiable”.
Also, with pressure mounting on the BJP-JJP government in Haryana over the farmers’ protests, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala Thursday offered to act as a mediator between the farmers and the Centre to resolve the standoff. He said new central farm laws need many amendments and urged protesting farmers to give 'concrete suggestions'.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led a party delegation to President Ram Nath Kovind, seeking his intervention for repeal of the three farm laws. A memorandum submitted by the party said an “autocratic Modi government” was refusing to hear the “agony and anguish” of the farmers.
Even as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been coordinating with Opposition leaders to hold a joint rally of anti-BJP leaders in Kolkata, the CPM on Thursday worked behind the scenes to get 11 parties, including the NCP, DMK and the Congress, to issue a joint statement against the BJP government on the farm laws
The joint statement issued on Thursday – signed by Congress’s Rahul Gandhi, Pawar, DMK’s T R Baalu, J&K PAGD president Farooq Abdullah, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI general secretary D Raja, CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, Forward Bloc’s Debabrata Biswas and RSP’s Manoj Bhattacharya – slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accusing the opposition parties of lying to farmers about the new farm laws
These are the same 11 parties that had earlier issued a statement supporting the Bharat Bandh called by farmer unions on December 8. As in the past, the AAP was not a signatory to Thursday’s statement. “The Prime Minister’s accusations are a complete travesty of truth… Many of us had opposed these Agri Laws when they were being enacted in Parliament without discussions or proper consideration. MPs who sought a vote were suspended,” the statement said
“Amongst the many unsubstantiated accusations made, one of them is that those who spoke of agrarian reforms in election manifestos earlier but are now opposing. Yes, we are for reforms, but what sort of reforms? Opposition parties seek reforms to strengthen Indian agriculture; enhance the prosperity of our farmers; and ensure continued food security for our people and the country. The present farm laws undermine these very objectives,” the statement said
Slamming the government for accusing the opposition of spreading lies on the MSP, the statement read, “The PM claims implementing the Swaminathan Commission Report in this regard. This Report had recommended an MSP of C2+50 per cent, while this government, at best, implements A2+50 per cent. In fact, this government told the Supreme Court its inability to implement C2+50 per cent MSP. Who is spreading untruths?…
Farmers during protest against Farm laws.
For now, the farmers’ protests in Punjab against the Centre’s three farm laws are bringing together, despite their different and often conflicting interests, sections of big and small farmers, landless agricultural labourers and commission agents. It’s a moment of unity, too, for Punjab’s notoriously fragmented farm unions.
The agitation is rippling outside the farm sector — joining, for instance, the theatre group in Amritsar, to the trader in the city’s famed wholesale cloth market. A play written in the early 1950s is seeing a revival today, says Kewal Dhaliwal, who runs Manch Rangmanch in Amritsar which has been performing at the protest sites.
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Farmers at the protest site at Ghazipur border on Thursday. (Express Photo: Amit Mehra)
With farmers already staging a massive protest at the Delhi’s borders, two activists have now started an online campaign invoking the non-resident Indians (NRS) to come to India and lend “moral and material” support to farmers protesting against the Centre’s agri laws.
The #NRIsChaloDelhi campaign has been launched by Mansa-based Manik Goyal and Batala-based Joban Randhawa with an aim to tap the sizeable Punjabi diaspora, especially those living in Canada and the US. Read more
Days after the Haryana police booked 13 protesting farmers on charges of attempt to murder and rioting, the Shiv Sena on Friday said that the governments in Haryana and Centre should keep in mind that the farmers’ agitation cannot be stopped by filing false cases.
An editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana said that the government made every effort to discredit the farmers’ agitation by terming them Khalistani and alleging China and Pakistan hand in the protests. “While the World Farmers’ Day was being celebrated on Wednesday, the BJP government in Haryana declared the farmers as murderers. The governments in Haryana and Centre should keep in mind that the farmers’ agitation can be stopped by filing false cases,” said the editorial.
On Tuesday, the Haryana police booked 13 farmers, who had waved black flags at Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s convoy in Ambala while protesting against the farm laws Tuesday, on various charges including attempt to murder and rioting.
Being questioned over some protesters allegedly disconnecting the power supply to mobile towers, at least two farmers' bodies, including Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan) Friday said such action was never on their agenda and that they had only given calls to boycott Reliance stores and products.
The clarification comes two days after Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited wrote to Punjab Director General of Police complaining of 'incidents of sabotage and vandalism at Jio sites to disrupt the mobile service in state by unknown persons in the disguise of ongoing farmer's agitation”. The Reliance Infocomm, while noting that at least 200 sites had been vandalized in three days and there was damage between Rs 5 to Rs 10 crore, also sought state police's intervention. Navjeevan Gopal and Raakhi Jagga reports from Punjab.
The Minimum Support Price announced by the government for crops is an administrative decision, which has has been working very well for decades and the arramgement would continue, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said here on Friday. Asked if statutory backing would be provided for the MSP, especially when his government has come forward to assure farmers in black and white that MSP would continue, he said the support price had always been an administrative decision. "MSP has always been an administrative decision and it has been working fine for the last 55 years. We will continue the arrangement, which has been in operation for last 55 years," he told reporters here. --PTI
Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi blamed those with a political agenda for the deadlock in talks over agriculture laws, the Congress hit back, saying the government does not want to solve farmers' problem and trying to "wear them down". "The entire country listened to Prime Minister Modi's clarification on TV today. They say bigger the crime bigger the clarification and the prime minister is just doing that," Surjewala said, claiming that the PM and his ministers are only giving 'clarifications' without looking into the plight of farmers.--PTI
The protesting farmer unions Friday met to discuss the government's latest letter inviting them for talks, with some of them indicating that they may resume their dialogue with the Centre to find a solution to the deadlock over the contentious agri laws, reported PTI. The unions said they will hold another meeting on Saturday where a formal decision on the Centre's invitation is likely to be taken. An official in the Union ministry of agriculture and farmers' welfare also told PTI that the government was expecting the next round of talks to take place in the next two-three days.
"Opposition parties in their manifestos for 2019 Lok Sabha elections called three farm laws important for providing relief to farmers. Since the govt that passed the laws is not theirs, but Modi Ji's, they can't accept it & are opposing it." Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.
Scores of farmers protesting against the Centre's agriculture laws here on Fbeat plates, rigriday rang bells and banged plates in a demonstration timed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech. The beating of plates, ringing of bells amid sloganeering against the government for not repealing the three new laws was done at the Dalit Prerna Sthal here "to convey farmers' dissatisfaction", a by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lok Shakti) functionary said. --PTI
Amid reports that power supply to mobile towers was being disconnected by protesting farmers in different parts of the state, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday appealed to them to not inconvenience the general public with such actions. He urged them to exercise the same restraint that they had been showing over the past several months and said that telecom connectivity had become even more critical for people amid the COVID-19 pandemic. --PTI
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Friday said the Centre should stop defaming farmers and hold talks with them on ways to repeal its contentious agriculture laws, PTI reported. The SAD president, in a statement, said the central government is exhibiting a "callous and insensitive attitude" towards the suffering of farmers who are braving the severe cold wave conditions at Delhi borders. "It almost seems that the government wants to punish the farmers for raising their voice against the three agricultural marketing laws which were forced through in the last parliamentary session. This is the reason why the centre has adopted a policy which is aimed at tiring out the farmers," the SAD leader said.
A group of Punjab residents has launched an online campaign urging NRIs to come to India to lend "moral and material" support to farmers protesting against the Centre's agriculture laws. Manik Goyal and Joban Randhawa, who are organising the #NRIsChaloDelhi campaign, said they want to increase awareness among NRIs and channelise their support for the farmers' cause. A group of NRIs has decided to reach India on December 30 to lend "moral and material" support to protesting farmers camping at the Singhu border on the outskirts of Delhi in a bid to further strengthen their agitation against the three farm laws, the organisers said on Friday. --PTI
Farmers on Friday gheraoed the house of JJP MLA Ishwar Singh in Kaithal district, demanding withdrawal of support to Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana. BJP minister Kamlesh Dhanda too faced protest. CM Khattar's visit to Bhiwani district postponed keeping in view the farmers' agitation.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday claimed the Centre's new agricultural reform laws will not benefit farmers in any way and do a lot of harm. According to the BJP, Kejriwal said, the laws will enable farmers to sell their produce outside mandis. But they only get half the price for their crop outside mandis so how is that a benefit. --PTI
Protesters agitating against the new farm laws run a tractor over a police barricade in Bajpur, of the Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand.
Union minister Smriti Irani launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday, accusing him of "lying and misleading" farmers over the Centre's recent farm laws. Addressing a farmers' rally in her parliamentary constituency Amethi, Irani said, "Rahul Gandhi is telling lies and misleading farmers." "He is shedding crocodile tears for farmers and misleading them. His own jija (brother-in-law) has encroached upon land of farmers," she alleged, in an apparent reference to charges levelled against Robert Vadra by political rivals. --PTI
Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interaction with farmers, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said those misguiding farmers will be taught lesson by the public in future. "Those who are misguiding the farmers by becoming their sympathiser will be taught a lesson by the public in future," ANI reported Tomar as saying.
In an interaction with farmers of six states on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted the Opposition for "pushing a political agenda" by "spreading myths and lies" over the new farm laws. "Some parties are pushing a political agenda by opposing the new farm laws. Some people are spreading myths and lies that land will be taken away if farmers enter into contract farming," he said.
The interaction was part of a massive outreach programme planned by the government at a time when the talks between farmer unions and the Centre have hit a road block impasse over the farm legislations, which has drawn lakhs of farmers from neighbouring states to protest at Delhi's borders for close to a month now.
"You would have seen that when the agitation started their demand was about MSP guarantee. They had genuine issues because they were farmers. But then those with political ideology took over," Modi said. "MSP, etcetera were pushed aside and now what is happening. They are demanding release from jail of those accused of violence... They want highways toll-free. Why have they shifted from farmer's issues to new demands," he said. He alleged that those with political agenda are not letting farmers go into any dialogue with govt to address their concerns. Read full story here
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "Through his address, PM Modi has cleared that government is ready for talks with those who have any questions regarding the three new farm laws. I hope, now protesting farmers will speak to the govt."
Sitharaman further said, "I want to ask Rahul Gandhi that were these pro-farmers policies not mentioned in the 2019 election manifesto of Congress? They are protesting just because those reforms are being implemented by PM Modi, and not them."
After PM Modi's interaction with farmers, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said, 'Except for West Bengal govt, all other states govts have joined PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. Till now, Rs 96,000cr has been transferred to farmers. In West Bengal, this scheme will benefit 70 lakh farmers. I have written to WB CM to join this scheme.'
"Those who are misguiding the farmers by becoming their sympathiser will be taught a lesson by the public in future," he added.
PM Modi says, "Due to our commitment towards farmers, we are ready for discussions on all their issues with an open mind. Our government is ready to talk to those opposing us as long as the discussion is based on facts. Only an 'Atmanirbhar' farmer can lay the foundation for 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'."
PM Modi concludes his address.
PM Modi says, "Those with political agenda are not letting farmers engage in dialogue with Govt to address their concerns. Farmers had some apprehensions about new laws, but people with political agenda came in between and introduced new unrelated demands. Govt willing to engage with even those ideologically against us; but talks must be based on issues, facts and logic."
In an interaction with farmers of six states on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted the Opposition for “pushing a political agenda” by “spreading myths and lies” over the new farm laws. “Some parties are pushing a political agenda by opposing the new farm laws. Some people are spreading myths and lies that land will be taken away if farmers enter into contract farming,” he said.
The interaction was part of a massive outreach programme planned by the government at a time when the talks between farmer unions and the Centre have hit a road block impasse over the farm legislations, which has drawn lakhs of farmers from neighbouring states to protest at Delhi’s borders for close to a month now.
At the virtual event, which marks the birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Modi transferred over Rs 18,000 crore to more than nine crore farmers on Friday, the latest tranche of funds under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.
PM Modi says, "Those who remained in the govt previously for several years left the farmers on their own. Promises were made and forgotten. Due to the agriculture policies of the previous govt, the poor became poorer, was it not important to change this state of farmers?"He also says, "In many parts of the country, agreement farming has been tried. It has been done in the dairy sector. So far, have you heard that a company has monopolised the dairy industry?"
PM Modi says, "We connected over 1,000 mandis online, where more than Rs 1 lakh crore of trade has already happened. Some people feigning concerns about farmers' land; We all know about those whose names came up in media for land grabbing."
PM Modi further says, "Our govt has made more crops eligible for minimum support price benefit and given a record amount of money to farmers. We're making life easier for farmers in villages; Those making big speeches today did nothing for farmers when they were in power."
"Today, every farmer knows where he will get the best price for his farm produce. With these farm reforms, farmers can sell their produce to anyone anywhere. What is wrong if the farmers are being benefitted?: PM Modi
PM Modi says, "Farm reforms became necessary because poor farmers, who are over 80%, were getting poorer during rules of earlier governments. Our govt has made more crops eligible for minimum support price benefit and given a record amount of money to farmers."
PM Modi also says, "Those ruling Kerala for years are joining Punjab farmers for selfies, but not doing anything for mandi system in own state."
"The groups who are talking about mandis, APMC are the ones who destroyed West Bengal, Kerala. There are no APMCs and mandis in Kerala. So, why are no protests in Kerala? Why don't they start a movement there? But are only misguiding the farmers of Punjab."
PM Modi says, "Mamata Banerjee govt has destroyed West Bengal, they're playing politics by stopping benefits for their own farmers. Those rejected by the electorate are now indulging in event management for publicity; People won't be misled."
PM Modi also lashed out at the West Bengal government for not letting over 70 lakh state farmers benefit from Centre's direct money transfer scheme. "The farmers of Bengal have been deprived of the benefits of the Centre's schemes. Bengal is the only state which is not allowing benefits of the schemes to reach the farmers."
"Mamata Banerjee's ideology has destroyed Bengal. Her actions against the farmers have hurt me a lot. Why is the Opposition quiet on this?" PM Modi asked.
PM Modi said that some leaders are busy in furthering their own political ideology in name of farmers' protest. He also said that money sent from Delhi now for citizens neither gets devalued nor ends up in the wrong hands.
During interaction with the PM, Manoj Patidar, a farmer from Dhar, Madhya Pradesh says, "So far, I've received Rs 10,000 under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. Under the new farm laws, we can now sell the farm produce to any private business/organisation. This year, I sold 85 quintal soybean to ITC."
Another farmer from Haryana's Fatehabad Hari Singh Bishnoi says, "Earlier, I used to do rice farming but I am also interested in gardening. I have planted lemons in 3 acres and guavas in 7 acres of land. We sell them in local mandis and get a good amount for it."
The Prime Minister also interacted virtually with farmers from six states, during which he said, "Some parties pushing political agenda by opposing new farm laws. Some people spreading myth and lies that land will be taken away if farmers enter into contract farming."
With the push of a button, Modi enabled the transfer of money at an event which the ruling BJP has made into a mega exercise to reach out to farmers by having its leaders interact with the farming community at more than 19,000 venues across the country and also listen to the prime minister's address.
Modi released the instalment of Rs 2,000 to every farmer on the birth anniversary of former prime minister and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which is every year celebrated as "Good Governance Day" by the ruling party.
Under the PM-KISAN scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year is provided to small and marginal farmers, payable in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each. The fund is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. The programme comes amid protests by various farmer unions against three farm laws recently enacted by the Modi government. The government has insisted that these reforms are in the interest of farmers.
Rajnath Singh urged the farmers to let the new farm laws be implemented for a year first and promised necessary amendments if they don't find it beneficial for them. "Let farm laws be implemented for a year or so; if found not beneficial for farmers, we will be ready for necessary amendments."
"All problems can be resolved through dialogue; PM wants talks with farmers to continue. I appeal to all protesting farmers to come forward for discussions on farm laws," he added.
Meanwhile, addressing a rally on Friday, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the BJP government will never do anything which is not in the interest of farmers. "Those who are on dharna are farmers, born to farmers' families; we have a lot of respect for them. Our government will never do anything which is not in the interest of farmers.
PM Modi to a farmer from Odisha: "I urge you to tell farmers about the Kisan Credit Card and its various benefits which include the availability of loans at low-interest rates."
Naveen, a farmer from Odisha during interaction with PM Modi, says, "I received my Kisan Credit Card in 2019. I took an amount of Rs 27,000 on loan from the bank on a mere 4 per cent interest as compared to 20 per cent from intermediaries."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday released Rs 18,000 crore as the next installment of financial benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme in the bank accounts of nine crore farmers.
Narendra Singh Tomar says, "I appeal to the protesting farmers to end their protest and hold talks with the government. I hope they will understand the importance of the new farm laws, and the issue will be resolved soon."
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar says PM Narendra Modi will shortly release Rs 18,000 crore under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme to over 9 crore farmers. "Today, we can say with confidence that the entire amount will reach the farmers' accounts directly. This will greatly benefit the farmers," he said.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took to Twitter to say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deposit Rs 18,000 crore to nine crore farmers today. "The several steps taken by the Modi govt. to empower India's farmers include PM Kisan Samman Nidhi- a support of Rs 6000 towards their income. Today, Hon'ble @PMOIndia Shri @NarendraModi ji will transfer Rs 18,000 cr to 9 cr farmers across India at the touch of a button," she tweeted.
Amit Shah said, "The Opposition is misleading farmers regarding MSP. I want to make it clear that the MSP system will remain." The Home Minister also reiterated that the three farm laws are in favour of farmers. "The three farm laws are in the favour of the farmers. Nobody can remove MSP system or snatch farmers' land from them. The government is ready to hold talks with farmers' unions with an open heart."
Addressing a rally in Delhi's Mehrauli, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "PM Modi will release Rs 18,000 crore as the next instalment under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme to over 9 crore farmers today with a click of a button. He is the true well-wisher of farmers."
A group of seven influential US lawmakers, including Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, have written to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, urging him to raise the issue of farmers’ protest in India with his Indian counterpart.
India has called the remarks by foreign leaders and politicians on protests by farmers as “ill-informed” and “unwarranted”, asserting that the matter pertains to the internal affairs of a democratic country.
“We have seen some ill-informed comments, relating to farmers in India. Such comments are unwarranted, especially when pertaining to the internal affairs of a democratic country,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said earlier this month.
Following the call of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) Thursday, five women farmers of Punjab sat on a 12-hour hunger strike at Tikri border under the banner of Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan). Even in Punjab, 10 women sat on hunger strike in Mehal Kalan constituency of Barnala district under the banner of BKU (Dakaunda).
A chain hunger strike has been going on since December 22 as per the call of SKM.
Of the five women who arrived at Tikri border, four were from Kussa village of Punjab’s Moga district while the fifth one was from Hamidi village of Barnala. Read More
Delhi Traffic Police has issues and advisory. "Chilla, Gazipur borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida and Ghaziabad to Delhi because of Farmers protests. People are advised to take an alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Apsara, Bhopra and Loni borders."
Union Minister Anurag Thakur says, "Many farmers have thanked PM Modi for the new agriculture laws. We will double farmers' income by 2022. The government is ready to talk and clear doubts of the farmers who are protesting. A solution can be found only through dialogue."
For now, the farmers’ protests in Punjab against the Centre’s three farm laws are bringing together, despite their different and often conflicting interests, sections of big and small farmers, landless agricultural labourers and commission agents. It’s a moment of unity, too, for Punjab’s notoriously fragmented farm unions.
The agitation is rippling outside the farm sector — joining, for instance, the theatre group in Amritsar, to the trader in the city’s famed wholesale cloth market. A play written in the early 1950s is seeing a revival today, says Kewal Dhaliwal, who runs Manch Rangmanch in Amritsar which has been performing at the protest sites. Read More here
WITH PRESSURE mounting on the BJP-JJP government in Haryana over the farmers’ protests, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on Thursday offered to act as a mediator between the farmers and the Centre to resolve the standoff.
This came on a day a group of villagers used shovels to damage a temporary helipad in his constituency Uchana in Jind – one of the districts that has seen farmers gathering in protest against the three new farm laws – where they claimed Chautala was to visit later in the day. They also released videos of the helipad being dug up.
Even as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been coordinating with Opposition leaders to hold a joint rally of anti-BJP leaders in Kolkata, the CPM on Thursday worked behind the scenes to get 11 parties, including the NCP, DMK and the Congress, to issue a joint statement against the BJP government on the farm laws.
The joint statement came on a day the Congress high command gave its Bengal unit the go-ahead for entering into a seat-sharing deal with the Left parties for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Bengal.
So far, Banerjee has reached out to NCP chief Sharad Pawar and is planning to invite regional leaders such as AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal and DMK’s M K Stalin to the Kolkata rally. Her attempt to rally Opposition leaders ahead of the elections — to signal that she is leading the battle against the BJP — is worrying for the Congress-Left, which is trying hard to turn the battle into a triangular fight.
A day after farmer unions, protesting at Delhi’s borders against the new farm laws, said they are open to talks if a more concrete proposal is made, the government responded Thursday saying it is ready for “logical resolution” of all issues raised by the farmers.
In a letter to 40 representatives of farmer unions, Vivek Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, urged them to decide the time and date for the next round of talks, and also “give details of other issues on which you want to negotiate”.
“The Government of India again wants to reiterate its commitment that it is ready for logical resolution of all issues raised by the agitating farmer unions,” he said.
rmers feel insecure: Pilot Jaipur, Dec 24 (PTI) The Centre should repeal the new agri laws as they are making farmers feel insecure about their future, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said on Thursday. The former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan said the Congress is working hard to ensure that the organisation and the state government fulfil the promises made to the people of the state. "The centre should stop being stubborn and withdraw the farm laws with immediate effect. The farmers are feeling insecure about their future. They are very concerned," Pilot told reporters in Pali. --PTI
The BJP Thursday challenged Rahul Gandhi for an open debate on what the Congress did for farmers' good when in power and what the Modi government has done for them, reported PTI. Rejecting Gandhi's allegations against the Centre as "baseless and illogical", Union minister Prakash Javadekar alleged that the Congress is ignoring farmers' interests and keeping them poor to ensure cheap grain prices, and asserted that the Modi government empowered them by implementing the Swaminathan commission report to give them remunerative price through minimum support price (MSP).
Haryana Deputy Chief Minister and Dushyant Chautala says new central farm laws need many amendments and urges protesting farmers to give 'concrete suggestions'. The Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader reiterated that he will tender his resignation the day he feels he is unable to ensure minimum support price (MSP) to farmers in Haryana, reported PTI. Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh, the leader of the BJP ally in Haryana, said, "I believe that many amendments should be there. On this, we have given many suggestions to the Centre earlier and they too were agreeable on many suggestions."
"We register our strong protest against baseless allegations being made by PM accusing opposition parties of “repeatedly lying” to farmers about new farm laws & “using them for their politics”. PM's accusations are a complete travesty of truth," opposition parties said in a joint statement. "We demand that the present Agri Laws be repealed along with the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020. Following this, discussions on agrarian reforms must be held by the Central government with the farmers and all stakeholders," they added.
Whatever Rahul Gandhi says, even Congress doesn't take it seriously. Today when he went to register his protest with President with signatures, these farmers told me that no one from Congress came to them to get their signature: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar
With the protesting farmers remaining steadfast in their demands, a Canada-based man, who arrived in India a week ago, is mulling the idea of prolonging his stay here as he feels the need to participate in the agitation. Gurbaksh Singh, who has been a businessman in Toronto for the last 30 years, said he came to India last week to be part of the agitation demanding the revocation of three new farm laws that "threaten the land ownership" of thousands of farmer families, including his. "Although I have my return tickets booked for next week, after seeing all this, I am thinking if I should prolong my stay here," Singh, who is originally from Punjab's Nawa Shahr village, said. --PTI
The Kerala cabinet on Thursday again decided to recommend to Governor Arif Mohammed Khan seeking approval for a special Assembly sessionon December 31 to discuss and pass a resolution against the three central farm laws, against which farmers have been protesting near Delhi. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed the media about the cabinet decision and said his government was "hopeful" that the Governor would accord sanction for the special session. --PTI
Basketball player Satnam Singh joins farmers' protest at Singhu border. "We stand with farmers. We have come to offer our services so they don't face any problems," he says.