On Day 19 of the protests, leaders of 32 farm unions escalated their agitation by observing a day’s hunger strike beginning 8 am at the Singhu border. The police, meanwhile, put up shipping containers using cranes on NH-44 to firm up the barricades already fortified with dumpsters laden with sand and barbed wire to prevent protesters from entering Delhi.
From the Government’s side, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and are also met Home Minister Amit Shah for the second successive day.
Speaking at a FICCI event, Rajnath Singh said: “The recent reforms have been undertaken with the best interests of India’s farmers in mind… We are, however, always willing to listen to our farmer brothers, allay their misgivings and provide them with assurances. Our Government is always open to discussion and dialogue.”
Describing agriculture as the “mother sector for all”, Singh said, “Our produce and procurement have been plentiful and our warehouses are full…there is no question of taking retrograde steps against our agricultural sector ever,” he said.
Tomar said the Government is “ready to hold talks”. “Whenever their proposal comes, the Government will definitely hold talks,” he said.
In Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Parshottam Rupala ruled out bringing the Minimum Support Price under the legal framework, a key demand of farm unions.
Rahul Gandhi condoles death of religious leader near Singhu border. He also urged the govt to immediately withdraw the new farm laws.
monthly limit of free stories.
with an Express account.
A 65-year-old man, identified as a religious leader, killed himself near the Singhu border, where farmers have been protesting for the past 20 days, on Wednesday.
In a purported suicide note, Sant Baba Ram Singh said he was pained by the plight of farmers. “I am unable to bear the plight of the farmers. Tolerating a crime is as bad as causing it. Several people have made sacrifices for their cause,” said the note. More details here.
Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday alleged that an anti-Indian and feudalistic force was behind the ongoing farmers' agitation against the new agricultural laws. According to PTI, Pradhan also said that this force was also against the concepts of 'Bharatiyata' (Indianness) and India's self-reliance.
"There is a force in the country which is basically anti-India and feudalistic. The people associated with this force are also against Indianness and the country's self-reliance. This force is behind the farmers' agitation," Pradhan was quoted as saying by the news agency.
Smriti Walia writes: Theoretically, India has seen a structural transformation from being a predominantly agrarian economy to becoming an industrial power and a service-hub. But intuitively, the transformation has been quite ironic. For, the agricultural sector, that was supposed to strengthen, to hold the other sectors firm, has been reduced to be a residual sector. An activity that produces to literally feed the nation, has remained neglected, given the Indian paradigm of growth. As per the Economic Survey 2019-20, the annual growth (real terms) of the agricultural sector in India has stagnated at an abysmal rate of 2.8 per cent for over a half-decade now. Whereas the significance that agriculture holds for ensuring food on each one’s plate daily is tremendous. Read more here.
A day after announcing that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in January, the visiting British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on Wednesday said that he has “discussed” the situation arising out of the farmers’ protests with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and underlined that “your politics” is, in some sense, “our politics” because of the Indian diaspora in Britain.
In an interaction with select Indian journalists in New Delhi after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Raab, however, said that India has a “vibrant heritage of peaceful protests”, the UK “respects it”. Read more here.
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar Wednesday said that the ongoing farmers' protest at Delhi borders is an "exception" and "limited to one state". He also hoped for an early solution as the government is in talks with farmer unions.
"The ongoing protest is an exception and the agitation is limited to one state. We are holding discussions and talks. I believe there will be an early solution," Tomar was quoted as saying by PTI during a virtual conference organised by industry body Assocham.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Wednesday said the new central agriculture laws are in the interest of farmers and a major step towards doubling their income.
Rawat, who was addressing a farmers' conference at the Rishikul ground in Haridwar virtually, claimed that the new laws are based on the Swaminathan commission's report.
"It is a significant step towards doubling the income of farmers, which is a major goal set by the Centre. Farmers have been given access to the open market and are now free to sell their produce wherever they like. A myth is being spread that the new farm laws will put an end to the MSP regime," Rawat was quoted saying by PTI.
Tikri, Dhansa Borders are closed for any traffic movement. Jhatikara Borders is open only for two-wheelers and pedestrian movement, Delhi Traffic Police says.
"When attempts are being made to mislead and agitate farmers of Punjab in one corner of the nation, you gathered in Rewa, Sagar, Gwalior, Ujjain and other places to support farm laws by Narendra Modi govt. I thank all of you," Agriculture Minister NS Tomar was quoted as saying by ANI at a Kisan Sammelan in Gwalior.
The Centre should give up its "ego" and "stubbornness" and accept the demands of farmers who are protesting against the new farm laws at Delhi's borders despite the biting cold, the city's Development minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday.
Rai, also convener of the Delhi unit of the AAP, said the Arvind Kejriwal-led government and his party stand firmly with the farmers and have been making certain arrangements for them during their protest.
After a visit to the Singhu border, blocked by thousands of farmers camping there for nearly three weeks now, Rai said the Kejriwal government has arranged a Langar Sewa (community kitchen), water and toilet facilities for them. (PTI)
Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Minister Kamal Patel on Wednesday claimed those protesting against the Centre's three new farm laws are "middlemen" and not real farmers.
Talking to PTI, Patel asserted that the new farm rules will give cultivators the real price for their produce and an opportunity to trade, export, and set up food processing units and warehouses.
Till now, middlemen used to buy crops of farmers at very low prices and sell them to end-users at ten times higher rates by grading the purchase as per the quality of crop, he said.
Ludhiana farmers on their way to Delhi being provided with free diesel by the youngsters of Apra and Jajja Khurd
One side of the Delhi-Noida Link Road was closed for commuters on Wednesday due to the ongoing protest by farmers at the Chilla border here amid heavy police deployment, officials said. Barricades have been set up on the road, prohibiting vehicular movement from Noida to Delhi, while the other side (Delhi to Noida) was open, Noida Traffic Police officials said. Also, traffic was diverted from the Dalit Prerna Sthal, another site of the farmers' protests, to the Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) flyway in the wake of the situation at the Chilla border, an official said. "The route was closed around 11 am. The DND and the Kalindi Kunj routes are operational and commuters are advised to take these routes for travelling to and fro Delhi," the official said.
In a hearing conducted via video conferencing, the bench directed the petitioners to make protesting farmer unions parties to the pleas and posted the matter for hearing on Thursday. "Your negotiations with protesting farmers have not worked apparently till now," the bench told the Centre. Meanwhile, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that the government will not do anything against the interest of farmers. (PTI)
Security arrangements were tightened at the Chilla border between Delhi and Noida on Wednesday as farmer union leaders have threatened to completely block the key border point to press for repeal of the Centre's new farm laws. A senior police officer said elaborate security measures are already in place at the Chilla border. Multi-layered barricades, jersey barriers and additional security personnel have been deployed to ensure law and order. He added that only a small group of protesters were on a sit-in at the key border point, and the situation was largely normal. Farmer leaders had on Tuesday said they would "make" the government repeal the new legislations, and asserted that their fight has reached a stage where they are "determined" to win no matter what. The farmer unions are not running away from negotiations, but the government has to pay heed to their demands and come forward with concrete proposals, the leaders said.
The Supreme Court today proposed the formation of a committee with representatives from both the government and farm unions to end the deadlock against the three farm laws. A Bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian was hearing a petition seeking removal of the farmers from Delhi borders who have been protesting for 21 days now. The hearing will continue tomorrow.
Supreme Court begins hearing pleas seeking direction to authorities to immediately remove the farmers who are protesting at several border points of Delhi against the three new farm laws
Another farmer died on his way to the Singhu border. The farmer, identified as Kulwinder Singh, belonged to the Hoshiarpur district and was on his private vehicle. So far more than 20 protesting farmers have died either at Delhi’s borders or in road accidents since November 26, out of which the majority are from Punjab.
Farmer unions, which are protesting at Delhi’s borders against the recently-enacted farm laws, sent a written reply to the government Wednesday, rejecting its December 9 proposal in which it offered significant concessions.
In an email to Vivek Agrawal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha leader Darshan Pal said, “With reference to the proposal and letter received from you, we want to inform the government that the farmer unions had held a joint meeting on the same day and discussed your proposal and rejected it because it was the written format of the proposal verbally offered by the government representatives on 5 December 2020.”
An Agriculture Ministry official confirmed to The Indian Express that the government received a written response from the farmer unions. However, he refused to answer queries about whether the government would send an invitation for talks to farmers.
On Tuesday, at Singhu border, men stood in line in front of a tractor to participate in what was being called pagdi langar, with volunteers briskly tying fresh turbans on their heads.
On display in the tractor were turban cloths of all colours — reds, oranges, blues, purples, yellows, greens. Tejinder Singh, who was organising the distribution, said they had material for 1,000 turbans, and that they had tied turbans for around 300 people between 9 am and 1 pm. Among those lined up were not just regular turban wearers getting a fresh turban but those who wish to wear them in solidarity with the protesters.
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal Tuesday said “the BJP is the real ‘tukde tukde’ gang in the country today”. The former BJP ally said the saffron party is “splitting the country into pieces by setting one community against another. So desperate is it for power that is has no scruples in taking the communal polarisation route and setting the country aflame.”
Talking about the farm laws, he said,”These have been made by those who never did farming and now are teaching benefits of these laws to farmers. People from AAP have also come into the BJP’s fold.”
Badal said the whole country, except that BJP, gratefully acknowledges the debt we owe to our patriotic farmers and soldiers. “The BJP is provoking the people to deny that debt. It remains so ungrateful to farmers that it is painting them as anti-national. Today it is the farmers. Nobody knows, the BJP might even say the same about soldiers tomorrow if it suits them.”
The Supreme Court will today hear a law student’s plea seeking direction to immediately remove the farmers who are protesting on Delhi’s borders and shift them to a designated place in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and hardships to commuters.
According to the cause list, which shows the court’s list of business, the plea by Rishabh Sharma will be considered by a bench of Chief Justice of India S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramaian. In his plea, Sharma said that “because of the ongoing protest at the Delhi borders, the roads have been blocked by the protesters and closed border points, which have affected vehicular traffic and people who are traveling to and from Delhi to get medical treatment in reputed government/private hospitals situated in Delhi are also affected”. The plea said the protesters are “blocking the roads for all the emergency/medical services” required in the national capital for those affected by the virus.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday alleged that instead of listening to farmers, the BJP government was "defaming" their protests against the Centre's new agri laws.
Yadav alleged that the BJP only misleads people. "Had it believed in democratic values, it would not have resorted to barbaric lathicharge on peaceful protestors. By sending 'samajwadis' to jail for supporting farmers, it has done illegal and undemocratic work," he added.
"Disagreement has become a major crime in the BJP regime. They did not like opposition and democratic values. The farmers are agitating for the past 20 days and instead of listening to them, the government has adopted a stubborn attitude. Not only this, but the BJP has also launched a campaign to divide farmers and discredit the movement and defame it," the former chief minister said in a statement.
He said the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh was ahead in supporting the "anti-farmer" farm laws. "Hailstorms, unseasonal rain that damaged crops of farmers were not compensated. Dues of sugarcane farmers are still unpaid and loan of farmers are not waived. Now the BJP government is engaged in making farmer- a labourer instead of the farm owner," Yadav claimed. (PTI)
Delhi Congress leaders and workers on Tuesday staged a protest near the BJP headquarters here, demanding repeal of the Centre's new farm laws.
Some of the protesters who tried to cross the barricades before the BJP headquarters at DDU Marg were detained by the police.
Leading the protesters, Dehi Congress president Anil Kumar said if the farm laws are implemented in the present form, agricultural sector in the country will be controlled by big corporates.
"The anti-farmer Acts--the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020--will crush the farm sector across the country and hurt farmers interests," he said. (PTI)
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has said the new farm laws have been welcomed in states across country and the government is willing to continue dialogue with "genuine farm unions" to address their concerns. (PTI)
A group of farmers in Kutch, who are originally from Punjab and Haryana and have settled here, are embroiled in a legal battle with the Gujarat government over their agricultural land. The dispute dates back to 2010 when many farmers were told that records of their land were being frozen as they were not natives of Gujarat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the state chief minister then.
On Tuesday, PM Modi interacted with farmers in Kutch, including those from Punjab, during his visit to the border district to lay the foundation stones of several projects. Read more
Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Chouhan: "Rahul Gandhi and Kamal Nath who call us 'anti farmers', you placed the burden of interest on the heads of farmers. We, the BJP Govt, will remove this burden from their heads. You - the ones who betray farmers at every step - are talking about them.
"As part of the relief package, on December 18 an additional amount of Rs 1,600 crores will be added to the accounts of farmers whose crops were damaged. After this, another Rs 1,600 crores will be added." (ANI)
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar today met the farmer leaders and claimed that after discussion, they have now supported the three new farm laws, news agency ANI reported. "The farmers who met me today have supported the three farm laws. They said that they are with the bills and government. As some farmers are spreading misconception so they were also misled. When I spoke to them they clearly supported the bills."
Addressing a press conference at Singhu Border, farmer leaders said the fight over the new farm laws has reached a stage where they are "determined to win it no matter what". The farmers also threatened to completely block Delhi-Noida tomorrow.
"We are not running away from negotiation, but govt has to pay heed to our demands and come forward with concrete proposals," PTI quoted farmer leaders as saying.
"Government is saying they won't repeal these laws, we are saying we will make you do it," farmer leader Jagjeet Dallewal said.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram Tuesday asked the central government to 'climb down from its high horse' and reach an agreement with the farmers quickly to re-enact a new agri law.
Taking to Twitter, Chidambaram said, 'It is shocking that after 20 days of farmers’ protests in the bitter winter of Delhi, the government continues to stick to the ‘no repeal’ stand. It is obvious that any agreement between farmers and government will necessarily require a new Bill to be passed in Parliament.
Members of Bharatiya Kisan Union meet Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi.
On Gujarat visit, PM interacts with farmers, SHG members
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday interacted with farmers from Kutch district of Gujarat, including those from Punjab who have settled here, and also members of a local self-help group (SHG).
The separate interactions took place on the sidelines of an event where Modi, on a day-long visit to Gujarat, laid foundation stones for a host of projects in the border district.
The PM met delegations of farmers from Punjab settled in Kutch district as well as local cultivators and heard their issues with Chief Minister Vijay Rupani accompanying him.
As per a rough estimate, around 5,000 Sikh families reside in and around Lakhpat taluka of Kutch district. (PTI)
Industry body Assocham on Tuesday urged the Centre and farmers' organisations to resolve the impasse over the new agri laws, saying that the protests are inflicting a heavy blow to the economies of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and J&K.
"A daily loss of Rs 3,000-3,500 crore is resulting in the economies of the region from the value chain and transport disruption because of the protests," according to a rough estimate by the chamber.?
Assocham President Niranjan Hiranandani said, "The size of the combined economies of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and J&K is about Rs 18 lakh crore. With the ongoing farmers' agitation and blockade of roads, toll plazas and railways, the economic activities have come to a halt."
On Monday, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) had said the farmer agitation has led to supply chain disruptions, which will impact the economy in the coming days and may impinge upon the ongoing recovery from the economic contraction due to COVID-19. (PTI)
Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday told the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly that three agri laws passed by the Centre were being opposed for political reasons and claimed that farm sector reforms had been initiated when the Congress-led UPA was in power.
Speaking in the Lower House, Fadnavis said the erstwhile UPA regime was of the view that there should be freedom to farmers to sell their produce anywhere they want, a key feature of the recently-passed agri laws.
"In the year 2010, a committee comprising ministers from all states was set up regarding the implementation of agriculture reforms with a view that farmers should have a competitive and alternative marketing mechanism at their disposal," the former chief minister said.
He said a committee set up for this purpose was headed by Harshvardhan Patil, who was a minister in then Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra.
"When these reforms are implemented now, why should there be opposition (to the three agricultural laws passed by the Centre). This (opposition to the laws) is politically motivated," he said. (PTI)
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal has called former ally BJP as the real 'tukde tukde gang' which is trying to push patriotic Punjab into communal flames. "BJP is the real 'Tukde Tukde Gang' in the country. It has smashed national unity to pieces,shamelessly inciting Hindus against Muslims & now desperate setting peace loving Punjabi Hindus against their Sikh brethren esp #farmers. They're pushing patriotic Punjab into communal flames," he said.
PM Modi in Kutch: "Opposition is misleading farmers, shooting from their shoulders. They also wanted these reforms but they couldn't when they were in power. But now that we have managed to do it, they are misleading farmers."
Addressing an event at Kutch in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the trade of agricultural produce and dairy products is flourishing in Gujarat because government involvement is the minimal.
"Today, farmers, fishermen and cattle-breeders are better off. Farmers here have adopted high value crops like dates, dragon fruits and are exporting them," the PM said.
"Today, trade of agricultural produce and dairy products is flourishing in Gujarat because government involvement is minimal. Government provided some basic facilities and the rest is being taken care of by cooperative sector, farmers, etc."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the venue of a ceremony at Dhordo near Khavda in Kutch to lay foundation stones of 30,000 megawatts hybrid renewable energy park near Khavda and four seawater desalination plants along coast of Gujarat.
He will also interact with farmers in Kutch, including those from Punjab, during his visit to the border district.
Representatives of different religions and social organisations walk in a march in support of the ongoing farmers' protest, in Kolkata, India, Monday, December 14, 2020. (AP Photo)
Protesting farmer leaders shout slogans as they sit on a day-long hunger strike at the Delhi- Haryana border, outskirts of New Delhi, Monday, Dec.14, 2020. (AP Photo)
Farmers eat their lunch at the Delhi- Haryana border, outskirts of New Delhi, Monday, Dec.14, 2020. (AP Photo)
Protesting farmers play cards and rest during a national highway blockade at the Delhi- Haryana border, outskirts of New Delhi, Monday, Dec.14, 2020. (AP Photo)
Two farmers died and eight injured in a road accident between tractor-trolley and truck near Trawari tehsil of Karnal district of Haryana on the intervening night of December 14-15. All farmers in trolley were from Safera village of Patiala. They were coming back from Delhi borders to Punjab.
Speaking to a gathering of party workers who observed a day-long fast in support of farmers, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the new farm laws not only go against the interests of farmers, but also against those of the common man, and that they give capitalists the “license to increase prices”.
Citing the example of onion prices, he elaborated, “Inflation takes place because some people buy and hoard it in large quantities. There is low supply in the market and then onions become expensive. The law permits hoarding.” He also said farmers are doing the country a favour by protesting at the borders. “Farmers are protesting non-violently. Leaders have been calling them agents of China and Pakistan… anti-nationals and terrorists,” he said, urging politicians not to defame farmers. Reiterating his party’s stance on the farm laws, he said, “When we were asked to convert stadiums to jails, we refused. Many of our MLAs are at the protests without an AAP symbol. I have also been to the border as a sewadar.”
PM Narendra Modi will interact with farmers in Kutch, including those from Punjab, during his visit to the border district on Tuesday to lay the foundation stone of a 30,000-megawatt (MW) hybrid renewable energy park, four seawater desalination plants and a modern milk processing plant of Sarhad Dairy.
The PM will land in Kutch district headquarters Bhuj and fly to Tent City, the venue of the annual Rann Utsav at Dhordo village near Khavda, around 80 km west of Bhuj.
“At Dhordo, the Prime Mini-ster will interact with progressive farmers of Kutch as well as Punjabi farmers on Kutch border,” an official release from the information department of Gujarat government stated on Monday.
Amid growing support to the agitation against three agri laws, the farmers staged protests across Haryana on Tuesday. As part of the nationwide call, the protests were mainly planned at district headquarters but farmers staged such protests at small towns too.
In Jind, the farmers in their around 1,000 vehicles, mainly tractor-trolleys, staged a march before moving to local mini secretariat. The farmers removed police barricades installed to halt their movement little away from the mini secretariat complex.
They raised slogans against the government and the three farm laws. They handed over a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Aditya Dahiya. Later, the farmers moved to the residence of BJP MLA from Jind, Krishan Midha, to stage a demonstration there. (Read more here)
Over the past two weeks, protesting farmers have had to tackle dirty toilets and drains. And with the crowd becoming bigger by the day, the situation is fast turning into a health hazard. Read our ground report, here
Facing backlash over the three farm bills, the Central BJP has once again instructed the Delhi unit to launch its farmer outreach programme in the capital’s villages and outskirts.
It has also told the Delhi BJP, as well its units in other states, to use social media, hoardings, leaflets in newspapers and distribute separate booklets that it has published for the Sikh community to clear misconceptions regarding the laws.
In an official communication, the state units have been told that “some political parties have been trying to misguide and mislead the farmers”. As the party’s social media is a “strong medium of communication”, “all states to utilise the forum proactively and and publicise the trend and hashtag to be given by Centre”.
A company managing the Ladowal Toll plaza on the Panipat-Jalandhar highway has moved to the Punjab and Haryana High Court claiming loss of Rs 36.63 crore as it is unable to collect toll fee due to law and order problem following the farmers agitation.
The petitioner, Panipat-Jalandhar NH-1 Tollway Private Limited, through counsel Advocate Sumeet Goel, has contended before the bench that company suffered loss of around Rs 36.63 crore, excluding interest, following non-collection of requisite toll fees at Ladowal toll plaza from October 7 to November 24.
Stressing that the farm laws will be beneficial to the farmers, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari told news agency ANI that they should try and understand the legislation. "Our government is dedicated to farmers and is ready to accept the suggestions given by them. There will not be any injustice with farmers in our government. If there is no dialogue, it can lead to miscommunication, to controversy & sparring. If there is a dialogue then issues will be resolved, the whole thing will end, farmers will get justice, they'll get relief. We're working in the interest of farmers."
He also added that some elements are trying to "misguide farmers by misusing this protest." "This is wrong. Farmers should try to understand the three laws. Right now, the Agriculture and Commerce ministers are engaged in dialogue with the farmers. If I am told to talk to them, I will definitely talk to them," Gadkari added.
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The ongoing farmers’ agitation against the Centre’s three farm laws entered day 20 on Tuesday but there are no signs yet of both the parties reaching a common ground. While the farmers want the three legislations to be scrapped, the government said that it is willing to continue talks but won’t take back the laws.
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