LIVE: Minister Tomar sends 8-point letter to farmers, assures them of MSP

Farmers' protest LIVE updates Day 22: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal today tore up copies of the Centre's three new agriculture-related laws in the legislative assembly

2:20 AM

UP: Missing bizman traced by police

A debt-ridden businessman, who changed his appearance and joined the ongoing farmers' protests at one of the Delhi border points to escape moneylenders, was traced by police on Thursday.

 

Praveen, a resident of Murad Nagar town, had left his house on December 1 but did not return, police said. He was found at the Ghazipur-Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh gate) border.

 

On a previous occasion too, he had gone missing but had returned some days later, therefore, his family did not lodge a police complaint till December 12, police said.

 

Praveen was tracked with the help of his mobile phone which was put under surveillance and his car was found parked near the protest site, superintendent of police (rural) Iraj Raja told PTI.

10:32 PM

Agriculture minister tried to engage in dialogue, do read his letter: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar through his letter to farmers has made an effort to engage in a humble dialogue, and appealed to the 'annadaatas' to read it.

 

Tomar, in an eight-page open letter to farmers, said the Modi government is committed to the welfare of farmers and stressed that the new agri laws are aimed at benefiting small and marginal farmers.

 

 

"Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has written a letter to farmer brothers and sisters and expressed his feelings, he has made an effort to engage in a humble dialogue. I request all 'annadaatas' (farmers), do read it. I also request all the people of the country to ensure that this letter reaches more and more people," Modi tweeted in Hindi.

10:25 PM

Farmers' body meets Tomar; extends support for new farm laws

Amid the ongoing farmers' protest against the new farm laws, yet another farmer grouping FIFA on Thursday met Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and extended support for the legislations.

 

The Federation of Indian FPOs and Aggregators (FIFA) is the sixth group of farmers that has extended support for the laws in the last two weeks. The previous groups were from Haryana, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

 

FIFA represents 15 states and around 500 farmer producers organisations (FPOs) in the country.

9:02 PM

Narendra Singh Tomar sends 8-point letter to farmers, assures them of MSP

Reaching out to farmers protesting the three farm laws for the last 22 days, Union Minister for Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar has written a letter to them saying the minimum support price (MSP) is going to continue. In his eight-page emotional letter to farmers, Tomar said that most of the farmers are happy with the Centre's three new farm bills, but some confusion has been created by certain sections as part of a "conspiracy" to create tensions based on "falsehoods".

 

In the beginning of his letter, he said that he has been touch with the farmers of the country over the last few days. "And in the last few days I also met and discussed the three farm laws with several farmer unions who have welcomed the government's move. But the other aspect of this that some people are trying to spread falsehoods," he said.

 

Tomar wrote: "As the Agriculture Minister of the country, it is his duty to clear the air over the three farm laws. As Agriculture Minister, it is my responsibility to break the conspiracy that is being spread in the name of the farm laws between the government and the farmer sitting on protest near Delhi's borders."

 

The Agriculture Minister further said, "I belong to a farmer's family and since childhood, I have experienced the tough life of farmers. And I also know what it takes to grow or sell crops. It is very satisfactory that after implementation of the law, MSP procurement has set a new record this time."

8:45 PM

Kejriwal indulged in cheap theatrics by tearing copies of farm laws: Harsimrat Kaur Badal

Former union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Thursday accused Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal of indulging in cheap theatrics by tearing copies of the farm laws. She said his government in Delhi was among the first to notify one of the central laws related to agriculture.

 

The Delhi Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution against the Centre's three new agriculture laws with Kejriwal tearing their copies, saying he cannot betray farmers of the country.

 

In a statement here, Badal said the Delhi CM was known as a dramebaaz but this time he indulged in "cheap theatrics" and "unparalleled hypocrisy" by tearing the same laws in the Vidhan Sabha, one of which he had notified on November 23. Asking Kejriwal to have mercy on farmers, Badal said it is strange that the Delhi CM has suddenly discovered that farmers are sitting out in the open in cold wave conditions and over 20 of them have died.

8:33 PM

PM Modi requests farmers to read Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar's letter

8:24 PM

Amit Shah holds meeting with Union ministers, BJP general secretaries on farmers' issue

Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah on Thursday held a meeting with Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal and Narendra Singh Tomar to discuss the ongoing farmers' agitation. The meeting was held at the BJP head office here and was also attended by the party's general secretaries CT Ravi, Dushyant Gautam and Arun Singh among others. It lasted for more than an hour.

 

According to sources, during the meeting Shah reviewed the BJP's outreach programme through press conferences and chaupals' or open meetings across all districts of the country to allay fears on the new farm laws.

 

Since the large-scale farmers' agitation began a few weeks ago, the BJP has been organising press conferences and 'chaupals' in all the districts of the country on the new agriculture-related bills passed recently by the Central government. The party has planned to hold 700 press conferences and 700 'chaupals' in the coming days. Shah has been holding meetings with Union Ministers on the protest issue and has also met farmers' leaders.

8:09 PM

Narendra Singh Tomar sends 8-point letter to farmers, assures them of MSP

7:55 PM

Farm-law impasse should be resolved through dialogue: Bharatiya Kisan Union chief

Bharatiya Kisan Union president Naresh Tikait said farmers did not want conflict during the protest against the new farm laws and the issue should be resolved through dialogue. Tikait said the Centre should repeal the farm laws in public interest, adding that the contentious legislations were not in favour of the farmers.

 

Addressing the media in Muzaffarnagar before his departure to Delhi, Tikait suggested that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, BJP veteran L K Advani and RLD leader Ajit Singh should be part of the dialogue to resolve the issue. Meanwhile, members of a number of 'khaps' (caste councils) from Muzaffarnagar district joined the protests near Delhi on Wednesday.

 

The farmers have been camping at several border points into Delhi for three weeks, demanding that the new agri-marketing legislations be repealed as they claim it would benefit the corporates and end the traditional wholesale markets and the minimum support price regime.

7:21 PM

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tears copies of Centre's farm laws, says cannot 'betray' farmers

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday tore up copies of the Centre's three new agriculture-related laws in the legislative assembly, saying he cannot betray the country's farmers.

 

Addressing the Delhi Assembly, the chief minister also alleged that the laws have been made for electoral funding of the BJP and not the farmers.

 

I am pained that I have to do this. I did not intend to, but I cannot betray the farmers of my country who have been sleeping on the streets in the cold when the temperature is just 2 degrees Celsius, Kejriwal said, while tearing copies of the three laws. I am a citizen of this country first, a chief minister later. This assembly rejects the three laws and appeals to the central government to meet the demands of farmers, he said. READ ON...

7:00 PM

LIVE updates: Unions ministers hold meeting over farmers' protest issue

A high-level meeting of the government and office bearers of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party members was held at the BJP headquarters here in view of the farmers ' agitation which entered its 22nd day on Thursday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal were present in the meeting, among other top leaders.

 

Some of the most prominent national general secretaries of the party participated in the meeting at the BJP headquarters here. This was the first major meeting amidst the farmers agitation that included all the big ministers and senior leaders of the Modi government under one roof.

 

More than half a dozen general secretaries of the party, who were present at the meeting, lead the organisation in their respective states. After the discussions at the meeting, sources say, the BJP is gearing up to launch an information campaign to explain the three farm laws passed by the Centre to the farmers.

6:23 PM

Not even 1% of farmers opposing farm laws: Gujarat Deputy CM

Very few farmers are backing the protests at Delhi borders against the new farm laws, and "anti-nationals" have infiltrated the agitation, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel claimed on Thursday. The agitation was a conspiracy to malign Prime Minister Narendra Modi's image, he alleged. He was speaking at Morva Hadaf in Panchmahal district as part of the ruling BJP's campaign to counter the agitators' narrative.

 

"Except in Delhi, there are no protests anywhere in the country. No one is agitating in Gujarat. Some 50,000 persons from a population of 130 crore want the government to scrap the laws which are passed by Parliament," he said. "What is the meaning of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha if we have to follow orders of 50,000 persons," Patel said.

 

"While Gujarat has already made changes in the APMC Act, Modi brought these laws for the entire country because they are necessary. If industries are allowed to sell their products anywhere in the country, why can't the farmers? Even Congress was in favour of such reforms but could not implement them when it was in power," he said.

6:17 PM

This is 'opportunistic' politics: BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi after Delhi CM tears up farm laws' copies

5:51 PM

Opposition misleading farmers over agriculture laws: UP CM Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here on Thursday alleged that the Opposition parties are "misleading" farmers on the Centre's agriculture laws and said the government will ensure that they get remunerative price of their produce. The chief minister alleged that the demoralised opposition is misleading farmers by telling lies and conspiring against farmers' interests.

 

They are creating confusion among farmers. The 'mandis' (markets) will not be shut. No one will be allowed to grab land of farmers," the CM said. The CM said when the opposition starts working on the basis of caste, creed and religion, then it is the duty of the government to make people aware about the truth.

 

The Centre and the state government are working in the interest of farmers, villagers and the poor under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government will ensure that farmers get their dues and their income increases," he said. The CM claimed that under the previous SP and BSP regimes in the state, several sugar mills were shut.

 

"We have paid sugarcane dues of Rs 1.15 lakh crore to farmers, he claimed, adding that some people are "worried" as the government will increase the minimum support price (MSP) of crops after competition will rise due to the entry of private players.

5:45 PM

Gazipur border (Delhi-UP border) is closed for traffic coming from Ghaziabad to Delhi

5:38 PM

AAP MLAs raise slogans against farm laws during a Delhi Assembly special session

5:31 PM

SC suggests putting on hold contentious farm laws, Centre opposes

The Supreme Court on Thursday acknowledged the right of farmers to non-violent protests and mooted the idea of putting on hold the contentious farm laws to enable negotiations with agitating farmers which was opposed by the Centre saying agriculturists would then not come forward for the talks.

 

The apex court, which made it clear that the issue of farmers' protest and the right to move freely of others would be dealt on priority and not the validity of laws at the moment, also said it was thinking of setting up an "impartial and independent" panel of agriculture experts and farmer unions to resolve the impasse.

 

The top court said it was of the view that the farmers' right to protest should not infringe the fundamental rights of others to move freely and in getting essential food and other supplies as right to protest cannot mean blockade of the entire city. The apex court, which said it was worried with the way things are going on, was told by both the Centre and one of the farmers union that the negotiations are not happening at the moment. It also said farmers cannot keep on protesting without talking to the government.

5:07 PM

LIVE: Farm laws made for electoral funding of BJP, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday tore up copies of the Centre's three new agriculture-related laws in the legislative assembly, saying he cannot betray the country's farmers. Addressing the Delhi Assembly, the chief minister also alleged that the laws have been made for electoral funding of the BJP and not the farmers.

 

I am pained that I have to do this. I did not intend to, but I cannot betray the farmers of my country who have been sleeping on the streets in the cold when the temperature is just 2 degrees Celsius, Kejriwal said, while tearing copies of the three laws. I am a citizen of this country first, a chief minister later. This assembly rejects the three laws and appeals to the central government to meet the demands of farmers, he said.

 

Kejriwal further said 20 protesting farmers have died so far and asked the Centre when it will "wake up". He said the Centre should not be under the impression that the farmers will simply return to their homes. In 1907, a farmers' protest had continued for nine months till the British rulers repealed some laws, he said.

5:00 PM

Delhi cm Arvind Kejriwal tears up copies of Centre's farm laws, says he cannot betray farmers

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tears up copies of the Centre's three new farm laws, says he cannot betray farmers

4:51 PM

Delhi Assembly today rejected all three Farm laws, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

4:49 PM

20 protesting farmers died so far; when will Centre wake up: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

20 protesting farmers died so far; when will Centre wake up: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

 

4:45 PM

LIVE: How many sacrifices farmers will have to make? asks Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

4:39 PM

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal: What was the hurry to get Farm Laws passed in Parliament during pandemic?

4:34 PM

CM Arvind Kejriwal tore up copies of farm bills during a special session of Delhi Assembly

4:16 PM

Farmers' protest: Among three main sites at Delhi borders, Singhu emerges as hotspot

The Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders have come up as the most prominent protest sites for the ongoing farmers' agitation, but one location --- Singhu --- seemingly has been receiving more limelight than the others. While there is no dearth of the fighting spirit among demonstrators at Tikri and Ghazipur either, the facilities at these relatively smaller protest sites are limited.

 

Singhu, which has emerged as the centre of the agitation, has had a constant influx of resources both in cash and in kind. Over the days, good samaritans, gurdwara committees and NGOs have made large donations as well as pooled technological resources to sustain the agitation. For over two weeks now, thousands of farmers, largely from Punjab and Haryana, have been protesting against the new farm laws at these Delhi borders after repeated rounds of talks with the government have ended in stalemate.

 

According to Ranjit Singh, who has been camping at the Singhu border since November 26, the site has been receiving higher traction than the other two because it was the first border to be blocked.

3:58 PM

SC acknowledges farmers' right to non-violent protest, says would set up panel to resolve impasse

The Supreme Court on Thursday acknowledged the right of farmers to non-violent protests, and said it was thinking of setting up an "impartial and independent" panel of agriculture experts and farmer unions to resolve the impasse over three contentious farm laws. A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said it would set up the committee which may include experts like P Sainath and representatives of the government and farmers' bodies to look for the resolution of the deadlock over the statutes.

 

The bench also comprising justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, "We acknowledge the right of farmers to protest but it has to be non-violent."

In a hearing conducted via video conferencing, the top court said the purpose of staging protest can be achieved if the farmers and the government will hold talks and "we wish to facilitate that". "We will not decide the validity of law today. The only thing which we will decide is the issue of protest and the right to move freely," the bench made clear at the outset of the hearing which is still going on.

 

It is hearing a clutch of petitions seeking removal of farmers protesting at several roads along Delhi's borders.

3:33 PM

LIVE: Ready for more talks with govt but won't give up protest, say farmers

3:22 PM

Over 10,000 farmers from Gujarat to reach Delhi in next 15 days

A confederation of around 17 farmers federations in Gujarat has decided to support the ongoing agitation by farmers on Delhi borders. As a part of the support, the micro level planning has been carried out by the Gujarat Kisan Sangharsh Samiti to gather around 10,000 farmers from Gujarat to reach the national Capital during the next fortnight.

 

As the farmers agitation gains momentum at Delhi border, hundreds of farmers from Gujarat, supporting the cause have reached the Jaipur-Delhi border and other borders of Delhi. Initially 150 farmers from the state reached the Capital, thereafter 60 more reached and on Wednesday 80 more farmers showing solidarity with the agitation joined.

 

"It is probably for the first time after Independence that such a large-scale agitation is is being held in the country. The three new black laws brought in by the Modi government won't just hurt the farmers they will also hurt the common man, small traders, poor people and the middle class," said Pal Ambaliya, chairman of Gujarat Congress Kisan cell.

 

"We are planning to bring, initially in the first phase, at least 10 farmers each from each tehsils and in the next phase there will be 30 -30 farmers from each tehsil brought in here. In a fortnight's time, more than 10,000 farmers will be reaching Delhi in support of this agitation," added Ambaliya.

2:53 PM

SC asks if farm laws implementation can be put on hold till it hears matter, Centre objects

The Supreme Court on Thursday during hearing of pleas seeking removal of farmers blocking various Delhi border queried the Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, could the Centre put on hold the implementation of the recently enacted farm laws till the matter is heard by the court? The top court also emphasised until a solution found to end the ongoing impasse, the police should not incite the protesters to indulge in violence.

 

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde queried the AG, "could you assure the court that you will not implement the law till we hear it." However, the top court clarified that it is not of the opinion to stay the legislation, instead it is exploring possibilities to enable Centre and farmer union to engage in fruitful negotiations. The bench, citing it cannot pass orders without hearing the protesting farmers unions, asked the AG, would there be an assurance in the meantime that there will no executive action?

 

AG replied, what kind of executive action? And farmers will not come for discussion if this happens. The Chief Justice reiterated that it is to enable the discussion. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also objected to this suggestion of the top court

 

The Attorney General added that the farmers are adamant, and they don't want to discuss anything until all three laws are repealed. The Chief Justice replied that they will say you are adamant and that is why the top court wants a discussion.

2:19 PM

Farmers will not come for discussion if executive action happens: Attorney General in SC on farm laws matter