LIVE: Govt seeks more time from farmers to present concrete proposal

Farmers' protest LIVE updates Day 10: The government and farmer leaders will hold another round of meeting on December 9

9:42 PM

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh reciting BJP's script: SAD's Sukhbir Badal

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday slammed Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh over his recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and accused him of "reciting the BJP's script" for allegedly linking farmers' agitation to national security.

 

Amarinder has "surrendered" to the BJP after he was summoned to Delhi to be told to "choose between facing the Enforcement Directorate and betraying the farmers", Badal alleged.

 

 

On Thursday, Amarinder Singh had made an appeal to the Union home minister and the protesting farmers to find an early resolution to the impasse over the new farm laws, saying the agitation was affecting Punjab's economy and the nation's security.

 

"The choice he (Amarinder) made became clear with the first thing he said as soon as he came out of the meeting with Amit Shah, telling farmers to end their agitation, citing dangers to national security from this peaceful movement," Badal said in a statement here.

 

The chief minister had clarified that he never called farmers a threat to national security. He said "his remarks were in context of a prolonged stand-off which our hostile neighbours, whom the sons of these very farmers are fighting, can exploit".

8:51 PM

For some farmers, reaching protest site in itself a herculean task

For many of the thousands of farmers camping on the roads and braving the cold at night to press for their demands, reaching the Singhu border point between Delhi-Haryana to join the peasants' agitation was in itself a major challenge which they surmounted with hard labour and ingenuity.

 

Kawaljeet Singh (28) and Dalbir Singh Tong (36) along with eight other farmers arrived at the demonstration site two days ago close to midnight, from Amritsar district.

 

They said they had to "move earth" and "push boulders" to overcome the obstacles that have been created on the way to Delhi from Punjab.

8:25 PM

Govt assured farmers procurement at minimum support price will continue; Mandis will be strengthened: Minister

7:59 PM

Agitating farmers should leave path of protest and engage in dialogue: Minister

7:57 PM

We request Kisan unions to send elderly and children back home in wake of Covid and cold weather: Minister

7:56 PM

We've told farmers that govt will consider all their aspects: Minister

7:56 PM

Under PM Modi's leadership, several agricultural schemes have been implemented. Budget and MSP has also increased: Union Agriculture Minister

7:55 PM

I want to assure farmers that Modi govt was fully committed to you, and will remain so in future: Union Agriculture Minister after fifth round of talks

7:14 PM

Fifth round of talks between govt, farmer unions ends: Agriculture Ministry

7:13 PM

Govt proposes another meeting on Dec 9; seeks time from unions to present a concrete proposal after further consultations: Report

7:12 PM

Bharat Bandh on Dec 8 will go on as announced

7:07 PM

6:49 PM

Govt proposes another round of talks on December 9 after requests from all stakeholders

6:45 PM

Farmers' group go on 'maun vrat' in meeting, ask Govt to answer in 'yes' or 'no' to their demand for repealing new farm laws: Union leaders

6:45 PM

We can meet on Monday for another round of talks, govt says during the meeting with farmer leaders in Delhi

6:37 PM

Union leaders threaten to walk out; Ministers convince them to continue talks

6:06 PM

We do not want corporate farming. The government will benefit from this law, not the farmer: Farmer leaders tell Centre

6:06 PM

We've been on road for past several days. If govt wants us to stay on road, we've no problem: Farmer leaders at the meeting with Centre

5:58 PM

Singer & actor Diljit Singh Dosanjh addresses protesting farmers

5:58 PM

I appeal to all of you to kindly ask senior citizens and children, at the protest site, to go home: Agriculture Minister requests the farmer leaders present in the meeting

5:50 PM

5:40 PM

Farm laws: DMK urges PM to hold talks with agitating farmers

Extending support to farmers protesting outside Delhi against Centre's three contentious farm laws, the DMK on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold talks with them and demanded withdrawing the legislations.

 

DMK president M K Stalin and senior party leaders staged protests in different parts of the state,extending support to the farmers, mostly from Punjab, who have been agitating for nearly 10 days outside the national capital.

 

Stalin, Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly, led a well-attended protest demonstration here, which happens to be the native district of Chief Minister K Palaniswami.

5:32 PM

Tejashwi leads opposition parties dharma in support of agitating farmers

The opposition parties on Saturday held demonstration here under the leadership of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav in protest against new farm laws and pledged support to the farmers agitating for repeal of the legislations.

 

Joined by leaders of Congress and the Left Parties at the dharna site, the RJD leader extended support to the nationwide strike called by the farmers organisations against the agricultral legislations on December 8.

 

Barring CPI-ML other constituents of the Grand Alliance were present at the sit-in.

 

The Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninsts) (Liberation) did not participate in the dharna organised by the RJD as the party had organised "road blockade" across Bihar during the day to protest against the farm laws, its state Secretary Kunal told PTI.

5:26 PM

If Canada's parliament can discuss the issue, why can't our parliament do it, a farmer leader said

5:02 PM

Former sportspersons from Punjab to return awards in support of farmers' agitation on Sunday

4:40 PM

Union Minister Som Parkash tells farmer leaders Govt understands sentiments of Punjab, ready to address their concerns: Report

4:25 PM

Ready to address all concerns: Govt to farmer unions at crucial meeting

Seeking to break the deadlock over protests against new farm laws, the government on Saturday told representatives of agitating farmers that they are ready to address all their concerns with an open mind, sources said.

 

At the beginning of the fifth round of talks here at Vigyan Bhawan, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told a group of 40 representatives of various farmer unions that the government is committed to cordial talks and welcomed all positive feedback on the new farm laws, sources said.

 

Later, Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, an MP from Punjab, addressed the leaders in Punjabi and said the government understands the sentiments of Punjab.

 

"We are ready to address all your concerns with an open mind," a source quoted Parkash as telling the union leaders.

4:09 PM

Talks with govt: Farmer leaders break for lunch. They had carried food to the venue.

4:07 PM

Noida: A group of protesting farmers detained by police on Yamuna Expressway, while they were attempting to break the barricades in order to come towards Delhi

4:03 PM

Agriculture minister tells farmer unions that govt committed to talks, welcomes feedback: Report