Farmers' protest LIVE: Sachin Pilot asks Centre to repeal agri laws

Farmers' protest LIVE updates: Centre expressed strong displeasure on the way Twitter acted after an emergency order was issued to remove this hashtag 'farmer genocide'

2:13 AM

Congress did little for poor during its long rule: Anurag Thakur in LS

Attacking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur on Thursday said his party ruled the country for "five generations" but did little for the poor.
 

Making an intervention during a debate on the general Budget in Lok Sabha, the BJP member said that the previous governments did not implement the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission.
 

He asked the Congress to explain the reason for not implementing the recommendations."One party misled farmers to further its political interests. But it won't help," he said.
 

"A party ruled the country for five generations but did little for the poor. The poor were eliminated but not poverty," the minister said.
 

Challenging opposition members to indicate a clause in the new legislations that talks about closing mandis (wholesale markets), he said the new agri laws rather provides farmers the freedom to sell their produce anywhere in the country and any market of their choice.
 

2:08 AM

Rahul attacks govt in LS over farm laws, Union ministers hit back saying he is spreading lies

Stepping up the attack against the government over the three farm laws, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that these legislations would damage country's food security system as also "break the spine of farmers" even as the government hit back saying his party ruled the country for decades but did little for the poor and the farming community.
 

Participating in the general discussion on the Union Budget in Lok Sabha, Gandhi also said that the country is being run by only four people with a 'Hum do, Hamare do' approach.
 

The ruling dispensation fielded Union ministers Smriti Irani and Anurag Thakur to hit back at Gandhi and the Congress party.
 

Making an intervention, Irani accused the former Congress president of spreading lies and describing three farm legislations passed by Parliament as “black laws”.

Irani who defeated Rahul in Amethi in the Lok Sabha polls, said that she did not expect Gandhi to support a budget which intended to promote the government's ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat' drive and unite the country.
 

Gandhi kept speaking on the three contentious agri laws, triggering protests from BJP members with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi urging Speaker Om Birla to direct Rahul to speak on the budget.
 

10:30 PM

Farmer unions to hold 'kisan mahapanchayats' across country in coming days

The Samkyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of protesting farmer unions, on Thursday announced that 'kisan mahapanchayats' will be organised across the country in the coming days against the Centre's three agri laws, as per PTI report. The morcha made it clear that it will not call off the ongoing protest until its demands to repeal the laws and bring legal guarantee for minimum support price on their crops are met.

In a statement, the protesting farmers' body said that its teams are planning the programmes of the state-wise mahapanchayats, according to PTI. The move comes a day after it announced a four-hour nationwide 'rail roko' (rail blockade) on February 18 to press for their demands. Protesting farmer leader Darshan Pal said a mahapanchayat will be held in Moadabad (Uttar Pradesh) on Friday, followed by Bahadurgarh bypass (Haryana) on February 13, Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan) on February 18, Hanumangarh (Rajasthan) on Februrary 19 and Silkar (Rajasthan) on February 23.

8:57 PM

Rahul attacks govt in LS over farm laws, says only four people running this country

Stepping up the attack against the government over the three farm laws, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that these legislations would damage country's food security system as also "break the spine of farmers" and that the country is being run by only four people with a 'Hum do, Hamare do' approach.

 

Gandhi, who was participating in the debate on Union budget in Lok Sabha, kept speaking on the three contentious agri laws, triggering protests from BJP members with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi urging Speaker Om Birla to direct Rahul to speak on the budget.

 

When the Speaker told Rahul to speak on the budget, he said he would talk only on the farmers' issue.

 

Rahul said the Prime Minister, in his reply to the discussions on motion of thanks to the President's address, had mentioned that the opposition is talking about the farmers agitation but was not speaking about the content and intent of the laws.

8:34 PM

Samyukta Kisan Morcha's four-point program to intensify farmers' stir

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday announced a 4-point program including "Rail Roko" across the country for four hours on February 18 in a move to intensify the ongoing farmers' agitation against the three farm laws.

 

The SKM, an umbrella body of the farmers' unions spearheading the protest against the new farm laws of the Central government held a meeting at Singhu border on Wednesday to chalk out further plans to intensify the movement.

 

Farmers' leader Darshan Pal said in a statement after the meeting that "Rail Roko" program will be held on February 18 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. across the country as a part of the agitations. The SKM has taken four decisions to intensify the movement, he said.

8:18 PM

Farmers being misled; govt open to amend farm laws if needed: Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday asserted the government is ready to talk openly on the new agricultural laws and amend them if needed even as he said the farmers agitating against the legislations are being "misled".

 

Singh, a former agriculture minister, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already clarified in Parliament that the existing MSP (minimum support price) system will continue and that the transactions under the new laws will be for the farmers' produce and not for their land.

 

In an address at an online event organised by the Madhya Pradesh government, the defence minister said the new farms laws were enacted to ensure the right price to the farmers for their produce and help them sell their produce anywhere in the country.

7:30 PM

Nitish backs Modi Govt on farm laws, hopes for a resolution soon

Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar on Thursday backed three contentious farm laws, saying these legislations are in the interest of farmers and not against them.

 

Speaking to reporters after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kumar said his party is with the government on the issue and that the Centre has opted for the right path by holding talks with the farmer unions agitating against the three laws.

 

"Hopefully, the issue will be resolved soon," the BJP ally said. READ ON...

7:21 PM

Farmers being misled; govt open to amend farm laws if needed: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday asserted the government is ready to talk openly on the new agricultural laws and amend them if needed even as he said the farmers agitating against the legislations are being "misled". Singh, a former agriculture minister, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already clarified in Parliament that the existing MSP (minimum support price) system will continue and that the transactions under the new laws will be for the farmers' produce and not for their land.

 

In an address at an online event organised by the Madhya Pradesh government, the defence minister said the new farms laws were enacted to ensure the right price to the farmers for their produce and help them sell their produce anywhere in the country.

 

"An atmosphere of confusion was created and it was said that the wholesale market will no longer exist, the MSP system will come to an end and the land of the farmers would be mortgaged," he said, adding the farmers were "misled" and these confusions were created by people with "vested interests".

7:14 PM

Delhi HC seeks status report on farmer's death during tractor rally

The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought a status report from the city police on a petition seeking court-monitored SIT probe into the death of a farmer whose tractor overturned during the tractor rally on Republic Day. The Delhi police informed Justice Yogesh Khanna that a "generic FIR" has also been registered by Delhi Police. The matter will now be heard on February 26.

 

On January 26, Navreet Singh died after his tractor overturned after ramming into police barricades. The accident was captured on CCTV camera.

 

Deceased's grandfather Hardeep Singh moved the court asserting that he was allegedly shot by policemen, due to which he lost control. The Delhi Police had earlier released a video showing a protester speeding and running over barricades with his tractor near ITO, resulting in the vehicle overturning. A post-mortem report revealed that the protester died due to the accident.

6:37 PM

Rahul attacks govt in Lok Sabha, says farm laws will damage rural economy

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked the government for the three agriculture laws that have triggered protests by farmers at Delhi's borders, saying these legislations will allow industrialists to buy unlimited quantity of foodgrains and hoard them. Lending his support to the ongoing farmers protests, he said in Lok Sabha that it was not an agitation of the farmers only but a movement of the country and the government will have to repeal the laws.

 

Gandhi also dramatically led his party members and those from the TMC and the DMK to observe a two-minute silence by standing to mourn the death of "200 farmers" during the ongoing agitation and said he was doing this as the government has not paid tributes to those who died during the protests.

 

"The intent of the three laws are to allow industrialists to buy unlimited quantity of foodgrains and hoard them as much as they want," he alleged.

6:20 PM

Govt asserting discussions were held on farm laws but RTI reply says there's no record: TMC

The government asserts discussions were held on the controversial agri laws but according to an RTI reply, there is no record, senior Trinamool Congress leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray on Thursday said in Parliament and wondered whose words were to be believed.

 

Participating in a discussion on Budget 2021, he said thousands of farmers are protesting at various Delhi borders against the new laws, which, he alleged, were brought by the government to open the farm sector to corporates.

 

Farmers are very angry and therefore no solution could emerge despite several rounds of discussions held between the central government and protesting farmers unions, he said and added that reasons behind farmers' anger is also reasonable.

6:08 PM

Farm laws allow industrialists to buy unlimited quantity of foodgrains and hoard them: Rahul Gandhi

The three farm laws allow industrialists to buy unlimited quantity of foodgrains and hoard them, says Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha

6:06 PM

New farm laws will destroy India's food security system; will hurt rural economy: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha

New farm laws will destroy India's food security system; will hurt rural economy: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha

 

5:33 PM

We are with Govt, it opted for right path by holding talks; Hopeful of resolution: Bihar CM on farmers protest

We are with Govt, it has opted for right path by holding talks; Hopeful of resolution soon: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on farmers' agitation

5:32 PM

Purpose of farm laws is to benefit farmers, it's not against them: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar after meeting PM Modi

Purpose of farm laws is to benefit farmers, it's not against them: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar after meeting PM Narendra Modi

4:42 PM

HC seeks Delhi govt, police stand on plea for SIT probe into death of farmer on Jan 26 tractor rally

The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought response of the AAP government and police on a plea seeking a court-monitored SIT probe into the death of a 25-year-old man who died after his tractor overturned during the protesting farmers' tractor rally on Republic Day.

 

Justice Yogesh Khanna issued notice to the Delhi government, Delhi Police, Uttar Pradesh Police and the Chief Medical Officer of District Hospital at Rampur, where the post mortem was carried out.

 

The court sought their stand on the petition moved by the deceased Navreet Singh's grandfather who has claimed that the victim has suffered gunshotinjuries to his head. The court directed the Delhi Police to file a status report with regard to the investigation on or before the next date of hearing on February26.

4:13 PM

Singhu border: Farmers improve facilities, infrastructure to prepare for prolonged protest

With a resolution of the stalemate over the new farm legislation seeming unlikely anytime soon, the agitating farmers at the Singhu border have started strengthening the infrastructure at the protest site to prepare for a long haul. The leaders of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, leading the protest, have reiterated to continue the agitation indefinitely till the Modi government scraps the three contentious farm laws and extends a legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

 

"We are strengthening our communication and other infrastructure to continue the agitation for a long period," said Deep Khatri associated with managing logistics at the Singhu Border protest site.

 

To increase security measures and keep miscreants at bay, 100 CCTV cameras with digital video recorders are being installed at the main stage used by the Morcha and also at some identified spots across the protest site's stretch on the GT Karnal Road.

3:52 PM

BJP could not convince Akali Dal on farm laws, how can it expect farmers to accept them: Sachin Pilot

BJP could not convince allies like Akali Dal on farm laws, how can it expect farmers to accept them: Sachin Pilot to PTI. BJP prone to making 'U-turns'; Cong stand on farm laws consistent, never backed anything contrary to farmers' interests: Sachin Pilot.

3:34 PM

Congress leader Sachin Pilot asks Centre to repeal three farm laws

Urging the Centre not to make the agri laws a "prestige issue", senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Thursday asserted that the government must let go of its "stubbornness" to immediately repeal the legislations, and said that when the BJP could not convince its allies like the Akali Dal and the RLP on the issue, how can it expect the farmers to accept the laws.

 

A day ahead of former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's visit to Rajasthan to raise the voice of the farmers against the farm laws, he said that the Centre should withdraw the laws and after thorough consultation with farmers and states, come up with a new set of legislations which the tillers would themselves want and is not something that is forced upon them.

 

In an interview with PTI, Pilot slammed the BJP for stating that the Congress had made a "U-turn" on the farm laws, saying it was the BJP which was prone to making 'U-turns', while his party was consistent on all issues.

3:24 PM

Farmers still agitating because govt has failed to give 'alternative': SKM

Farmers are still agitating because ministers of the Modi government have failed to present any "alternative" to the three new agri laws, the Samuykta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of 41 farmer unions, said on Wednesday.

 

The SKM is leading the protest against the three central farm laws at several border points of Delhi.

 

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address in Lok Sabha, SKM leader Darshan Pal said that union leaders have only been raising the "genuine" issues of the farmers. READ MORE...

3:18 PM

SP leader demands repeal of farm laws, guarantee on MSP in Rajya Sabha

SP leader Vishambhar Prasad Nishad on Thursday demanded a repeal of three contentious farm laws and pitched for a new law to make minimum support price (MSP) mandatory for the procurement of agriculture produce. Farmers are protesting against the three new farm laws for more than two months at Delhi's borders, demanding a repeal of these legislations. They are also pressing the government for making MSP mandatory.

 

Participating in a debate on the Union Budget in the Rajya Sabha, Nishad said, "The farm bills were drafted on the directions of corporates. When the farmers do not want these bills, why are these being imposed on them? I demand that the farm laws should be taken back and a new law to guarantee MSP should be brought."

 

He pointed out that there is no special package in the budget for the farmers of the parched Bundelkhand region. Nishad also drew the attention of the House towards incidents of farmer suicide due to crop loss and debt and demanded that all crops be covered under insurance.