Farmers protest LIVE: Have invited farmers for talks on Dec 1, says Tomar

Farmers protest LIVE updates: Supply of vegetables and fruits to the city from other states has been impacted

2:06 AM

SFI takes out rally in Kolkata in solidarity with farmers protesting Central agri laws

Hundreds of activists of the Students Federation of India, a left wing students union, took out a rally in Kolkata on Monday in solidarity with farmers holding protests in the national capital's borders against the Central farm reform laws. The participants of the rally, from different colleges and universities in the city and elsewhere, raised slogans against the new farm laws and covered a distance of 2 kms Subodh Mallick Square to Esplanade in central Kolkata.

"The Narendra Modi government has opened the farm sector to big corporates which pushed small and marginal farmers faced with extreme financial stress. "Our fight is to protect the interest of small and marginal farmers who are the backbone of India," SFI state committee leader Subhajit Sarkar said.

1:23 AM

All India Taxi Union threatens to go on strike if demands of agitating farmers not met within 2 days

The All India Taxi Union on Monday threatened to go on strike if the demands of the farmers, protesting against the Centre's new farm laws at different border points of the national capital, are not met within two days. President of the Union, Balwant Singh Bhullar, said they are giving two days to the central government to meet the demands of the farmers. "We request the prime minister, home minister and agriculture minister to revoke these laws. The corporate sector is destroying us.

"If government does not take these laws back in two days, then we will remove our vehicles from the roads. We request all drivers across India to stop their vehicles from December 3," Bhullar said. Peaceful sit-ins by farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, continued for the fifth day at the Singhu and Tikri borders, while the numbers of protestors swelled at the Ghazipur border. Farmers have come to Delhi for a "decisive battle" and will continue their stir against the new agri-marketing laws, their leaders said, adding that they will continue their agitation until their demands are met.

Security was beefed up by the Delhi Police and concrete barriers placed at all borders points connecting the city with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as the farmers threatened to block all highways to the national capital after rejecting the Centre's offer that they shift the protest to Burari to start a dialogue before the scheduled date of December 3.

12:44 AM

'Barred entry of illegal people' among protesting farmers to avoid clash, says BKU leader

Bhartiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said on Monday that they have "barred entry of illegal people" among the protesting farmers to avoid any clash. He, however, said police and other paramilitary personnel can visit their gathering. Tikait also said the protesting farmers at Ghazipur border have been in touch with the Centre and would join talks if there are any. "They (police) have imposed Section 144 so we have imposed section 288 to block entry of any illegal persons and those who are used to giving speeches. This will save us from any clash," Tikait told reporters.

He said the BKU protesters at Ghazipur have a good coordination with farmers protesting at other border points of Delhi. "The farmers have surrounded Delhi. More will join in," he said. There was heavy security deployment at the UP-Delhi Gate with some groups of farmers from Uttar Pradesh staging a protest at the Ghazipur border. Around 200 farmers along with their vehicles arrived at Ghazipur border on Saturday as part of 'Delhi Chalo' march call given by farmer organisations against the new central agri laws.

They had tried to enter Delhi, but after talks with senior police officers they moved back to UP Gate. They have refused to head to the designated ground in Burari fpr protest, a police officer.

11:47 PM

Have invited farmer unions on December 1 for discussion: Tomar

When Farm laws were brought, they caused some misconception among farmers. We held two rounds of talks with farmer leaders -on Oct 14 & Nov 13. At that time too we had urged them to not go for agitation & that the govt is ready for talks. It was decided that next round of talks will be held on Dec 3 but farmers are agitating, it's winter & there's COVID. So meeting should be held earlier. So farmer leaders - present in 1st round of talks - have been invited at Vigyan Bhavan on Dec 1 at 3 pm: Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar

 

11:26 PM

Kumaraswamy asks Centre to hold talks with agitating farmers

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Monday asked the Centre to hold talks with protesting farmers at the borders of Delhi to remove misgivings they have on the new agri-marketing laws. "The #FarmersProtest in Delhi against the Centre's new agricultural legislation has entered the fifth day. The Centre, which has stated that such laws have been brought in to help farmers, should immediately hold talks with protesters and make efforts to remove their suspicions," the JD(S) leader tweeted.

He said the suspicion among farmers and people about the laws would continue to grow further if the government did not address their concerns. Kumaraswamy advised the government not to put any pre- conditions for talks like asking the farmers to move to Burari Park for their demonstration. "My sincere suggestion is to hear the grievances of farmers at the place where they are presently located or at a place of their choice," he said in another tweet. Noting that the farmers' dharna at Singhu border in the harsh winter and prevalence of the coronavirus had entered the fifth day,he said it was not right to leave them in such an adverse condition, "in the interest of their health".

"The Centre will be responsible if any of the protesters face health problems. In this context, it is better to hear their plea at the earliest," the JD(S) leader tweeted. The new farm bills, he opined, were not in the interest of the agriculture sector and the people at large. Thousands of farmers are continuing their stir against the Centre's new farm laws at the Delhi-Haryana border for the fifth day today.

10:35 PM

Case registered against unknown persons in link to clash between farmers, police

Case registered against unknown persons on 27th November at Alipur police station in connection with the clash between farmers and police at Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana) in which public properties were damaged: Delhi Police

10:07 PM

Farmers threaten to block Delhi entry points, police ups security at border

A day after the agitating farmers threatened to block all entry points to the national capital, the Delhi Police on Monday enhanced security deployment at all the borders points connecting the city with neighbouring states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Rejecting the Centre's offer to hold talks once they move to the Burari ground, the farmers protesting against the new agricultural reform laws have been staying put at Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur borders.

 

"Delhi Police has strengthened its presence at various border points in the wake of the farmers protest. All internal and outside forces have been mobilised to the maximum," a senior police officer said. Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava visited Singhu border to take stock of the security arrangements. "They (farmers) have been given an offer and the arrangements are better at the Burari instead on the road. On the road, there are issues for commuting. Here, there is no toilet or water, whereas the arrangements in Burari are better. The police have made good arrangements and we are ready for any situation," he said.

9:39 PM

Dadri MLA resigns from chairman's post to join farmers' protest

I've resigned as Haryana Pashudhan Board Chairman in support of ongoing farmers movement. Tomorrow morning at 10 am, all members of Sangwan Khap will proceed to Delhi & we will support protesting farmers till the very end: Sombir Sangwan, Sangwan Khap Pradhan & Dadri MLA

9:08 PM

Protesting farmers say got MSP this kharif season; worry if they will get after 4-5 yrs

"I have sold about 125 quintals of kharif paddy in an APMC mandi and received MSP payment in my bank account. But what is the guarantee this will continue if such trade is permitted outside mandis. This is our worry," said a protesting farmer Ranveer Singh at Singhu border here.

 

Ranveer Singh 44, Pradhan of Shahbazpur village in Tarn Taran district of Punjab, has travelled with his fellow 125 farmers in six tractor-trolleys covering a distance of about 425 km in this winter and reached at the Delhi border. Like other protesting farmers associated with over 32 farm organizations, his only demand is "repeal of the three new farm laws" enacted by the central government which he fears will dismantle the MSP system and put next generation farmers at risk of exploitation by private players.

 

"No doubt, we are getting MSP now. We are not sure we will get it after 4-5 years. This fight is to protect the interest of next generation farmers," he said.

 

Stating that many options are given under new laws to trade outside mandis, he said however this will only weaken the existing government's APMC (Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee) mandi system.

8:50 PM

Delhi Police enhances security at border as farmers threaten to block entry points

A day after the agitating farmers threatened to block all entry points to the national capital, the Delhi Police on Monday enhanced security deployment at all the borders points connecting the city with neighbouring states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Rejecting the Centre's offer to hold talks once they move to the Burari ground, the farmers protesting against the new agricultural reform laws have been staying put at Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur borders.

 

"Delhi Police has strengthened its presence at various border points in the wake of the farmers protest. All internal and outside forces have been mobilised to the maximum," a senior police officer said.

 

Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava visited Singhu border to take stock of the security arrangements.

 

"They (farmers) have been given an offer and the arrangements are better at the Burari instead on the road. On the road, there are issues for commuting. Here, there is no toilet or water, whereas the arrangements in Burari are better. The police have made good arrangements and we are ready for any situation," he said.

8:33 PM

CPI(M) general secretary Yechury slams Modi for defending new farm laws

8:20 PM

Farmers protesting against new agri laws will stay put at UP Gate border: BKU

Farmers protesting against the Centre's new agri laws will stay put at the UP Gate border of the national capital, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Uttar Pradesh secretary Harendra Nehra said on Monday, asserting that they will not move till the legislations are rolled back. More are continuously arriving at the protest site from various districts of the state and "we are camping here" till the Centre fulfils farmers' demands, he said.

 

BKU national president Naresh Tikait, who is at the UP Gate border, said, "We have sufficient ration to continue till the next Republic Day, if our demands are not met".

 

"We will not go for a dialogue at the Sant Nirankari ground in Burari in Delhi. We will talk with the government on our own conditions at the Ramlila ground in the national capital," he said.

 

BKU state vice president Rajbir Singh said that farmers associated with the BKU have installed a temporary tent on the road and converted it into Tikait's residence.

8:07 PM

LIVE: Farmers continue their protest against Farm Laws at Singhu Border

7:53 PM

Punjab farmers at Singhu border pray, light diyas' on Guru Nanak Jayanti

Thousand of farmers from Punjab agitating at the Singhu borders of the national capital offered prayers, lit 'diyas' (earthen lamps), exchanged sweets as well as greeted each other on Guru Nanak Jayanti on Monday as they took a pledge to continue their fight against the Centre's new agri laws. Many among the thousands of farmers said for them, Guru Nanak Jayanti meant facing difficulties together and staying positive even during the toughest times.

 

Gurpal Singh (25) who has come all the way from Patiala along with his 85-year-old grandfather, Ajaib Singh was among the thousands of others who have stayed put at the Delhi-Haryana border for the fifth consecutive day here to protest the farm laws. He said Guru Nanak Jayanti is of the biggest festival for Sikhs and but even staying away from their homes on this day has not deterred their spirits.

 

"This is the biggest festival for sikhs. In the morning, prayers were held. We lit candles in the evening and greeted each other," he said.

 

Thousands of farmers continued to protest at the Delhi-Haryana border even as the police enhanced security measures at the border points of the national capital.

7:45 PM

Farmers' strike LIVE: Will protest until demands are met, say unions