Farmers’ protests LIVE Updates: Acting to ‘garner votes,’ say farmers as they refuse to use govt provided amenities
Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Nationwide stir against the Centre’s three contentious farm laws has reached day 14. While farmers want a complete repeal of the laws, the government has indicated it won’t take back the three laws.
The nationwide stir against the Centre’s three contentious farm laws on Wednesday entered day 14 and there are no signs of a resolution in sight. On Tuesday, farm unions across the country held a nationwide Bharat Bandh against the three laws from 11am-3pm, which was largely peaceful. Late last night, in a bid to break the deadlock, Union home minister Amit Shah chaired a meeting with 13 farm leaders. However the meeting, which was reportedly ‘informal,’ was inconclusive, just like the five rounds of talks which have taken place between the government and farmers, including three last week.
Also Read | No headway as farmers tell Amit Shah they want full rollback
Speaking to media after the meeting, farm union leaders said they reiterated to Shah their demand of a complete repeal but Shah reportedly said the government will not rollback the laws. Instead, he is said to have told farmers Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar would present a “concrete” proposal in Wednesday’s scheduled sixth round talks. Farm leaders, however, told media they would take a call on whether to go ahead with Wednesday’s talks or not.
Later in the day, a group of five Opposition leaders will meet President Ram Nath Kovind to discuss the farmers’ agitation and seek a repeal of the laws.
Also Read | Opposition leaders likely to meet President, seek repeal of farm laws
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Watch | Punjabi singer Ammy Virk comes out in support of Farmers’ protest
Farmers rightly rejected govt’s proposal: SAD’s Harsimrat Kaur Badal
“Five months’ non-stop protests, 6 marathon meetings, 15 nights spent in chill on Delhi roads by Annadata pleading with GoI to withdraw #AntiFarmerActs but their pain goes unfelt! Centre packaged old wine in new bottle. Farmers have rightly rejected the proposal & SAD stands by them,” tweets Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
Farmers refuse to use govt provided amenities at Burari ground
Farmers gathered at Nirankari Samagam ground in Burari, refuse to utilise government amenities.
“A struggle is always done by ones’ own abilities. We accept help from sympathisers to the cause but not from governments. They only act to garner votes,” ANI quoted a farmer leader as saying.
Modi government has betrayed farmers: Rahul Gandhi
“The farmer of the country has understood that the Modi government has betrayed him and now he is not going to back down because he knows that if he compromises today, his future will not survive. Farmer is Hindustan!” tweets Congress’ Rahul Gandhi.
“We are all with the farmer, keep fighting,” he also wrote.
It is govt’s duty to resolve this issue: NCP’s Pawar
“There was a request from all opposition parties for in-depth discussion of farm bills and that it should be sent to select committee, but unfortunately, no suggestion was accepted and bills were passed in hurry,” says NCP chief Sharad Pawar after the meeting between opposition leaders and President Kovind.
“In this cold, the farmers are on the streets protesting peacefully, expressing their unhappiness. It is the duty of the government to resolve this issue,” said Pawar.
Gave memorandum asking to repeal agriculture laws to President: Yechury
We have given a memorandum to the President. We are asking to repeal agriculture laws and electricity amendment bill that were passed in anti-democratic manner without proper discussions and consultations, says Sitaram Yechury, CPI-M.
Farmers will not compromise: Rahul Gandhi
‘Farmers will not compromise, they know that there is no future if they do don’t take a stand today,’ says Rahul Gandhi after meeting the President.
“We informed the President that it is absolutely critical that these anti-farmer laws are taken back,” Gandhi also said.
Farmers to block Delhi-Jaipur and Delhi-Agra highways
‘We will block Delhi-Jaipur and Delhi-Agra highways on 12th December’ say farmer leaders at Singhu border.
Farmers to gheraoed BJP offices on December 14
On 14th December, BJP offices will be gheraoed, protest demonstrations will be held in many parts of the country. We are also giving a call to farmers from other parts of the country to reach Delhi, said farmer leaders at Singhu border.
We reject the government’s proposals: Farmers’ union
The farmers announced to block Delhi-Jaipur highway by December 12 as deadlock with the government over farm laws remains.
‘We reject the government’s proposals,’ said Darshan Pal, President of Krantikari Kisan Union.
More than 25 opposition parties have extended
“More than 25 opposition parties have extended their support towards the demand of withdrawing the three laws. These laws are not in India’s interests & also threatens our food security,” said Sitaram Yechury of CPI-M party ahead of meeting with the President against farm laws.
Rahul Gandhi reaches Rashtrapati Bhawan
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reached Rashtrapati Bhawan for the meeting of joint delegation of opposition parties with President Ram Nath Kovind over the contentious farm laws.
‘Govt prolonging protest’: Farmers’ union leader
Speaking on protest continuing for the days now, farmer leaders blames government for delay in the resolving the deadlock.
Rajeev Nagar, a local farmers’ union leader said, “It is not the farmers but the government that is prolonging the protest.” “The government knows our demands and knows well about our peaceful demonstration. It can address our concern and we will be gone. We do not want to sit here for long, we have got our farms and cattle to look after,” said Nagar, the Gautam Buddh Nagar unit president of the BKU (Bhanu), PTI reported.
‘Work in progress,’ says Javadekar on progress in talk
“It is work in progress,” said Union minister Prakash Javadekar after he was asked about progress in talks between government and farmers over the farm laws`
Farmers remain firm on demand of complete withdrawal of farm laws
As the talks with government’s offer to amend farm laws fail, the farmers remained firm on the demand for for a repeal of the legislations. “All three farm laws should be repealed. This is our demand,” said Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu, Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Punjab at Singhu border.
“If the proposal talks of only amendments then we will reject it,” he also said.
Farmers receive draft proposal at Singhu border
Farmer leaders at Singhu Border received a draft proposal of the amendments in the farm laws from the Government of India, reported ANI.
The draft proposal has been sent by Vivek Aggarwal, Joint Secretary in Agriculture Ministry.
If government is stubborn, so are farmers, says BKU spokesperson Tikait
BKU spokesperson Rakesh Singh Tikait says unions will strategise in meeting and discuss Centre’s proposal. “Farmers won’t go back as it’s a matter of their respect. If government is stubborn, so are farmers. Laws have to be withdrawn,” says Tikait.
Madhya Pradesh CM says farmers “stand with PM Modi”
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan says farmers stand with PM Modi, thanks the farmers of the state for making Tuesday’s Bharat Bandh “ineffective.”
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh advises PM Modi to “leave his stubbornness”
“Modi ji should leave his stubbornness. It is a matter of farmers, such stubbornness is not right for anyone. All three laws should be repealed. Joint Parliamentary Committee should be formed, that will find a solution after talking to farmers,” says senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh.
Meeting can be held tomorrow if we find government’s proposal positive, says farm union leader Hannan Mollah
Hannan Mollah, general secretary, All Indian Kisan Sabha (AIKS) says if farm unions find government’s letter “positive,” Wednesday’s sixth round meeting, which now stands cancelled, can take place on Thursday.
Govt will today give written proposal to Kisan Unions, says MoS Som Prakash
“Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Kisan Unions yesterday about amendments. Government will today give a written proposal to Kisan Unions and they’ll think over it. Whatever will be in the interest of country and farmers, is being considered by all,” says Som Parkash, MoS, Commerce and Industry.
‘Sixth round of talks cancelled, will discuss Centre’s draft proposal’: Rakesh Tikait
“Sixth round of talks with government is cancelled. We’ll hold a meeting over the draft that will be sent by the Centre. Draft will be discussed and further course of action will be decided. We hope things will be clear by 4-5pm today,” says BKU’s Rakesh Tikait.
Farmers continue to camp at Singhu border as protests enter day 14
Farmers continue to camp at Singhu border (Haryana-Delhi border) to protest against the farm laws as protests reach day 14.
‘Meeting was positive, government will give a proposal to farmer leaders’: BKU’s Rakesh Tikait
“The meeting was positive. The government will give a proposal to farmer leaders which will be discussed. We want withdrawal of the three farm bills but government wants amendments in the bills,” says Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait.
