LIVE: Govt defers 10th round of talks with farmers’ unions to Jan 20

LIVE: Farmer leaders on Sunday announced they would hold the rally peacefully without disrupting the official Republic Day celebrations.

Bhartiya kisan union president Rakesh Tikait attend a program at the Rashtriya Prerna Sthal & Green Garden in Noida, India. (Photo by Sunil Ghosh / Hindustan Times)

The ongoing farmers agitation against the three contentious agricultural laws entered day 54 on Monday. Also on the day, the Supreme Court heard a petition filed by the Centre seeking an injunction against the tractor rally announced by the protesting farmers for January 26, on the occasion of Republic Day, to build pressure on the government to repeal the laws, and adjourned further hearing to Wednesday. Addressing a press conference on Sunday, farmer unions leading the stir announced they would go ahead with the rally, which, they said, would be "peaceful" and carried out on the Outer Ring Road, without disrupting the official celebrations in Delhi....Read More

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• 18 Jan 2021, 10:54:17 PM IST

  Such arm-twisting tactics won't weaken farmers' resolve: Amarinder on NIA notices to union leaders

  Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday hit out at the central government over the National Investigation Agency (NIA) issuing notices to some farmer union leaders and those supporting the ongoing agitation against three new farm laws. "Do these farmers look like secessionists and terrorists? Such arm-twisting tactics will not weaken the resolve of the farmers to fight for their rights and their future," the chief minister said, referring to the NIA summons reportedly issued in connection with a case related to the banned Sikhs For Justice outfit.

• 18 Jan 2021, 10:35:31 PM IST

  Govt postpones 10th round of talks with farmers

  Govt postpones 10th round of talks with protesting farmers' leaders to Jan 20: Agriculture Ministry. Read more

• 18 Jan 2021, 09:30:39 PM IST

  Farmers' stir: Joint forum distances itself from its leader Chaduni's meeting with Oppn parties

  The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a joint forum of farmer organisations spearheading the ongoing protest against farm laws, on Monday disassociated itself from a meeting its constituent Gurnam Singh Chaduni had attended with some opposition leaders, and reiterated that the movement "will not have any direct engagement with any political party". A controversy erupted after Bhartiya Kisan Union-Haryana president Chaduni attended the meeting along with the opposition leaders in Delhi on Sunday and supported a call for convening a 'Jan Sansad' (People's Parliament) on the farmers' issue on January 22-23. In a statement, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) said its coordination committee "inquired into the controversial matter of Chaduni's meeting with several political parties".

• 18 Jan 2021, 08:52:38 PM IST

  Puducherry assembly passes resolution against farm laws; CM Narayanasamy tears up copies of acts

  The Puducherry Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution demanding repeal of the central farm laws after it witnessed high drama with Chief Minister V Narayanasamy tearing copies of the contentious acts against which farmers are protesting near Delhi. A special one-day session of the union territory assembly also passed another resolution reiterating its demand for full statehood, the tenth time it resorted to the measure since 1987. All three members of DMK, the ruling Congress' ally, were conspicuous by their absence while the entire opposition -- All India NR Congress, AIADMK and BJP boycotted the proceedings as the two resolutions were adopted by a voice vote.

• 18 Jan 2021, 08:44:33 PM IST

  Farmers not against any party but Centre's policy: Rakesh Tikait

  The farmers' fight is not with any political party but with the policy of the government, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) chief Rakesh Tikait said here on Monday, warning the ongoing protest over the farm laws could prolong further.

  Tikait, who has participated in the multiple rounds of dialogues between farmers unions and the government representatives in Delhi over the past 54 days, was in Noida where he addressed protestors belonging to the BKU's faction Lok Shakti. "Our fight is not with any party but the government. Here (in the protest) also we have people who support the BJP and will vote for them in the next election. But any party or ideology is not our concern. We are against the policy of the government," he said, addressing hundreds, including women and youth, at the Dalit Prerna Sthal.

• 18 Jan 2021, 08:41:13 PM IST

  Not leaving anytime soon: Rakesh Tikait, Spokesperson, Bhartiya Kisan Union

  We've come here with full preparations, we're not leaving anytime soon. We know that it (resolution of farmer protest) would not happen tomorrow. It (talks) might drag further for a month or two: Rakesh Tikait, Spokesperson, Bhartiya Kisan Union on tomorrow's meeting with govt

• 18 Jan 2021, 05:59:17 PM IST

  Just a few people disagreeing: Union minister on farm protests

  Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday said the protests against the Centre's farm laws were just a few people in disagreement, and added that the changes allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere like traders. Speaking to reporters in Betul, the Union minister for petroleum and gas also took a swipe at protesters claiming it was difficult to make those understand who wanted to remain asleep. "The disagreement of a few people cannot be called a farmers agitation. Is it there in Betul? MP agriculture minister Kamal Patel has shared his experiences with me. We are talking in a straight manner and are able to put forth our views in villages," he said.

• 18 Jan 2021, 04:05:18 PM IST

  Punjab CM targets Centre over NIA notices to farmers

  “Do these farmers look like secessionists and terrorists?,” Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh asks BJP-led Centre over NIA notices to farmers and those who have supported the protests.

• 18 Jan 2021, 03:09:45 PM IST

  Farmers hold tractor march at Chandigarh-Punjab border

  Thousands of farmers hold a tractor march at Chandigarh-Punjab border against the three farm laws.

• 18 Jan 2021, 02:52:16 PM IST

  Security tightened outside NIA office in Delhi

  Security tightened outside NIA office in Delhi. It had summoned around 40 people, including farmer leaders, for questioning.

• 18 Jan 2021, 02:19:46 PM IST

  Several political parties visit our tent: Chaduni

  Several political people visit our tent but it doesn't mean we are misusing them or vice versa. We never took anyone to the stage. People who are against us also come here. If they will come here to support us, we won't push them out but welcome them: Gurnam Singh Chaduni

• 18 Jan 2021, 02:18:03 PM IST

  Govt trying to break our protest, won't succeed: BKU chief Chaduni

  We will issue a notice to the newspaper that published the article, as well as Shiv Kumar Kakka. He should have provided some evidence. These are tricks of the government trying to break the protest and they won't be successful: BKU chief Gurnam Singh Chanduni

• 18 Jan 2021, 01:45:44 PM IST

  BJP's Harjit Singh Grewal faces protest

  Following a call of SKM to observe January 18 as ‘Mahila Kisan Diwas’, thousands of women held a protest against BJP leader Harjit Singh Grewal at his native town Dhanaula in Barnala district.

• 18 Jan 2021, 01:43:05 PM IST

  Farmers won't be scared, says Chhattisgarh CM

  Whenever there's a protest, BJP tries to malign it. As for protesting farmers, sometimes the BJP called them Pakistani or Khalistani. They even alleged that farmers are middleman's broker. Regardless of their attempts to suppress, farmers won't be scared: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel

• 18 Jan 2021, 01:33:22 PM IST

  Won't take Covid-19 vaccine till farm laws repealed: Farmers

  Several farmers protesting at Delhi’s borders have said they would not return to their home states to get vaccinated against Covid-19 before the three contentious farm laws were repealed.

• 18 Jan 2021, 01:00:48 PM IST

  Not associated with BKU chief's "all-party meeting": Sanyukt Kisan Morcha

  We're not associated with "all-party meeting" taken up by Gurnam Singh Chaduni (Bhartiya Kisan Union chief) with political parties: Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM)

• 18 Jan 2021, 12:46:26 PM IST

  Farmers observe 'Women Farmers Day'

  Protesting farmers observe January 18 as 'Women Farmers Day' to respect the incomparable role of women in agriculture.

• 18 Jan 2021, 12:40:45 PM IST

  Talks between govt-farmers stuck on MSP, call for repeal

  Talks between govt and farm leaders are stuck on two major demands by farmers: legal assurance for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and total repeal of laws. Of the four issues raised by farmers, the two sides have arrived at a consensus on two.

• 18 Jan 2021, 11:57:04 AM IST

  SC adjourns hearing on plea against tractor rally to Wednesday

  Supreme Court adjourns farmers' tractor rally issue till Wednesday.

• 18 Jan 2021, 11:55:51 AM IST

  Tractor rally by farmers "illegal": Attorney General Venugopal

  Attorney General KK Venugopal, appearing for Centre, says the rally will be "illegal" and there will likely be an entry of 5000 people in Delhi.

• 18 Jan 2021, 11:51:50 AM IST

  Hearing begins in SC on Centre's plea against tractor march

  SC begins hearing Centre's plea against proposed January 26 tractor march. CJI-headed bench says entry in Delhi law and order thing to be decided by police.

• 18 Jan 2021, 10:56:03 AM IST

  Key Delhi borders remain closed

  Delhi’s borders with its neighbouring states, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, remained closed at several points on Monday due to the ongoing farmers' agitation.

• 18 Jan 2021, 09:57:27 AM IST

  SC to also hear plea seeking removal of three other panel members

  The Supreme Court on Monday will also hear a plea filed by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lokshakti) seeking removal of three other members of the four-member committee set up by top court to oversee negotiations.

• 18 Jan 2021, 09:42:29 AM IST

  Next round of talks to take place on January 19

  Total nine rounds of talks have taken place between the government and farmer leaders. The ninth round took place on January 15 with the tenth scheduled for January 19.

• 18 Jan 2021, 08:41:27 AM IST

  Farmers have rejected panel constituted by top court

  The farmers unions have rejected the four-member panel constituted by the Supreme Court to oversee the mediation process. The members of the panel, farmers say, have already expressed pro-farm law views. One member of the panel has already stood down.

• 18 Jan 2021, 07:51:17 AM IST

  Farmers say will hold rally "peacefully"

  Protesting farmers on Sunday announced they would hold the rally peacefully, on Delhi's Outer Ring Road, without disrupting the official Republic Day celebrations.

• 18 Jan 2021, 07:26:41 AM IST

  SC to hear Centre's plea against tractor tally today

  The Supreme Court will on Monday hear a plea filed by the Centre against the tractor rally which farmers aim to hold on Republic Day to build pressure on the government to repeal the three laws.