LIVE: SC-appointed committee can't resolve crisis over farm laws says Sukhbir Badal

The Supreme Court-appointed committee on the three new farm laws will hold its first meeting in Delhi today. The panel will hold an internal consultation over the contentious laws which has prompted farmers to hit streets for almost 55 days now. As per the top court's order, the panel is required to send the report in two months.

On Monday, the Centre postponed the tenth round of talks between its representatives and farmers to January 20. Earlier it was scheduled for today.

As the ninth round of talks between the central government and farmer unions on January 15 remained inconclusive, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had said the unions have been asked to form informal groups among themselves and submit a draft to the government regarding their demands. Tomar had assured the agitating farmers that government will their demands with an "open mind".

Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws - Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

Follow all the live updates here:

Follow all the updates here:

• JAN 19, 2021 10:16 PM IST

  SC-appointed committee can't resolve crisis over farm laws: Sukhbir Badal

  Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday claimed the Supreme Court-appointed committee could not play any constructive role in resolving the deadlock between the farmers and the Centre following the latter's refusal to accept peasants' demand of repealing the farm laws. He also said that 'kisan shakti' had the power to "wipe out" the BJP. Badal was speaking to the media after holding ward-level meetings in Nawanshahr, Banga and Phagwara. The committee formed by the apex court could not play any constructive role in resolving the crisis following the central government's refusal to repeal the three agricultural laws, he said.

• JAN 19, 2021 08:02 PM IST

  NCP chief, Maha CM to take part in protest against farm laws

  Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar will take part in a protest to be staged here in support of the farmers agitating against Centre's three new farm laws on borders of New Delhi, state Minister Nawab Malik said on Tuesday.

  Some farmers' organisations have planned to hold protests in Mumbai from January 23 to January 25. "Sharad Pawar will take part in the protest to be held at Azad Maidan (in south Mumbai) on January 25. The NCP has opposed the farm laws. The chief minister and leaders of the ruling MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) will also take part," said Malik, who is the national spokesperson of the NCP.

• JAN 19, 2021 03:10 PM IST

  Panel members outlines 'challenge' ahead of discussions

  Biggest challenge before panel is to convince farmers to speak to us and share; We'll make all possible efforts: Member Anil Ghanwat

  — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 19, 2021

  SC-appointed panel member says it will be one of primary objectives to convince farmers to speak to the members and share their concerns, report PTI.

• JAN 19, 2021 02:46 PM IST

  First meet with farmers on Jan 21: Anil Ghanwat

  It has been decided that the first meet with farmers will be held on Jan 21st. Physical meeting will be held with those organisations who want to meet us in person. Video conferencing will be held with those who can't come to us: Anil Ghanwat, member of SC-formed committee

• JAN 19, 2021 01:59 PM IST

  'Tragedy unfolding today in country', says Rahul Gandhi on protest over farm laws

  "There is tragedy unfolding today in country, govt wants to ignore issue & misinform the country. I'm not going to speak about farmers alone as it is only part of tragedy. It's important for youngsters. This is not about present but about your Future," saysCongress leader Rahul Gandhi

• JAN 19, 2021 01:47 PM IST

  Rahul Gandhi releases a booklet about farm laws

  
  

  The book released by Gandhi in Delhi higlights the pitaflls in the contentious legislation."There is tragedy unfolding today in country, govt wants to ignore issue & misinform the country. I'm not going to speak about farmers alone as it is only part of tragedy. It's important for youngsters. This is not about present but about your Future," said Rahul Gandhi.

• JAN 19, 2021 01:06 PM IST

  We stand by farmers of this country: DK Shivakumar

  "We stand by farmers of this country. Supreme Court has stayed the laws. They shouldn't stay but scrap it. This is what Congress demands. The farmers' demand is justified. On behalf of Congress party, we are holding a big protest tomorrow to support them," said DK Shivkumar, Congress.

• JAN 19, 2021 11:43 AM IST

  Farm laws will go back the same route it came from: Farmers' union

  
  

  Bharatiya Kisan Union spokersperson, Rakesh Tikait said noone from the agitation will be participating in the meeting of SC panel. "We're not going (to first meeting of SC-formed committee). Nobody from the agitation approached Court. Govt brought Bill through Ordinance, it was tabled in the House. It'll go back the same route it came from," he also said, ANI reported.

• JAN 19, 2021 10:13 AM IST

  Delhi’s Singhu, Tikri borders remain completely blocked

  The traffic situation at the Delhi-Ghaziabad border and at the Delhi-Noida border remained the same on Tuesday as vehicular movement on the carriageway going towards Delhi continued to be blocked by farmer groups. Singhu and Tikri borders, however, continued to remain completely blocked as they have been since November 26 because of the ongoing farmers’ agitation. Read more

• JAN 19, 2021 09:35 AM IST

  Protests enter 55th day today

  

  A farmer reads a Newspaper under a tent covering with posters during a protest against new farm laws at Singhu Border, in New Delhi. (ANI)

• JAN 19, 2021 06:43 AM IST

  SC panel on farm laws to begin work on January 19

  A committee appointed by the Supreme Court to scrutinise three agricultural laws that have prompted farmers to stage a months-long protest will meet on January 19 for its first round of internal consultations, a member of the panel said. Read more