During the meeting today, the farmers union went on a 'maun vrat' (vow of silence) and sought a reply in 'yes' or 'no' on their key demand of repealing the three new farm laws. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)Farmers’ Protest Today Live Updates: As talks between the govt and the farmer unions remained inconclusive for the fifth time, the government on Saturday sought time from unions to present a concrete proposal and proposed another meeting on December 9. During the meeting today, the farmers union went on a ‘maun vrat’ (vow of silence) and sought a reply in ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on their key demand of repealing the three new farm laws. They also threatened to walk out if the government was not willing to scrap the laws.
Union leaders said they do not want anything less than the complete repeal of the laws, which they claim are the laws meant to end the mandi system and minimum support price procurement system to give for benefits of corporates. During the meeting, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar also appealed to the union leaders to send back the elderly, women and children to their homes from the protest sites and assured that farmers procurement at minimum support price will continue.
The talks between the government and the protesting unions began around 2.30 pm and was also attended by Railway, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash. Thousands of farmers are protesting on various borders of the national capital since November 26, seeking repeal of three farm laws enacted in September. Earlier today, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Narendra Singh Tomar visited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in New Delhi, news agency ANI reported.
Farmers union outside Vigyan Bhawan after meeting the Centre over farm laws. After more than four hours of discussions with three union ministers and senior officials, farmer leaders said the government sought more time for internal consultations to present a final proposal in the next meeting to resolve the issue. Express Photo By Amit Mehra
Even as talks between Centre and farmers' groups ended in a deadlock for the fifth time, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said, " I want to assure farmers that Modi govt was fully committed to you, & will remain so in future. Under PM Modi's leadership, several agricultural schemes have been implemented. Budget & MSP has also increased."
"We wanted some firm suggestions from farmer leaders, but couldn't get those; We will meet again on Dec 9," he added.
'Farmers should keep faith in Modi govt that whatever will be done, it will be in their interest. I want to thank Farmers' unions for maintaining the discipline...Since talks couldn't be completed today, we've called for another meeting on 9th December,' said Union Agriculture Minister.
Assuring farmers their commitment towards resolving the issue, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar reiterated that MSP will continue and that there is no threat to it. "We have said that the MSP will continue, there is no threat to it. It is baseless to doubt this. Still, if someone is suspicious then the government is ready to resolve it," he said.
"We've told farmers that govt will consider all their aspects. It would've been easier for us to find a solution if we get suggestions from farmers' leaders...We request Kisan unions to send elderly & children back home in wake of Covid & cold weather," he added.
Punjabi singers perform at Singhu border to express solidarity with protesting farmers
As the fifth round of talks between the govt and the farmer unions remained inconclusive, the government sought time from unions to present a concrete proposal after further consultations and proposed another meeting on December 9.
Farmers' group went on a 'maun vrat' (vow of silence) during their fifth round of talks with the government and sought a reply in 'yes' or 'no' on their key demand of repealing the three new farm laws, union leaders said. As their meeting with three union ministers, including Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, continued for nearly four hours, farmer leaders told the government to reply in "black and white" that whether it will repeal the laws or not. "Farmer union leaders are sitting on a 'maun vrat'," Punjab Kisan Union leader Ruldhu Singh said.
Halfway through the talks between the Centre and the farmers union, the latter threatened to walk out if the government was not willing to scrap the the three laws enacted in September.
However, the government managed to convince them to continue with the talks and offered to take back cases filed against farmers for stubble burning, as also the cases filed against some farmer activists. Later in the evening, the ministers began talking to smaller groups of 3-4 farmer leaders, out of the total 35 representatives present there.
Delhi: Singer & actor Diljit Singh Dosanjh on Saturday addressed protesting farmers at Singhu border. A day ago, Dosanjh and Kangana Ranaut got into a war of words over the Panga actor’s tweet about a Punjabi woman involved in the farmers’ protest.
"We have only one request to Centre..please fulfil the demands of our farmers. Everyone is sitting here peacefully & entire country is with farmers," ANI quoted him.
Traffic moved bumper to bumper on key routes in Delhi on Saturday as thousands of protesting farmers stayed put at the national capital's borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for the 10th day on the trot. The Delhi Traffic Police took to Twitter to inform commuters about the closure of Singhu, Lampur, Auchandi, Safiabad, Piao Maniyari, and Saboli borders. It also said that National Highway-44 was closed on both sides. The police instructed commuters to take alternative routes via National Highway-8, Bhopra, Apsara border, and Peripheral expressway.
Several former sportspersons from Punjab including Padma Shri and Arjuna awardees left for Delhi on Saturday to return their awards in support of the farmers' protest against the Centre's three agriculture reform laws. They will join the farmers camping at the national capital's Singhu border on Saturday before returning their awards to the president the next day.
"We have left for Delhi today and will join the farmers' protest," said former wrestler Kartar Singh, who is a Padma Shri and Arjuna awardee. "Many former players like Sajjan Singh Cheema who could not join us because of health or other issues have given their sports awards to us," he said. The sportspersons said they have sought time from President Ram Nath Kovind to return the awards. "If are not allotted a time to meet the president, we will place our awards outside the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday," said former hockey player Rajbir Kaur.
Extending support to farmers protesting outside Delhi against Centre's three contentious farm laws, the DMK on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold talks with them and demanded withdrawing the legislations. DMK president M K Stalin and senior party leaders staged protests in different parts of the state,extending support to the farmers, mostly from Punjab, who have been agitating for nearly 10 days outside the national capital. Stalin, Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly, led a well-attended protest demonstration here, which happens to be the native district of Chief Minister K Palaniswami.
At Vigyan Bhawan, farmer leaders having lunch arranged from their langer (community kitchen).
Seeking to break the deadlock over protests against new farm laws, the government on Saturday told representatives of agitating farmers that they are ready to address all their concerns with an open mind, PTI reported citing its sources.
Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, an MP from Punjab, addressed the leaders in Punjabi and said the government understands the sentiments of Punjab. "We are ready to address all your concerns with an open mind," a source quoted Parkash as telling the union leaders. The talks between the government and the protesting unions began around 2.30 pm and was also attended by Railway, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal.
The talks between the government and the protesting unions began at the Vigyan Bhawan here around 2.30 pm. Both the sides are currently discussing contentious issues like provision of dispute resolution and registration of traders in proposed private mandis under the new laws.
Fifth round of meeting between farmers' representatives and the Central government underway at Vigyan Bhawan. The farmers' representatives have asked the Central Govt to give a pointwise written reply of the last meeting, to which the govt has agreed.
People have a right to demonstrate peacefully and authorities need to let them do so, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said while speaking on the farmers' protests in India, PTI reported. "As to the question of India, what I would say to you is what I've said to others when raising these issues is that people have a right to demonstrate peacefully, and authorities need to let them do so," Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said on Friday. India has termed the remarks by foreign leaders on protests by farmers "ill-informed" and "unwarranted" as the matter pertained to the internal affairs of a democratic country.
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar reaches Vigyan Bhawan to hold talks with agitating farmers.
Representatives of farmers' unions have reached Vigyan Bhawan where they are scheduled to meet the Central ministers for discussion over the contentious farm laws. "We want to complete rollback of the laws. If the government doesn't accept our demand, we will continue our agitation" said Harjinder Singh Tanda, state chief of Azad Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Punjab.
Ahead of the fifth round of talks with Centre, the farmers at the Singhu border sent out a message that they will walk out of the meeting if they do not agree to scrap the farm laws. "If they agree, we will continue with further talks or will walk out of the meeting immediately. Hence, we are not expecting this meeting to last long," Jagmohan Singh Patiala, working committee member of All India Kisan Sangrash Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) said Saturday.