Farmers’ Protest LIVE: Farmers Reject Govt Proposal, Announce Nationwide Dharna on Dec 14; Oppn Meets Prez

We Have Addressed all their Questions: BJP | We have given everything they (farmers) wanted. We addressed all of their questions: BJP Spokesperson, Iqbal Singh Lalpura to CNNNews18

In Picture | New Delhi: A Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) member at Ghazipur border during 'Delhi Chalo' protest march against the new farm laws, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)

UPDATE | Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar reaches Home Minister Amit Shah's residence as farmer leaders reject the central government's new proposal and have called for a nationwide strike on December 14. 

BJP Humiliating Elderly Farmers: Akhilesh Yadav | The BJP government at the Centre are humiliating the elderly farmers repeatedly by calling them to different places without reaching a concrete solution. The people of the country are angry and keenly watching every move of the Central government. The BJP must stop being the middleman to fulfil the interests of some rich industrialists: Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav

Duty of Govt to Resolve Issue: Pawar | 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: NCP leader Sharad Pawar

UPDATE | The government should not be under the illusion. Farmers won’t compromise. I am telling farmers that if you don’t stand up now then you can never stand up. We will stand with you. You are India: Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi

Given Memorandum to Prez: 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: CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury

Told Govt It's Imp to Repeal Farm Laws: Rahul Gandhi | We met the President and have said that its important that the farm laws be taken back. Manner in which these bills were passed without discussion and with no consultation with Kisans who have built this country have lead to loss of faith by the cultivators on this govt: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

Sharad Pawar on Farm Laws after Meeting with Prez | "We have always requested that the bill should be sent to the select committee. The bill was passed in a hurry and that is why we are seeing these protests by farmers," says NCP leader Sharad Pawar. 

UPDATE | "President has said that he will look into the crisis over the farm laws," says CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury as the meeting held at Rashtrapati Bhavan with opposition parties ends. 

Govt's Proposal an Insult to Farmers | "Our protest on December 14 will be nation wide protests," say farmer leaders as they reject the new proposal sent by the central government and termed it an insult to cultivators. "On the 14th, there is a call to all north Indian farmers to come to Delhi for "Dilli Chalo" march. Farmers in South India and other distant states will protest at district headquarters and indefinite protest sites will be started." There is a call for boycotting Jio services and similarly Adani/Ambani malls, products etc.

Farmer Leaders Reject Centre's Proposal, Threaten to Intensify Agitation | We have read the new proposal that the government has sent us and we have rejected it. If the laws are not repealed we will intensify our protests. New Dharna to be held on 14 December. The Jaipur Delhi Highway will be blocked on Dec 12: Farmer Leaders

AIKSCC Slams 'So Called New Proposal' by Central Govt | AIKSCC joins farmers organisations in denouncing and rejecting the insincere and arrogant so-called “new” proposal by the central government: All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee

UPDATE | Bharat Bandh on 8 December has proven beyond doubt all-India footprint of the popular farmers protests. AIKSCC congratulates all sections of society for support: All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) 

Farm Laws Threaten Food Security, 25 Oppn Leaders Extended Support: CPI(M) | 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 and also threatens our food security: CPI(M) General Secretary Chief Sitaram Yechury ahead of meeting with the President Ram Nath Kovind regarding farm laws

Rahul Gandhi Reaches Rashtrapati Bhawan | Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reaches Rashtrapati Bhawan for a meeting of joint delegation of opposition parties with President Ram Nath Kovind on farm laws.

UPDATE | It is important to pressurise the government. If the government-farmer talks don't go well, then what political support can be given to further agitation will be decided in the meeting of opposition parties leaders in Delhi by third week of Dec: SAD leader PS Chandumajra ahead of opposition party leaders' meeting with President Ram Nath Kovind on farmers crisis today

'Bharat Bandh' Befitting Reply to 'State-backed Anarchy': Shiv Sena | An editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'  criticised the BJP for calling the farmers' agitation as an "attempt to create anarchy" in the country and for labelling the protesting farmers as 'Khalistanis'. "What the BJP is doing in West Bengal is political chaos where caste and religious polarisation is being done. Threats of bloodshed and violence are being given. This is anarchy," it alleged.

Written MSP Assurance, Amendments on 7 Issues, Appeal in Civil Courts But No Repeal: Govt | As thousands of farmers continue to protest at various borders of the national capital demanding the repeal of three new farm laws, the government on Wednesday proposed to give a "written assurance" that the existing Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime for procurement will continue. READ MORE

Demands Non-negotiable, Roll Back 3 Agri Laws: Farmers | Farmers are saying nothing short of the withdrawal of three laws would be acceptable. The strike will continue until the government repeals the three laws, according to reports. 

WATCH | How Bharat Bandh Panned Out Across Different States

Govt Offers Amendments on 7 Issues, Including Weakening of Mandi System | In a draft proposal sent by Agriculture Ministry Joint Secretary Vivek Aggarwal, the government has proposed to give a "written assurance" that the existing Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime for procurement will continue. It also appealed to make necessary amendments on at least seven issues, including one to allay fears about the weakening of the mandi system.

Govt Offers Clarification on Farm Laws, No Response on Repeal | In a draft proposal sent to 13 agitating farmer unions, the government also said it is ready to provide all necessary clarifications on their concerns about the new farm laws enacted in September, but it did not mention anything about the main demand of protesting farmers for the repeal of the laws. 

Govt Prolonging Protests, Not Farmers: BKU | "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," Rajeev Nagar, the Gautam Buddh Nagar unit president of the BKU (Bhanu), told PTI.

UPDATE | Farmer Leaders to address a press conference at 5 pm today at Singhu Border: Sanyukta Kisan Andolan

'Work in Progress': Prakash Javadekar | If negotiations are going on between two parties, it will be considered work-in-progress. There can be no running commentary on this. It is work-in-progress, says Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.

Farm Scientist Varinderpal Singh Refuses to Accept FAI's Award | Varinderpal Singh, an agriculture scientist from Punjab Agricultural University, has refused to accept fertiliser industry body FAI's golden jubilee award in support of farmers' ongoing protest against new farm laws. READ MORE 

Ashok Gehlot on Farm Laws | What was the need for the Modi government to hurriedly bring this bill which forced the farmers to come on the streets?: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot

UPDATE | All three farm laws should be repealed. This is our demand. If the proposal talks of only amendments then we will reject it: Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu, Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Punjab at Singhu border

Farmers checking the draft proposal

Farmer leaders at Singhu Border receive a draft proposal from the Government of India#FarmLaws pic.twitter.com/zBQuOjY3F3

— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2020