Farm laws: In 700 vehicles, farmers from Amritsar start journey to join protestors in Delhi
Leaders of farmers’ unions have said that the government must come up with a ‘concrete proposal’ to address their demands.
Members of Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee on Thursday started their journey to Delhi to join the farmers’ protest. SS Pandher, a member of the committee, said that about 700 tractor trolleys were moving towards Delhi’s Kundli border.
Leaders of farm unions on Friday said they have not “shut the doors” for talks over the new agricultural laws, but the government must come up with a “concrete proposal” and address their demands in earnest.
This came after Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar once again made attempts to assuage the farmers’ anger, saying the government was unconditionally willing to hold talks with them “without any ego” to reach a common ground.
The Delhi Police, meanwhile, said that two officers – a deputy commissioner of police and and additional deputy commissioner of police, at the Singhu border have tested positive for coronavirus.
Hundreds of thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping along Delhi’s borders for over 15 days, saying they won’t leave until the government rolls back what they called the “black laws”. The Centre has tried to allay fears in several rounds of talks, but has refused to repeal the legislations.
Live updates
11.20 am: The Delhi Police say that two Indian Police Service officers have tested positive for the coronavirus at the Singhu border, ANI reports.
11.18 am: Bhartiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait says that the government should repeal the farm laws and then the farmers will return home, reports ANI.
11.11 am: Charity service from Amritsar provides meals to protesting farmers at Ghazipur border. “There’s no count of people who’re fed,” says a member of the charity. “From 5am-9pm, we serve food. We’ll continue until govt [government] listens to farmers.”
Delhi: Charity service from Amritsar provides meals to agitating farmers who're protesting new farm laws, at Ghazipur border
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2020
"There's no count of people who're fed. From 5am-9pm we serve food. We'll continue until govt listens to farmers," says senior member of the establishment pic.twitter.com/1BYl7GmBgD
10.47 am: Members of Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee start their journey to Delhi to join the farmers’ protest, reports ANI. “Around 700 tractor trolleys are moving towards Delhi’s Kundli border,” says Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee member SS Pandher says.
8.52 am: The Shiromani Akali Dal on Thursday asked the Centre why it was “standing on prestige” to revoke the farm laws, when it was willing to change the controversial clauses of the legislations, reports The Hindu.
“After all, if you are conceding all the demands of the farmers, why not put it all in the new Act and end the debate once and for all?” the party said in a resolution passed at its core committee meeting, presided over by its president Sukhbir Singh Badal.
8.47 am: Farmer union leaders said they have not “shut the doors” for talks over the new agricultural laws, but the government must come up with a “concrete proposal”, reports The Hindu.
Addressing a press conference at the Singhu border, Bharatiya Kisan Union President Balbir Singh Rajewal said that proposals sent by the government on Wednesday were discussed several times before and there was nothing new in them.
8.34 am: Farmers continue their protest at Tikri border.
Farmers protest against Centre's farm laws at Tikri border enters 16th day
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2020
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar yesterday said that the government is open for further discussions with farmers and they should end their agitation pic.twitter.com/FEC8G0n48h
8.33 am: The Delhi Police say that two officers – a deputy commissioner of police and and additional deputy commissioner of police, at the Singhu border have tested positive for coronavirus, reports ANI.
8.30 am: Here are the top updates from Thursday