Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates: Security Beefed Up as Protesters Threaten to Block Delhi-Jaipur Road; Don't Fall for Divisive Attempts, AIKSCC Appeals to Farmer Leaders

In support of farmers' protests in Delhi, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) workers on Saturday briefly took over Maant toll plaza on the Yamuna Expressway here and allowed free movement of vehicles for some…

Union minister Som Prakash, who is among the government representatives negotiating with the farmers protesting against three new farm laws, on Saturday said efforts are being made to call the next round of meeting with the leaders of the agitation soon to end the stalemate. After holding discussions with Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on the farmer agitation, Prakash said, "We are trying to call a meeting early…. We are discussing. The date has not been finalised." "Ultimately, we have to resolve this issue through dialogue. There is no other way out. They (farmers) also know about it, we also know," he added. READ MORE

As a deadlock continues between the central government and protesting farmers on three new farm laws, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on Saturday said he is hopeful the next round of…

Farmers in Rajasthan blocked highways at several places on Saturday to protest against the Centre's new agri laws, with BJP-ally Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) MP Hanuman Beniwal joining one such…

Whole Country Fed Up With Your 'Lollypops': Congress to Modi Amid Protests | With Prime Minister Narendra Modi assuring farmers that his government was committed to their welfare, the Congress on Saturday hit out at him, saying the farmers want pro-people governance not flowery speeches and urged the Centre to accede to their demands. In a tweet, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala attacked Modi for his remarks at an event on Saturday that the agri reforms will be beneficial for the farmers, saying the "whole country is fed up of your enticing 'lollypops'". He said the farmers want pro-people governance not flowery speeches, and the people in the country want cheap ration. The opposition party also cited a media report to claim that 11 farmers have died in the last 17 days while protesting the new agri laws, with former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi asking how many more sacrifices will the farmers have to make to get the legislations repealed.

New Farm Laws Brought in to Loot Farmers, Withdraw Them: Akhilesh Yadav | Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday asked the BJP government to stop "atrocities" against farmers and withdraw the three agriculture laws brought in for "looting" them. In a release issued by the party headquarters here, Yadav said the farmers of the country have understood that the BJP government is "adopting different tactics to snatch their land and harvest". He accused the BJP government of becoming a "puppet in the hands of capitalists". According to the release, the Kisan Yatras being taken out on the call of the SP president continued for the sixth day on Saturday. The party workers took out yatras in their respective areas on cycles, motorcycles, tractors and bullock carts, apprising the people of the party's policies and also assuring the farmers of its support to their demands, it said.

Stakeholders in the 2022 Punjab assembly elections are finding that the political terrain has shifted, with the farmers' agitation against the Farm Acts 2020 taking on a life of its own.

WATCH | How Farmers Pulled Off ‘Chakka Jam’ and ‘No Toll Tax Day’ Protests Peacefully

AIKSCC Asks Farmers to 'Not Fall for Divisive Attempts' against Agitation | The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee today condemned and disassociated itself from a statement made to the media by VM Singh, and said it firmly stood with the demands of the farmer organisations agitating in unison for repeal of 3 anti-farmer acts and legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price. "These are non-negotiable. The Working Group of AIKSCC also reiterates that AIKSCC stands shoulder to shoulder with the farmers movement. Any attempt to hold parallel negotiations with the Govt. amounts to sabotaging a historic movement of the farmers," it said. Meanwhile, a delegation of 29 farmers from Haryana met Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Saturday to extend their support to the new legislations and threatened to stage a protest if those are repealed. The delegation, led by Bharatiya Kisan Union's (Mann) Haryana state leader Guni Prakash, submitted a "letter of support" to Tomar on the farm laws passed by Parliament in September and demanded the government to continue with these legislations.

Bihar BJP to Launch Campaign in Support of New Farm Laws from Today | Bihar BJP will launch a 13-day campaign from Sunday in support of the new farm laws and hold meetings with farmers across the state to make the farming community aware of the Centre's agriculture reform measures. Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, party's state unit president Sanjay Jaiswal said he and Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will start the campaign from Bakhtiarpur assembly constituency in Patna district.

BJP Ally Beniwal Joins Farmers' Protest in Rajasthan | Farmers in Rajasthan blocked highways at several places on Saturday to protest against the Centre's new agri laws, with BJP-ally Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) MP Hanuman Beniwal joining one such demonstration. Terming the new farm laws as "anti-farmer", Beniwal, the convenor of RLP, said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi is equally concerned about the farmers, he should implement the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission. He also reiterated that he would withdraw from the NDA if talks do not turn in favour of farmers. Beniwal along with his supporters also announced that they would move towards the Rajasthan-Delhi border to protest against the new farm laws. Addressing a 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' organized at Kotputli, Beniwal said the Centre did not hold discussions with stakeholders before bringing the farm laws.

As a deadlock continues between the central government and protesting farmers on three new farm laws, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on Saturday said he is hopeful the next round of…

Opposition Parties Shedding Crocodile Tears for Farmers: Maurya | Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Saturday advised farmers to be aware of the "vested interests" of opposition parties, alleging that they are shedding crocodile tears for them. While interacting with reporters here, he said the government's doors are always open for a discussion with the farmers over the newly enacted farm laws. The deputy chief minister has advised farmers not to get "misguided" by the Congress and other opposition parties as they are "exploiting" them. "The Congress and other opposition parties are shedding crocodile tears for farmers," he alleged.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Saturday said farmers unions are not aware of the presence of any anti-social elements in their ongoing protests against the Centre's new farm laws…

Delhi Police Enhances Security at Borders After Farmers Give Call to Intensify Protest | The Delhi Police has scaled up security by deploying extra personnel and putting in place multi-layered barricades at various border points in view of the call given by farmers to intensify their protest against the Centre's new agri laws and block the Jaipur-Delhi highway on Sunday. Thousands of farmers have been protesting at various border points of Delhi for over two weeks, demanding repeal of the new farm laws.  They said major highways linking the national capital will be blocked from Sunday and they will sit on a hunger strike on December 14, when they have called for a nationwide protest. Adequate arrangements have made and these include multi-layered barricades and deployment of extra personnel. Measures have also been taken to ensure commuters do not face inconvenience at places were protest are being staged, a senior police officer said. The Delhi Traffic Police has deployed its personnel across important border points to ensure commuters do not face difficulties and is also constantly updating people about open and closed routes on its Twitter handle.

Khalistan Supporters Vandalise Mahatma Gandhi's Statue in US | Members of Khalistani separatists desecrated the statue of Mahatma Gandhi during a protest organised by Sikh-American youths in support of farmers who are protesting against the recently enacted agri laws in India. Hundreds of Sikhs from in and around Greater Washington DC area, Maryland and Virginia, along with many from other states like New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio and North Carolina, on Saturday carried out a car rally to the Indian Embassy in downtown Washington DC, where they gathered to express solidarity with the protesting farmers. During the protest, many of the pro-Khalistan Sikh youths flashing Kirpans jumped on the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and pasted a poster over it. The group was raising anti-India and pro-Khalistan slogans. The Indian Embassy condemned the mischievous act by hooligans masquerading as protesters.However, the peaceful protest was soon hijacked by the separatist Sikhs who were carrying Khalistani flags with anti-India posters and banners which said they represent The Republic of Khalistan.

#WATCH | Washington DC: Khalistan flag draped over Mahatma Gandhi statue near the Indian embassy. Protesters were demonstrating against the Farm bills. pic.twitter.com/8G9ngHyAeZ

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2020

Farmers Agree to Open Chilla Road at Noida Border Amid Protest | A key road connecting Noida to Delhi, which remained obstructed since December 1 due to the farmers' protest, reopened late on Saturday night, officials said. The Noida-Delhi Link Road was closed due to a sit-in demonstration by some farmers at the Chilla border. These protesters are against the three new farm laws and have demanded their withdrawal. "The farmers have agreed to vacate the protest spot and the road would be completely open. As of now, some protesters are still on one carriageway but they would clear the road soon," Noida Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh S said.