4.36 pm: Farmers in Ludhiana who are on their way to join the protests near Delhi borders are being provided free diesel by youths of the nearby villages, reports The Indian Express.

4.32 pm: Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Minister Kamal Patel claims those protesting against the Centre’s three new farm laws are “middlemen” and not farmers, reports PTI. “As the three new laws have hit hard the middlemen, who have captured the entire market and given donations to political parties, they are agitating on the issue and demanding their rollback,” the minister tells the news agency. “They are not real farmers.”

4.29 pm: Aam Aadmi Party leader Gopal Rai says the Centre should let go of its “ego and stubbornness”, and accept the demands of the farmers regarding the new agricultural legislations, reports PTI. Rai adds that he and his party “stands firmly” with the protesting farmers and will provide them with all necessary assistance.

4.25 pm: A group of farmers from Punjab’s Anandpur Sahib has started an “informal school” in a makeshift tent for local slum children at the Singhu border, reports PTI. Started by writer Bir Singh and advocate Dinesh Chaddha, the temporary school that started on Monday is part of the multiple services being offered at the protest site, where thousands of farmers have been demonstrating against three new farm laws for over 20 days.

4.20 pm: All vehicular movement around the Tikri and Dhansa borders of the Capital has been suspended in light of the farmers’ agitation. Jhatikara border, on the other hand, is only open for two wheelers and pedestrian movement.

4.12 pm: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan criticises Rahul Gandhi for supporting the farmers’ agitation, reports ANI. “On what grounds is Rahul Gandhi protesting against the farm laws?” Chouhan asks. “Does he know what farming is? Can he even tell the correct way to sow a corn plant?”

2.32 pm: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, representing protesting farmers’ unions, rejected the Centre’s proposal to amend the three farm laws, through an email sent today to the agriculture ministry, reports The Hindu. “We want the government to stop maligning the farmers’ movement and stop parallel negotiations with other farmer organisations,” says the email.

2.25 pm: A police official tells PTI that the Delhi-Noida Link Road was closed for commuters around 11 am. “The DND and the Kalindi Kunj routes are operational and commuters are advised to take these routes for travelling to and fro Delhi,” he adds.

1.33 pm: The Supreme Court proposes the formation of a committee comprising representatives of farmers and the government, Live Law reports. “All of you sit together,” the chief justice says. “Prepare a tentative list of committee members. Government’s engagement with farmers won’t workout it seems.”

1.30 pm: After the petitioner’s lawyer cites Shaheen Bagh during the hearing, Chief Justice of India SA Bobde says there cannot be a precedent in law and order matters, ANI reports.

1.25 pm: The Supreme Court issues a notice to the Centre and States on a batch of pleas seeking the removal of the farmers from the border points of Delhi, ANI reports.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta tells the court that the Centre intends to set up a committee comprising representatives of farmers’ unions across India, the government and other stakeholders to resolve the standoff.

The farmers reject the Centre’s proposal for amendments to the laws in writing, The Indian Express reports.

11.52 am: Police beefs up security arrangements at the Chilla border between Delhi and Noida, reports PTI. Multi-layered barricades, jersey barriers and additional security personnel have been deployed to ensure law and order.

11.51 am: Farmers block Chilla border between Delhi and Noida, reports ANI.

9.55 am: Farmers’ groups write to Agriculture Ministry Secretary Vivek Agarwal, asking that the government stop discrediting their protests and give equal importance to all unions in discussions, India Today reports.

7.50 am: A faction of the Bhartiya Kisan Union suspends it protest for a month after meeting Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar on Tuesday, NDTV reports. “We have placed a demand before the minister that a new law should be enacted on the Minimum Support price,” the union’s head Pawan Thakkar tells the news channel.

7.40 am: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar says that the government will call the protesting farmers for discussions, the day they revert with their response to the concessions offered, The Indian Express reports.

Tomar connects the laws to the “303-seat mandate”, the BJP’s seat share in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He adds that the mandate was given to the government to bring change and not just stay in power.

7.30 am: The Supreme Court will on Wednesday hear a petition seeking a direction to the authorities to remove the farmers protesting near Delhi, PTI reports. The petitioner said that commuters are facing troubles due to the road blockades and that the gatherings might lead to a rise in coronavirus cases.

7.20 am: The farmers declare December 20 as a day of mourning for those who have died during the protests, NDTV reports. They say that the government is responsible for the deaths of 20 farmers.

“On an average, one farmer has died every day since this agitation started on November 26,” Bharatiya Kisan Union President Jagjit Singh Dallewala says, according to Hindustan Times. “We will pay homage to all the farmers who have been martyred in this duration on December 20 across all villages in the country. “When their names and photos will reach villages, more people will come forward to join us in our struggle.”

7.15 am: Farmer leader Jagjeet Dallewal says the unions will make the government repeal the three laws, NDTV reports. “The government is saying we won’t repeal these laws,” he says. “We are saying we will make you do it. The fight has reached a stage where we are determined to win no matter what.”

He adds: “We are not running away from negotiation, but the government has to pay heed to our demands and come forward with concrete proposals.”

Here is a recap of the events from Tuesday: