Farm laws: Farmers’ stir enters day 22, SC to continue hearing petitions to remove protestors today
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that lakhs of farmers are supporting the laws, even as the others near stage protests Delhi.
The farmers protest near Delhi against the Centre’s three agricultural laws entered the 22nd day on Thursday. The farmers remain firm on their demand that the government repeal the three laws. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that lakhs of farmers were supporting the laws, even as thousands staged protests near Delhi.
The Supreme Court will continue its hearing of the petitions to remove the farmers from Delhi’s border points. On Wednesday, the court proposed the formation of a committee comprising representatives of farmers and the government to resolve the deadlock.
Tens of thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been protesting at key entry points to Delhi. The farmers fear the agricultural reforms will weaken the minimum support price mechanism under which the government buys agricultural produce, will lead to the deregulation of crop-pricing, deny them fair remuneration for their produce and leave them at the mercy of corporations.
Live updates
11.10 am: A farmer protesting at the Delhi-Haryana border allegedly dies of cold, reports NDTV. The farmer had three children of ages 10, 12 and 14, according to the reports.
11.04 am: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav says the farmers’ protest would not stop till the government listens.
जब तक सरकार नहीं सुनेगी
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) December 17, 2020
ये किसान क्रांति नहीं रुकेगी!#नहीं_चाहिए_भाजपा
10.59 am: United Kingdom Labour MP Preet Kaur Gill writes to country’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on the use of tear gas and water cannons against protesting farmers in India. “The UK must stand up for democratic freedoms & work with partners to protect and champion them,” Gill tweets.
While the Foreign Secretary is in India, I have written to him about the #FarmersProtests and the unacceptable use of tear gas and water cannons against peaceful protestors.
— Preet Kaur Gill MP (@PreetKGillMP) December 16, 2020
The UK must stand up for democratic freedoms & work with partners to protect and champion them. pic.twitter.com/MV3sUEx0Fu
10.55 am: Social activist PV Rajagopal offers to mediate between the agitating farmers and the government, reports PTI. The activist says he would embark on a foot-march from Morena to Delhi on Thursday in support of the farmers.
10.49 am: Bhartiya Kisan Union Doaba member MS Rai says they have not recived any notice from the Supreme Court yet, reports ANI. Rai adds that all the farmers’ unions will hold a discussion and taken a decision when they get the notice.
8.20 am: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday said that lakhs of farmers are supporting the laws, even as the others near stage protests Delhi, ANI reports. “Today [Wednesday], thousands of farmers gathered in Gwalior for it [to show support for the laws].”
8.10 am: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a platform of farmers’ unions, asks the Centre not to hold parallel negotiations with farmers and stop discrediting their protest, Hindustan Times reports.
8 am: The Supreme Court will on Thursday continue its hearing of the petitions to remove farmers from Delhi’s border points, Live Law reports. On Wednesday, the court allowed the impleadment of eight farmers’ unions in the petitions.