LIVE Updates: Deadlock Over Repeal of Laws and MSP Continues, Govt to Hold Talks With Farmers Again on January 8

Mamata Banerjee Speaks on Farm Reforms | "I'm in favour of farmers and want withdrawal of these three bills for the sake of the country and farmers. Before the bills came in, they had godowns made. Their political intention is clear and that's why they are not taking it back, ANI quotes West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as saying.

The seventh round of talks between protesting farmer unions and central government ended inconclusively on Monday as the farmer leaders insisted on the repeal of the three contentious farm laws right…

We Want Complete Rollback of Laws: Bhartiya Kisan Union | "The minister wanted us to discuss the law point-wise. We rejected it and said that there is no point in discussing the laws because we want a complete rollback of the laws. Government intends to take us towards amendments but we will not accept it," says Yudhvir Singh, Bhartiya Kisan Union. 

The minister wanted us to discuss the law point-wise. We rejected it and said that there is no point in discussing the laws because we want a complete rollback of the laws. Govt intends to take us towards amendments but we will not accept it: Yudhvir Singh, Bhartiya Kisan Union https://t.co/qI6PmeHM07 pic.twitter.com/Tg45c9q8SR

— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2021

Govt is Under Tremendous Pressure: Farmer Union Leader | "Government is under tremendous pressure. We all said that this is our demand (repeal of the laws). We don't want discussion on any other topic except for on repeal of the laws. Protests will not be withdrawn until repeal of laws," says Hannan Mollah, General Secretary, All India Kisan Sabha.

Govt is under tremendous pressure. We all said that this is our demand (repeal of the laws). We don't want discussion on any other topic except for on repeal of the laws. Protests will not be withdrawn until repeal of laws: Hannan Mollah, General Secretary, All India Kisan Sabha pic.twitter.com/UIWAEuYQlm

— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2021

"Looking at today's discussion, I hope that we will have a meaningful discussion during our next meeting and we will come to a conclusion," says Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Som Prakash were also present.

Looking at today's discussion, I hope that we will have a meaningful discussion during our next meeting and we will come to a conclusion: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar https://t.co/qI6PmeHM07

— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2021

Narendra Singh Tomar Speaks on Today's Meeting | "We wanted clause-wise discussion. We had some discussion on MSP also but couldn't reach any conclusion. Hence, both sides have decided to meet again at 2 pm on January 8. The meeting was cordial and doors haven't been shut. May be we will reach a solution in next meeting. If farmers didn't have faith in govt then we wouldn't hv agreed for talks on January 8," says Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar after the conclusion of seventh round of meeting with the farmer leaders' in Delhi.

Rakesh Tikait Speaks on Today's Meeting | "The meeting will be held again on January 8. We will again hold talks on MSP and repeal of all three farm laws. We have told them (government) that we won't return to our homes until laws are withdrawn," says farmer leader Rakesh Tikait after concluding meeting with the government in Delhi.

8 तारीख (8 जनवरी 2021) को सरकार के साथ फिर से मुलाकात होगी। तीनों कृषि क़ानूनों को वापिस लेने पर और MSP दोनों मुद्दों पर 8 तारीख को फिर से बात होगी। हमने बता दिया है क़ानून वापसी नहीं तो घर वापसी नहीं : किसान नेता राकेश टिकैत, सरकार के साथ किसान नेताओं की मुलाकात के बाद pic.twitter.com/5cU9lRdzFL

— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) January 4, 2021

Next Meeting on Jan 8 | The next meeting between central government and farmers representatives will be held on January 8 as no outcome on repeal of farms laws was done in today's meeting. The government said they will consult further and get back on January 8.

Union Minister Som Prakash meet farmers representatives at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi. (Image: ANI)

Stalemate Continues Over Repeal of Laws; Ministers in Huddle | A stalemate continued today between the government and a representative group of thousands of protesting farmers, as the unions stuck to their demand for the repeal of three farm laws right from the beginning of the meeting even as the ministers listed various benefits of the Acts. The two sides took a lunch break after just about one hour of talks, sources said, during which the three central ministers went into a huddle to discuss the way forward while the union leaders had the langar food arranged by them, as they have been doing for the last few times.

Meeting Resumes | Seventh round of meeting between government and farmers' representatives begins at Vigyan Bhawanin Delhi. Ahead of lunch break, farmer leaders went into silent mode asking government to clarify stand on repeal of farm laws.

Meeting Update | Discussion on MSP will begin only if the government brings it up, say farmer leaders during meeting at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi. The seventh round of meeting is currently underway.

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Monday appealed to the Centre to accept all the demands of the protesting farmers and repeal the three farm laws.

Farmers' representatives have langar food during the lunch break at Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan where the government is holding talks with farmers on three farm laws.

Govt on Farms Reforms | Government has made clear to farmer unions that hey will not repeal the new farm laws, however, are open to make amendments. 

Meeting Updates | Government insists on a clause by clause discussion. While, the farmer unions insist on repeal of farm laws. 

Dispelling the rumours that Reliance Industries Limited is placed to benefit from the three farm reform laws passed by the central government, the conglomerate on Monday said it has no plans of…

Union Ministers, Farmers Observe Two-minute Silence for Dead Farmers | Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Piyush Goyal and Som Parkash along with government officials and representatives of farmers observe a two-minute silence for farmers who died during the ongoing protest.

Meeting Between Farmers and Centre Begins | The seventh round of meeting between the government and the farmers begins. The Centre is expected to discuss the farm laws clause by clause. Sources in the government said that with two demands of farmers' unions -- Repeal of the three farm laws and legalisation of Minimum Support Price left unresolved, the Centre is likely to discuss farm laws clause by clause as it did initially before the MSP issue.

Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal reach Vigyan Bhawan for the seventh meet between farmers and the government over the farm laws. 

Farmers Hold Protest Against BJP in Sangrur | A group of farmers on Sunday held a protest in Punjab's Sangrur district against state BJP chief Ashwani Sharma who was there to meet party leaders. The protesting farmers even tried to break barricades put up near the residence of a local BJP leader, forcing the police to use mild force to disperse them. The farmers, shouting slogans against Sharma, wanted to gherao him in protest against the Centre's three farm laws. Heated exchanges also took place between protesters and policemen. 

No Alternative But Repealing the Law: Farmer's Leader | Farmer leader Darshan Pal said that the government has to agree in principle first about MSP. He added that there can be no alternative to repeal of laws. Meanwhile, a delegation of farmer leaders arrive at Vigyan Bhawan for talks with Union Government on the three farm laws.

Centre Likely to Hold Clause by Clause Discussion on Farm Laws | With the seventh round of meeting between the government and the farmers today, the Centre is expected to discuss the farm laws clause by clause. Sources in the government said that with two demands of farmers' unions -- Repeal of the three farm laws and legalisation of Minimum Support Price left unresolved, the Centre is likely to discuss farm laws clause by claue as it did initially before the MSP issue.

Hope Govt Takes a Human Approach: Hannan Mollah | "It is up to the government whether it wants to solve the farmers' problems or conspire against the farmers to fizzle out their struggle. We hope govt will take a human approach towards the farmers," Hannan Mollah, General Secretary, All India Kisan Sabha ahead said. 

Dispelling the rumours that Reliance Industries Limited is placed to benefit from the three farm reform laws passed by the central government, the conglomerate on Monday said it has no plans of…

Must Withdraw Farm Laws Unconditionally: Sonia Gandhi | The Congress on Sunday accused the Centre of being apathetic towards farmers protesting the new farm laws in harsh weather conditions, with party chief Sonia Gandhi saying that for the first time since independence such an "arrogant" government has come to power that cannot see the sufferings of 'annadatas'. She also demanded that the new farm laws be immediately withdrawn unconditionally. In a scathing attack on the Centre over the farmers' protests, Gandhi said governments and their leaders who ignore public sentiments in a democracy cannot govern for long and it is now quite clear that the protesting farmers will not bow in the face of the Centre's policy of "tire and pushover". 

Will Hold Tractor March if Demands Not Met: Farmer's Leader | "Our demands are the same as before-repeal the three farm laws and guarantee MSP. If our demands aren't met, then, we'll hold tractor march on Jan 6 and also on Jan 26," Sukhwinder S Sabra, Joint Secretry, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee said. As the government and farmers' union will go for talks today, security provisions have been beefed up at Singhu border. 

60 Farmers Died During Protests So Far: BKU | So far, 60 farmers have lost their lives during the protest. One farmer is dying every 16 hours. It is the responsibility of the government to answer: Rakesh Tikait, spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union said. The seventh round of talks between govt and farmers will be held today.

Will Burn Copies of New Farm Laws on Lohri: Farmer Leaders | Farmer leaders protesting at Delhi's Singhu border on Sunday said they will celebrate the estival of Lohri on January 13 by burning copies of newly introduced agriculture laws. They also said they will observe the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on January 23 as Azad Hind Kisan Diwas' "We will celebrate the Lohri festival on January 13 by burning the copies of farm laws, farmers' leader Manjeet Singh Rai said. Rai also urged people to hold protests in support of farmers across India from January 6 to 20. 

Chilla and Ghazipur Borders Closed for Traffic | "The Chilla and Ghazipur borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida & Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. Please take alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Bhopra & Loni Borders," it said. The traffic police said Tikri and Dhansa borders are also closed for traffic movement. "Jhatikara Border is open only for LMV (Cars/Light Motor Vehicles), two wheelers and pedestrian movement," it said in another tweet. According to the traffic police, people travelling to Haryana can take the routes via Jharoda (only single carriageway), Daurala, Kapashera, Badusarai, Rajokri NH-8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam Vihar and Dundahera borders.

Traffic Alert
The Chilla & Ghazipur Borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida & Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. Please take alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Bhopra & Loni Borders.

— Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) January 4, 2021