Farmers Protest Live News: Meeting ends with no breakthrough, next round of talks on January 8
By: FE Online | Updated: January 4, 2021 5:56:09 pm
Farmers Protest 2020, Indian Farmers Protest Live Update: The talks between farm unions and Centre are underway at Vigyan Bhawan.
Farmers have been protesting against farm laws for over a month at the Singhu border. 2020 Indian Farmers Protest Live Update: The seventh rounds of talks between union leaders and Centre have ended with breakthrough. The farm union leaders stuck to their demand of withdrawal of laws but the Centre remained firm on its stand and proposed a panel to take the matter forward. Next round of talks will take place on January 8.
According to PTI. the first hour of talks focussed only on the three laws and the other key demand of farmers for a legal guarantee to the MSP procurement system did not come up for discussions. Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, who is participating in the meeting, told the news agency over the phone that the first hour of discussion remained focussed on the three laws. ‘Our demand is the repeal of the laws. We will not agree to any alternatives such as the setting of the committee,’ he said. Asked if there could be a concrete outcome from the meeting, Tikait said, ‘I don’t think so. They have to take back the laws for us to end the protest and go back to our homes.
Read More
Live Blog
Farmers Protest Live: Kisan Andolan Live Updates, Indian Farmers Protest 2020 Live News
Farmers protest: Last meeting was held on December 30, 2020. In that meet, the government and farm unions had reached some common ground to resolve concerns over rise in power tariff and penalties for stubble burning, but both the sides remained deadlocked over repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee for MSP. After nearly five hours of negotiations between Centre and farm unions, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said at least 50 per cent resolution had been reached with mutual agreement on two out of four items on the agenda and discussions would continue on the remaining two on January 4.
Discussions on the three farm laws and MSP are continuing and will continue in the next round of talks on January 4,” Tomar told reporters. He said talks were held in a cordial atmosphere and the two sides reached an agreement on two issues—one relating to the proposed electricity law and the other about an ordinance on penal provisions for stubble burning. He hailed the unions for maintaining peace and discipline during their protest, but urged them to send the elderly, women and children back to their homes due to the extreme cold weather.
Highlights
A stalemate continued today between the government and a representative group of thousands of protesting farmers. 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 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.
However, unlike the last round of talks on December 30, the ministers did not join the union leaders for the langar food and were seen having their own discussion in a separate room during the break. The break continued for more than an hour with no signs of any breakthrough as the government also remained firm on not repealing the laws and is believed to have suggested a panel to take the matter forward. The first hour of talks focussed only on the three laws and the other key demand of farmers for a legal guarantee to the MSP procurement system did not come up for discussions.Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, who is participating in the meeting, told PTI over the phone during the break that the first hour of discussion remained focussed on the three laws. 'Our demand is the repeal of the laws. We will not agree to any alternatives such as the setting of the committee,' he said. Asked if there could be a concrete outcome from the meeting, Tikait said, 'I don't think so. They have to take back the laws for us to end the protest and go back to our homes.' (PTI)
The seventh round of talks between protesting unions and three central ministers got underway today afternoon to resolve an over-a-month-long impasse but representatives of farmer groups stuck to their demand for the repeal of the Acts. As the two sides took a lunch break after about one hour of talks, the government also remained firm on not repealing the laws and is believed to have suggested a panel to take the matter forward. The stand-off also continued on farmers' another key demand for a legal guarantee to Minimum Support Price procurement system. The representatives of protesting farmers had their own food, arranged from langar (community kitchen), as they have been doing for the last few times. However, unlike the last round of talks on December 30, the ministers did not join the union leaders for the langar food and were seen having their own discussion separately during the break. The government listed various benefits from the three laws, enacted a few months ago, but farmers kept insisting that the legislation must be withdrawn to address their apprehensions that the new Acts would weaken the MSP and mandi systems and leave them at the mercy of big corporates. (PTI)
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal today appealed to the Centre to accept all the demands of the protesting farmers and repeal the three farm laws. In a tweet, Kejriwal lauded their resolve in continuing their agitation despite rains and cold weather. "Salute to the resolve of the farmers staying firm on the roads despite rains and cold. I appeal to the Centre to accept all the demands of the farmers and repeal the three black farm laws in today's meeting," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi. Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and some other states are camping at several entry points of the national capital blocking the highways, demanding that the Centre repeal the farm laws and give legal guarantee of minimum support price for crops. (PTI)
The apprehension that farmers may lose their land under the Centre's farm laws is baseless, BJP leader and UP Vyapaari Kalyan Board Chairman Ravi Kant Garg. The former state minister claimed that the agriculture reforms introduced by the Centre will safeguard farmers' land. The transfer, sale and mortgaging of farmers' land during the process of signing any agreement has been strictly prohibited, he said. The apprehension that farmers may lose their land is baseless, he said, advising farmers to give up their agitation and see the pros and cons of the reforms intrtoduced by the Centre for a year. It is shameful that opposition parties are misguiding farmers for regaining their base, he alleged. The present Union government has spent Rs 5 lakh crore on direct procurement of paddy while the UPA regime had spent only Rs 2 lakh crore, Garg claimed. (PTI)
Farmers' representatives have food during the lunch break at Vigyan Bhawan where the government is holding talks with farmers on three farm laws.
Delhi: 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.
The seventh round of talks between protesting farmer unions and three central ministers got underway today afternoon to break the over-a-month-long deadlock on recent farm laws. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, who is an MP from Punjab, are holding the talks with the representatives of 40 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan. The meeting began with paying respects to the farmers who lost their lives during the ongoing protest, sources said. (PTI)
Delhi: Seventh round of meeting between Central Government and farmers' representatives begins at Vigyan Bhawan.
Farmers' protest: The seventh rounds of talks between farm unions and Centre have begun at Vigyan Bhawan. The government is likely to discuss all three laws 'clause-by-clause' yet again with protesting farmers. Both the sides had met on December 30, when they found some common ground on two of four key demands of farmers.
Farmers protests: Reliance Industries today said it neither buys foodgrains directly from farmers nor is in the business of contract farming. In a statement, billionaire Mukesh Ambani's firm said its subsidiary Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited has filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking "the urgent intervention of government authorities to bring a complete stop to the illegal acts of vandalism (of telecom towers) by miscreants." Reliance said it "has nothing whatsoever to do with the three farm laws currently debated in the country, and in no way benefits from them." "As such, the sole nefarious purpose of linking the name of Reliance to these laws is to harm our businesses and damage our reputation," it said. The company said it does not do "corporate or contract farming" and has not bought "any agricultural land, directly or indirectly, in Punjab/Haryana or anywhere else in India, for the purpose of 'corporate' or 'contract farming." Its retail unit which sells food grains and staples, fruits and vegetables and items of daily use through its stores, "does not purchase any food grains directly from farmers," the statement said. "It has never entered into long-term procurement contracts to gain unfair advantage over farmers or sought that its suppliers buy from farmers at less than remunerative prices, nor will it ever do so," it added.
Delhi: A delegation of farmer leaders arrive at Vigyan Bhawan for talks with Union Government on the three Farm Laws. A farmer leader says, "We hope there is a breakthrough in this meeting in the new year."
Farmers protests: Several routes connecting Delhi to Ghaziabad and Noida via Ghazipur and Chilla borders remained partially closed due to the farmers' protest against the Centre's agricultural reforms. They advised commuters to take alternative routes for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Bhopra and Loni borders. Farmers from different states have been camping at various border points of Delhi for 40 days now to demand the repeal of the three farm laws enacted in September and a legal backing for the MSP.
The farmers had a difficult morning on Sunday as overnight rains left their tents waterlogged, firewood and blankets soaked, and intensified the cold. However, the farmers have said the weather will not dampen their spirit and they will continue the protest till their demands are met. Since the farmers arrived at the national capital's borders in late November, the Delhi Traffic Police has been posting alerts on its official Twitter handle to inform commuters about road closures across the city.
In a series of tweets on Monday, the traffic police said Singhu, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari, Saboli and Mangesh borders are closed for traffic movement. "Please take alternate route via Lampur Safiabad, Palla & Singhu school toll tax borders. Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba & GTK road. Please avoid Outer Ring Road, GTK Road & NH-44," it said. "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.
Farmers protest: I am hopeful that we will find a positive solution today. We will discuss all issues in the meeting, says Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar ahead of talks with farmers.
Farmers protest: 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, says Hannan Mollah, General Secretary of All India Kisan Sabha.
Farmers protest: Road closure on both sides of Delhi-Jaipur Highway is being reported after Daruhera towards Rewari. Traffic is being diverted. Earlier, commuters driving from Delhi towards Jaipur reported traffic jams after Manesar. Large police presence with trucks, cranes, and barricades present on both sides of the road.
'Clause by clause' discussion on three farm laws is expected to take place between the two if farmers remain adamant on their demand to repeal the laws. ANI citing sources reports that the government is likely to discuss farm laws clause by clause as it did initially before the MSP issue. The exercise was done by the government earlier to understand the objections of farmers against the laws. "While the government is ready to work with farmers on the issue of MSP, it needs to ask farmers about their demand for the repeal of three farm laws. MSP will be relevant only when the government can discuss laws with farmers and convince them of these being in their well-being," stated the source. The unions too have differences on the priority of these demands. "There are few who believe if MSP is legalised, laws can be discussed. However, there are also those who only talk of the repeal of these laws," stated the source. (ANI)
Sonia Gandhi yesterday said the central 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". "There is still time, the Modi government should leave the arrogance of power and immediately withdraw the three black laws unconditionally to end the agitation of the farmers who are dying in the cold and rain. This is Rajdharma and a true tribute to the farmers who have lost their lives," she said. The Modi government should remember that democracy means protecting the interests of the people and the farmers-workers, the Congress president said. In the wake of the government's "apathy", so far, more than 50 farmers have lost their lives with some even taking the extreme step due to the government's neglect, she said. "But neither the heartless Modi government relented nor the Prime Minister or any other minister uttered a word of consolation till today. I pay my respects to all the deceased farmer brothers and pray to God to give their families the strength to bear this sorrow," Gandhi said.
Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar sahab like General Dyer is allowing to fire upon farmers and using tear gas against them. Are the country's farmers our enemies? Are they Army personnel of China or Pakistan? It's shameful: Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chadha
BKU leader Rakesh Tikait: 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. The seventh round of talks between government and farmers to be held today at 2 PM.
Farmers protest: Commuters driving from Delhi towards Jaipur report traffic jams after Manesar and large police presence with trucks, cranes, and barricades present on the sides of the road.
(Photo: Allen Singh)
Farmers protest: Several routes connecting Delhi to Ghaziabad and Noida via Ghazipur and Chilla borders are partially closed due to the farmers' protest. Delhi Police have advised commuters to take alternative routes for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Bhopra and Loni borders. Farmers from different states have been camping at various border points of Delhi for 40 days now to demand the repeal of the three farm laws enacted in September. The farmers had a difficult morning on Sunday as overnight rains left their tents waterlogged, firewood and blankets soaked, and intensified the cold. However, the farmers have said the weather will not dampen their spirit and they will continue the protest till their demands are met.
In a series of tweets, the traffic police today said Singhu, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari, Saboli and Mangesh borders are closed for traffic movement. "Please take alternate route via Lampur Safiabad, Palla & Singhu school toll tax borders. Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba & GTK road. Please avoid Outer Ring Road, GTK Road & NH-44."
Farmers protest LIVE: A group of farmers yesterday held a protest in Punjab's Sangrur district against state BJP chief Ashwani Sharma. 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. A heavy police force was deployed in the area where the BJP leader was to arrive. "There was a programme of Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma in Sangrur. Some miscreants tried to disturb the programme," Sangrur SSP Vivek Sheel Soni said.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot yesterday said the nationalism was about the welfare of farmers and not giving speeches from Nagpur. "If we talk about the welfare of farmers then it is real nationalism. It is not nationalism when they deliver speeches from Nagpur wearing half-pants," Pilot said. The former Rajasthan deputy chief minister said the BJP is 'pushing farmers into darkness' with the new agriculture laws. He said that the Centre should understand that a government will not be defeated if it rolls back any of its decision. Doing amendments, withdrawing laws or feeling sorry raises the stature of leaders. "I think in coming days we will collectively create pressure and work together for the welfare of farmers," he said.