Farm laws: Second meeting between farmers and police on R-Day tractor rally remains inconclusive
The Centre agreed to suspend the implementation of the three laws for one-and-a-half years, and offered to convey it to the SC in an affidavit.
The second round of meeting between the police and farmer unions regarding the proposed tractor rally on Republic Day remained inconclusive on Thursday. Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav said the police wanted the farmer leaders to take out their tractor rally outside the national capital. “We will do our parade peacefully inside Delhi,” he added.
The Supreme Court had on Wednesday said it was up to the police to decide whether or not to give permission for the proposed tractor rally. The court was hearing the Centre’s petition seeking an injunction on the proposed rally.
The Centre on Wednesday night agreed to suspend the implementation of the three contentious farm laws for one-and-a-half years, and offered to convey it to the Supreme Court in an affidavit. The government also proposed to form a committee for suggestions on whether the three new laws should be amended or repealed. The farmers’ union will meet at the Singhu border on Thursday to discuss the Centre’s proposals, and will reply on Friday.
Live updates
2.12 pm: The second round of meeting between the police and farmer unions regarding the proposed tractor rally on Republic Day remains inconclusive, reports PTI. Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav says the police want the farmer leaders to take out their tractor rally outside the national capital. “We will do our parade peacefully inside Delhi,” he adds. “They wanted us to hold the tractor rally outside Delhi, which is not possible.”
2.08 pm: There is a mass mobilisation in Punjab for the Republic Day tractor rally, reports The Hindu. “In all villages, bike and tractor rallies are being organised every day by our ground-level volunteers,” Amreek Singh, District Pradhan, Bharat Kisan Union- Jalandhar (Kadian), tells the newspaper. “They are going to every nook and corner to exhort those who are still at home to come out in support of the farmers and reach Delhi on January 26.”
2.06 pm: The Punjab government has sanctioned Rs 5 lakh compensation to the families of each of the four farmers who lost their lives during the protest against the farm laws, Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma tells PTI.
1.33 pm: Krantikari Kisan Union leader Darshan Pal says the government has told the protesting farmers that they cannot conduct their tractor rally on Delhi’s Outer Ring Road on Republic Day, citing security reasons, reports ANI. Pal adds that the farmers’ leaders would take up the matter with the Delhi Police on Friday in another meeting.
11.24 am: Thousands of tractors in four tiers with the first led by representatives of the 42 farmer groups and the second by women are expected to move out in a parade from several protest sites at Delhi’s borders on January 26, reports The Indian Express.
11 am: Delhi Joint Commissioner of Police SS Yadav arrives at Mantram resort near the Capital’s Singhu border for a meeting with farmers, reports ANI.
Delhi: Delhi Police Joint CP SS Yadav arrives at Mantram Resort near Singhu border for a meeting with farmers on their Republic Day tractor rally https://t.co/jUXvDd9Tyr pic.twitter.com/CiFwzoRUbK
— ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2021