21:57 January 03
Police lathi-charged at protesting farmers on Haryana-Rajasthan border
The Police today lathi-charged farmers and fired tear gas shells at Shahjahanpur in Rajasthan in their attempt to march towards the national capital.
Hundreds of farmers, mainly from Rajasthan and Haryana, have been agitating at the Shahjahanpur border in Alwar district against three contentious farm bills that they say will hurt them.
20:23 January 03
Anna Hazare warns Centre of hunger strike over agriculture-related demands
Octogenarian social activist Anna Hazare warned the Central government that he would go on a hunger strike if farmers' demands remain unaddressed.
Implementation of the MS Swaminathan Committee's recommendations and the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices' autonomy are part of Hazare's demands.
20:18 January 03
'Will demand repealing 3 farm laws in our meeting tomorrow with govt'
Farmers leader Harmeet Singh Kadian said they will demand repealing 3 farm laws in our meeting tomorrow with the govt.
"It's been raining, so we're trying to get waterproof tents although they're not up to govt standard. We're trying to arrange blankets and warm water for women and elderly," he said.
20:14 January 03
'Govt should leave its stubbornness now'
Onkar Singh, farmers' Leader at Singhu border, said that today is the 37th day and govt should leave its stubbornness now.
"We won't go back till laws are taken back. It's disappointing that farmers are losing their lives. So many farmers are braving the cold yet the govt is not taking it seriously," he said.
19:40 January 03
Centre-farmer seventh round of talks tomorrow
The next round of talks between the central government and farmer unions will be held in New Delhi tomorrow.
Earlier 6th round of talks between government and farmer unions was held on December 30.
During the meeting, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had assured the farmer leaders that government is committed to solving their problems and both sides need to take steps forward to arrive at an amicable solution.
19:36 January 03
Central government "insensitive" towards farmers: Ashok Gehlot
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the central government is "insensitive" and passing time even as the farmers have been protesting for the last 39 days in the cold Delhi winter against the recently enacted farm laws.
18:22 January 03
'Will celebrate Lohri on Jan 13 by burning copies of farm laws'
Speaking at Singhu border protest site, farmers' leader Manjeet Singh Rai said, "We will celebrate Lohri on 13th January by burning the copies of farm laws. We'll also celebrate Kisan Diwas on 23rd Jan, on the occasion of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose birth anniversary.
18:22 January 03
Tikait urges farmers to bring polythene, tripaal with them as rainwater enters tents
Rakesh Tikait, the national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, stating the conditions of the morning rains and farmers on the Ghazipur border, said that situation is very pathetic as rainwater has started entering the tents.
Farmers' tents are installed here. Farmers have been living here for the last one month. I appeal to the farmers that whoever comes to the Ghazipur border, they should bring polythene, tripaal and other things on their tractor.
18:20 January 03
Hope farmers' protest may end tomorrow, says Kailash Choudhary ahead of next round of talks
Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary expressed hope that a solution will be found out of talks with farmer unions tomorrow and their agitation against three agriculture laws may end as well.
17:57 January 03
'Tents were given by a Delhi-based organization'
Row over posters, Ashok Chauhan, a leader of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Bhanu), said that the organization has no information about the people of Britain pasting the posters. He also said that the tents have been given by a Delhi-based organization associated with the farmers' union.
17:51 January 03
Farmers reach Rajasthan-Haryana border in large numbers
Farmers associated with Bhartiya Kisan Union Ekta Sangathan reached the Shahjahanpur border on the Rajasthan-Haryana border in as many as 325 tractors.
12:59 January 03
India is going to face Champaran like tragedy again, says Rahul Gandhi
As farmers continue their protest against Central farm laws, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday claimed that the country is going to face Champaran like tragedy once again.
"The country is going to face a Champaran like tragedy once again. Then there was with British company the farmers had to fight with, now it is with Modi's friends' companies. But every farmer of the movement is a Satyagrahi who will continue to fight for his rights," the Congress leader tweeted (roughly translated from Hindi). Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was a farmer's uprising that took place in the Champaran district of Bihar, during the British colonial period.
12:23 January 03
Rainwater enters farmers' camps
Rainwater entered camps of farmers protesting at Burari ground.
A protester said, "Government is not listening to us, we'll continue our agitation."
12:20 January 03
Congress holds protest march against farm laws in Rajasthan
Congress state government is holding a protest march in Rajasthan against the new farm laws.
12:20 January 03
One more farmer dies at Kundli border
One more farmer died at Kundli border in Sonipat Haryana taking the death toll to 8. The deceased Kulbir Singh aged 45 years was a resident of Gangana village of Gohana. The body of the deceased has been taken for postmortem after which the cause of the death will be known.
10:13 January 03
Parents taking kids to borders to show 'struggle'
In what could be called an unconventional way of imparting practical life lessons, parents are visiting the borders of the national capital, where the farmers are on strike over the new agri laws along with their children, and also lend their support to the farmers' agitation.
Interestingly, people are coming from all parts of Delhi-NCR to the borders, and the number of visitors was more during the weekend.
Jaspal Singh, a resident of Shahdara area in Delhi, who works in a private company said that due to work on weekdays, he participates in this movement on Saturday or Sunday along with his wife and three and a half-year-old daughter.
"I work in a private company, I only have a holiday on Saturday and Sunday, and I can come here once a week," he said.
"Being the son of a farmer, I support this movement. By coming here, I and my wife serve the farmers. I also bring my daughter so that she can also learn how to serve in our religion and also see how movements go. "
Harmandeep Kaur from Rudrapur in Uttarakhand has also joined the movement along with her entire family, including her 2-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter.
Harmandeep arrived here on Friday and went back to her house on Saturday evening. "We had come once before but did not bring our children at that time," she said.
"We want to show the children what we are doing with the farmers. This movement will be noted in the chapters of history and these children will be their witnesses."
Tejinder Singh Soni, who hails from Delhi's Krishna Nagar area, has also come with his family to participate in the agitation, along with his 2-year-old daughter.
Tejinder has been visiting the borders every week for the past 15 days, and now has brought his 2-year-old daughter.
According to Tejinder, "We have to tell our children about this movement. This is not a small movement, its echo will remain for the next 100 years and our children should know about the struggle of the farmers."
In fact, every requirement of goods is being made available to the farmers on the border. Apart from food and drinks, arrangements have been made for hot water, geysers, blankets, quilts, and all kinds of clothes to beat the winter chill.
Antarjot, a school student and Delhi resident, said : "I go back with my father every evening and come back the next morning. My studies have not started yet and till then I am serving here."
10:06 January 03
Farmers' protest continues
Farmers continue to hold sit-in protest at Ghazipur (Delhi-UP border) for 37th day amid rain and cold.
A protester said, "We're staying on streets in such harsh weather conditions away from our family. We're hopeful that the govt will accept our demands tomorrow."
07:10 January 03
Farmer impasse likely to be resolved on Monday
In addition, at the 'mandis', the private players who are procuring will not be able to procure below the MSP. The dispute redressal system between the private players and the farmers will not be done by the SDM anymore.
These have been some of the major demands of the farmers. Farmers do not want to be dragged out of their workplaces to run around needlessly to sort out issues.
Moreover, clause 6 which has stirred up heaps of controversy - over no market fee or cess or levy, by whatever name called, under any State APMC Act or any other state law, to be levied on any farmer or trader or electronic trading and transaction platform for trade and commerce in scheduled farmers' produce in a trade area - could well see some resolution.
The two sides have not been able to reach a compromise for over a month as some of the farmer groups have been demanding a repeal of the three farm laws passed by Parliament.
Last week, there were signs of some forward movement as the government accepted two demands of the farmers related to environment and electricity laws.
After the sixth round of talks held earlier this week, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar assured the farmer union leaders that the government is committed to resolving farmers' problems and both sides need to take steps forward to arrive at an amicable solution.
Tomar assured the farmer unions that MSP and mandi system will continue like before. The demand of the unions for an MSP law and the difference between MSP and market rates for agricultural produce would be referred to a committee when it is constituted.
On the demand for repeal of the farm laws, the minister said that this too can be referred to a committee which will study the constitutional validity and propriety keeping in mind the welfare of farmers.
Regarding the Air Quality Management Ordinance and the Electricity Amendment Bill, Tomar said that suggestions of the farmer unions have been agreed to in principle. Tomar assured the farmers that the government has an open mind and is willing to resolve all issues with clear intentions.
07:02 January 03
Punjab farmer turns container truck into makeshift home at Singhu border
A Jalandhar-based farmer who has been protesting at the Singhu border against the three agriculture laws has turned a container truck into a fully equipped temporary home.
Harpreet Singh Mattu's temporary accommodation has all basic amenities like a sofa, bed, TV and even a functional toilet along with mobile charging points.
"I came here on December 2 at the behest of my elder brother who based in the US. He asked me to serve the farmers. I left all my work and served for seven days at the Singhu border. Earlier five of my trucks came here and when I came back to my a hotel, where I was staying at that time, I felt homesick and then I thought why not turn a truck into a makeshift apartment," Mattu said.
He said his friends helped him in making his makeshift home, which took one and half days to complete.
Mattu has also opened Gurdwara Sahib Riverside California Langar Sewa at Singhu border protest site which serves tea, snacks and food for the passer-by and farmers.
"In my Langar tea is served round the clock, from morning till evening. Pinni, pakodas, almond langar is also served there," he said. Mattu claims that his Lanhar Seva witnesses a footfall of more than 10,000 people each day.
The Jalandhar-based farmer is accompanied by his wife, son, nephew, and team of around 80-90 helpers at the site.
07:01 January 03
AAP assisting farmers to move courts against BJP leaders: Chadha
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday said it has extended legal assistance to the farmers, who want to move courts against BJP leaders for their defamatory remarks against them.
AAP Punjab co-in-charge Raghav Chadha, who was on a two-day tour of the state, said some farmers had decided to seek justice after verbal abuse by the BJP leaders.
With the help of AAP, notices were issued to Union Minister Giriraj Singh, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and BJP's National General Secretary Ram Madhav, he said.
Talking to the media in Moga town, Chadha said this was the farmer who had given his blood, his sweat and his entire life to tilling his land.
"It is because of the sacrifices made by a farmer and his family that food reaches our homes. If someone abuses an honest farmer, it is similar to that of abusing mother India," he added.
He further said the farmers had been requesting the Modi-led Central government to listen to them, but in turn were only abused.
"BJP leaders have at different times described the farmers as terrorists, anti-nationals, 'goondas', 'dalals' and agents of Pakistan and China. Does our farmer look like a terrorist? I would like to tell the BJP that our farmers have had enough. They now want to knock at the doors of justice, and we truly believe that victory would be theirs," said Chadha.
"AAP vows to stand with the farmers of this country in their fight till the BJP leaders are punished. Right from filing a case, to fighting in court, the party will work with the farmers and for the farmers, helping them every step of the way," he added.
06:29 January 03
Farmers' Stir LIVE Updates
New Delhi: Agitating farmers' group here on Saturday announced to hold a parade in the national capital on the occasion of Republic Day if their demands are not met by then. They declared to hold the march into the city with tractors and trolleys after the end of official parade.
The farmer leaders also made their position clear, giving message to the government through media that "repeal the three central farm acts or use force to evict us"--a declaration which comes amid the ongoing protest entering 38th day on Saturday after six round of government farmer talks and the next dialogue fixed on January 4.
In its first press conference organized by a seven-member Coordination Committee of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha in the national capital, the farmers' movement delivered an ultimatum to the government of India, announcing ed that "farmers will march into Delhi on January 26, 2021, with their tractors, trolleys and other vehicles.
It was clarified that the "farmers' republic parade" will take place after the official parade.
The decision was announced in a press conference addressed by farmer leaders Balbir Singh Rajewal, Darshanpal, Gurnam Singh Chadhuni, Ashok Dhawale (in place for Hannan Mollah), Jagjit Singh Dallewal, and Abhimanyu Kohad (in place for Shiv Kumar Sharma Kakkaji) and Yogendra Yadav.
"We intend to be peaceful and we told long ago to the government of India during our talks that it has only two options -- either repeal the three central farm acts or use force on us to evict us," said the farmer leaders.
"The time has come for decisive action here, and we have chosen 26th January both because the Republic Day represents the supremacy of the people and also because we would have demonstrated patiently and peacefully at Delhi's borders for two full months in extreme weather conditions by then our resolve to get our demands met."
Samyukt Kisan Morcha also announced their plan of action till January 26 to intensify and deepen the movement.
"A fortnight of nationwide campaign to counter the government's propaganda called 'Desh Jagriti Abhiyan' during 6th to 20th of January will include rallies, conferences and dharnas all over the country.
Lohri or Sankarnati will be marked as Kisan Sankalp Diwas by burning the copies of these three laws. 18th of January will be celebrated as Mahila Kisan Diwas to underline the role of women farmers. Azad Hind Kisan Diwas will be marked on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's birth anniversary on 23rd January by protesting outside Governors' official residence in all state capitals."
In a press conference at Singhu Border -- one of the protesting site at Delhi-Haryana route -- it was already announced on Friday that if the talks on January 4 do not succeed, farmers will march on Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway on the January 6 and subsequently the Shahjahanpur blockade will also move towards Delhi.
