Farmers' protest: How will the govt ensure farmers get MSP, asks Chidambaram

19:07 September 20

Farmers stage 3-hr protest in Kurukshetra

Farmers staged a 3-hr protest, under the aegis of Bharatiya Kisan Union, in Kurukshetra today. They say, "It was a symbolic protest. If govt doesn't listen to us we'll back Haryana bandh on Sept 25. We'll hold a meeting on Sept 27 in Delhi & announce nationwide protest."

17:57 September 20

BJP broke the back of Indian Democracy: Derek O'Brien

Soon after Opposition parties submitted a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O'Brien on Sunday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) "broke the back of Indian democracy".

Today is a historic day. Opposition MPs broke some microphones in the Rajya Sabha but BJP broke the back of Indian democracy. BJP and the Constitution answer me the following questions - Did opposition MPs get a chance to vote in Parliament on Farm Bills? Did they get a chance to press the division button.. all parties together?" O'Brien told reporters.

"If you want to cheat us, we will give it back to you twice as much. Do not criticise opposition behaviour today. The problem is...this is not the Gujarat Gymkhana, this is the Parliament of India. You have to follow certain rules. Mr Modi and Mr Shah must realise, we will fight till our last drop of blood to protect Parliament and democracy," he added.

17:29 September 20

How will the govt ensure farmers get MSP, asks Chidambaram

As Parliament passed the two contentious agricultural Bills on Sunday, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram asked the government how it will guarantee that farmers get the minimum support price (MSP) for their produce.

"Agriculture Minister says that government will guarantee that the farmer will get MSP. Private trade takes place even today. The price paid to the farmer is invariably less than MSP. If the Agriculture Minister can magically ensure MSP, why has he not done that so far?" he said, in a series of tweets.

"How will the Minister know which farmer sold his produce to which trader? How will he know the millions of transactions that will take place every day all over the country? If he does not have the data, how will he guarantee MSP is paid in every transaction?" Chidambaram said.

"Does the Minister and the government think that the farmers are so foolish to believe the empty promise of the government?"

Charging the Modi government with not fulfilling its earlier promises, he asked if it had managed to put Rs 15 lakh in the bank account of every Indian, doubled farmers incomes and created 2 crore jobs every year.

16:21 September 20

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal urges President not to give assent to farm bills, return them to Parliament for reconsideration

15:57 September 20

Haryana Police use water cannon to disperse Youth Congress workers protesting over Farm Bills at Sadopur border in Ambala.

15:27 September 20

Centre must reconsider agriculture sector bills: Congress MP KC Venugopal

Congress MP KC Venugopal on Sunday asked the Centre to reconsider the two agriculture sector bills and alleged that its motive is to give a push to the corporate sector.

"It is very clear that this government's motive is to destroy our farmers and help the corporate sector. Our party has decided to oppose the Agriculture Bills. The government has to reconsider the bills, at least they should have sent it to select committee," he said while speaking to reporters.

Hailing the passage of the bills, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had described this proposed legislation as historic and said that they will rid farmers and the farm sector of middlemen and other bottlenecks. The Prime Minister further stated that these agrarian reforms will open new doors for farmers to sell their produce, which will fetch them more profit for their produce.

15:23 September 20

Farm bills: Opposition members sit in protest inside RS after House adjourned

The Congress and other opposition party member sat in protest inside Rajya Sabha even after the House was adjourned for the day after the passage of two farm bills.

Members of the Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, Left parties and some others sat in protest inside the Rajya Sabha chamber even after it was adjourned.

The House sitting ends at 1 PM and Rajya Sabha chamber has to be sanitised by 3 PM when Lok Sabha sits for a session. Both the chambers of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are being used for each House to allow members to follow physical distancing norms.

Congress chief whip in Rajya Sabha told reporters that the opposition members will continue to sit in Rajya Sabha chamber till 3 PM to lodge their protest against the government's attitude.

13:13 September 20

13:10 September 20

Haryana:  Farmers in Haryana began their three-hour protest against the agriculture-related farm bills on Sunday.

The farmers started to gather at various places in the state amid elaborate security arrangements which have been made to ensure that the event passes off smoothly.

The Bharatiya Kisan Union's Haryana unit, supported by some other farmer outfits, is holding a statewide protest against the Centre's farm bills during which they will block roads for three hours from 12 pm to 3 pm.

The farmers are also joined by the 'arhitiyas' or commission agents during their protest.

The Punjab Youth Congress, meanwhile, is also taking out a 'tractor rally' from Punjab to Delhi against the Centre's farm-related measures.

The rally started from Mohali district in the morning and was moving on the national highway towards Ambala.

However, the Haryana Police in Ambala had heavily barricaded the national highway and there was heavy police deployment on the Haryana-Punjab border, police department sources said.

On his way to join the tractor rally, Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas B V said his party stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the farmers and dubbed the farm reforms as anti-farmers.

Meanwhile, the Haryana government issued directions to ensure law and order, and minimise inconvenience to the people of the state during the protest from 12 noon to 3 pm on Sunday.

Executive magistrates have been directed to remain stationed along with their police counterparts at all such places where the congregation of protestors is anticipated.

The Haryana Police was conducting patrolling of the national and state highways and important roads in various parts of the state, including Ambala, Kurukshetra, Sonipat, Jind, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar and Bhiwani.

Authorities said traffic will be diverted to alternative routes if the protest intensifies.

Days after their passage in the Lok Sabha, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar introduced the Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 in the Rajya Sabha.

The bills are facing staunch opposition from farmer bodies as well as from within the ruling coalition.

Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the food processing minister from the Shiromani Akali Dal party, resigned from the government last week. 

12:58 September 20

Farmers take out protest march in Karnal

11:54 September 20

Opposition misleading farmers for their political gain: Anil Vij

Haryana Minister Anil Vij on Sunday said that the Opposition parties have misled farmers for their political gain with respect to the Bills on agriculture sector reforms.

"Opposition parties have misled farmers for their own political gains. These Bills are in favour of farmers. The Prime Minister has assured farmers of MSP. Farmers will be able to freely trade their produce anywhere," Vij said.  

When asked about farmers' protests and blocking of roads, the Haryana Minister said, "During this pandemic, blocking roads in protest is not correct, it is like creating a hindrance."

"Any protest march from Punjab will not be allowed to enter the Haryana border. As far as our State's farmers are concerned we have appealed to them that protests should take place keeping in view the time. As a pandemic has spread in the country people can protest, give speeches but should not block roads," he added.

11:53 September 20

Haryana HM appeals farmers to not block roads 

Home Minister of Haryana, Anil Vij appealed farmers to not block roads. He said that they will not let the protesters enter Haryana from Punjab. “Protest in the times of coronavirus is not right. This will create problems. They can stage protest and give speeches but I appeal to farmers to not block the roads,” said Anil Vij. 

Meanwhile, workers of Punjab Youth Congress and farmers arrived at Delhi-Chandigarh national highway in Zirakpur to take part in tractor rally from Zirakpur to Delhi against new agriculture Bills.

11:52 September 20

Delhi Police on high alert at Haryana border 

The Delhi Police is on alert with respect to the farmers' protests that are taking place in the neighbouring states of the national capital over Bills on agriculture sector reforms, the Delhi Police informed on Sunday.

Forces have been deployed near the Ashok Nagar-Ghazipur area, as well as the Delhi-Haryana border

10:55 September 20

Police deployed in Haryana's Ambala in view of farmers' protest

Ambala (Haryana): Massive security deployment has been made at Sadopur border in Haryana's Ambala on Sunday due to the protest called by 16 farmer's associations as the Parliament discusses Agriculture bills.

Y Puran Kumar, IG, Ambala Range, Haryana said that law and order will be maintained at all costs.

16-17 farmers' associations in Haryana have given a protest call. Law and order situation will be maintained at all costs," he said while speaking to media.

Ambala SP Abhiskeh Jorwal said, "Barricading is in place here as Bharatiya Kisan Union has given a call for protest. We have sufficient forces present here."

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar has moved agriculture sector Bills in the Rajya Sabha on Sunday.

These Bills are -- Farmers' and Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020. These bills were passed by the Lower House with a voice vote a couple of days back.

The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 permits the electronic trading of farmers' produce and allows the setting up transaction platforms for facilitating direct online buying and selling of farm products.

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 provides for a farming agreement prior to the production or rearing of any farm produce. A guaranteed price to be paid for the purchase of farming produce will be mentioned in such agreements.

Hailing the passage of the bills, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had described this proposed legislation as historic and said that they will rid farmers and the farm sector of middlemen and other bottlenecks. The Prime Minister further stated that these agrarian reforms will open new doors for farmers to sell their produce, which will fetch them more profit for their produce.