Farmers' protest: Tomar writes letter to farmers, gives assurance on MSP

20:59 December 17

Kejriwal indulged in cheap theatrics by tearing copies of farm laws: Harsimrat

Former union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal accused Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal of indulging in "cheap theatrics" by tearing copies of the farm laws.

She said his government in Delhi was among the first to notify one of the central laws related to agriculture.

In a statement, Badal said the Delhi CM was known as a "dramebaaz" but this time he indulged in "cheap theatrics" and "unparalleled hypocrisy" by tearing the same laws in the Vidhan Sabha, one of which he had notified on November 23. 

20:18 December 17

PM Modi urges people to read Tomar's letter to farmers

Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has expressed his feelings by writing a letter to the farmers, trying to have a polite dialogue. I request all the contributors to read it. The countrymen are also urged to make it reach to as many people as possible."

20:15 December 17

Farm-law impasse should be resolved through dialogue: BKU chief 

Bharatiya Kisan Union president Naresh Tikait said farmers did not want conflict during the protest against the new farm laws and the issue should be resolved through dialogue. 

Tikait said the Centre should repeal the farm laws in the public interest, adding that the contentious legislation was not in favour of the farmers. 

Addressing the media in Muzaffarnagar before his departure to Delhi, Tikait suggested that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, BJP veteran LK Advani and RLD leader Ajit Singh should be part of the dialogue to resolve the issue. 

19:08 December 17

BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi slams Kejriwal for tearing farm laws' copy

BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi slammed Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for tearing the copy of farm laws in the Delhi Assembly.

"Farm laws were notified in Delhi Gazette on November 23. Now, they're tearing copies of same act in Delhi Assembly after notifying. This is opportunistic politics. Delhi CM is the new chameleon, he can just change colours without qualms," he said.

18:53 December 17

A copy of the letter

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar writes to farmers

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar wrote a letter to farmers.

"Believe you, these reforms done in the interests of farmers will form the foundation of a new chapter in Indian agriculture. It will also make the country's farmers more independent and empowered than ever," read the letter. 

18:35 December 17

Ghazipur border closed for traffic

Ghazipur border is closed for traffic coming from Ghaziabad to Delhi due to farmers protests. 

People are advised to take an alternate route for coming to Delhi, stated Traffic Police.

18:33 December 17

'Will consult with senior lawyers': Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh on case in SC

National Coordinator of Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh KV Biju has said the farm unions would consult with senior Supreme Court lawyers before taking a decision over the case in the apex court.

The Supreme Court is currently hearing a clutch of petitions seeking removal of agitating farmers from the borders of Delhi, citing it is causing trouble to the citizens.

"We'll consult with four senior SC lawyers - Prashant Bhushan, Dushyant Dave, HS Phoolka and Colin Gonsalves," said Biju.

18:32 December 17

NCP demands special Parliament session to resolve farm issues

The NCP demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi convene a special session of Parliament to address the concerns of the agitating peasants. NCP chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase also called for bringing the PM CARES Fund under the ambit of public accountability, contending there is no explicit clarity about the entity.

18:32 December 17

HC declines plea for providing aid, security and treatment to protesting farmers

The Delhi High Court declined to entertain a plea seeking aid, security and treatment of the farmers protesting on the borders of the national capital, saying a similar issue was before the Supreme Court.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan also said that the high court's jurisdiction does not extend to areas outside the national capital territory and added that the same plea could have been filed in any of the high courts of Rajasthan, Punjab or Uttar Pradesh.

The bench also observed that the plea was filed without doing any research or preparation and dismissed it. 

17:22 December 17

Amit Shah holds meeting with party general secretaries on farmers' agitation

Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with party general secretaries on farmers' agitation.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal were also present in the meet.

17:10 December 17

Opposition, those against farmers and country's progress misleading people on farm laws: UP CM

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the opposition and those who do not like the progress of farmers and the country are misleading people on farm laws.

"You all know that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union agriculture minister have repeatedly stated that the laws made for agricultural reforms will not allow anyone to confiscate the farmers' land. There is no provision in the law to abolish the mandi system. Mandis will continue. Mandis in the private sector will bring healthy competition and farmers would get a better price for their crop," he said addressing a gathering in Bareilly. 

He further said, "If farmers want to sell their produce outside the mandis then there will be no tax on them and to guarantee this, such a system is being implemented. But Opposition and some people who do not like farmers' and the country's progress are misleading people."

17:08 December 17

Khattar, Amarinder condole death of Sikh preacher near Singhu border

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar termed the death of Sikh preacher Sant Ram Singh, who was supporting the farmers' protest and allegedly committed suicide near the Singhu border, "an irreparable loss".

His Punjab counterpart Amarinder Singh also expressed grief over the death of the 65-year-old preacher.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar termed the death of Sikh preacher Sant Ram Singh, who was supporting the farmers' protest and allegedly committed suicide near the Singhu border, "an irreparable loss".

His Punjab counterpart Amarinder Singh also expressed grief over the death of the 65-year-old preacher.

16:59 December 17

Delhi assembly rejects farm laws

Delhi Assembly rejected all 3 Farm laws and have appealed Central govt that it should take back these black laws. 

"More than 20 farmers have died during 20 days of protest. On average, one farmer is getting martyred daily in this movement," said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

16:37 December 17

Kejriwal tears copy of farm laws in Delhi Assembly

Speaking in the Delhi Assembly, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tore the copies of the new farm laws.

"What was the hurry to get farm laws passed in Parliament during the pandemic? It has happened for 1st time that 3 laws were passed without voting in Rajya Sabha...I hereby tear 3 Farm laws in this assembly and appeal Centre not to become worst than Britishers," he said.

He further said these laws were not passed for farmers but passed so that BJP's election could be funded.

"20 protesting farmers have died so far; I want to ask the Centre when will it wake up," the Delhi CM added. 

16:36 December 17

Police detain farmers for protesting at Chilla border

Hundreds of farmers, under the banner of Bharatiya Kisan Union, tried to march towards Chilla border but they were stopped by the Noida police. 

The police have also detained a few of them for allegedly violating Section 144.

However, the farmers said that police are trying to stop them but they will continue their protest at Chilla border. 

15:54 December 17

Ruckus in Delhi Assembly over farm laws

Ruckus in Delhi Assembly as the house discusses resolution against the Farm Bills. Leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) protest against statements made by BJP leaders.

AAP MLA Mahendra Goyal tore the copy of Centre's Farm Laws.

"I refuse to accept these black laws which are against farmers,' he said while tearing the copy.

15:37 December 17

Govt willing to sit with farmers to sort out issues: Puri 

The government is willing to sit with the farmers protesting against the Centre's new farm laws and sort out the issues, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said. 

"It pains me that many people who are sitting in protest probably are not aware of what they are protesting against... Government is still sending a message to all the farmers that please come and talk," Puri said at an online function of industry chamber HDCCI. 

15:35 December 17

'Ready for more talks with govt but won't give up protest'

Protesting farmers at Tikri border (Haryana-Delhi border) said they are ready for more talks with govt but won't give up the protest.

"We're ready for more rounds of talks. Govt is taking SC's help now so their ego is not hurt. Table talks should be shown live," said a farmer.

14:53 December 17

SC suggests Centre put implementation of new farm laws on hold 

The Supreme Court suggested that the central government put the implementation of the new farm laws on hold, adding that it will enable negotiations with farmers. 

However, the Centre argued that if the enactment is put on hold, the farmers will not come forward for negotiations.

14:52 December 17

Modi to address farmers in MP amid protests

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address farmers virtually in Madhya Pradesh tomorrow. 

Various farmer unions and hundreds of farmers have been protesting against the Centre's contentious Agri reforms at borders adjoining Delhi, even as talks with the government have failed to produce a solution.

13:53 December 17

We've not received any notice from SC. When we get a notice, all farmers' unions will hold a discussion&take a decision: MS Rai, Bhartiya Kisan Union, Doaba

SC has allowed impleadment of 8 farmer unions as respondents in petitions seeking removal of protestors from Delhi borders

13:53 December 17

Bhartiya Kisan Union to formulate strategy to close road to Noida at Chilla border

Protests at the Noida border have been taking place since the last 15 days. As the farmers today left for Delhi's Jantar Mantar, the Delhi Police and Noida Police completely closed the border going from Noida to Delhi.

Meanwhile, the farmers coming to Noida from Delhi said that a strategy is being made and tomorrow morning it will also be closed and the protest will take place on Delhi- Noida road.

13:36 December 17

Talking to ETV Bharat over the new agricultural bills passed, Farmer leader Naresh Sirohi said that every section of the society will be affected by these farm laws.

13:23 December 17

One more farmer dies at Singhu border

A farmer protesting against farm laws lost his life after he fell in a drain late night.

According to the information, the body 42-year-old farmer Bhim Singh from Punjab was found early morning.

His body has been sent to postmortem and further investigations are on.

10:28 December 17

Doctors from America reach TIkri Border to treat farmers

In a noble gesture towards farmers protesting against the contentious laws at the Delhi borders, a team of doctors and pharmacy officers from America reached Tikri border and started a free medical camp there.

Doctors also brought medicines worth lakhs of rupees with them and , further said that we have come here for the farmers and will go back with them. As long as the farmers stay here, we will also stay with them.

09:46 December 17

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates

New Delhi: Braving the cold weather, farmers continue to protest at the Delhi border areas against the Centre's farm laws as the BJP-led government continue its efforts to persuade farmers on the issue of agricultural reforms.

"We are fighting the cold weather and we will keep fighting the cold, till our demands are met. We will not budge even if it rains," said Ashok Kumar at the Ghazipur-border area. 

Another protestor said, "Amid this cold weather, we light a fire to keep warm and use blankets. We are getting all kinds of facilities here. We get chana, pulao, tea, puri, and aloo. But we are facing a problem using dirty washrooms."

Ranjeet Singh from Amritsar said, "I try to contribute to this moving by providing some service in gurdwara to help prepare food for the protestors. We make chana-pyaaz because it suitable by people of all ages."

Amid continuing farmers' protest, the Bharatiya Janata Party is holding farmer outreach programme amid continuing protests in and around Delhi by various farmer unions against the three farm laws enacted by the government in September.

A large number of farmers have expressed support for the farm bills, while a protest is ongoing against the reforms, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Wednesday.

"While there is a protest against reforms, lakhs of farmers are also gathering to express support for bills. Today, thousands of farmers gathered in Gwalior for it," said Tomar while addressing an ASSOCHAM session via video conferencing.

Farmers have been protesting from November 26 at the borders of Delhi against Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.