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Farmers stir LIVE : Over 1,500 telecom towers damaged in Punjab

Amid cold wave, farmers protest enters 32nd day
Amid cold wave, farmers protest enters 32nd day

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Published : Dec 28, 2020, 9:05 AM IST

Updated : Dec 28, 2020, 9:59 PM IST

21:56 December 28

SP's Ram Govind Chaudhary urges farmers to be ready for 'do or die battle' with new farm laws

Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly and senior Samajwadi Party leader Ram Govind Chaudhary on Monday exhorted farmers for a "do or die battle" with the government for the withdrawal of the new agriculture laws.

Addressing a ''kisan ghera chaupal'' in Saidpura village under Bansdih assembly segment, the senior SP leader urged farmers'' unions that "till the withdrawal of the three controversial laws and MSP was not made mandatory, they should continue their ''aar-paar ki ladai'' (do or die battle)."

Alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were trying to corporatise the country with the power of police and crush the nation''s soul, Chaudhary said, "We will not allow Modi to succeed in his intentions. We are ready to give every sacrifice for saving the country''s soul."

Saluting the farmers sitting on the borders of Delhi, he said farmers are fighting to break the chains and every farmer of the country is with them in this battle.

21:56 December 28

SGPC providing various services for farmers protesting near Delhi borders

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex religious body of the Sikhs, is serving ''langar'' (cooked food from community kitchen) and providing other services to the farmers protesting against the Centre''s three farm laws at various border points of Delhi, its president Jagir Kaur said on Monday.

Kaur said apart from providing ''langar'' at the Delhi borders from the SGPC ''Gurdwaras'' in Haryana, accommodation facilities, medical aid and toilets have also been arranged there.

These services are also being monitored from time to time at the borders by the members of the SGPC, she said in a statement.

21:55 December 28

''Wall of lies'' to fall soon; hopeful of early solution to impasses over farm laws: Tomar

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday said a "wall of lies" has been spread in a "planned manner" among farmers against the new farm laws, but it will not last long and protesting peasants will soon realise the truth.

The minister reiterated he remains hopeful to find an early solution to end the impasse.        

It's been over a month now that thousands of farmers, especially from Punjab, Haryana and parts of Uttar Pradesh, are camping at Delhi borders seeking repeal of the three farm laws.

They have threatened to intensify their stir in the coming days if their demands are not fulfilled.      

So far, five rounds of formal talks held between the Centre and 40 protesting farmer unions remained inconclusive. After repeated requests from the Centre to resume the discussion to end the stalemate, the unions have given December 29 for talks.

The government, in response, has written to the unions inviting them for talks on December 30.     

"Soon, some way out will emerge and we will reach towards the solution. Everyone knows that the wall of lies is never strong. Truth is truth. There is going to be a time when people will start accepting the truth," Tomar said addressing a virtual event organised by Confederation of NGOs of Rural India (CNRI).

Expressing regret that some have created "misconception in a planned manner" in the hearts of protesting farmers on these farm laws, the Minister said, however, the government is constantly engaging with such farmer unions.    

21:54 December 28

Govt invites 40 unions for next round of talks

The government on Monday invited 40 protesting farmer unions for the next round of talks on December 30 on all relevant issues to find a "logical solution" to the current impasse over the farm laws.

The government''s invite followed a proposal made by unions last week to hold the talks on Tuesday, December 29, on agenda including modalities for the repeal of the three laws enacted in September.

In a letter to the unions, Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Aggarwal has invited them for holding talks at 2 pm on Wednesday at Vigyan Bhavan in the national capital. The last formal meeting took place on December 5, in which union leaders had demanded a clear ''yes or no'' answer from the government on their main demand of the repeal of the three laws.

Taking note of the unions'' offer to resume talks, Aggarwal said, "The government is also committed to finding a logical solution on all relevant issues with a clear intention and an open mind."

With regard to the proposed agenda by the unions for the meeting, the Secretary said a detailed discussion will take place on three farm laws, MSP procurement system as well as Electricity Amendment bill and ordinance to tackle air pollution in and around Delhi/NCR.

However, the government letter did not make any specific reference to one key condition proposed by the unions seeking talks on modalities for the repeal of the Acts.

21:53 December 28

Repeal farm laws: OP Chautala writes to PM Modi

Former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday seeking withdrawal of the Centre's new farm laws or suspension of those until a consensus is reached with all farmer organisations and experts.

The 85-year-old president of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) said no concrete solution to the issue has been found so far because of the "stubborn" attitude of the government.

"This is a sad situation because people of the peasant class generally do not participate in any long stir. If this is happening today then it needs to be viewed sensitively," he wrote in the letter.

21:52 December 28

Amid chilling temperature, farmer protests bare bodied with tricolour painted on him

Notwithstanding the chilling temperature of the national capital, Vikas Yadav has been protesting the three Central farm laws at the Singhu border bare-bodied with the tricolour painted on him.

With slogans written on his arms and face, the farmer from Uttar Pradesh''s Kannauj region said he hoped this would draw the government's attention towards the agitation.

"Nobody is listening to us. We are living on the road, but nobody is paying any attention. Maybe now they will," said Yadav, who arrived at the protest site a week ago.

He "protested quietly" for a week and hoped for things to change. But after getting "frustrated" by the "inaction" of the government, he paid Rs 200 to get his body painted.

For him, painting his body was a show of "farmers'' unity and strength".

"The government has been ignoring us. I came here a week back and nothing has changed. They don't care if the farmers are out on the road in this cold. They won't care even if we die.

"I did this to show our government that we are not afraid of anything," Yadav said, adding he will keep painting his body with new slogans every day until the government fulfils the farmers'' demands.

Asked if the cold bothered him, he replied, "The cold is nothing compared to our fight. I am doing this for myself and my farmer brothers."

Thousands of farmers have been protesting at various border points of Delhi for around a month as the stalemate between the government and the protesters, who are demanding a repeal of the three new agri laws, continued without any signs of a breakthrough.

21:52 December 28

Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh directs police to take action against those vandalising mobile towers in the state

21:52 December 28

Over 1,500 telecom towers damaged in Punjab

More than 1,500 telecom towers in Punjab have been damaged by farmers protesting against the three farm laws, disrupting services in some pockets, sources said.

Power supply to towers that relay telecom signals was snapped and cables cut in several parts of the state as farmers vented their anger on the infrastructure owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani's firm Jio as they saw him along with infrastructure tycoon Gautam Adani as major beneficiaries of the new laws.

Neither Ambani's Reliance group nor Adani's companies are into the business of procuring foodgrains from farmers.

19:09 December 28

Punjab teacher cycles 225 kms to join farmers' protest

Manoj Kumar, a teacher in a government school in Punjab, travelled 225 kilometres by bicycle to the Tikari border in Delhi in support of the farmer movement. "We all have to gather, it is not just the farmers' movement, it has become a public interest movement," he said. 

19:02 December 28

senior Congress leader, Salman Khurshid

"Farmers have cleared that the protests are not influenced by any political agenda and We are standing with the farmers. Whenever farmers will require the help of Rahul Gandhi, he will be with them and we are not politicising this issue," said senior Congress leader, Salman Khurshid.  

17:53 December 28

Agitating farmers have set up a new stage and temporary sitting arrangements on the Delhi side of Singhu (Delhi-Haryana border). "We have made new arrangements as the number of protesters is increasing here," says a farmer at the site. 

17:53 December 28

PM Modi flags off 100th 'Kisan Rail' from Sangola in Maharashtra to Shalimar in West Bengal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off 100th 'Kisan Rail' from Sangola in Maharashtra to Shalimar in West Bengal. While addressing the ceremony virtually, PM Modi said, "Kisan Rail has hugely strengthened small and marginal farmers who account for 80 per cent of the peasantry in the country."

"I congratulate crores of farmers of the country. Despite Covid-19 challenge Kisan Rail network has expanded in the last four months and got its 100th rail now," he said.

17:50 December 28

Manjit Singh Rai, leader of the United Kisan Morcha

'Govt should revoke FIR against farmers'

Manjit Singh Rai, leader of the United Kisan Morcha, one of the farmers' organizations on Monday reached Ghazipur border and held a meeting with farmers in connection with the FIR which was lodged against around 1,000-1,500 unidentified people in Uttarakhand's Udham Singh Nagar district for allegedly creating a ruckus at Swar border.  

Speaking in this occasion, Singh said," Farmers are agitating peacefully to get their rights, but the government along with the agitating farmers is persistent. Police officers are being threatened by the government of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Police have registered an FIR against around 1,000-1,500 unidentified people in Uttarakhand's Udham Singh Nagar district. The government should immediately revoke FIR"

16:42 December 28

Centre calls farmers for meeting over farm laws

Centre calls farmers for meeting over farm laws at 2 PM on December 30 in Delhi

The Centre on Monday invited protesting farm union leaders for a fresh round of talks to end the ongoing impasse over the agriculture laws on December 30.  

In a letter to 40 farmer unions, Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Aggarwal has invited them for the meeting at 2 pm at Vigyan Bhavan in the national capital.

The invite came days after the agitating farm union leaders decided to resume talks with the Centre and proposed to hold a meeting on Tuesday. They had also said that modalities for repeal of the three laws and legal guarantee for MSP (Minimum Support Price) should be part of the agenda for talks.

15:55 December 28

KC Venugopal joins Punjab MPs protest

KC Venugopal joins Punjab MPs protest at Jantar Mantar, demands Govt to convene Parliament session

As the Punjab Congress MPs have been sitting on a day-night dharna at Jantar Mantar to support the protesting farmers against farm laws, Congress party's General Secretary in-charge KC Venugopal, on Monday, joined them to demand the Government of India to call a Parliament session to discuss the issue.  

Congress party, on Monday, celebrated it's 136th Foundation Day. Venugopal also tweeted a video of Congress MPs and other leaders of the party, while protesting at Jantar Mantar, saying, "On Congress Foundation Day, we extended solidarity to our MPs and colleagues from Punjab who are sitting on an indefinite strike against anti-farmer laws at Jantar Mantar."  

Speaking to ETV Bharat, KC Venugopal asserted, "Government should convene a Parliament session to withdraw these anti-farmer laws. This is what we are demanding, Government should hear it. This is what farmers are demanding from the last 23 days, the Government should hear them."  

Thousands of farmers are camping on Delhi border braving the harsh winters to press for the repeal of three new agricultural laws. As the protecting farmer unions have proposed December 29 for the next round of talks, the Union Government has expressed a hope that a solution will be reached soon.  

"Government is totally insensitive over this farmers issue. On one side, they are telling the farmers that we are ready to talk. On the other side, they are targeting the farmers by calling them 'anti-national' and 'Khalistani'. This Government has totally anti-farmer attitude," Venugopal stated.  

A war of words has also begun between BJP and Congress as the ruling party is continuously alleging that the opposition is "misleading" the farmers. BJP is also saying that the similar kind of laws were mentioned in Congress' 2019 election manifesto but now they are using farmers for their own political gains.  

When asked about the matter, Venugopal said, "That is actually a baseless allegation. If they want to solve the farmers' issue, they should withdraw the bill. Instead of withdrawing these bills, this Government is blaming the opposition."

15:17 December 28

MP Cong MLAs stage silent protest against Centre's farm laws

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs led by state unit chief Kamal Nath on Monday staged a silent protest against the Centre''s new farm laws in front of Mahatma Gandhi''s statue in the Assembly premises here.

The protest began with Nath garlanding the statue of Gandhiji amid MLAs holding placards and toy tractors and shouting slogans denouncing the Centre.

The decision to stage a silent protest was taken since the three-day winter session of the Assembly, set to begin on Monday, was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, said state Congress spokesperson Narendra Saluja.

"We will continue to extend support to the ongoing farm agitation against the Centre''s new laws," he added.

The winter session got postponed after 61 Assembly staffers and seven MLAs tested positive for the virus.

An earlier plan by the party to arrive at the Assembly complex in tractors was set to face hurdles from an order issued by the district collector banning the movement of several types of vehicles within a 5-kilometre radius.

11:16 December 28

Muslim Front of Punjab holds protest

Muslim Front of Punjab holds protest

Muslim Front of Punjab holds protest in support of farmers and against new farm laws.

11:14 December 28

Priyanka Gandhi

On the foundation day of Congress,  Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that it is a sin to use the kind of words they are using for farmers. Government is answerable to farmers. The government should listen to them and take back the laws

08:37 December 28

Farmers an incarnation of God, BJP should not annoy them, says SP leader 

Slamming the central government for not resolving the grievances of agitating farmers, Samajwadi Party (SP) Uttar Pradesh president Naresh Uttam Patel on Sunday said farmers are an incarnation of God, and if the BJP leaders believe in God, they should not annoy the farmers. Uttam alleged BJP is making fun of democracy.

"If the BJP believes in God, then farmers are an incarnation of God. The government should not annoy them and should listen to them. They should repeal the three black laws. BJP is making fun of democracy by weakening it," he said.

When asked about Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's statement claiming the government procurement of crops at minimum support price will continue, Samajwadi Party leader said the Union Minister should visit the Delhi borders where farmers are protesting and listen to their grievances. 

07:29 December 28

Farmers stir LIVE : Amid cold wave, farmers protest enters 32nd day

Amid cold wave, farmers protest enters 32nd day

Amid cold wave, farmers protest enters 32nd day

Amid the prevailing deadlock between farmers and the Central government over the new farm laws, the agitation of farmers entered the 32nd day on Monday.

With the cold wave prevailing in the region, farmers at the Ghazipur border were seen comforting themselves before small log fires.

Farmers continued their protest at the borders of Delhi against the 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.

The protests at the Ghazipur border that started on November 28 entered the 30th day today.

Farmer unions have held several rounds of talks with the government and attended a meeting called by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Meanwhile, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a joint front of almost 40 farmer organisations, wrote a letter to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare accepting the Centre's offer for dialogue and proposed December 29 as the next date for the meeting.  

Last Updated : Dec 28, 2020, 9:59 PM IST

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