That's all for today readers. For more latest updates on farmers' protest, follow our latest blog.
Farmers on their way to Ghazipur border during a tractor rally as part of their ongoing protest against the new farm laws, at Dankaur in Gautam Buddha Nagar District, Thursday, Jan. 07, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo
RSS skirts discussing farmers' protest, says Centre and farmers should resovle peacefully
Avoiding to make any public statement on the contentious agriculture laws and the agitation of farmers against them on Delhi border for over a month now, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in a guarded response on Thursday that "the farmers and the government should sit together and resolve the issue peacefully."
PM Modi should talk directly to protesting farmers: Harsimrat Kaur Badal
Expressing her anguish over the pain of farmers, Badal, leader of the ruling BJP's erstwhile ally, said, "It is strange that farmers are spending nights in open during the chilling winters and even then their demands are falling on deaf ears."
Govt is ready to fulfil all the demands of farmers: Surjit Kumar Jyani, BJP after meeting HM Shah
"Govt is ready to listen but farmers are being stubborn. Law & order in Punjab is ruined. Sit-in protests are being done outside houses of our workers. The language being used & the kind of hooliganism in Punjab - we talked about it," said Surjit Kumar Jyani, BJP after meeting HM Shah.
"Govt is ready to fulfil all the demands of farmers. But farmers are now saying that the laws be repealed. Why are they saying that? I think farmer unions don't want a solution. I think their plan is something else," he said.
"People are losing lives; children, farmers, elderly men & women are sitting on road. Grief is unbearable. I thought it should be resolved somehow. So I met him (Agri Minister) today. Talks were good, we tried to find solution," said Baba Lakha Singh, Head of Nanaksar Gurudwara, Kaleran.
" We'll have a new proposal & find out a solution to the matter. We'll try to resolve it at the earliest. The minister assured me that he is with us in finding a solution ," he said.
Farmers on their way to Tikri border during a tractor rally as part of their ongoing protest against the new farm laws, at Western Peripheral Expressway in Kundli, Sonipat, Thursday, Jan. 07, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo
Sonia Gandhi slams govt over fuel price hike & farmer stir, says country standing at crossroads
On the hike in fuel prices, she accused the government of profiteering and said it is turning a disaster into an opportunity to fill its coffers.
PM should talk directly to protesting farmers; Govt has lost trust of entire farming community: Harsimrat
A day before the government's eighth round of talks with protesting farm unions, SAD leader and former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the Centre has lost the trust of the entire farming community and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should directly talk to agitating farmers.
Expressing her anguish over the pain of farmers, Badal, leader of the ruling BJP's erstwhile ally, said, "It is strange that farmers are spending nights in open during the chilling winters and even then their demands are falling on deaf ears."
In an interview to PTI, Badal who resigned from Union Cabinet in September last year when the three farm bills were being passed in Lok Sabha, said what farmers have gone through in last six-seven weeks, is the same what she went through when she was a Union Minister.
"...To avoid the situation which has arisen now and the protest, I kept pleading for months, whether it was in cabinet meetings or in direct meetings with top leaders of the central government that please listen to farmers before bringing these three bills as they are 'annadaatas' of the country, otherwise it would lead to agitations and protests. But my all pleas fell on to deaf ears," she said.
(PTI)
Sonia Gandhi urges the Modi govt to immediately revoke the three anti-farmer laws and to heed to every demand of farmers: Congress
Congress president Sonia Gandhi attacks Modi government over ongoing farmer agitation and hike in fuel prices, and says country is today standing at crossroads for first time since Independence
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday attacked the Modi government over the ongoing farmer agitation and the hike in fuel prices, and said the country is today standing at the crossroads for the first time since Independence.
On the hike in fuel prices, she accused the government of profiteering and said it is turning a disaster into an opportunity to fill its coffers.
She also alleged that the government is breaking the back of the poor, the farmers, and the middle class due to its "insensitivity".
"I demand from the government that the rates of excise duty on petrol and diesel be made similar to that during the UPA regime and provide immediate relief to the affected people.
"I once again appeal to the government to repeal the three farm laws immediately and fulfil all the demands of farmers," she said in a statement.
(PTI)
Former Independent MLA and Haryana Yuva Kisan Sangharsh Samiti chairman, Naresh Yadav - along with a delegation of farmers - met Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar over Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) issue today.
Farmers' protest march: Tractors take over roads at Singhu
A cacophony of rumbling engines, Punjabi tunes and rousing slogans filled the air as rows of tractors took over the roads at the Singhu border for the protest march by farmers on Monday.
Thousands of farmers who have been protesting at the Delhi-Haryana borders for over 40 days took out a tractor march to strengthen their agitation against the new farm laws.
The tractor march started from four different points -- Singhu to Tikri Border, Tikri to Kundli, Ghazipur to Palwal and Rewasan to Palwal.
"The government has been hosting meeting after meeting. They know what we want. We want the laws to be repealed, but all we get are futile talks. With this rally we want to give them a glimpse of what we can do, and what we will do on January 26.
"Today the rally is happening on the periphery of Delhi, but when our farmer leaders decide that we need to enter the capital, we will do that," said Harjinder Singh from Punjab's Hoshiarpur.
(PTI)
SC questions Centre over Covid-19 precautions taken at farmers' protest
The court also asked whether farmers protesting at various Delhi borders were taking precautions, necessary to contain the spread of Covid-19. Hundreds of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh have been protesting at Delhi borders for over 40 days demanding repeal of three farm laws.
Protesting farmers hold tractor march at Ghazipur border
Farmers’ protest against the farm laws entered 43rd Day on January 07. Protesting farmers held a tractor rally at four borders of Delhi including Eastern and Western peripheral expressways.
The tractor march is a rehearsal of the mega show on January 26.
Ghaziabad District ADM Shailendra Kumar Singh said, “Earlier the farmers were to take out tractor rally till Palwal but now they will go only till Noida and return to Ghazipur. Sufficient police force deployed, video recording being done.”
Farmers participate in a tractor rally to protest against the newly passed farm bills, on a highway on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, January 7, 2021. Credit: REUTERS
Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu) begins tractor march from Maha Maya Flyover to Chilla border in continuation of farmers' protest against the Farm Laws by the Central Government.
Farmers block expressway near Indian capital to protest Modi's new laws
Tens of thousands of farmers on tractors occupied a stretch of an expressway on the periphery of New Delhi on Thursday in one of the biggest shows of strength since they began a sit-in against deregulation of farm markets more than a month ago.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has held several rounds of talks with the farmers to placate them, offering concessions on the three laws it passed last year to bring private investment into the country's antiquated agriculture markets.
But the farmers have resisted the overtures and been camped at an interstate border near the village of Kundli outside Delhi for more than 40 days demanding the government withdraw the laws.
(Reuters)
Government wants to privatise farm sector: Kamal Nath
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath on Thursday alleged that the Centre wants to privatise the farm sector with its three new agri-marketing laws, which are being opposed by thousands of cultivators.
Talking to reporters here while announcing the launch of his party's protest against the government and an awakening drive for farmers which will continue till January 23, Nath claimed the "RSS and the Bharatiya Jana Sangh were votaries ofprivatisation since the beginning".
"They (the two organisations) also opposed the nationalisation of banks carried out by former prime minister Indira Gandhi," the former state chief minister claimed.
"The (present) government wants to privatise the farm sector with the three agri-marketing laws," he alleged.
(PTI)
SC expresses concern over large gathering of farmers during Covid-19
“The same problem is going to arise in farmers’ agitation. I do not know if farmers are protected from Covid. So, the same problem is going to arise. It is not that everything is over,” said Chief Justice S A Bobde, heading a bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.
Farmers' tractor rally held at Burari in North Delhi
Tractor rallies underway at Singhu, Tikri, Ghazipur borders
Amid tight security, thousands of farmers on Thursday started their tractor-march from protest sites -- Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders -- against the three agriculture laws.
Bharati Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) chiefJoginder Singh Ugrahan said that farmers participated in the march with over 3,500 tractors and trolleys.
According to the protestingfarmunions, this is just "rehearsal" for their proposed January 26 tractor parade that will be move into the national capital from different parts of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. (PTI)
Protesting farmers at Palwal to head towards Singhu border
Tractor rally route shortened: Farmers to head to Noida and return to Ghazipur
Visuals from the farmers' tractor rally against the new farm reform laws
Haryana tightens security Kundli-Manesar-Palwal toll plaza
Tractor rally to head to Dasna, Aligarh Road, and return to Ghazipur; rehearsal for R-Day rally, says BKU spokesperson
Tractor rally to begin at Ghazipur border
Heavy security deployed at Singhu border
No sign of thaw in negotiations between Centre and farmers on new laws; Tractor march on Thursday
A day before farmers protesting against Centre's new agriculture laws organise a tractor march from all protest sites near the national capital, Government on Wednesday showcased the support by "a large number of farmers from across the country" for the farm laws and urged the protesting unions to "understand the sentiments behind reforms" brought through these legislations.
Cancellation of UK PM's visit our victory, govt's 'diplomatic defeat': Farmer unions
Farmer unions protesting against the three new agri laws Wednesday claimed the cancellation of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's visit to India later this month was a "political win" for them and a "diplomatic defeat" for the government, and asserted their agitation has been receiving global support.
AAP accuses Punjab CM of implementing farm laws, demands his resignation
Alleging that the Congress government in Punjab has implemented the contentious farm laws in the state, the Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday demanded resignation of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for "overt and open betrayal of the farmers".
OPINION | The inconclusive definition of ‘farmer’
Land reforms have been the silver lining for landless farmers after independence. With the abolition of zamindari system and similar other feudal entities that prevented any form of land tenure security to tillers, states wanted to usher in a new era of parity where access to land will be the basic norm.