Farmers' protest news highlights: Next round of talks with agitating farmers on Jan 22; Centre offers to suspend farm laws for upto two years

A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Sharad A Bobde has allowed the centre to withdraw its plea against restrictions on the Jan 26 tractor rally and is currently hearing pleas regarding the contentious farm laws. Meanwhile, the 10th round of talks between the farmers and Centre, which was to be held yesterday, will take take place today at Vigyan Bhavan. Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal have arrived at Vigyan Bhawan. Stay tuned for more updates.

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Centre stubborn over farm laws: Sachin Pilot

Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Wednesday attacked the Centre over the farm laws, accusing it of being stubborn and not ready to listen to anyone.

Our MPs are protesting over the laws for the past several weeks but the government is not ready to listen anyone and hold meaningful discussions, Pilot alleged, adding that the Centre is "backing out from its stubborn attitude".

He said the laws were enacted “forcibly” in haste. You cannot run Parliament and democracy like this, the Congress leader said.

SAD, AAP spread lies against Punjab govt over farm laws: Punjab CM

Citing an RTI reply indicating that the report of the chief ministers’ high-powered panel on agriculture reforms was not presented before the NITI Aayog, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh on Wednesday accused the SAD and AAP of spreading "lies" against his government.

According to a government statement, media reports citing a reply to a Right to Information (RTI) query suggest that the farm ordinances were promulgated and introduced in Parliament in June last year without the report of the chief ministers' committee being ever appraised by the governing council of NITI Aayog.

Can not ignore issues raised by protesting farmers: Pawar

NCP president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said the Centre seems to have no sympathy for farmers protesting outside Delhi against new agri laws in extreme weather conditions and favoured talks to resolve the issues raised by them.

Backing the protest, going on for over a month now, against the three farm laws enacted by the Centre in September last year, Pawar said the agitation can not be ignored.

Talking to reporters in Panaji, Pawar pointed out that farmers are protesting outside Delhi in severe cold, but the Centre seems to have no sympathy towards them.

The government on Wednesday proposed to suspend the three contentious farm laws for one and half years and set up a joint committee to discuss the Acts to end the stalemate, but farmer leaders did not immediately accept the proposal and said they will revert after their internal consultations.

The next meeting has been scheduled for January 22, a day after the farmer unions hold their internal discussions on Thursday, farmer leaders said after the 10th round of talks ended at Vigyan Bhawan here after nearly five hours of talks, including two breaks.

Unions firm on their demand for the repeal of laws, but will still discuss on Thursday govt's proposal for suspension of Acts:Farmerleaders

Modi govt offers to amend farm laws; farmer leaders insist on repeal, discussion on MSP

The government on Wednesday offered to amend the three contentious farm laws at their 10th round of talks with protesting unions but farmer leaders stuck to their demand for a complete repeal of the Acts and alleged that the Centre was avoiding discussion on a legal guarantee for MSP.

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Constitute committee with farmers & govt representatives as members, says Tomar to unions. Committee to discuss laws clause-wise. While court has put farm laws in abeyance for 2 months, if needed & consultations are on, govt can wait for a year for their implementation he added, reports ANI

Deadlock over farm laws continues as the Centre refuses to repeal the laws but offers amendments instead. Leaders expressed little confidence in the talks with Centre and further hoped for a 11thround of talks to resolve the issue.

The government on Wednesday offered to amend the three contentious farm laws at their 10th round of talks with protesting unions butfarmerleaders stuck to their demand for a complete repeal of the Acts and alleged that the Centre was avoiding discussion on a legal guarantee for MSP.

Farmer Unions raise NIA summons issue at talks with Centre

Farmerleaders raised the issue of NIA notices being served to somefarmers, alleging it was being done just to harass those supporting the agitation, to which the government representatives said they will look into the matter.

Farmers leaders during the 10th round of talks with the central government on new farm laws, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

Credit: PTI Photo

Akali leader Sirsa urges Govt to mark Gurupurab by repealing contentious farm laws

Akali Dal leader Majinder Sirsa on Wednesday said the government should mark the auspicious occasion of Gurupurab by repealing the three contentious farm laws, against which thousands of farmers are protesting for almost two months on borders of the national capital.

Sirsa, who also heads Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC), further said the proposed tractor rally by farmers will take place as per the schedule on January 26 whether the Delhi police allocate a route or not.

Farmers' tractor rally on R-Day: Union leaders reject suggestion of alternative route

Farmer unions opposing the Centre's new agri laws on Wednesday rejected a suggestion by police officers to hold their proposed January 26 tractor rally on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway instead of Delhi's busy Outer Ring Road, sources said.

Union leaders and officers of the Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana police forces had met at the Vigyan Bhawan here to discuss the route and arrangements of the proposed rally on Republic Day.

The sources said that the farmer leaders were suggested by the police officers to take out their rally on the Kundli–Manesar–Palwal (KMP) Expressway, but they did not agree.

The tenth round of Centre-farmer unions talks underway

Police personnel walk past a bus with farmer leaders in it before they leave for Vigyan Bhawan to attend a meeting with the central government over the new farm laws, at Singhu Border in New Delhi. Credit: PTI Photo

The tenth round of talks between farmer unions and the Centre over the three farm laws begins at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

Delhi: The tenth round of talks between farmer leaders and Centre over the three farm laws to begin shortly; Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal arrive at Vigyan Bhawan

Delhi: A delegation of farmer leaders arrive at Vigyan Bhawan for the tenth round of talks with Union Government on the three farm laws.

CJI trusts tractor rally will be peaceful, adjourns matter

CJI: We trust Mr Bhushans statement that there will be peace

AG: But in Haryana, the CM meeting was disrupted by farmers

CJI: nothing else now. (Bar & Bench)

Maintain peace during rally, agitate if we uphold farm laws

CJI: if we uphold the #FarmersBill then you can start the agitation. But peace has to be maintained.

@pbhushan1 : Farmers only want to celebrate republic day on outer ring road. No attempt to destroy peace. (Bar & Bench)

CJI asks Prashant Bhushan to find solution for farmers to peacefully appear before committee

CJI to Prashant Bhushan: Please see what solution can be found. In this case just saying not appearing before the committee will not help. You have to counsel the parties to bring about peace

Bhushan: Yes I have advised them there should be peace

CJI: resolution? (Bar & Bench)

SC issues notice on Kisan Mahapanchayat plea for reconstituting committee

Supreme Court issues notice on the application filed by Kisan Mahapanchayat seeking reconstitution of committee constituted on January 12 to listen to grievances of protesting farmers.

SC Committee has no adjudication powers: CJI

CJI: we have conferred no adjudication powers to the committee

Salve: Once you make it clear that the committee is part of judicial process and then after someone writes any nonsense then I will be moving contempt (Bar & Bench)

Cannot compel unions to appear before the committee, CJI says

CJI : If you don't want to appear before the committee, we cannot compel you. But you cannot malign people like this and cast aspersions on them and also the court. If you don't want to appear, don't appear. Why do you need to brand people like this? (Live Law)

SC asks Centre to withdraw plea on restricting tractor rally, will not hear the matter

"We Will Not Pass Orders, You Withdraw Its":Supreme Court Asks Centre To Withdraw Plea To Restrain Farmers' Tractor Rally On Republic Day (Live Law)

SC allows Delhi police to withdraw application seeking restraint orders on R-Day tractor rally

Supreme Court allows Delhi police to withdraw its application seeking restraint orders against the tractor rally proposed by protesting farmers on Republic Day. CJI-led bench said it is not a matter for the court to decide and police should decide it. (Live SC Law)

Visuals from Congress's 'Raj Bhavan Chalo' march in Bengaluru

Govt must make legislation on MSP, repeal all three farm laws: Rakesh Tikait, BKU Spokesperson

Farm union leaders to meet police officials to discuss R-Day tractor march route

A group offarmunion leaders will meet top officials of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh police on Wednesday to discuss the route and arrangements for their tractor rally on January 26 to protest against the threefarmlaws, a union leader said.

Farmers have been protesting against the threefarmlaws for the last 56 days on the borders of the national capital.

Leaders of all 40farmunions, which are taking part in the protest, will meet three cabinet ministers for the 10th round of talks this afternoon in an effort to end the impasse. (PTI)

Chidambaram urges govt to 'start on a clean slate' ahead of 10th round of talks with farmers

Ahead of the tenth round of talks between the Centre and agitating farmers, Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday urged the ruling dispensation to start afresh and keep the past aside.

Nine rounds of talks have taken place between the government and agitating farmer unions without any concrete resolution, while the tenth round is scheduled to be held on Wednesday.

"'Start on a clean slate' is the only way forward," Chidambaram tweeted. (PTI)

Farmers arrive at Vigyan Bhavan, firm on holding tractor march on R-Day

D K Shivakumar says BJP trying to stop protesting farmers from entering city at any cost

I know BJP govt is trying to stop farmers at any cost and not letting them participate in the protest. I request protesters to come to Sangolli Rayanna statue and participate in the massive protest rally: DK Shivakumar, Karnataka Congress chief. (ANI)

Farmers coming to Bengaluru from other districts being stopped by police: D K Shivakumar

We'll keep our personal views on farm laws aside; repeal not good for future reforms: SC panel

Under attack from protesting unions for their "pro-government" public stand on three contentious farm laws, members of a panel set up by the Supreme Court to resolve the crisis said on Tuesday they will keep aside their own ideology and views while consulting various stakeholders, even as they indicated a complete repeal won't augur well for much-needed agriculture reforms.

A key committee member and president of Maharashtra-based Shetkari Sanghatana, Anil Ghanwat said the farm sector reforms are much needed and no political party in the next 50 years will ever attempt them again if these laws are repealed.

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SC-appointed committee can't resolve crisis over farm laws: Sukhbir Badal

Shiromani Akali Dal Chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday claimed the Supreme Court-appointed committee could not play any constructive role in resolving the deadlock between the farmers and the Centre following the latter's refusal to accept peasants' demand of repealing the farm laws.

He also said that 'kisan shakti' had the power to "wipe out" the BJP.

Badal was speaking to the media after holding ward-level meetings in Nawanshahr, Banga and Phagwara.

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DH Toon | 10th round of talks to be held today

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Speak Out: January 20, 2021

Supreme Court to hear pleas on farm laws on January 20

The Supreme Court will hear pleas related to farm laws on Wednesday.

On Monday, the Supreme Court had the Centre that the proposed tractor rally on the Republic Day by farmers protesting against the new farm laws is a “law and order” matter and Delhi Police is the first authority to decide who should be allowed to enter the national capital.

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