Farmers' protest highlights: Farmer unions didn't give alternative to farm laws repeal demand, says Tomar; 9th round of talks on Jan 15

Sticking to their key demand of the repeal of three farm laws to end their protest, farmer leaders on Friday told the government their "ghar wapsi" can happen only after "law wapsi" but the Centre insisted talks must be limited to contentious clauses and ruled out a complete withdrawal of Acts. At the eighth round of negotiations with the 41-member representative group of protesting farmers, the government asserted the farm reform laws have been welcomed by a large section of farmers in various states and asked the unions to think about the interests of the entire country. The next round of talks likely on January 15.

Wise course is to keep unpopular farm laws in abeyance: Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Friday said he was saddened that the government "refuses to relent" on the farmers' demands and asked whether its meetings with the protesters are aimed at tiring them out.

He also stressed that the farm laws be kept in abeyance and a fresh start be made by talking to all stakeholders.

"Saddened that the government remains as adamant as ever and refuses to relent. The wise course is to keep the unpopular farm laws in abeyance and start talking to all stakeholders on a clean slate," he said on Twitter.

Some women in Punjab are practicing tractor driving in Amritsar to participate in the tractor march on January 26.

Had asked police to give me intelligence updates on farmers protest: Amarinder Singh

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday said he had “naturally asked” police to give him regular intelligence updates related to the farmers’ protest in the national capital.

He said this while rejecting the Opposition claim that he deputed police officers to “negotiate” with farmers protesting against the Centre’s farm laws at Delhi’s borders.

Dubbing the accusations as “completely baseless and malicious”, the CM in a statement said there was no question of deputing police officers to negotiate with farmers.

The CM said he had made it categorically clear that the ball was in the Centre's court, with the Punjab government having no role to play in the negotiations.

Govt-farmers meet: Next date only outcome; unions say ready to fight till death; All eyes on SC hearing

The government's negotiations with farm unions to end over-a-month-long agitation appeared heading nowhere at the eighth round of talks on Friday as the Centre ruled out repealing the three contentious laws claiming nationwide support for reforms while the farmer leaders said they are ready to fight till death and their 'ghar waapsi' will happen only after 'law waapsi'.

The next meeting has been fixed for January 15, amid indications that any headway will now depend on a Supreme Court hearing scheduled for January 11 on a batch of petitions related to the protest.

The farmer groups have also decided to meet on January 11 to decide their next course of action, even as many leaders said they have lost hope now that any resolution could be reached even in the next round of negotiations.

Govt wants to tire out farmers, no solution except repeal of farm laws: Congress

On a day the eighth round of talks between the Centre and farmer leaders ended inconclusively, the Congress on Friday accused the government of trying to tire out the agitating farmers and stressed that repealing the three farm laws was the only solution to the issue.

The Congress also stepped up the offensive against the government by launching an online campaign in support of the farmers' agitation, with senior party leader Rahul Gandhi accusing the Centre of betraying the farmers for benefitting their "corporate friends".

Govt hopeful union leaders will come with alternatives to discuss in next round of talks on Jan 15; No question of repeal of laws: Tomar

Govt committed to follow Supreme Court's decision: Agri Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on SC's scheduled hearing on farmers' issue on Jan 11

'Maybe a solution will be reached in the next round of talks'

We're hopeful. If there was no outcome today, maybe a solution will be reached in the next round of talks. If repealing of laws was the only issue, a solution would've been reached, there are several other issues to be addressed: Haryana CM ML Khattar after meeting HM Amit Shah

(ANI)

Farm leader Hannan Mollah says farmers ready to fight till death, going to court no option; Unions to decide next course of action on January 11.

(PTI)

'Farmers won't relent before the laws are repealed'

Farmers won't relent before the laws are repealed. We'll come on 15th again. We're not going anywhere. The govt wanted to talk about amendments. We don't wish to have clause wise discussions. We simply want a repeal of the new farm laws: Rakesh Tikait, Bharatiya Kisan Union

Govt testing our strength, we won't bow down; seems we'll spend Lohri, Baisakhi festivals here: Farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan

There are many others who support the laws: Tomar

Those supporting the protest are of the view that the laws be repealed & there are many others who support the laws. Govt is continuously talking to the unions who want these laws be repealed. We also give appointment to those supporting the laws, when they request us: Narendra Singh Tomar

(ANI)

'Govt urged that if farmer unions give an option other than repealing, we'll consider it'

Discussion on the laws was taken up but no decision could be made. Govt urged that if farmer unions give an option other than repealing, we'll consider it. But no option could be presented, so the meeting was concluded & it was decided to hold next meeting on January 15: Agri Minister Narendra Singh Tomar

(ANI)

'Ghar wapsi' only if Centre does law 'wapsi': Farmer leaders on Farm Laws; Tomar says keep national interest in mind

Sticking to their key demand of the repeal of three farm laws to end their protest, farmer leaders on Friday told the government their "ghar wapsi" can happen only after "law wapsi" but the Centre insisted talks must be limited to contentious clauses and ruled out a complete withdrawal of Acts.

Read more

There was a heated discussion, we said we don't want anything other than repeal of laws. We won't go to any Court, this (repeal) will either be done or we'll continue to fight. Our parade on 26th Jan will go on as planned: Hannan Mollah, General Secretary, All India Kisan Sabha

(ANI)

A farmer leader shows a paper with 'We will either die or win' written on it, at the eighth round of talks with the Centre.

Bharatiya Kisan Union Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait and farmer representatives during the 8th round of talks with the government over the new farm laws, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. Credit: PTI Photo

The next round of talks between the Central Government and farmer leaders to be held on January 15.

(ANI)

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah amid continuing protests by farmers against three agri laws.

The union leaders, however, refused to take a lunch break and stayed put in the meeting room, a source said.

(PTI)

Around one hour after the meeting, the three ministers stepped out of the discussion hall for their own internal consultations, after union leaders decided to observe silence while holding out papers with slogans including 'Jeetenge ya Marenge' (We will either win or die).

All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) member Kavitha Kuruganti, who was also present in the meeting, said the government has told unions that it can not and will not repeal these laws.

At the outset, Tomar appealed to unions for discussions on the laws, while farm leaders reiterated their demand that the new Acts must be withdrawn, sources said, adding that the agriculture minister stressed on protecting the farmers' interest of the entire country.

(PTI)

A special session of West Bengal Legislative Assembly to be held on 27th January, issues such as Farm Bills and GST to be discussed.

(ANI)

Langar being distributed outside Vigyan Bhawan, where the eighth round of talks between Central Government and farmer leaders is underway over farm laws.

The eighth round of talks between Central Government and farmer leaders, begin at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi.

Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal arrive at Vigyan Bhawan to hold talks with farmer leaders

Hopeful that talks will be held in a positive atmosphere and solution will be found: Union Agriculture Minister

Heading to talks in hope of a resolution, says BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait

Don't know what will happen after repeal request categorically denied by Minister: Farmers Union Gen Sec

Farmers from Singhu border head for 8th round of talks at Vigyan Bhavan

No scope of clause wise talks; will continue protests for 44 more days, farmer rebuts minister

Solution for farmers' agitation lies in clause by clause talks: MoS Agriculture Kailash Choudhary

BJP won 41 out of 51bypolls after passing new farm laws: Prahlad Joshi

Govt is ready to fulfil all the demands of farmers: Surjit Kumar Jyani, BJP after meeting 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.

PM Modi should talk directly to protesting farmers: Harsimrat Kaur Badal

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.

Read more

Tomar -- who is leading the negotiations along with Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash -- said he cannot say right now what would be the outcome of the January 8 meeting with 40 protesting farmer union leaders, to be held at Vighyan Bhavan at 2 PM.

Good morning readers, the eighth round of talks between Centre and Kisans will be held today. Yesterday, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday said the government is ready to consider any proposal other than the repeal of three farm laws, the key demand of the farmers. Ahead of the talks with the government, thousands of farmers on Thursday took out tractor marches from protest sites of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders and Haryana's Rewasan against the three agriculture laws amid heavy police deployment. Stay tuned for live updates.