Farmers have threatened to intensify their agitation on January 4. (File)
The protesting farmers today threatened to hold a tractor rally on Republic Day as demonstrations around the national capital's borders escalate. "We have given a call for a tractor parade towards Delhi on January 26. Tractor parade with national flag on January 26 will be called ''Kisaan Parade'', said farmer leader Darshan Pal.
More than 850 faculty members of various educational institutions across the country have come forward with a signature campaign in support of three contentious farm laws, against which thousands of farmers are protesting on borders of the national capital for over a month.
Six round of talks have taken place between the Union government and the farmers' unions so far. While a consensus was reached on issues related to the environment and Electricity Act, the deadlock continued on the two main demands, legal assurance on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and complete rollback of the three farm laws. The next round of talks will take place on January 4.
Here are the highlights on farmer protests in India:
Punjab Chief Minister could have prevented the farm laws from being passed: AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday said Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh could have prevented the farm laws from being passed in Parliament if he wanted but did not do so.
AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the Punjab Chief Minister is trying to protect his son from the Enforcement Directorate lens and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also helping the Punjab CM in his tactics."
Mr Kejriwal said, "Today, a farmer has lost his life due to extreme cold weather conditions at the Gazipur border. We have lost nearly 50 farmers in this protest against the farm laws. These farms bills are not going to benefit farmers."
"Why is the Centre and the Punjab Government trying to plot against me? It is simply because I''m supporting the farmers," Mr Kejriwal said.
"I'm going to stand with the farmers till my last breath," Mr Kejriwal said.
Congress leaders in Rajasthan to protest against farm laws tomorrow
Several leaders from Rajasthan Congress including Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, party's state unit chief Govind Singh Dotasara, former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot will stage a protest at Jaipur's Shaheed Smarak demanding the repeal of new agriculture laws.
Meanwhile, a number of farmers are protesting at different sites in the state against the contentious Acts.
Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) has also withdrawn support from the NDA against these acts.
Several special trains of Western Railway affected due to farmers protest in PunjabDue to Kisan agitation in Punjab, train movement has been affected and hence, a few trains of Western Railways have been diverted on Saturday according to the official.
The press release was issued by Sumit Thakur, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway.
- Train No. 02903 Mumbai Central - Amritsar Special departed on January 2, 2021 will be diverted via Beas - Tarn Taran - Amritsar instead of Beas - Jandiala - Amritsar.
- Train No. 02904 Amritsar - Mumbai Central Special journey commencing on January 3, 2021 will be diverted via Amritsar - Tarn Taran - Beas instead of Amritsar - Jandiala - Beas.
- Train No. 02925 Bandra Terminus - Amritsar Special journey commencing on January 3, 2021 will be diverted via Beas -Tarn Taran - Amritsar instead of Beas - Jandiala - Amritsar.
- Train No. 02926 Amritsar - Bandra Terminus Special journey commencing on January 3, 2021 will be diverted via Amritsar - Tarn Taran - Beas instead of Amritsar - Jandiala - Beas.
Source: ANI Centre acting ''insensitively'' by not listening to farmers' legitimate demands: Priyanka Gandhi
Hitting out at the Central government for "not listening" to the farmers protesting farm laws, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday said that the reports of death of farmers sitting on Delhi borders in this chilly weather are "disturbing" and the Centre is acting "insensitively" towards them.
"The reports of death of farmers sitting on Delhi borders in this chilly weather are disturbing. According to several media reports, nearly 57 farmers have lost their lives and hundreds have fallen sick. The Central Government is acting insensitively by not listening to the farmers'' legitimate demands which has been going on for more than a month", Priyanka Gandhi tweeted.
On December 28, 2020, Priyanka Gandhi had said, "Central Government is answerable to farmers. Government should listen to them and take back these laws."
Farmers Protest News: 75-Year-Old Protesting Farmer Found Dead At Delhi-Ghaziabad BorderA 75-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh was found dead today at a farmers' protest site on the Delhi-Ghaziabad border. While the police probing the case, those at the site say a note written by the dead man, Kashmir Singh Ladi, has been found in which he has expressed his frustration over the stalemate in talks with the government over the new agricultural laws that the farmers want repealed.
Abandon "obstinate attitude", withdraw new farm laws: Congress to CentreThe Congress on Saturday urged the government to abandon its "obstinate attitude" and agree to the demands of the farmers protesting the new farm laws amid cold weather conditions.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said reports of deaths of farmers while protesting at the Delhi border amid harsh winter conditions are "disturbing".
"According to media reports, 57 farmers have lost their lives while scores are unwell. The government is showing gross insensitivity by not acceding to the demands of the protesting farmers," said the Congress general secretary and its Uttar Pradesh in-charge.
Reacting to a media report that a protesting farmer had reportedly committed suicide, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said in a tweet, "After Sant Baba Ram Singh from Karnal (Haryana) and Amarjeet Singh from Fazlika (Punjab), the news of Kashmir Singh from Bilaspur (Uttarakhand) sacrificing life in the farmers' movement is very distressing."
"The ruthless government should abandon its obstinate attitude and withdraw the three black laws immediately," Mr Surjewala said in the tweet in Hindi.
Senior Congress leader and former Union minister P Chidambaram saluted the resoluteness of the farmers.
Farmers to march into Delhi on Jan 26 if demands not met, announces Samyukt Kisan Morcha
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Saturday announced that farmers will march into Delhi on January 26 with their tractors, trolleys and other vehicles if their demands are not met and also said that a "farmers'' republic parade" will take place after the official parade.
In its first press conference organized by the 7-member Coordination Committee of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha in the national capital, Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a joint front of almost 40 farmer organisations, also announced their plan of action till January 26 to intensify and deepen the agitation.
A fortnight of a nationwide campaign called "Desh Jagriti Abhiyan" from January 6 to 20 will include rallies, conferences and dharnas all over the country.
Solution will come in next round of talks: Kailash Choudhary
Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Kailash Choudhary on Saturday expressed his confidence citing that the next round of talks with farmers would bring a solution and conclude the impasse.
Speaking to ANI, Mr Choudhary said, "I am confident that in the next round of talks with farmers a solution will be reached and the ongoing protest will come to an end. The Government of India had already agreed their demands of decriminalising stubble burning, the continuance of power subsidies and provisions of civil courts."
On the issue of two key demands of farmers including a legal guarantee of minimum support prices (MSP) and repeal of three new farm laws, he said, "The three farm laws are in favour of farmers. There should be no confusion on MSP. The prime minister himself said many times that the provision of selling crops at MSP will continue."
Government's commitment to welfare of farmers ''unparalleled'': Prakash Javadekar
A day after over 850 academicians came out in support of three agricultural laws, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the central government''s commitment to the welfare of farmers is ''unparalleled''.
"More than 850 academicians across the country have come out in support of the new farm laws, saying that they will change farmers'' fortune and will free farming from all wrong practices. Our government''s commitment to the welfare of farmers is unparalleled," Mr Javadekar tweeted.
Farmer's death at Ghazipur border while protesting against farm laws disturbing: Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav today termed the death of a 75-year-old farmer due to heart attack while protesting at the Ghazipur border as "disturbing", and accused the ruling BJP of being "heartless".
In a Hindi tweet, he said, "On the first day of the new year itself, the news of the martyrdom of a farmer at the Ghazipur border is disturbing. The farmers are sacrificing their lives in the dense fog and cold, but the ruling party is sitting heartless. The ruthlessness seen in the BJP has never been seen so far."
"If our demands are not met till January 26,then farmers will hold 'Kisan Gantantra Parade' in Delhi. We appeal to farmers from adjoining areas of national capital to be prepared & request every farmer family of country to send a member to Delhi if possible," says Yogendra Yadav,Swaraj India. (ANI)
Just In: Protesting farmers say they will hold tractor rally in Delhi on January 26.
MoS Kailash Chaudhary also added that the agri laws are favourable to farmers. "Regarding contract farming,in the new bill,there can't be an investigation against farmer even if he is at fault. It also states there won't be any agreement regarding land of farmer.The bill is favourable for farmers & PM wants them to become 'atma nirbhar'," he said.
Congress announces farm loan waiver in poll-bound Assam
The Congress on Friday sounded the poll bugle in Assam by announcing waiver of farm debts and microfinance loans for women, implementation of minimum income guarantee scheme ''Nyay'', free electricity up to 120 units for the poor and middle class and ensure at least one job for each family.
Farmer Dies By Suicide In Madhya Pradesh, Leaves Note Addressed To PM
A 35-year-old farmer died by suicide over alleged harassment by an electricity distribution company at a village in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur. In a note that the farmer, Munendra Rajput, left behind, he requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hand over his body to the government to "sell every part of my body and repay dues".
His family members have alleged that officials of the power distribution company (discom) confiscated his flour mill and motorcycle over electricity dues of ₹ 87,000, amid the pandemic. (Read full story
here)
Farmers warn of tractor rally if demands not met in January 4 talks
The protesting farmers will intensify their agitation at Delhi borders if the centre declines their demands of a repeal of the three agriculture laws and giving legal status to the minimum support price guarantee in the next round of talks, scheduled on January 4, politician Yogendra Yadav, speaking on behalf of the farmers' unions, informed on Friday.
The decision was taken Friday at a meeting of the joint front of 40 farmers' unions that has been leading the protests. (Read full story
here)
Six round of talks have taken place between centre and the farmers' unions so far
Six round of talks have taken place between the Union government and the farmers' unions so far. While a consensus was reached on issues related to the environment and Electricity Act, the deadlock continued on the two main demands, legal assurance on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and complete rollback of the three farm laws. The next round of talks will take place on January 4.
More than
850 faculty members of various educational institutions across the country have come forward with a signature campaign in support of three contentious farm laws, against which thousands of farmers are protesting on borders of the national capital for over a month.