Farmer Protest News: "These laws are not to help farmers, but to finish them," Rahul Gandhi said.
The ninth round of talks between protesting farmer unions and three central ministers to break the over-a-month-long deadlock on the three new agri laws ends. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, who is an MP from Punjab, held the talks with the representatives of around 40 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday led the party's protest in the national capital in support of the agitating farmers, and said his party will not relent till the new farm laws are repealed. He was accompanied by AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders of the Delhi Congress at the protest outside the Delhi LG's residence as part of the countrywide agitation.
"These laws are not to help farmers, but to finish them. These laws are aimed at helping corporates like Ambani and Adani instead," he charged and added, "That is why we are standing in favour of the farmers". "The BJP government will have to take these black laws back. Till the time these laws are repealed, Congress party will not relent," he told the protesting Congressmen.
Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at various border points of Delhi for over a month now against the three laws.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Thursday, "The government is ready to hold talks with farmers' leaders with an open mind."
Meanwhile, the protesting farmer leaders said they will attend the ninth round of talks with the government amid indication that it may be last such meeting with the centre, but added that they don't have much hope as they will not settle for anything less than the repeal of the contentious farm laws. Ahead of the meeting, Rakesh Tikait, spokespersons of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BHU) reiterated that to resolve the issues of protesting farmers, the government will have to repeal the three newly passed laws. "Government needs to devise a plan to scrap the three laws and give legal guarantee for minimum support price," said Tikait.
Here are the LIVE Updates of the farmer protests:
Farmers Protest: Congress Workers Protest Over Farm Laws, Face Water Cannon In Chandigarh
Congress workers held protests in Chandigarh today in support of farmers agitating over the new farm laws, with one group facing water cannon as it tried to push past police barricades, reported news agency PTI. The Congress had planned to gherao the Punjab and Haryana Raj Bhavans as part of a nationwide protest called by the party over the new farm laws.
Farmers Protest: Best To Make Farm Laws Into Recommendations, Says Sadhguru
Isha Foundation founder and spiritual guru Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev today said the Centre can convert the contentious farm laws into recommendations and let the state governments decide on necessary amendments depending on requirements of farmers in respective states, reported news agency PTI.
Ninth Round Of Centre-Farmer Talks Start As Congress Protests Against LawsThe ninth round of discussion between farmers demanding repeal of the three agriculture laws and the centre have started in the capital's Vigyan Bhavan in the backdrop of the Supreme Court (SC) staying the laws' enactment "until further orders" and forming a four-member panel to end the deadlock.
Farmers Protest: Meet Over, Next Round Of Talks Likely On January 18
The ninth round of talks between Centre and farmers' union over even as the stalemate continues.
Farmers Protest: Talks Resume After Lunch Break
Talks between the Centre and the farmers' unions have resumed after the lunch break.
Congress observes "Kisan Adhikar Divas" against farm laws, In Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, protestors raised slogans against centre
"The top court intervened, constituted a committee but came into controversy as one of its members has resigned. This is not going to solve the situation. We demand that the government should repeal these laws. We and farmers are not going to withdraw the protest till all the demands of the farmers are met," KC Venugopal, the Member of Parliament said.
"These black laws are anti-farmers. Our demand is that the Modi government should repeal these laws," said Anil Chaudhary, President at Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee.
Farmers Will Withdraw Proposed Republic Day Procession If Supreme Court Orders: BKU Spokesperson
Ahead of the ninth round of talks between the government officials and the farmers at Vigyan Bhavan here on Friday, the national spokesperson of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Rakesh Tikait on Friday said the farmers would withdraw the Republic Day tractor parade if the Supreme Court orders.
In response to the proposed procession to be held by the farmers on Republic Day, Mr Tikait said, "If the SC will order, farmers would not hold the proposed parade on Republic Day."
"We would conduct the rally on some different day," he further added.
Mr Tikait had earlier said the farmers will take out a procession from Red Fort to India Gate and hoist the national flag at Amar Jawan Jyoti on R-Day.
"The bill was passed by the Parliament so only government should repeal it, not the committee made on the orders of the Supreme Court," BKU Spokesperson said.
Government needs to devise a plan to scrap the three laws: Rakesh Tikait
Ahead of the meeting, Rakesh Tikait, spokespersons of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BHU) reiterated that to resolve the issues of protesting farmers, the government will have to repeal the three newly passed laws.
"Government needs to devise a plan to scrap the three laws and give legal guarantee for minimum support price," said Tikait.
Narendra Tomar raised the issue of Karnal violence, saying everyone has right to express their views. Mr Tomar started off with the talks abt amendment in the laws.
Bhartiya Kisan Union Leader Choudhry Harpal Singh To NDTV: PM Modi Should come forward to solve the issue.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra join the protests outside LG house.
Farm laws are not to help farmers, but to finish them: Rahul Gandhi while leading protest outside Delhi Raj Bhawan.
Government welcomes the Supreme Court order regarding the farmers' agitation: Minister
Farmer leaders reach Vigyan Bhawan for talks with Centre
Narendra Singh Tomar reaches Vigyan Bhawan
Farmer leaders leave for Vigyan Bhavan for the 9th round of talks with government
Bhupinder Singh Mann on Farmer-Centre meet