Prem Singh Bhangu, President of All India Kisan Federation (Image Courtesy : ANI)
Farmers reject Government proposal to form committee, next meeting on Thursday
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The government's proposal to form a committee to study the three contentious farm laws was rejected by farmer unions during the talks called by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday to resolve the issues raised by agitating farmers.
"Now is not the time for a committee," sources quoted farmers' representatives as saying at the meeting with three central ministers this evening.A second meeting will be held on December 3,reports NDTV .
"Our movement against farm laws will continue and we'll definitely take back something from the Govt, be it bullets or a peaceful solution. We'll come back for more discussions with them", reacted Chanda Singh, Member of Farmers' Delegation who met Union Agriculture Minister in Delhi today.
Meanwhile Prem Singh Bhangu, President of All India Kisan Federation reacted that today's meeting with Union Agricultural Minister was good and some progress was made.
"During our next meet on 3rd Dec with govt, we'll convince them that no clause of farm law is pro-farmer. Our agitation will continue," he added
More farmers from Punjab and khaps from Haryana are making their way to the national capital, demanding that the laws be repealed. The farmers had said they will continue the protest if their demands are not accepted.
"The meeting was good and we have decided that the talks will be held on 3rd December," reacted Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh who lead the meeting.
"We wanted a small group to be constituted but farmers' leaders wanted that the talks should be held with everyone, we do not have problem with it," he added.
He also appealed the farmers to suspend the protests and come for the talks,reports ANI.
According to a report by IANS, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Roop Singh Sanna told that "forming a committee is an attempt to postpone the issue. We are not ready to accept government's offer,"
He also said that all the "union leaders unanimously rejected" the government's offer.
The government is holding on to its stance of not rolling back the three farm laws which farmers allege are "anti-farm" and "black laws": The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
The meeting between the government and farmers came after late Monday night invitation sent by Agriculture Minister to them following their ongoing protest started from November 26.
Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh have been protesting at Delhi borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Currently, these farmers have been protesting at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders.
(with inputs from agencies)
Live Updates
- 1 Dec 2020 9:43 AM GMT
Independent legislator Sombir Sangwan withdraws support to Haryana govt over farmers' protest
A day after resigning as the Haryana Livestock Development Board Chairman, Independent legislator Sombir Sangwan on Tuesday withdrew his support to the BJP-JJP coalition government in the state owing to the farmers' agitation against new farm laws.
In a statement, he said atrocities are being unleashed on the farmers who are on an agitation in support of their demands,reports IANS.
1 Dec 2020 9:33 AM GMTBhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad joins farmers' protest
Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad joins farmers' protest at Ghazipur-Ghaziabad (Delhi-UP) border,reports ANI.
"I have come to extend support so that farmers don't feel left alone. Farmers, Dalits and labourers are all the same. If the farmer will not cultivate his land, how will a labourer run his household? I come from a family of labourers. How can I abandon the farmers cause?" he said.
Azad asserted that he had come just to extend moral support and not lead the farmers' protest, adding that farmers have not come out on the roads happily.
"Why is the central government holding talks after six days? The government knows the strength of the Dalits. The government should have held talk on the very first day. In winter season, farmers are sitting on roads, facing tear-gas shells and water cannons. They are the ones who provide us food," the Bhim Army leader said.
He said that the government knew that the farmers had come prepared to sustain their protest over a long period of time and hence the Centre had to listen to them.
- 1 Dec 2020 9:13 AM GMT
Amit Shah likely to join key farmer-ministers meeting
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to participate in a much-awaited meeting between farmers and a high-level cabinet ministers' team here on Tuesday, reports IANS
Sources said that Shah may join the meeting scheduled at 3 p.m. at Vigyan Bhawan in Central Delhi as demanded by the farmers.
However, there is no official announcement on whether Shah, who has been engaged in two meetings since 11.30 a.m., would attend the meetings
Meanwhile, a source confirmed that Rajnath Singh, Tomar and Goyal will hold talks with farmer unions who would put forth their demands such as rollback of three farm laws
- 1 Dec 2020 8:16 AM GMT
Farmers say will attend talks today, claim no conditions from centre
Farmers' Protest: After holding discussions this morning, farmers said they will attend the talks.
- 30 Nov 2020 12:53 PM GMT
Centre should tell farmers MSPs, procurement won't be affected,says Nitish Kumar
Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said the Centre should allay fears among the protesting farmers that the new agriculture laws were aimed at doing away with the system of minimum support price or that they will adversely affect the procurement of produce.
- 30 Nov 2020 12:32 PM GMT
NDA ally threatens exit over farm laws, cites 3 demands
Rashtriya Loktantrik Party chief and Rajasthan MP Hanuman Beniwal wants the centre to immediately talk to farmers, implement all recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission and repeal the three contentious farm laws, reports NDTV
- 30 Nov 2020 12:13 PM GMT
Hopes that farmers' genuine demands will be considered and issues will be resolved,"reacts Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri
"Our senior leaders have invited farmers for talks and are willing to address genuine issues. Talks are always held without preconditions or preconceived notions. I firmly hope that all their genuine demands will be considered and issues will be resolved,"reacts Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri
- 30 Nov 2020 12:11 PM GMT
Jagmohan Singh, General secretary of Bharti Kisan Union reacts before media at Singhu Border
We couldn’t have meeting with farmers' organisations from all the states. We could only have it with 30 organisations from Punjab. We rejected the conditional invitation of Modiji," says Jagmohan Singh, General secretary, Bharti Kisan Union (Dakaunda) at Singhu Border (Delhi-Haryana)
- 30 Nov 2020 10:52 AM GMT
PM defends farm laws, claims farmers will have freedom to sell crop for better prices
In his address at a virtual event, PM Modi pointed out the advantages of the new laws, saying they are giving better access to markets -both national and international.
"The new agricultural laws have been brought in for benefit of the farmers. We will see and experience benefits of these new laws in the coming days",said PM Modi in Varanasi, reports ANI.
"Farmers are being empowered by giving them options for a bigger market. Reforms are being done in the interest of farmers, which will give them more options. Shouldn't a farmer get freedom to sell his produce directly to those who give them better prices & facilities," he asked
"Earlier, loan waiver packages used to be announced but the benefits of such schemes never used to reach the farmers,"
"The promise of giving 1.5 times more MSP to farmers as per Swaminathan Commission was fulfilled. This promise was not only fulfilled on paper, but has reached the bank account of the farmers."he said
"Here's new trend now, earlier decisions of govt were opposed, now rumours have become basis for opposition. Propaganda is spread that although decision is right, it can lead to other consequences, about things that haven't happened or will never happen. Same is with farm laws,"he further added
According to PTI, He also accused that opposition is using tricks to oppose historic agriculture reforms laws and farmers are being misled.
- 30 Nov 2020 10:17 AM GMT
Bhim Army joins farmers’ protest, Chandrasekhar Azad to visit farmers at Burari ground
Bhim Army joined the ongoing farmers’ protest on Sunday at Delhi-Ghaziabad border,reports National Herald
According to the report,Hundreds of Bheem Army activists sat on Dharna under the flyover and shouted slogans against the Modi government.
Saying that the Modi government is against farmers, poor and Dalits, Bhim Army activists said they will protest till the new farm laws are repealed.According to the report,a Bhim Army activist told that the co-founder of the Bhim Army and face of the movement, Chandrasekhar Azad will visit Burari ground and meet farmers on Monday.
“Chandrasekhar will meet farmers on the occasion of Prakash Parv – the birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev.” said the activist.
