2020 Indian Farmers Protest Live Update: Farmer unions today conveyed to the government that they want a complete repeal of three contentious farm laws while the union ministers asked them to reconsider government’s proposal of putting the laws on hold for 12-18 months. The eleventh round of meetings between farmer unions and the government over the three farm laws has ended without reaching a consensus again. Surjeet Singh Phul, State President of BKU Krantikari (Punjab) said that no date for the next meeting has been fixed by the government. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has told farmer unions that government is ready for another meeting if farmers are willing to discuss the proposal of suspending the laws. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash were holding the talks with the representatives of 41 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan here. Farmer leaders said that meeting may have lasted for nearly five hours, but two sides sat face to face for less than 30 minutes today.
In the last round of talks, the government had offered to suspend farm laws for 18 months besides appointing a joint committee consisting of representatives from both sides – farmer unions and central government to resolve the deadlock. However, one of the fronts of protesting farmers has outrightly rejected the government’s offer saying that they want nothing but a complete repeal of all these contentious legislations. Samkyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of protesting unions, said in a statement that its full general body has decided to reject the government’s offer. It said that a full repeal of three farm laws and urged the government to enact legislation for remunerative MSP for all farmers. Notably, the three farm laws have already been put on hold by the Supreme Court till further orders. The apex court had also appointed an expert committee to hold consultation with the stakeholders to end the impasse. The SC-appointed panel has been asked by the apex court to submit its report within two months. On January 21st, the SC-appointed panel started consultation with the stakeholders and interacted with 10 farmer organisations and discussed the issue in details with them. The three farm laws were enacted in September last year. The Central government has been saying that these laws are major reforms in the agriculture sector and will help increase farmers’ income.
The minister made us wait for three & a half hours. This is an insult to farmers. When he came, he asked us to consider the government’s proposal and said that he is ending the process of meetings… The agitation will continue peacefully: SS Pandher, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee
As planned, the tractor rally will take place on January 26: Rakesh Tikait, Spokesperson, Bhartiya Kisan Union
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar thanked farmer unions for cooperation. He said that there is no problems with the laws but the government offered to suspend them as a respect for farmers.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has told farmer unions that government is ready for another meeting if farmers want to discuss proposal on suspending laws.
Eleventh round of meetings between farmer unions and the government over the three farm laws ends. “No date for the next meeting has been fixed by the government,” says Surjeet Singh Phul, State President of BKU Krantikari (Punjab).
The eleventh round of talks between protesting farmer unions and three central ministers began at around 1 pm, but not much headway was visible in the first few hours of the meeting as farmer unions stuck with their demand of repealing farm laws
We will die here but we will not return without getting the laws repealed, said Harpal Singh, President of Bhartiya Kisan Union — Asli Arajnaitik.
NCP president Sharad Pawar today said that he will take part in a protest planned in Mumbai to express support for farmers agitating against the new agri- marketing laws enacted by the Modi government.
Farmers from states like Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab have moved towards Delhi to take part in tractory rally on Republic Day.
According to sources, the union ministers have asked farm leaders to reconsider the proposal for suspending laws while the farmer unions have stuck to their demand to repeal the laws.
Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti today said the Centre and protesting farmers should ensure that stubbornness and ego do not come in the way of resolving differences over the new agri-marketing laws.
Farmers in Karnataka have planned a tractor rally in Bengaluru on Republic Day in support of ongoing farmers’ protest in Delhi. Around 10,000 tractors expected to take part in the rally.
Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said farmers’ won’t back down and will only end their agitation if the three farm laws are repealed.
11th round of talks underway between the Government and farmer union leaders at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal reaches Vigyan Bhawan as leaders of farmer unions get ready to participate in the 11th round of talks.
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar reaches Vigyan Bhawan to participate in the 11th round of talks with farmer leaders and organisations.
Farmer leaders and representatives reach the Vigyan Bhawan building to participate in the 11th round of talks with the government over the three new farm laws.
Government has shown shocking insensitivity and arrogance on farmers issue through charade of consultations, said Sonia Gandhi at CWC meet.
There isn’t much expectation. Government made proposals which we took to leadership & general body. After discussion almost unitedly they rejected proposals. Government must understand movement’s mood & work accordingly: H Mollah, All India Kisan Sabha General Secretary.
SS Pandher of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee said that the farmer union leaders will discuss MSP and repealing of the three farm laws in today’s meeting.
Government’s strategy was to throw net at us, to hide poison inside sweets. They want to end protests somehow. In our meeting it was unanimously decided that we reject their proposal, said SS Pandher, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has said the government is under a misconception that only the farmers of Punjab and Haryana are in this battle and asserted that tillers across the country want the scrapping of the repressive legislations.
Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said the government must accept the agitating farmers’ demands in the next round of talks. He said the farmers have already spent almost two months on roads while protesting against the farm laws.
The Punjab unit of AAP has said it will mobilise people for the farmers’ proposed tractor parade in New Delhi on January 26 by holding motorcycle rallies across the state. In a joint statement, party’s state president Bhagwant Mann andits farmer wing chief and MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan said the party will hold motorcycle rallies across Punjab on January 23.
The protesting farmers has planned to display tableaux of different states during their Republic-Day tractor parade, if all goes as planned.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar yesterday met with senior BJP leader and Home Minister Amit Shah ahead of 11th round of talks with farmers today.
In the wake of the farmers’ ongoing agitation and their plan to hold a tractor rally on Republic Day, the Haryana Police has decided to cancel leave of its personnel.