News Analysis India

Tag: Delhi Chalo March

  • Government wants farmer unions to form informal group to prepare concrete proposals: Narendra Singh Tomar

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Urging farmer unions to form an informal group among themselves to prepare concrete proposals to be discussed in the next meeting, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Friday detailed discussions took place at the ninth round of talks but could not reach a decisive stage.

    The two sides, therefore, decided to meet again on January 19 at 12 pm, Tomar told reporters after the end of the meeting that lasted for nearly five hours.

    “Talks took place over three farm laws in a cordial atmosphere and detailed discussions took place on some issues, but couldn’t reach a decisive stage,” he said.

    ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi doesn’t respect farmers, wants to tire out those protesting against agri laws, says Rahul Gandhi

    “We suggested they can form an informal group of people who can understand the laws better and prepare some concrete proposals, detailing what are farmers’ expectations and what clauses are problematic for them, which the government can consider with an open mind,” the minister said.

    He further said the government is hopeful of discussions reaching some decisive stage at the tenth round of talks on January 19.

    On the direct talks between the government and farmers continuing despite the Supreme Court appointing a panel, Tomar said everyone is fully committed to the apex court and the government will also present its side before the committee panel when invited.

    ALSO READ: Rahul seeks public support for farmers as Congress to release booklet to highlight pitfalls of agri laws

    “Unions want to continue the dialogue with the government and we have no problem with that. The SC-appointed panel will also work for the welfare of farmers,” he said.

    The minister said solution can emerge from the government-farmers talks as well as from the SC-appointed panel’s deliberations.

    “Our effort is to resolve the issue through dialogue and we want the protest to end at the earliest given the adverse weather conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic situation,” he said.

    ALSO READ: NGO plans to install blood count measurement machine to help farmers protesting at Singhu

    On Cong leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations against the government with regard to the farm laws, Tomar said, “Rahul Gandhi’s statements and actions are laughed at within his own party also.”

    “The Congress manifesto in 2019 itself promised these reforms and therefore Sonia and Rahul Gandhi should tell us whether they were lying at that time or are lying right now,” he said.

  • Government-farmer meeting ends; Next round on January 19

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Protesting farmer unions stuck to their demand for a complete repeal of three contentious farm laws at their ninth round of talks with three central ministers but while the government asked them to be more flexible in their approach and expressed willingness for necessary amendments, as the two sides decided to meet again on January 19.

    Farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan said told reporters after the meeting that the unions urged the government to repeal the three laws, but the Centre was unwilling to do so.

    “We decided to meet again on January 19 at 12 pm,” he said.

    Ugrahan said the union leaders also raised the issue of NIA raids on transporters in Punjab who are supporting farmers’ protests and were providing logistic support for the agitation.

    ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi doesn’t respect farmers, wants to tire out those protesting against agri laws: Rahul Gandhi

    At the meeting that lasted for nearly five hours, including a lunch break, farmers unions said they are committed to continuing holding direct talks to resolve the over-one-month-long deadlock over three agri laws, even as a committee has been formed by the Supreme Court to resolve the deadlock.

    In his opening remarks, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar urged farmer leaders to be flexible in their approach as has been done by the government.

    Besides Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash were part of the government side talking with representatives of around 40 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan here.

    “Both the government and farmer unions have reaffirmed their commitment to continue with the direct dialogue process,” All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee member Kavita Kuruganti, who is part of the meeting, said.

    ALSO READ: Rahul Gandhi leads Congress protest in support of agitating farmers

    “In his opening remarks, Tomar ji said you keep saying that the government is adamant and making it an issue of ego, even though we have accepted several demands.

    Don’t you think you should be flexible and not stick to one single demand of repealing the laws,” said Baljit Singh Bali of Punjab Kisan Morcha.

    Farmer leader Darshan Pal said there was a good discussion on all three laws.

    “There is a possibility of some resolution. We are positive,” he added.

    ALSO READ: Rahul seeks public support for farmers as Congress to release booklet to highlight pitfalls of agri laws

    Another leader Rakesh Tikait said: “Government has told us that solution should be found through dialogue and not a court. Everyone is of the same views. There is a possibility of some solution.”

    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.

    On January 8, the eighth round of meeting had remained inconclusive as the Centre ruled out repealing the three contentious laws claiming nationwide support for the reforms.

    However, farmer leaders had said that they were ready to fight till death and their ‘ghar waapsi’ would happen only after ‘law waapsi’.

    ALSO READ: NGO plans to install blood count measurement machine to help farmers protesting at Singhu

    In the sixth round held on December 30 last year, some common ground was reached on two demands — decriminalisation of stubble-burning and continuation of power subsidies.

    Enacted in September 2020, the government has presented these laws as major farm reforms aimed at increasing farmers’ income, but the protesting farmers have raised concerns that these legislations would weaken the minimum support price (MSP) and “mandi” (wholesale market) systems and leave them at the mercy of big corporations.

    The government has maintained that these apprehensions are misplaced and has ruled out a repeal of the laws.

    The Supreme Court on January 11 had stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse.

    Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann, however, on Thursday recused himself from the committee.

    Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat, International Food Policy Research Institute’s Pramod Kumar Joshi and agriculture economist Ashok Gulati are the other three members on the panel.

  • PM Narendra Modi doesn’t respect farmers, wants to tire out those protesting against agri laws: Rahul Gandhi

    Rahul Gandhi said that the talks that are being held with the protesting farmer leaders are part of the government #39;s delaying tactics.

  • Rahul Gandhi leads Congress protest in support of agitating farmers

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: 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 here as part of the countrywide agitation.

    Addressing the gathering, the former Congress chief said the Congress party will not step back till the time the government repeals these three farm laws.

    ALSO READ: Rahul seeks public support for farmers as Congress to release booklet to highlight pitfalls of agri laws

    “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.

    “The Narendra Modi government earlier tried to take away the land of farmers, when it brought the land acquisition Act and the Congress party stopped them at that time. Now the BJP and their two-three friends are once again attacking the farmers and have brought these three farm laws,” he also alleged.

    ALSO READ: NGO plans to install blood count measurement machine to help farmers protesting at Singhu

    The Congress is taking out protest marches at all state capitals in the country and will gherao Raj Bhawans.

    The party is also protesting against fuel price hike.

    The Congress is observing the day as Kisan Adhikar Divas in support of farmers’ rights.

    The protests come on a day the government is holding the next round of talks with leaders of farm unions to end the deadlock over their agitation.

  • Songs of solidarity: Harbhajan Mann, Jazzy B, Rabbi Shergill take the stage at Tikri border

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Harbhajan Mann, Jazzy B, Rabbi Shergill and a host of other Punjabi singers performed at an ‘Artists for Farmers’ concert at the Tikri border on Saturday, raising spirits of farmers camping on the road braving cold and rain as they await a resolution to their demand for repeal of new farm laws.

    Some of them sang songs of dissent, some raised slogans and delivered motivational speeches, and virtually everyone paid their gratitude to the farmers protesting against the Centre’s three farm laws for over a month now.

    Their message was loud and clear: “We stand by you.”

    Kanwar Grewal, Harf Cheema, Noor Chahal too performed in the concert.

    Bollywood actor Swara Bhasker, who has been vocal about her support for the farmers movement and joined the protest at the Singhu border, was also present at the event.

    ALSO READ: Ready with pleas to challenge farm laws, waiting for right time, says Punjab CM Amarinder Singh

    Harbhajan Mann extended support to the farmers’ demand for repeal of the farm laws and thanked them for all the love they have given him over all these years.

    Kanwar Garewal and Jazzy B, courtesy their protest songs, touched just the right musical note with the protesters.

    Noor Chahal said the powers that be have long divided people in terms of religion and caste but it won’t be able to do so here.

    “I am a daughter of a farmer. Our history tells us that we have won many fights before. I am sure we will win this one too,” she said to a packed crowd.

    ALSO READ: Agri laws: Wisconsin Speaker supports farmers’ protests; writes to Indian, US envoys

    Majority of the Punjabi singers have supported the farmers in the ongoing protest.

    Some like Kanwar Grewal and Harf Cheema, who have been associated with the movement since the very beginning, are also the voices behind some of the viral songs on the farmers movement.

    Their song “Peecha”, which has got over 80 lakh views on YouTube, is a massive hit among protesters camping at different border points of Delhi.

    It speaks of the rift between Punjab and Delhi, farmer suicides and the Centre’s “black laws”.

    “The programme was very good and it lasted for over two hours. They entertained us as well as supported us. They said that they are with us in this cause,” said Jagtar Taari, hailing from Bhatinda district of Punjab.

    ALSO READ: SC to hear pleas against new agri laws, all issues related to farmers protest on January 11

    Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, are staying put at various border points of Delhi since late November last year to protest against recent farm laws of the Centre.

    The three laws have been projected by the central government as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the country.

    However, the protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of Minimum Support Price and do away with the mandi system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

    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.

  • 40-year-old Punjab farmer ends life at Singhu border: Haryana Police

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: A 40-year-old Punjab farmer, who was taking part in the protest at the Singhu border against the Central farm laws, allegedly took his own life by consuming some poisonous substance on Saturday evening, police said.

    The farmer, Amarinder Singh, was a resident of Punjab’s Fatehgarh Sahib district.

    The man was rushed to a local hospital in Sonipat where he died, said Sonipat’s Kundli police station’s inspector Ravi Kumar.

    ALSO READ: Ready with pleas to challenge farm laws, waiting for right time, says Punjab CM Amarinder Singh

    Farmers from various parts of the country, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at different border points of Delhi for over a month now demanding repeal of the three agri laws, which were voted through in Parliament in September amid strong protests by opposition parties.

    The three laws have been projected by the central government as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the country.

    ALSO READ: Agri laws: Wisconsin Speaker supports farmers’ protests; writes to Indian, US envoys

    However, the protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of Minimum Support Price and do away with the mandi system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

    The government has repeatedly asserted that the MSP and Mandi systems will stay and has accused the opposition of misleading the farmers.

  • Ready with pleas to challenge farm laws, waiting for right time: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday said his government has finalised petitions to challenge the Centre’s farm laws and will do so at an opportune time on the advice of legal experts.

    He was reacting to accusations of AAP MP Bhagwant Mann, who alleged collusion between the CM and the governor over sending the agriculture Bills passed in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to negate the farm laws to the president.

    The Punjab CM slammed Mann, accusing him of speaking ‘blatant lies’ and said, “It is unfortunate that people like him, who had no knowledge about the Constitution and legislative procedures, were in politics and making illogical statements with the sole motive of misleading people.”

    ALSO READ: Agri laws: Wisconsin Speaker supports farmers’ protests; writes to Indian, US envoys

    The CM said contrary to Mann’s claims, state Advocate General Atul Nanda had already prepared and finalised requisite petitions for challenging the central Acts.

    “Since these Acts impact the lives and futures of our farmers, all decisions will be taken carefully and judiciously at an opportune time,” said Amarinder Singh in a statement here.

    “Just like his bosses, Mann too has mastered the art of lying and deception but while doing so he has exposed his incompetence as a parliamentarian by making frivolous statements on matters pertaining to the Constitution and legislative procedures,” alleged the CM.

    ALSO READ: SC to hear pleas against new agri laws, all issues related to farmers protest on January 11

    “If you think that you can mislead people of Punjab by your lies, you are utterly mistaken, as every Punjabi has seen through your webs of deceit and your betrayal of the farmers’ cause,” the CM said.

    Amarinder Singh said while his government’s stand on the Centre’s ‘black’ farm laws had been consistent from day one, both AAP and the Shiromani Akali Dal had been doing ‘flip flops’ over it.

    “One day you unanimously support our bills and your party leaders, including Leader of the Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema, accompany me to the governor and the very next day you do a somersault and start opposing them,” said the chief minister attacking AAP.

    He said AAP’s ‘double face’ and its collusion with the BJP to ‘weaken’ the farmers’ agitation has been further ‘exposed’ with Arvind Kejriwal notifying one of the farm laws in Delhi rather than following Punjab’s example of bringing in legislations in the assembly to negate the impact of the black farm laws.

  • Singhu Border: Sewadars come from Panchkula, do fogging to keep dengue at bay

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Armed with shiny spraying machines, a group of volunteers from a famous Sikh shrine in Panchkula have come to the main farmers’ protest site, straddling a Delhi-Haryana border where they did extensive anti-dengue fogging on Friday to disinfect the area.

    For over 40 days, a massive number of farmers have camped at the Singhu Border, the nerve-centre of the agitation that is seeking repealing of the new farm laws.

    As a stretch of the GT Karnal highway has turned into a temporary site of shelters for peasants, drawn mainly from Punjab and several ‘langars’ being run on the streets, sanitation has emerged as a challenge for them.

    ALSO READ: After Singhu, AAP starts installing Wi-Fi hotspots at Tikri border for protesting farmers

    But volunteerism and a good samaritan spirit, the two defining ideals sustaining this massive campaign, is endeavouring to provide a safer and sanitable environment for the protestors.

    On Friday, a contingent of four men, two of them carrying anti-dengue fogging machines, carried disinfection in various stretches of the protest site.

    Many were taken by surprise as these men, briskly walked around the area, while a white cloud of disinfecting smoke filled the air.

    ALSO READ: Agri laws: Wisconsin Speaker supports farmers’ protests; writes to Indian, US envoys

    “We have come to offer ‘sewa’ (services) from Gurudwara Nada Sahib in Panchkula. We want our farmers to be safe in this environment, so we have brought this fogging machines with us. Due to slush on the streets after rains and organic waste discarded from the ‘langars’, there are chances of breeding of mosquitoes, so we are here to prevent that,” said a volunteer.

    Rainfall in the last few days have created a lot of puddles on the streets at the protest site, potential breeding sites for mosquitoes.

    “Our fellow farmers are suffering in cold and they can contract malaria or dengue, so this is the least we could do. And it is all grace of Waheguru above, the protector of all. We are just the ‘sewadars’, following his will,” said the volunteer.

    ALSO READ: SC to hear pleas against new agri laws, all issues related to farmers protest on January 11

    The imposing Gurudwara Nada Sahib is situated in Panchkula on the bank of the Ghaggar river in Sivalik foothills in Haryana.

    It is a famous religious place of the Sikhs.

    Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, had halted here while travelling from Paonta Sahib to Anandpur Sahib after the Battle of Bhangani in 1688.

    Brothers Dalbir Singh (65) and Balwinder Singh (72) from Panipat, who have been coming on and off to the Singh Border protest site, praised the volunteers from Panchkula.

    “That man carrying the fogging machine, in the front of the marching group, in all probability would be a rich man, but it’s the spirit of ‘sewa’ that has drawn him here. This is what our Guru Nanak Dev Ji had preached serve all without discrimination as we do in langars. The spirit of ‘Sangat’ and ‘Pangat’ drives us,” said Dalbir Singh.

    On Friday, amid winter of January, it was yet another day of protest for the farmers, even as the eighth round of talks between the farmer leaders and the Centre remained inconclusive.

    Cries of ‘Saada Haq, Aithe Rakh’, ‘Jo Bole So Nihal’ and ‘Kisan Union Ekta Zindabad’ rent the air throughout the day, as coloured turbans of protesting farmers added vibrancy to the scene of agitation.

    “We will not budge, until our demands are not met. We will face all challenges with fearlessness,” Balwinder Singh said.

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

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: 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.

    ALSO READ: After Singhu, AAP starts installing Wi-Fi hotspots at Tikri border for protesting farmers

    The former finance minister said any legal reform of agricultural produce marketing must be based on the widespread consultation and not through “midnight ordinances”.

    “If the government has nothing to offer, why has it asked for another meeting with the farmers’ organisations? Is it a tactic to tire the protesters by asking them to remain in the bitter cold for another week,” he asked.

    “Our thoughts and prayers are with the farmers protesting at Singhur on the border of Delhi,” he also said.

    ALSO READ: Agri laws: Wisconsin Speaker supports farmers’ protests; writes to Indian, US envoys

    Farmers are protesting at Delhi borders for over a month now, demanding a repeal of the farm laws and over 60 of them have died during the protest.

    The government’s negotiations with farm unions to end the 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’.

    ALSO READ: SC to hear pleas against new agri laws, all issues related to farmers protest on January 11

    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.

  • After Singhu, AAP starts installing Wi-Fi hotspots at Tikri border for protesting farmers

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: After Singhu border, the AAP has now started installing Wi-Fi hotspots at Tikri border for protesting farmers, party leader Raghav Chadha said on Friday.

    The AAP said Wi-Fi connections would help the protesting farmers to keep in touch with their families.

    ALSO READ: Agri laws: Wisconsin Speaker supports farmers’ protests; writes to Indian, US envoys

    The AAP has strongly come out in favour of the farmers protesting against the new agri laws and its national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has visited the Singhu border twice and expressed his support to the farmers.

    “After Singhu Border, Sewadaar @ArvindKejriwal’s WiFi sewa reaches Tikri Border. Free WiFi Hotspot installation in full swing at Tikri,” Chadha tweeted.

    ALSO READ: SC to hear pleas against new agri laws, all issues related to farmers protest on January 11

    The installation of Wi-Fi hotspots started at Singhu border where Chadha himself went to oversee the process.

    Chadha had said as and when demands come, they would install more such hotspots at other border points too where the farmers are protesting against the Centre’s three farm laws.