News Analysis India

Tag: Farm Laws 2020

  • Protesting farmers start facility for ironing clothes at Singhu border

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Protesting farmers at the Singhu border here have started a facility for ironing washed garments to dry them faster as the natural process now takes longer than usual amid the cold weather in and around Delhi.

    Sarvan Singh, whose livelihood as an auto-rickshaw driver in Amritsar took a hit as he is helping run the service for the protesting farmers, said it was necessary to be part of the movement even though his children want him back home.

    “After the rains we realised that while the clothes were getting washed, they were taking really long to dry. So we thought getting a couple of irons would solve the problem,” he said.

    ALSO READ: Start on a clean slate – P Chidambaram to government ahead of talks with protesting farmers

    Singh arrived at the Singhu border protest site a week ago.

    “This protest is for everybody, and I wanted to help in whatever way we can, so when we realised that there was a need for ironing facility, we decided to fill the gap,” he added.

    The service is being run from a stall at the protest site with three-four men working for over 10 hours daily in four-hour shifts.

    ALSO READ: Farmers have constitutional right to take out rally – Unions

    Currently they have two irons and as many ironing tables, but they are hoping to get more.

    Power is supplied from an electricity tower located on the highway, right opposite where they have set shop.

    “We have paid for these irons and tables from our own pockets, but it would help if we manage to get more supply,” Sarvan Singh said.

    ALSO READ: Such arm-twisting tactics won’t weaken farmers’ resolve: Amarinder on NIA notices to union leaders

    He is joined in his shift by Sewa Singh from Ludhiana who actually irons clothes for a living back home.

    “We get nearly 200-250 clothes in four hours,” Sewa Singh said.

    Asked if he was incurring losses in his business back home, the Ludhiana man said there was nothing more important than the protest.

    “We are all farmers. Even though we do other jobs to make some income, we work on our fields too, and right now protecting that is our main objective.

    “Right now, my brothers are taking care of the shop at home, while I am here,” he said.

    Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting on Delhi borders for almost two months against the Centre’s three new farm laws enacted in September last year.

    The farmers have alleged these laws will end the mandi and MSP procurement systems and leave them at the mercy of big corporates, even as the government has rejected these apprehensions as misplaced.

    The three farm laws have been projected by the central government as major reforms in the agriculture sector.

  • Start on a clean slate: P Chidambaram to government ahead of talks with protesting farmers

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Ahead of the tenth round of talks between the Centre and agitating farmers, Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday urged the ruling dispensation to start afresh and keep the past aside.

    Nine rounds of talks have taken place between the government and agitating farmer unions without any concrete resolution, while the tenth round is scheduled to be held on Wednesday.

    “‘Start on a clean slate’ is the only way forward,” Chidambaram tweeted.

    ALSO READ: Farmers have constitutional right to take out rally – Unions

    “The government should offer to begin afresh and hold talks on what needs to be done and what needs to be avoided,” he said.

    The Congress leader also wondered how one could expect a positive outcome when the government refuses to keep the past aside.

    “How can we expect any positive outcome when government refuses to keep the past aside and start on a clean state,” he said on Twitter.

    ALSO READ: Such arm-twisting tactics won’t weaken farmers’ resolve: Amarinder on NIA notices to union leaders

    Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting on Delhi borders for almost two months against the Centre’s three new farm laws enacted in September last year.

    The farmers have alleged these laws will end the mandi and MSP procurement systems and leave them at the mercy of big corporates, even as the government has rejected these apprehensions as misplaced.

  • Opinions can change, says CJI Bobde; defends farm panel

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: A day before the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the plea related to farmers’ protest, Chief Justice of India SA Bobde remarked that person is not disqualified to be a member of a committee merely because he/she has previously expressed an opinion on the subject matter which is under consideration by that committee.

    “There is a very peculiar lack of comprehension about constitution of a committee,” said a three-judge bench, comprising CJI Bobde and Justices L Nageswara Rao and Vineet Saran. 

    ALSO READ: Not scared of PM Narendra Modi, will continue to oppose three farm laws, says Rahul Gandhi

    “There is some confusion regarding the law. One person may have an opinion before being part of the committee, but his opinion can change. There is no way that such a person cannot be part of the committee,” the CJI said.

    Though the remarks were made during the hearing of a case pertaining to inefficiencies in criminal trial, it assumes significance as the SC had come under criticism not only from farmers but also political parties over the nomination  of members to the committee that was set up to resolve the stalemate over the three farm laws.

    ALSO READ: Farmers have constitutional right to take out rally – Unions

    The farmers have rejected the panel saying all the four members had backed the contentious laws. After the uproar, one of the members — Bhupinder Singh Mann —recused himself from the committee citing the prevailing sentiments and apprehensions amongst the farmers. 

  • Congress wants to derail government-farmers talks: BJP 

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  The BJP on Tuesday accused the Congress of working to derail the ongoing talks between the Centre and farmers’ unions, hitting back at Opposition party’s leader Rahul Gandhi over his attack on the Narendra Modi government over farm laws and national security.        

    Senior BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar said the Congress does not want the talks to succeed and has resorted to obstructive tactics. 

    “The Congress is adopting the strategy of protest-obstacle. The presser of Gandhi shows the desperation of the Congress. The talks with the farmers continue and we are confident that it will succeed,” said the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting at the BJP headquarters. 

    ALSO READ: Not scared of PM Narendra Modi, will continue to oppose three farm laws, says Rahul Gandhi

    BJP chief J P Nadda had early in the day posted a series of questions to Gandhi after the latter addressed a press conference to attack the government.

    “When is the Rahul Gandhi and the Congress stop spreading falsehood on matters related to China? Can he refute that thousands of kms of areas, including the place stated by him in Arunachala Pradesh was gifted to China by none other than (former PM Jawahar Lal) Nehru?” asked Nadda in his tweets. 

    Both Nadda and Javadekar reiterated that the Congress had promised in the party manifesto of steps to reform the agricultural marketing. Reacting to the unveiling of the book ‘Kheti ka khoon’ by Gandhi, Javadekar charged that the Congress has an apparent love for the word ‘khoon (blood)’. 

    ALSO READ: Farmers have constitutional right to take out rally – Unions

    “Weren’t the 1984 riots and the consequent massacre of Sikhs across the country khoon ki kheti (harvest of blood),” asked Javadekar. 

    ‘No change in our route of tractor rally on R-Day’  

    CHANDIGARH: Farm union leaders have told the Delhi Police that a peaceful tractor march and tableux depicting the lives of farmers will be taken out on the Outer Ring Road in the national capital.

    The unions said the police ited traffic and security constraints on the Outer Ring Road to request them for choosing an alternative route, but the proposal was turned down.

    ALSO READ: Supreme Court panel to meet farmer leaders on Thursday

    “We told the police not to waste our time. We will carry out our tractor rally as per schedule. But we assured them that it will be peaceful and we will return to our demonstration sites,’’ a farm leader said. A large number of tableuxs depicting the culture of  different states will form the part of the parade and we are under construction,’’ he said.

    Similarly, Swaraj India’s Yogendra Yadav said the tractor parade will be taken out on the route which has already been planned before. 

  • Not scared of PM Narendra Modi, will continue to oppose three farm laws: Rahul Gandhi

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Launching a scathing attack on the Centre, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the new farm laws are designed to “destroy” the agriculture sector and hand it over to three or four crony capitalists, asserting that the only solution to the farmers’ issue is to repeal the Acts.

    “The three new laws are designed to destroy Indian agriculture. How have they designed to do it, by destroying the mandi, by destroying the Essential Commodities Act and by making sure that no Indian farmer can go to court to protect himself and to me.

    ALSO READ: Farmers have constitutional right to take out rally – Unions

    It is a tragedy that this entire country is just watching this ridiculous show. It is a tragedy because it shows me that the country itself is not able to understand the depth of what is happening,” Gandhi said at a press conference where he released a booklet highlighting the “plight” of farmers in the wake of the three farm laws. 

    Responding to a question about BJP president JP Nadda’s remarks that he was distracting the farmers, the former Congress chief said he was not scared of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he was a “clean person” and he would continue to fight alone even if no one sided with him. 

    ALSO READ: Supreme Court panel to meet farmer leaders on Thursday

    “Is J P Nadda my professor that I am answerable to him. Who is he?… I am not scared of Modi or anyone. I am a clean person, and they cannot touch me. They can shoot me. I will stand alone even if everyone is standing on the other side but will fight as it is my religion,” he said. 

    He said that even during the UPA government, the Congress stood with the farmers in Bhatta Parsaul.“Our farmers are sitting outside in the cold, I don’t know why Modi Ji thinks, this is something to be proud of. The whole world is looking and saying what is going on,” the Congress leader said. 

    Sharad Pawar, Uddhav  Thackeray to take part in protest in Mumbai

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav  Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar will take part in a protest to be staged in Mumbai in support of the farmers’ agitating against Centre’s three new farm laws on borders of New Delhi, state Minister Nawab Malik said on Tuesday.

    Some farmers’ organisations have planned to hold protests in Mumbai from January 23 to January 25.

    “Sharad Pawar will take part in the protest to be held at Azad Maidan (in south Mumbai) on January 25.

    ALSO READ: Such arm-twisting tactics won’t weaken farmers’ resolve: Amarinder on NIA notices to union leaders

    The NCP has opposed the farm laws. The chief minister and leaders of the ruling MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) will also take part,” said Malik, who is the national spokesperson of the NCP.

    Thousands of farmers from Nashik in Maharashtra had joined the ongoing protests at the borders of the national capital against the three new agricultural laws.

    Inappropriate to raise issues by foreign MPs: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

    NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday said that it’s not appropriate for Parliaments to comment on laws passed by other countries.  

    Birla made the remark at the virtual meeting of the Standing Committee of the Conference of the Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth, indirectly referring to MPs of various countries raising the contentious farm laws in their House.

    “The Covid pandemic has affected the functioning of Parliaments across the world. Even during the pandemic, some important legislative businesses were transacted by the Lok Sabha…,” Birla added.

    Notably, MPs in Canada, UK had spoken about the farm protests. Thirty-six British MPs had written United Kingdom foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, urging him to raise their concern with India over the farm protests.

  • Supreme Court panel to meet farmer leaders on Thursday

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  The Supreme Court-appointed committee on the new farm laws held its first meeting on Tuesday and said it will meet farmer leaders and other stakeholders on Thursday, a day after talks between the farmers and the Centre. 

    Panel member Anil Ghanwat said both physical and virtual meeting facilities would be available.

    “The biggest challenge is to convince the agitating farmers to come and speak with us. We will try our level best,” he said.

    ALSO READ: Farmers have constitutional right to take out rally – Unions

    “We will meet all stakeholders, including corporates, to understand their view points. We will reach out to everyone who is concerned about the farm laws,” said a member.

    The SC had on January 11 stayed the implementation of the new laws and formed a four-member panel comprising Ashok Gulati, Anil Ghanwat, Bhupinder Singh Mann and Pramod Joshi.

    Shortly thereafter, Mann recused himself after the panel drew flak as all four are known supporters of the three laws.

    ALSO READ: Such arm-twisting tactics won’t weaken farmers’ resolve: Amarinder on NIA notices to union leaders

    While protesting farmers have already refused to meet the panel, one of its members said, “problems can be only resolved through dialogue. Farmers’ organisations should meet us. We will try our best to resolve the issue.”

    In a different case in the SC, Chief Justice of India S A Bobde remarked that a person will not be disqualified from being a member of a committee merely because he/she has previously expressed an opinion on the subject matter under consideration.

  • Farmers have constitutional right to take out rally: Unions

    Express News Service
    CHANDIGARH: Protesting union leaders on Monday said farmers have a constitutional right to take out their tractor rally peacefully and asserted that thousands of people will participate in the proposed event on January 26. 

    BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said if the Delhi Police has a problem over thee law and order situation on Republic Day, it can hold a meeting with the Sankyukt Kisan Morcha and suggest alternative routes for the tractor parade. 

    ALSO READ: Such arm-twisting tactics won’t weaken farmers’ resolve: Amarinder on NIA notices to union leaders

    “Thereafter, our farmers’ committee will decide accordingly. But, it is very clear that the tractor march will be taken out in the national capital on January 26.’’BKU Punjab, (Lakhowal Group) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said: “We will take out the rally peacefully. We will exercise our constitutional right and we will definitely enter Delhi.”

    Meanwhile, the farmers on Monday observed ‘Mahila Kisan Divas’ in more than three hundred  districts of the country in recognition of the contribution of women in 75 per cent of all agricultural work, including sowing, transplanting, irrigation, weeding, harvesting, transporting, sorting, packing and in animal labour involved in rearing including provision of fodder, grazing, milking, cleaning, manufacture of dung cakes and processing of milk.

    At various places in Punjab and Haryana, women speakers managed the stage and the protest site. Thousands of farmers, especially from Punjab, Haryana and parts of UP, are protesting for nearly two-months at various Delhi borders against the three farm laws.

  • Farmers’ protest: First committee meet tomorrow

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  A controversial committee appointed by the Supreme Court last week to hear arguments on the three contentious farm laws to resolve the ongoing agitation of farmers, will hold its first meeting on Tuesday, its member Anil Ghanwat said on Sunday.

    While one of its members, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) president Bhupinder Singh Mann recused himself from the committee, the other three, including Ashok Gulati and Pramod Kumar Joshi, will hold an internal meeting on Tuesday and begin hearing all stakeholders from Thursday.

    ALSO READ: Will go ahead with tractor march in Delhi on Republic Day – Farmer unions

    The next round of talks between the Centre and the farmers, too, is slated for Tuesday. On Monday, the Supreme Court is expected to hear a petition filed by the BKU Lokshakti union seeking disbanding of the present committee and putting in place a new one in the interest of harmony and natural justice, as its current members are known supporters of the farm sector reform laws.

    The bench could also look into the possibility of appointing a replacement for Mann who recused himself from the panel. 

    ALSO READ: Give up stubborn stand and come for discussion on January 19: Narendra Tomar to protesting farmers

    Another point of friction is the proposed Kisan Tractor Parade by farmers on Republic Day. The bench will hear a plea by the Delhi Police seeking an injunction against the tractor march or any other kind of protest by farmers that could disrupt Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

    For their part, farmers announced that the Kisan Tractor Parade would be on the Outer Ring Road in Delhi covering about 47 km. Every vehicle will fly a Tricolour and the flag of the respective farmer union, they said after a meeting of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha in at the Singhu border in Delhi. 

    Forget repeal: Amit Shah

    “There is no question of repealing the farm laws. These farm laws, which are aimed at enriching the lives of farmers by strengthening them financially, will be implemented in the coming days,” Union home minister Amit Shah said in Bagalkot on Sunday.

  • Farmers’ protest: Rashtriya Kisan Manch president expresses resentment over govt’s ‘indifferent’ attitude

    By PTI
    MATHURA: President of Rashtriya Kisan Manch Shekhar Dixit on Saturday expressed resentment over the government’s “indifferent attitude” towards the farmers’ agitation against three new farm laws.

    “Step-motherly treatment being given to farmers may become counterproductive as the farmers know how to withdraw support to the BJP-led government,” he said while talking to reporters here.

    ALSO READ: No one was consulted, govt must agree to start on ‘clean slate’: Chidambaram on farm laws impasse

    Dixit said due to the “indifferent attitude” of the government, farmers are being forced to protest in the chilly weather.

    He said the government is using “lingering tactics” to break the morale of the farmers.

  • 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.