News Analysis India

Tag: Farm Laws 2020

  • 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.

  • Agri laws: Union Ministers start ninth round of talks with protesting farmer unions

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The ninth round of talks between protesting farmer unions and three central ministers got underway here on Friday afternoon to break the over-a-month-long deadlock on the three new agri laws.

    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, are holding the talks with the representatives of around 40 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan here.

    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.

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

    On Thursday, Tomar had said that the government’s ninth round of negotiations with protesting farmer unions would take place as scheduled and the Centre was hopeful of positive discussions.

    “The government is ready to hold talks with farmer leaders with an open mind,” Tomar had told reporters here.

    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.

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

    Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann on Thursday recused himself from the committee appointed by the apex court.

    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.

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

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

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

    Though talks till now have remained inconclusive, 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.

  • 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.

  • UPCC president, Congress workers detained during protest against farm laws in Uttar Pradesh

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: Congress workers, including UPCC president Ajay Kumar Lallu, were on Friday taken into custody while trying to march towards the Raj Bhawan here as part of the party’s ‘Kisan Adhikar Diwas’ programme against the new farm laws.

    Led by Lallu, party workers had started their march for the Raj Bhawan ‘gherao’ programme when they were taken into custody in Dalibagh area, a Congress spokesman said.

    Party workers raised ‘jai jawan jai kisan slogans’ when the police tried to disrupt their march, the spokesman said.

    The party is observing Raj Bhawan ‘gherao’ programme all over the country against the new farm laws on Friday, the spokesman added.

  • Farmers’ agitation: Railways cancel, divert, short-terminate trains in Punjab

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: In view of on-going farmers’ agitation in Punjab, the railway has cancelled, short-terminated and diverted several trains on Sunday.

    “Due to farmers’ agitation in Punjab, four trains have been diverted and one train short terminated/short originated,” said Western Railway.

    Following are the trains that have been short – terminated:

    1). Train No. 09025 Bandra Terminus – Amritsar Special Express journey commencing on January 11 will short-terminate at Chandigarh and will remain partially cancelled between Chandigarh and Amritsar. Consequently, Train No. 09026 Amritsar – Bandra Terminus Special Express journey commencing on January 13 will short-originate from Chandigarh and will remain partially cancelled between Amritsar and Chandigarh.

    And these are the following trains that have been diverted:

    1). Train No. 02903 Mumbai Central – Amritsar Special journey commenced on January 10, 2021 will be diverted via Beas – Tarn Taran – Amritsar instead of Beas – Jandiala – Amritsar.

    2). Train No. 02904 Amritsar – Mumbai Central Special journey commencing on January 11, 2021 will be diverted via Amritsar – Tarn Taran – Beas instead of Amritsar – Jandiala – Beas.

    3). Train No. 02925 Bandra Terminus – Amritsar Special journey commencing on January 11, will be diverted via Beas – Tarn Taran – Amritsar instead of Beas – Jandiala – Amritsar.

    4). Train No. 02926 Amritsar – Bandra Terminus Special journey commencing on January 11, will be diverted via Amritsar – Tarn Taran – Beas instead of Amritsar – Jandiala – Beas.

  • Militants, robbers may have joined farmers’ stir: Rajasthan BJP MLA Madan Dilawar

    By PTI
    KOTA: BJP’s Kota MLA Madan Dilawar on Saturday triggered a controversy, suggesting that militants and robbers wanting to destroy the country may have joined the farmers’ agitation against the Centre’s farm laws at the Delhi borders.

    The MLA further alleged that the ‘so-called’ farmers are not worried about the country, ‘enjoying picnic’ and ‘luxuries’ besides relishing delicacies.

    In a video statement released here, he suggested that the agitators are “conspiring” to spread bird flu by consuming chicken at the protest sites.

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

    The ruling Congress in the state reacted sharply to the remarks by the Kota’s Ramganjmandi MLA, terming his statement as ‘shameful’, which reflects the BJP’s ideology.

    In his video, Dilawar lashed at the protesters and said, “The so-called farmers involved in the agitation are not worried about the country. They are not protesting but enjoying picnic, relishing chicken, biryani, cashew, almonds and are availing all sorts of luxuries.”

    “There may be militants, robbers and thieves among them and they may also be enemies of farmers and all these people want to ruin the country,” Dilawar alleged.

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

    The BJP MLA claimed that by ‘consuming’ chicken and biryani at the agitation sites, they are ‘conspiring’ to spread bird flu in the country.

    If the government does not remove them by persuasion or force in the next few days, I can clearly anticipate bird flu assuming a terrible form in the country, Dilawar said.

    The BJP MLA said he has urged the Union government to stop these people from assembling on roads and if they don’t agree, the government should take stern step to disperse them.

    Reacting to the MLA’s remarks, Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra said his statement reflects the BJP’s ideology.

    “It is shameful for Rajasthan BJP MLA Madan Dilawar to use words like militant, robber for farmers,” Dotasra said in a tweet.

  • 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.