News Analysis India

Tag: Farmers Protest

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Union Government will be forced to take back farm laws, says Rahul Gandhi in Tamil Nadu

    Express News Service
    MADURAI: The government will be forced to take back the farm laws (in the coming days), said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who was on a day trip in Tamil Nadu and witnessed Jallikattu at Avaniyapuram in Madurai district. 

    Speaking to mediapersons at Madurai Airport, he said, “If anybody thinks, that they can suppress farmers and this country will continue to prosper, they just have to look at our history and whenever Indian farmers are weak, India is weak.”

    Coming down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul said, “You are suppressing the farmers and helping a handful of businesses. When Corona comes, you are not supporting the common man. Whose Prime Minister are you? Are you the Prime Minister of people or of two-three selected businessman?” 

    He also stated that the Union Government is conspiring to destroy the farmers. “They want to give the belonging of farmers to two or three of their business friends. They want to take the land and produce of the farmers and want it to give it to their friends,” he said.

    He further questioned that “What is China doing inside our territory? Why does the Prime Minister have nothing to say about it? Why is he silent on Chinese Troops sitting inside our territory?” These are the real questions to be asked.

    Stating that he is very proud about what the farmers are doing and he will continue supporting them fully, Rahul said, “Mark my words, take it from me. These laws (farm bills) the government will be forced to take them back.”

    Batting for Jallikattu

    During the media interaction, Rahul said that he witnessed Jallikattu and had a nice time. “I got a sense of why Tamil people appreciate Jallikattu. There was a sense many people had mention to me that Jallikattu is harmful to bulls. I witnessed it today and I must say that the way it was done today there was absolutely no chance of either the bull getting injured. In fact, if anyone is likely to injured it was the young men who are doing Jallikattu. So I am happy to say that there have been some changes to make it safer,” he added. 

    Centre Trying to Destroy Tamil Culture 

    Alleging that the government in Delhi (Union Government) is trying to supress the Tamil spirit and its culture, the Congress leader said “They (Union Government) believe they can suppress the emotions of the Tamil people, they believe they can crush the language of the Tamil people, they believe they can suppress the spirit of the Tamil people,” the Congress leader said.

    “I came to give them a message that nobody is going to suppress the Tamil spirit. There is a reason for it, first of all Tamil spirit cannot be suppressed. And second of all, suppressing the Tamil spirit is the worst thing you can do for country because the Tamil spirit like many other cultures, they are the soul of the country. So I am completely against the Idea that there is only one particular idea, language, notion in this country,” he added.

    Congress leader #RahulGandhi, DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin at Avaniyapuram #Jallikattu event in Madurai.Express photos.@xpresstn pic.twitter.com/KqbtTICNdt
    — The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) January 14, 2021

    At Avaniyapuram

    Earlier in the noon, Rahul Gandhi visited Avaniyapuram village, where the jallikattu being conducted. Dressed in a casuals, Rahul Gandhi witnessed the sport for nearly 45 minutes and also rewarded a prize to a woman, whose bull was untamed. 

    During his visit, DMK youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin who was already watching Jallikattu in the venue, took a courtesy call and accompanied Rahul Gandhi in the stage. 

    After witnessing the sport, Rahul Gandhi while speaking amoung the spectators said that it was quite lovely experience to see Tamil culture and history in action. He also said that the he was happy to see that Jallikattu is being organised in a systematic and safe manner for both the bull and tamers. “I have specifically come here because I think Tamil culture language and history are essential for the future of India and need to be  respected by everyone in India” Rahul said.

    He also said that it is his duty to stand with the people of Tamil Nadu anf protect their history, culture and language. Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayansamy, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President KS Alagiri, senior leaders KC Venugopal, Thirunavukarasar were present with Rahul Gandhi and witnessed the sport.

    ALSO READ| Bhupinder Mann recuses himself from SC committee on farm laws

    Rahul’s Lunch with Villagers

    After watching the Jallikattu, Rahul Gandhi visited Thenpalanchi village near Tiruparankundram where he celebrated the pongal. 

    The villagers welcomed the Congress leader with ‘aarathi’ and Rahul was seen putting rice in the pongal pot. During the interaction with the women of the villagers, he was briefed on the tradition and the making of the pongal recipe. 

    Later, Rahul sat with the villagers and had lunch with them. He was served with boiled rice in a banana leaf with sambar, Poriyal, Kootu, rasam and appalam. Later Rahul Gandhi left to New Delhi in a special flight. 

  • NGO plans to install blood count measurement machine to help farmers protesting at Singhu

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Volunteers of an NGO running a medical camp at Delhi’s Singhu border plan to install a machine for blood count measurements to help farmers protesting the Centre’s three farm laws.

    Sadiq Mohammad, a pharmacist and a volunteer of the NGO – Life Care Foundation – said there are a number of farmers at the border point having many underlying health conditions and the fast results generated by the Hematology analyzer could help guide the treatment of the farmers quicker.

    The machine generates results with an hour and that is why the farmers can be given treatment faster, he said.

    He said the complete blood count (CBC) test helps to ascertain the blood cell, the platelet count and hemoglobin in the blood.

    “This test can help us to start treatment related to skin, asthmatic, etc. The result of CBC test comes within an hour. If the result comes on time, then we can start the treatment after the result. This will be free of cost and nothing will be charged from the patients. The machine will be installed in couple of days,” Sadiq said.

    The NGO had set up a medical camp at the Singhu border on November 30 last year.

    Sadiq said the number of patients with hypertension, diabetes and skin issues have also increased.

    “We are also giving the facility of physiotherapy for the last two days. The timing is from 10 am to 6 pm. We have two portable ECG machines and our volunteers go up to two kilometres to conduct the test,” Sadiq said.

    A lot of protesting farmers are coming to get their blood pressure and sugar levels checked.

    The camp also has a hospital with eight beds, he said.

    “We first installed waterproof tents. The temporary hospital in the medical camp was set up on January 6. We have eight beds as of now. We have attended around 50 patients with minor emergency.”

    “The hospital works 24/7. Three doctors take the eight hour shift. Volunteer doctors also come here to do ‘sewa’ (service). We also have para-medical staff. We have two oxygen cylinders here with us,” he said.

    Sadiq said earlier they lost around six boxes of the medicines, but now due to the waterproof tents, the medicines and staff are safe.

    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.

  • Govt-farmers talks to take place as scheduled on Friday; Tomar says hopeful of positive discussion

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The government’s ninth round of negotiations with protesting farmer unions will take place as scheduled on Friday and the Centre is hopeful of positive discussions, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Thursday.

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

    Clearing the confusion over the fate of the ninth round of talks, which was the only outcome in the last meeting on January 8, in the wake of the Supreme Court on January 11 appointing a four-member panel to resolve the impasse and a key member of the proposed committee subsequently recusing himself, Tomar said the talks between the government and the union representatives will take place as scheduled for 12 pm on January 15.

    The farmer unions have been maintaining that they were ready to attend the scheduled talks with the government, even as they have said they do not want to appear before the court-appointed panel and have also questioned its composition.

    Earlier in the day, Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann said he is recusing himself from the four-member committee.

    Farmer unions and opposition parties had called it a “pro-government” panel, insisting that its members have been in favour of the three laws in the past.

    Mann said he is thankful to the apex court for nominating him on the panel but would give up any position to prevent farmers’ interests from being compromised.

    “As a farmer myself and a union leader, in view of the prevailing sentiments and apprehensions amongst the farm unions and the public in general, I am ready to sacrifice any position offered or given to me so as to not compromise the interests of Punjab and farmers of the country,” he said in a statement.

    “I am recusing myself from the committee and I will always stand with my farmers and Punjab,” Mann added.

    The apex court had on Tuesday stayed the implementation of the three central laws till further orders and announced the formation of a committee to hear the grievances of the farmers and the opinion of the government.

    Apart from Mann, Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat, International Food Policy Research Institute’s Pramod Kumar Joshi and agriculture economist Ashok Gulati were appointed on the panel.

    Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at the border of Delhi for several weeks, demanding the repeal of the laws they say will lead to the weakening of the minimum support price (MSP) system.

    The three contentious laws are the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020.

  • Farm laws: Govt conspiring to destroy farmers, says Rahul Gandhi in Tamil Nadu

    By PTI
    MADURAI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday hit out at the Centre over the contentious new farm laws, alleging that the government was “conspiring to destroy” the ryots and assured that his party will stand with them.

    Speaking to reporters here, the Lok Sabha MP also accused the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre of trying to benefit “two or three of their friends” on the matter.

    “The government is not just neglecting them (farmers), the government is conspiring to destroy them. There is a difference. Neglecting is ignoring. they are not ignoring them,” he said in response to a query.

    Congress leader #RahulGandhi, DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin at Avaniyapuram #Jallikattu event in Madurai.Express photos.@xpresstn pic.twitter.com/KqbtTICNdt
    — The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) January 14, 2021

    “They are trying to destroy them, because they want to benefit two or three of their friends. They want to give what belongs to the farmer to two or three of their friends,” he alleged.

    Farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, have been protesting against the new Central farm laws outside Delhi, demanding for their repeal.

    “They want to take the land of the farmer, produce of the farmer and they want to give it to their friends,” Gandhi alleged.

    “You are suppressing the farmers, helping handful of businesses,” he said.

    READ|Bhupinder Mann recuses himself from SC committee on farm laws

    Extending his party’s support to the farmers, Gandhi said the laws will indeed be repealed.

    Charging Narendra Modi with “not supporting” the common man during the coronavirus pandemic, Gandhi asked “whose Prime Minister are you?” “Are you the Prime Minister of the people of India or the Prime Minster of two-three selected businessmen?” he asked.

    He also sought to know why Modi was “silent” on the months long Sino-India standoff, asking “why are the Chinese people sitting inside Indian territory?”