After the fourth round of talks, General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee Sarvan Singh Pandher asserted that the farmers will continue to move forward with the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on February 21 adding that the discussion will also be held on the proposal proposed by the government on MSP.
Tag: Farmers stir
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Farmers protest: ‘Will wait for Feb 18 meeting outcome, nothing will be done till then’, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal – The Economic Times Video
The marathon talks between three Union ministers and leaders of protesting farmer unions concluded without a resolution here late Thursday while Union minister Arjun Munda termed the discussion as “positive” and said that another meeting will be held on Sunday. The farmer leaders said they will continue to stay put at the two borders of Punjab and Haryana. Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Munda, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai represented the Centre at the meeting over the farmer unions’ various demands, including a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
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PM Narendra Modi orders repeal of three farm laws ahead of Assembly polls in five states
Express News Service
NEW DELHI: In the face of daunting electoral tests in five states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced the decision to take the Parliamentary nod to repeal three contentious farm laws in the upcoming Winter session of Parliament.
PM Modi exhorted the agitating farmers to call off their protests and return to their homes, while apologizing for not being able to convince some of the farmers about the good intentions of the government.
Addressing the nation. https://t.co/daWYidw609
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 19, 2021
Timing the announcement with Gurupurab, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, Prime Minister’s announcement was seen in the offing to allow the former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh to kick off his campaign in the state for the upcoming Assembly elections in alliance with the BJP.Sticking to the pro-small farmers narrative of the government, Modi sought to project the flexibility for not being able to take “some of the farmers onboard” by arguing that the three contentious farm laws had received overwhelming welcome by a large number of stakeholders.
Yet, he said that the government has taken the decision to get the nod of the Parliament to repeal the three laws, which, incidentally, had led to the NDA’s oldest ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) snapping alliance with the BJP.
ALSO READ| Farmers’ protest: Court seeks status report from police on plea seeking FIR against Haryana CM
By projecting a package, repeal of the three laws and constitution of a committee to scientifically look into the issue of the minimum support prices (MSPs), Modi has seemingly given the BJP an elbow room to work on the Jat Sikh-Hindu constituency alliance with Captain Amarinder Singh in Punjab, besides buyingpeace with the angry Jats in western Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
With the prospects of the Jat vote base shifting allegiance with the BJP in the western UP, the saffron outfit is being seen within the party struggling on at least 70 Assembly seats in the Hindi heartland which has a total of 403 seats. At the same time, the BJP-JJP government in Haryana was also facing the heat of the agitating farmers.
ALSO READ| Repealing of farm laws: Sidhu, Amarinder welcome move; protesting unions to decide next course of action
However, Prime Minister’s retreat after a strong posturing on farm reform is not a first as the NDA government had also previously withdrawn the contentious land amendment bill ordinance before the crucial Assembly elections.
Farmers celebrate in New Delhi after PM #NarendraModi announced that the Centre has decided to repeal all three #FarmLaws.Express video | @parveennegi1. pic.twitter.com/aoeoXEI22R
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) November 19, 2021
The announcement came on a day when Prime Minister is set for launch of several projects in Uttar Pradesh. -
Centre should listen to ‘right thinking people’ in BJP: Farmer leaders on Guv Malik’s offer of mediation
By PTI
NEW DELHI: With Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik offering to mediate between the agitating farmers and the Centre, farmer leaders said on Tuesday that they do need any mediation but the BJP government should listen to the “right thinking people” in the party and resume the dialogue, which is stalled since January.
Malik, who has been supporting the protesting farmers, on Sunday asserted that he is ready to mediate if the Centre agrees to give legal guarantee on minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
“There is only one thing which will solve the entire issue. If the government agrees to give the MSP guarantee, I will mediate and convince the farmers,” Malik had said at an event in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu on Sunday.
Kavitha Kuruganti of the Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) believes that the “right-thinking people” in BJP should continue to put pressure on the leadership to fulfil the farmers’ demands.
“I think that there is no mediation required between the farmers and the government.
However, what right-thinking people in BJP should do is continue to put pressure on the party and its leadership for fulfilling the farmers’ demands,” Kuruganti said.
She added that the refusal to fulfil the “legitimate, evidence-based demands” has no sound reasoning behind it.
“These farmer-friendly voices in the party should also make sure that the morality bar of the party does not slip so low that it is irretrievable.
They should ensure that (Minister of State) Ajay Mishra Teni is sacked and arrested,” she said.
Echoing Kuruganti’s opinion, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), a part of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and an influential group in western UP, said that Malik had offered support earlier as well but the BJP did not listen to him.
It was, however, ready for anyone to act as a mediator if the demands are met.
“We have two main demands. The bills must be taken back and a law made to ensure MSP for crops. Satya Pal Malik or anyone who thinks they can mediate the issue are welcome,” BKU’s media in-charge Dharmendra Malik told PTI.
He added that Malik, who hails from western Uttar Pradesh, had earlier also offered his advice to the Centre over the farmers’ issue but the BJP did not listen to him.
“Instead of listening to him, his own party made him the Governor of Meghalaya and sent him there,” Malik added.
Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar of Bharatiya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh said that mediation would have helped if the government did not know their demands and about the situation.
“We don’t need mediation. The 11 rounds of talks we had with the government were without mediators and it’s not like they don’t know our demands.
When they are clearly aware of our demands then it’s just them and us who need to sit down, talk and reach a decision,” Kohar told PTI.
Farmers from different parts of the country have been camping at the Delhi borders since November 26 last year, demanding the repeal of the three central farm laws.
While the farmers have been expressing fear that the laws would do away with the Minimum Support Price system, leaving them at the mercy of the corporations, the government has been projecting them as major agricultural reforms.
With the last talk held on January 22, the 11 rounds of talks between the two parties have failed to break the deadlock.
The Supreme Court had in January suspended the implementation of the laws.
Another farmer leader, Shiv Kumar Kakka, the convener of Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh, a constituent of Samyukt Kisan Morcha, also said that the government will never allow a mediator as it was adamant over not repealing the three farm laws.
“Governor Malik is a good man. He has supported farmers earlier as well. But the government will never allow a mediator because they don’t want to repeal the laws.
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Farmers’ stir: PIL at Supreme Court seeks early hearing over removal of protesters
NEW DELHI: A day after a man’s body with hand chopped off was found at the farmers’ protest site at the Singhu border, a plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking an urgent hearing of a pending petition which has sought removal of protestors.
The body of Lakhbir Singh (35) from Punjab’s Tarn Taran, was found tied to an overturned police barricade at the site where farmers are protesting three Central farm laws for over 10 months. His body bore multiple wounds caused by sharp-edged weapons and the incident is being blamed on a group of Nihangs.
Referring to the incident, a fresh plea has been filed for urgent hearing of the PIL, pending since March this year, which said, “The right to freedom of speech and expression cannot supersede the right to life and if this protest is allowed to go in like this, the nation at large will be at a loss.”
The interim application has been filed by Swati Goel and Sanjeev Newar in their pending PIL through lawyer Shashank Shekhar Jha. Meanwhile, the top court is also hearing a separate plea of a Noida resident Monicca Agrawaal.
She has sought the removal of blockades saying earlier it took 20 minutes to reach Delhi and now it is taking over two hours and that people of the area are facing hardships due to the protests at the UP Gate on the Delhi border.
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Do not upset farmers of Punjab, a border state: NCP supremo Sharad Pawar’s advise to Centre
By PTI
PUNE: Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday said the Union government should handle the ongoing agitation against new farm laws with sensitivity, keeping in mind that majority of protesters are from Punjab, a border state.
The country has paid the price of upsetting Punjab in the past, he said, referring to former prime minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination during Khalistan militancy.
Speaking to reporters at Pimpri near here, Pawar, who has handled defense and agriculture portfolios at the Centre, was replying to a question about the farmers’ agitation on Delhi borders which has been going on for several months.
“I have been there (to the protest site) two-three times. The Union government’s stand does not seem rational,” he said.
“Participants in the agitation are from many states including Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, but most of them are from Punjab, Pawar noted.
“My advise to the Union government is, do not let farmers of Punjab get upset, it is a border state. If we upset the farmers and people from border regions, then there will be other ramifications,” he said.
“Our country has paid the price of upsetting Punjab, even (then prime minister) Indira Gandhi lost her life. On the other hand, farmers of Punjab, irrespective of whether they are Sikh or Hindu, have contributed to food supply,” the NCP chief said.
People living in border areas face several security-related issues which those living in states such as Maharashtra do not experience, he said.
“Therefore, when a person who is making sacrifices is siting in protest with some demands for a long time, paying attention to him is what the nation requires,” Pawar added.
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Farmers’ protests: AAP demands punishment for violence in Lakhimpur
By Express News Service
NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday reacted to the incident of Lakhimpur Kheri where protesting farmers were allegedly crushed to death by a minister’s son.
“It is violent and unjust to crush the protesting farmers with a vehicle. There is news of the death of many farmers. The culprits who have committed such a heinous crime should be punished severely,” tweeted Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
लखीमपुर में प्रदर्शन कर रहे किसानो को गाड़ी से कुचलना हिंसक और अन्यायपूर्ण है।कई किसान भाइयों के मारे जाने खबर मिल रही है। प्रभु उनकी आत्मा को शांति प्रदान करे। दुःख की इस घड़ी में किसान भाइयों के साथ हूँ।ऐसा घोर अपराध करने वाले दोषियों को सख़्त से सख़्त सजा दी जाय
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 3, 2021
The AAP has been completely supporting the demands of the farmers who are protesting around Delhi and other parts of the country, in hope that the Centre would listen to their demands.Scores of farmers are demanding the rollback of three controversial farm laws, which the AAP has stated should be taken back. “The news of the death of farmers in Lakhimpur heart-wrenching. The killers of the country’s food donors should not be spared,” said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
According to reports, Ashish Mishra, son of Ministry of Home Affairs Ajay Mishra, was allegedly involved in running over the protesting farmers with his car in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri. Four farmers died as a result of the incident, which led to a huge outcry, the police said.
The farmers were protesting against the Centre’s three farm bills ahead of an event in Tikunia, which is Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s paternal village in Lakhimpur Kheri. The party’s MP Sanjay Singh also demanded that “strict punishment” be handed down to the “killers”. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw the “three black farm laws” against which farmers have been protesting for the last ten months.
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Farmers agitation getting violent day by day: Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij
By IANS
CHANDIGARH: Amidst the anger for postponing the procurement of paddy in Punjab and Haryana by the Central government, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Saturday said the agitation of farmers is getting violent day by day.
“The violent movement in the country of Mahatma Gandhi won’t be allowed. The leaders of farmers should keep patience during the agitation,” Vij said in a tweet.
किसान आंदोलन दिंन प्रतिदिन हिंसक होता जा रहा है । महात्मा गांधी के देश मे हिंसक आंदोलन की इजाजत नहीं दी जा सकती । किसान नेता अपने आंदोलन को संयम में रखें ।
— ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) October 2, 2021
The Centre on Friday said, delaying the paddy procurement, which was supposed to have started on October 1 from Punjab and Haryana to October 11, is in the “overall interest of farmers and consumers as well because of the untimely rains, maturity of paddy grains is delayed”.As per Indian Meteorological Department data, rainfall during September 2021 is 77 per cent and 139 per cent above normal in Punjab and Haryana, respectively, a release from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said.
Punjab and Haryana witnessed widespread protest and anger over the delay in the procurement. A day earlier even Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and requested him to take back the decision to postpone the paddy procurement by 10 days.
As a protest, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal accompanied a trolley filled with paddy to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) head office here to get the moisture content of the food grain checked.
Talking to the media, Badal said the postponement in paddy procurement would spell doom for the state’s economy. “Farmers had planned in advance and had started harvesting their crop since the last few days. Paddy had also reached ‘mandis’ in the state. Postponing procurement will not only result in harassment of farmers but will also jeopardize the paddy crop in case of inclement weather,” he said.
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Kundli-Singhu blockade: Haryana government panel to talk to farmers on September 19
By PTI
CHANDIGARH: A Haryana government high-powered committee will on Sunday hold talks with protesting farm union leaders over clearing of blockade on National Highway-44 on Kundli-Singhu border, an official statement said here.
The meeting will take place in Murthal in Sonipat district, it said.
“The members of the state-level high-powered committee would hold talks with various farmer organisations. Office bearers of 43 farmer organisations have been invited to attend this meeting,” the statement said.
The Haryana government had formed the committee on Wednesday, a day after Sonipat Deputy Commissioner Lalit Siwach held a meeting with farmers’ representatives over the blockade.
An official statement on Tuesday had said while taking up a writ petition, the Supreme Court has asked the Sonipat district administration to provide a way to the common people in the public interest.
In compliance with these orders, Siwach had held a meeting with farmers’ representatives in Sonipat on Tuesday.
On Wednesday evening, a high-level meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister M L Khattar here, which, Home Minister Anil Vij said, had been convened in the wake of the apex court’s orders last month.
“To comply with the apex court’s orders, a state-level high-powered panel has been formed under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Rajeev Arora,” Vij, who was also present in the meeting, had told reporters later.
“Keeping in view the Supreme Court orders and the fact that common people are facing inconvenience due to the blockade, the committee will hold talks with Samyukt Kisan Morcha on the opening of the way,” he had said.
The committee has the Director General of Police and Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) amongst its members.
On Tuesday, the Sonipat DC had told farmers that while taking up a writ petition filed by Noida resident Monica Agarwal, the apex court has ordered that the farmers protesting on the Kundli-Singhu border in Sonipat district should give way to common people and shift to one side of the road.
The court had last month said the Centre and Delhi’s neighbouring states should find a solution to the road blockades on the national capital’s borders.
The farmers are protesting against the passage of three laws — Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 and Farmers” (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020.
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AAP to observe September 17 as ‘black day’ on completion of one year of farm laws
By PTI
CHANDIGARH: Punjab’s main opposition party AAP will observe September 17 as “black day” on the completion of one year of the enactment of the Centre’s three farm laws, it said on Thursday.
The Aam Aadmi Party will also hold candle marches across the state to pay tribute to the farmers who died during the ongoing agitation against the farm legislations.
In a statement here, AAP MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan said there was “resentment” among farmers across the country against the “black farm laws” enacted by the Narendra Modi-led central government.
The farmers have been protesting against these laws for the last several months, he said.
On September 17, 2020, the three “black” agriculture Bills were passed in Parliament, he said.
Hence, September 17 will be observed as a ‘black day’, said Sandhwan.
Notably, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will also observe September 17 as “black day.”
Besides, the SAD workers have planned to take out a protest march in Delhi from Gurdwara Rakabganj to Parliament demanding repeal of the agriculture-related laws.
SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema on Thursday said the Delhi police have denied them permission to take out a protest march on Friday.
Cheema described it as an “undemocratic step” to stop anyone from holding peaceful protests.
However, he said the protest march will surely be taken out.
A large number of SAD activists from different parts of Punjab on Thursday went to Delhi to participate in the protest march.