Hunger Strike Held, Govt Says ‘Engaging’ With Farm Reps for Talks
Catch all the updates on the farmers’ protests here.
The government is engaging with farmer leaders to decide on the next date of talks, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Monday, 14 December, asserting that a meeting will definitely happen.
As the agitation against the three contentious farm laws entered its 19th day on Monday, farmer union leaders observed a hunger strike as part of their plan to intensify the protest.
In Punjab and Haryana, slogans were also raised outside offices of district commissioners and protest marches taken out by protesting farmers.
- Various MPs and MLAs of Haryana met Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar in Delhi on Monday
- Anna Hazare on Monday wrote to Tomar, saying that he will launch a hunger strike against the Central government if the farmers’ issues are not resolved
- Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal observed a one-day fast in solidarity with the protesting farmers on Monday
- Hundreds of farmers from Rajasthan blocked some major roads as part of their ‘Dilli Chalo’ march, while police set up barricades to stop farmers at the Rewari border on Sunday
- On Sunday, Punjab DIG Prisons Lakhminder Singh Jakhar resigned from his post, in solidarity with the ongoing protests
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SC to Hear on 16 December Plea Seeking Removal of Farmers Protesting at Delhi Borders
The apex court on Wednesday, 16 December, will hear plea seeking a direction to authorities to immediately remove the farmers who are protesting at several border points of Delhi. The plea mentions that the commuters are facing hardships due to the road blockades and the gatherings might lead to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
Govt to Hold Fresh Round of Talks With Farmers to End Deadlock
Union Minister Kailash Choudhary on Sunday, 13 December, said the government will soon decide a date and call union leaders for the next round of talks. Earlier five rounds of talks with the farmers failed to yield results.
The sixth round of talks did not take place after farmer leaders rejected the government's draft proposal to amend certain provisions of the farm laws and declined to participate in the meeting.
40 Farmer Leaders to Sit on Hunger Strike Today
Harinder Singh Lakhowal, General Secy, BKU on Monday said that 40 farmer leaders of the United Farmers Front will sit on hunger strike today at all borders points between 8 am-5 pm. While 25 of them will sit at Singhu border, 10 will sit at Tikri border and 5 at UP border.
No Rift Among Farmers: BKU Spokesperson
Denying reports of a rift among the farmers, Rakesh Tikait, Spokesperson of BKU on Monday said, “There's no rift among farmers. Three leaders of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu) faction resigned because they were upset with their President Bhanu Pratap Singh, as to why he compromised.”
Earlier, several reports had said that the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu) faction -- one of the key organisations leading the farmers' protest -- saw discord over the opening of the highway at the Chilla border.
Farmers Protesting at Ghazipur Ask Jamia Students to Leave
A small group of Jamia Millia Islamia students who reached the Ghazipur entry point on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border on Sunday afternoon to extend support to farmers were reportedly asked to leave by the protesters.
As the group of students, including 4 to 5 young women, reached the rally spot, the farmers lodged a protest over their presence. As the situation slightly tensed up, police intervened, according to IANS.
The students were asked to move out from the spot. After a brief conversation between the two sides, the students left for Delhi.
Attempt to Wake up Centre: Farmers on Hunger Strike
As the 9-hour long fast by farmers began on Monday, they called it an “attempt to wake up the Centre”.
"The Centre is being stubborn about our demands. This is an attempt to wake them up," Balkaran Singh Brar, Working President, All India Kisan Sabha, Punjab said on Monday, according to ANI.
Delhi Borders Remain Closed As Farmers' Protest Carries On
As Ghazipur border is closed for traffic coming from Ghaziabad to Delhi due to farmers' protests, people are advised to take an alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Chilla, Apsara and Bhopra borders, Delhi Traffic Police said on Twitter on Monday.
“Singhu, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari, Sabholi and Mangesh borders are closed. Please take alternate routes via Lampur, Safiabad & Singhu school toll tax borders. Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba and GTK road. Please avoid Outer Ring Road, GTK road and NH-44,” the DTP further said.
Union Agriculture Min Tomar at Amit Shah's Residence
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar reaches Home Minister Amit Shah's residence.
Arvind Kejriwal Urges People to Observe Fast in Solidarity With Farmers
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday urged people to observe a one-day fast in solidarity with farmers protesting against the farm laws. He himself is doing so in response to a call given by the farmers protesting at the Singhu border near Delhi.
“Fasting is sacred. Wherever you are, fast for our farmer brothers. Pray to God for the success of their struggle,” Kejriwal wrote in a tweet in Hindi. “In the end, farmers will definitely win,” he also said.
AAP Leaders on Hunger Strike in Solidarity With Farmers
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Ministers and MLAs on Monday held a 'hunger strike' in support of farmers who are protesting against the farm laws.
Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, ministers Satyendar Jain, Gopal Rai and party leader Aatishi Marlena were among those present.
10 Groups Meet Tomar to Extend Support to Farm Laws
Ten organisations from various states like Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Bihar and Haryana, associated with All India Kisan Coordination Committee, met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, to extend their support to the farm laws, according to ANI.
A memorandum was also submitted by these organisations to the minister to extend their support to the three farm laws.
'Govt Engaging With Farmer Leaders to Decide Next Date of Talks': Agri Minister
The government is engaging with farmer leaders to decide on the next date of talks, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Monday. asserting that a meeting will definitely happen, PTI reported.
“We have said that we are ready for the talks. The government will definitely do it if their (farmer unions') proposal comes... We want the discussions to be held clause-by-clause. They'll give their opinion on our proposal, we'll definitely hold further talks,” Tomar was quoted by ANI as saying.
Haryana MPs, MLAs Meet Agriculture Minister
Various MPs and MLAs of Haryana met Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar in Delhi on Monday.
Meanwhile, earlier on Monday, Haryana Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala was quoted as saying, “Agriculture minister and home minister are continuously discussing the issue. The next round of discussions will be held soon. I hope the 40 unions who came for talks earlier, will also join the next round of talks and come to a conclusion.”
'Farmers Are in Peril These Days': Delhi CM Kejriwal
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, who was observing a fast in solidarity with the protesting farmers on Monday, was quoted by ANI as saying, "Our farmers are in peril these days. Those who should be tilling their fields are sitting in the biting cold. But I'm happy that people in the country, including army (personnel), lawyers, actors, doctors, are with them. We are with the farmers too."
Will Launch Hunger Strike if Farmers' Issues Not Resolved: Anna Hazare to Agri Minister
Social activist Anna Hazare on Monday wrote to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, saying that he will launch a hunger strike against the Central government if the farmers' issues are not resolved, reported ANI.
In his letter, Hazare referred to the Centre's "failure" to fulfil his demands, including the implementation of recommendations made by MS Swaminathan Commission, according to PTI.