While addressing a crowd in Gujarat’s Kutch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday, 15 December, said the farmers who are protesting have been misguided and that the new farm laws are exactly what the farmers and the opposition parties have been demanding for a long time.
Meanwhile, farmer leaders on Tuesday said they are not running away from negotiations, asserting that the government has to pay heed to their demands and come forward with concrete proposals, PTI reported. "The government is saying they won't repeal these laws, we are saying we will make you do it," farmer leader Jagjeet Dallewal was quoted as saying.
- The farmers’ protest against the three contentious laws entered its 20th day on Tuesday
- Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday said the farm acts have been welcomed in states across the country and that the government is willing to continue dialogue with genuine farm unions
- Four Punjab farmers returning from protest sites near Delhi borders were killed in two separate road accidents on Tuesday.
- Kejriwal and AAP volunteers across the country held a day-long hunger strike on Monday in support of the farmers
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Govt Willing to Continue Dialogue With Genuine Farm Unions: Agri Minister
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday said the farm acts have been welcomed in states across the country and that the government is willing to continue dialogue with genuine farm unions.
He further said that MSP is an administrative decision and will continue as it is, reported PTI.
BKU (Kisan) Members Meet Agri Minister, He Says They Support Farm Laws
Members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Kisan) met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar in Delhi on Tuesday.
"The farmers who met me today have supported the three farm laws. They said that they are with the Bills and the government. As some farmers are spreading misconception(s), so they were also misled. When I spoke to them, they clearly supported the Bills," Tomar was quoted as saying by ANI.
'Not Running Away From Negotiations, But Govt Has to Pay Heed to Demands': Farm Leaders
Farmer leaders on Tuesday said they are not running away from negotiations, asserting that the government has to pay heed to their demands and come forward with concrete proposals, PTI reported.
"The government is saying they won't repeal these laws, we are saying we will make you do it," farmer leader Jagjeet Dallewal was quoted as saying.
Pointing out that as many as 20 farmers have become 'martyrs' during the protests so far, the leaders said people across villages and blocks will pay tributes on 20 December to those who lost their lives.
They have also said that the Chilla border between Delhi and Noida will be completely blocked on Wednesday.
Four Punjab Farmers Returning From Protest Killed in Separate Road Accidents
Four Punjab farmers returning from protest sites near Delhi borders were killed in 2 separate road accidents on Tuesday, police say. Two of the deceased were from Patiala, one from Mohali, and another from Fatehgarh Sahib. Eight farmers received injuries in accidents.