Farmers' protest highlights: Protestors failed to keep their promise of 'no agitation', says Haryana CM

Sticking to their key demand of the repeal of three farm laws to end their protest, farmer leaders on January 8 told the government their "ghar wapsi" can happen only after "law wapsi" but the Centre insisted talks must be limited to contentious clauses and ruled out a complete withdrawal of Acts. At the eighth round of negotiations with the 41-member representative group of protesting farmers, the government asserted the farm reform laws have been welcomed by a large section of farmers in various states and asked the unions to think about the interests of the entire country. The next round of talks is likely to be held on January 15.

SC to hear pleas on farm laws, ongoing farmers' agitation at Delhi borders on Jan 11

Amid a deadlock in the government's negotiations with protesting farmer unions, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a clutch of pleas challenging the new farm laws as well as the ones raising issues related to the ongoing agitation at Delhi borders.

The eighth round of talks between the Centre and the farmer unions on January 7 appeared heading nowhere as the Centre ruled out repealing the contentious laws while the farmer leaders said they are ready to fight till death and their 'ghar waapsi' will happen only after 'law waapsi'.

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Withdraw new agriculture laws: Sachin Pilot to Centre

Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Sunday demanded from the Union government to withdraw the new farm laws, saying neither farmers nor state governments were consulted over it.

Addressing farmers in Tonk, Pilot said there is not even a single representative of farmers in the Union government and no one is bothered about their plight.

“The economy is collapsing, petrol-diesel prices are skyrocketing, cylinder prices are rising, inflation is rising, unemployment is increasing and in such a situation, the government is hitting the farmers with such a move,” he said, demanding the withdrawal of the laws.

Hisar: Tensions at BJP event as pro-farmer body stages protest

Tensions mounted during a BJP event at the Salasar complex here on Sunday as a group of protesters raised pro-farmer slogans, compelling police to intervene.

A group of people took out a procession and held a protest in front of the complex and demanded unconditional withdrawal of the Centre’s recently enacted three agricultural laws, police said.

They raised anti-government and pro-farmer slogans, police said. (PTI)

Farmers had promised symbolic protest at the event today: Manohar Lal Khattar

Haryana CM ManoharLal Khattar said today that the administration had spoken to protesting farmers and theirpeople yesterday.

"They had agreed to hold a symbolic protest but no agitation. Trusting them, administration had made all preparations. Over 5000 people were present at the event today. But some youth failed to keep their promise," Khattar said. (ANI)

Reliance's rice deal to pay Karnataka farmers more than MSP

Reliance Retail Limited, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, has inked a deal with farmers from Sindhanur taluk in Karnataka's Raichur district for the purchase of 1,000 quintals of Sona Masoori rice.

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RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said that after 2006, farmers have started becoming labourers. "In Bihar, migration has not stopped. This is a major issue."

Yadav had said earlier today thaton Martyrs' Day, all parties of Mahagathbandhan will form a human chain. "It will be done till Panchayat level. The government is trying to make those residing in villages andindulging in farming, unemployed," he said. (ANI)

Images from the farmers' agitation at Karnal

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar cancelled the 'kisan mahapanchayat', after Police used water cannons and lobbed teargas shells to prevent protesting farmers from marching towards Kaimla village, according to several new reports.

Haryana Police use water cannon, teargas shells to stop farmers’ march to Karnal

Farmers were carrying black flags and shouting slogans against the BJP-led government as they attempted to march towards Kaimla village. Police have put up barricades at the entry points of the village to prevent protesting farmers from reaching the programme venue.

(PTI)

Withdrawal of agri laws only way to provide relief to agitating farmers: UP Cong leader

Withdrawal of the three new agriculture-related laws is the only way to provide relief to agitating farmers, an Uttar Pradesh Congress leader said on Sunday.

Sunil Rai, the former state secretary of the Congress accused the Narendra Modi-led government of not being bothered about the country’s middle class as it has failed to check rising prices of petrol and diesel.

(PTI)

Protesting farmers gather in Kaimla village where Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar will hold Kisan Mahapanchayat shortly. Police use teargas to disperse protestors.

Delhi Police chief reviews security arrangements ahead of Republic Day

Ahead of Republic Day, Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava on Saturday reviewed security arrangements and took stock of anti-terrorism measures, officials said.

Besides reviewing the crime situation in the national capital, the police chief also reviewed the law and order arrangements at various border points in view of the farmers' agitation, they added.

(PTI)

Protesting farmers conspiring to spread bird flu by consuming chicken biryani: BJP MLA

(ANI)

Chilla & Ghazipur borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida & Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. Please take an alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Bhopra & Loni borders: Delhi Traffic Police

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

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.

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PM Modi should quit if he can't repeal farm laws: Congress

The Congress on Saturday asked the Centre why it wants farmer groups opposed to the new agricultural reforms to move the Supreme Court and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should quit if he is not competent enough to repeal them.

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People take part in a torch march in support of farmers protest against the new farm laws, in Jalandhar. Credit: PTI Photo

PIL filed in SC to remove farmers from Delhi borders

Days before the Supreme Court's scheduled hearing on the farmers' issue on January 11, a petitioner has asked the apex court to remove farmers from the Delhi borders immediately, claiming that the protests and the resulting road blockades were causing unnecessary hardship to commuters.

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Congress plans nationwide protests against farm laws, stalling Parliament session

Stepping up pressure on the Modi government on farm laws, Congress will organise protests across the nation on January 15 by laying siege on Raj Bhawans. The party is also planning to stall Parliament proceedings during the Budget Session.

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IYC to collect soil from villages of those who died, create map of India

The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) on Saturday said it will pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the farmers' movement against the Centre's new agri laws by collecting soil from across the country, especially from towns and villages of farmers who died, and create a map of India with it in the national capital.

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Good morning readers, welcome to DH's live coverage of the farmers' protests.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at various border points of Delhi for over a month now, despite the cold weather and heavy rains, to demand the repeal of the three laws.