Farmers Protest Delhi Live : Centre-farmer talks underway at Vigyan Bhawan, Unions firm on demand for repeal of laws

Farmers Protest Delhi  Live : Centre-farmer talks underway at Vigyan Bhawan, Unions firm on demand for repeal of laws

Farmers Protest Delhi  Live : Centre-farmer talks underway at Vigyan Bhawan, Unions firm on demand for repeal of laws

New Delhi : Government and farmers’ unions will meet at 2 pm on Thursday, as protests against the three farm laws enter day 35. On Monday, the government had proposed to hold the sixth round of talks on Wednesday, with the farmers’ unions accepting the proposal a day later. Initially, responding to the Centre’s offer to hold the sixth round of talks at a date and time as convenient to the farmers, the unions had on Saturday proposed to hold the dialogue at 11 am on December 29. The unions had earlier rejected the government’s first proposal in this regard.

Previous five rounds of talks, including one each on December 1, 3 and 5 have failed to resolve the impasse. While the Centre has refused to repeal the laws and has instead suggested amendments, the farmers are adamant on a complete rollback.

On Tuesday, day 34 of the protests, police in Patna had to lathi-charge a group of protesters who were trying to march to the Bihar governor’s residence to express their support for the farmers protesting at various borders of Delhi. Also on the day, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), whose government is in power in Delhi, announced that it would provide free wifi to the protesting farmers. 

The AAP has, on a number of occasions, expressed its support for the farmers, with party convenor and Delhi chief minister visiting the Singhu border, the epicentre of the protests, twice. Last month, Kejriwal had rejected the Delhi Police’s request to turn the city’s stadiums into temporary jails, as the police tried to stop the protesters from entering the national capital. Then, on December 17, Kejriwal and AAP MLAs had torn copies of the three laws at a special one-day session of the Delhi Assembly.

Here are the updates from day 34 of the anti-farm law protests:

Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal reach Vigyan Bhavan

Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal have reached Vigyan Bhavan to hold discussions on the farm bills with leaders of the farmers’ union.

Farmers Protest Delhi  Live : Centre-farmer talks underway at Vigyan Bhawan, Unions firm on demand for repeal of laws

Farmers Protest Delhi  Live : Centre-farmer talks underway at Vigyan Bhawan, Unions firm on demand for repeal of laws

Delhi: Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal arrive at Vigyan Bhawan to hold talks with farmer leaders pic.twitter.com/EkuaE6E2Gn

— ANI (@ANI) December 30, 2020

Farmer leaders arrive for sixth round of talks

A delegation of farmer leaders arrives at Vigyan Bhawan for talks with the Centre.

 

Delhi: A delegation of farmer leaders arrives at Vigyan Bhawan for talks with the Union Government

A farmer leader says, "Our stand is clear that the three farm laws should be taken back." https://t.co/XqNmjQkfZm pic.twitter.com/dah0LfIkjO

— ANI (@ANI) December 30, 2020

Reliance Jio writes to Punjab CM, DGP over vandalisation of mobile towers

Reliance Jio Infocomm writes to Punjab CM and DGP seeking their intervention into “incidents of sabotage and vandalism at Jio Network sites” in Punjab by unknown persons

Delegation of farmer leaders leave for sixth round of talks

A delegation of farmers leaders leave Singhu border to hold talks with Centre over three farm laws.

 

A delegation of farmers leaders leave Singhu border to hold talks with Centre over three farm laws

Union Government will hold sixth round of talks with the protesting farmers today. pic.twitter.com/RamZKPxwrQ

— ANI (@ANI) December 30, 2020

Hope that farmers’ agitation ends today: MoS (commerce and industry) Som Parkash

“We hope that the talks will be decisive. Talks will be held on all issues including MSP with an open heart. I hope that farmers’ agitation ends today,” says MoS (commerce and industry) Som Parkash.

Farmers’ union says don’t expect to reach a solution today as well

Five rounds of talks between farmers and government have taken place. We don’t think we will reach a solution even today. The three farm laws should be repealed: Sukhwinder Singh Sabra, joint secretary, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Punjab.

No question on the integrity of Sikhs: Rajnath Singh

Our Sikh brothers have always protected the culture of India. Their contribution will be remembered for protecting the country’s self-respect. There is no question on their integrity: Rajnath Singh

No question of being ‘insensitive’ towards farmers, says Rajnath Singh

There is no question of being insensitive towards farmers. Our farmers are holding demonstrations and I am not the only one pained but Prime Minister Narendra Modi is pained as well: Rajnath Singh

Farmers shouldn’t be called ‘Naxals,’ ‘Khalistanis’: Rajnath Singh

“These allegations should not be made by anyone against farmers. We express our deepest respect towards them. Our heads bow in respect towards our farmers. They are our ‘annadatas’,” says Rajnath Singh.

‘Some forces’ trying to create misconceptions among farmers, Rajnath Singh tells ANI

“Some forces have tried to create some misperceptions amongst farmers. We’ve also spoke to several farmers. My only request to farmers is that clause-wise discussion should be done and not seek ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. We will find a resolution,” Union defence minister Rajnath Singh tells news agency ANI in exclusive interview.

Unions adamant on total rollback of laws

In their reply to the Centre on Saturday, the farmers’ unions that the talks will only be will only be on the modalities of repealing the three new farm laws and giving a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP), among other issues.

Centre-farm unions to meet at 2 pm for sixth round of talks

Sixth round of talks between the Centre and farmers’ unions will take place at 2 pm on Wednesday after the unions, on Tuesday, accepted the government’s offer in this regard.