Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers’ protest Updates: Rakesh Tikait, key farmer union leader receives death threat

It has been a month since farmers mainly from Punjab and Haryana, began their protest march to the national capital seeking the removal of the three controversial farm laws passed by the central government in September. Till now, five rounds of talks have been held between farmer groups and Union ministers which remained inconclusive. On Friday, the protesters held a meet to discuss the Centre’s latest invitation for talks, with some of them indicating that they might resume dialogue in order to find a solution to the deadlock. Another meet of farmer groups will be held today where a formal decision will be taken on the invite for resumption of talks. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the government was open for talks and blamed opposition parties for misleading farmers against the three new laws for their political agenda. Releasing the next instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme, Modi added, “I bow to farmers. A majority of them have supported the laws. I will never allow farmers’ interests to be compromised at any cost.” The farmer groups however, hit out at the Prime Minister’s address and said he did not even once address those who have been protesting adding that the speech was a mix of fabricated and fake news. The protesting farmers, who have been camping at several border points in Delhi and neighbouring states are seeking the removal of Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Service Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. The Centre has projected that the new laws will eliminate middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce across India. However, the farmers maintain that the laws would demolish the Minimum Support Price (MSP) policy and do away with the wholesale market system. Follow live updates here: Bhartiya Kisan Union Spokesperson receives death threatRakesh Tikait, Spokesperson, Bhartiya Kisan Union alleged that he received a life threatening phone call. “It was a phone call from Bihar. They were threatening to kill me with arms. I’ve forwarded the recording to the police captain. They will do what is needed to be done next,” he said.  It was a phone call from Bihar. They were threatening to kill me with arms. I've forwarded the recording to the police captain. They will do what is needed to be done next: Rakesh Tikait, Spokesperson, Bhartiya Kisan Union, on receiving life threatening phone call pic.twitter.com/FxNffCRi2LRLP quits NDA over farm bills, says party chief Hanuman Beniwal After Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Rajasthan’s Rashtriya Loktantric Party(RLP) chief Hanuman Beniwal also walked out of National Democratic Alliance. While addressing farmers’ rally in Shahjahanpur of Alwar, Beniwal said, “Bye-bye. We are quitting NDA. Nothing is above the pride of farmers in the country.” State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Mukesh Pareekh said that Beniwal’s party is an independent party and one man’s party. Just because of him BJP left the parliamentary seat from Nagaur and helped him in winning the election. “Earlier, he had supported the agri laws but now just to gain political mileage he had quit the alliance,” Pareekh added. Activist Yogendra Yadav says farmers ready to resume discussions Tuesday onwards, reports ANIAccording to ANI, activist Yogendra Yadav said that the farmers are ready to resume discussions from Tuesday, December 29. MSP should be part of talks: Tikait Modalities for repeal of three farm laws, legal guarantee for MSP should be part of agenda for talks with government said farmer leader Rakesh Tikait according to PTI.Former Lok Sabha MP Harinder Singh Khalsa quits BJP citing government’s negligence towards farmersFormer Lok Sabha MP Harinder Singh Khalsa resigned from BJP on Saturday citing government negligence towards the farmers. He said that he is resigning “in protest against the insensitivity shown by party leaders & the govt towards the sufferings of the farmers, their wives and children protesting against the three agrarian laws”.Centre indifferent towards farm stir, says SaamnaAmid the ongoing farmers’ protest, Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ on Saturday said that the Congress party has turned “feeble and disintegrated” and further suggested that all anti-BJP parties including the Sena should come together under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to provide a formidable alternative. Saamana added that those in power the Centre were indifferent towards the farmers’ agitation and added that instead of blaming the government, the main opposition party should introspect about its leadership issue.Two national highways closed due to stir; farmers yet to decide on sixth round of talksThe Delhi Traffic Police on Saturday said that two National Highways- NH9 and NH24 have been closed for traffic movement from Delhi to Ghaziabad as the farmers are continuing their protests against the central government’s agriculture reforms introduced in September. Delhi: Protesting farmers block main Delhi-Mohan Nagar road at UP Gate (Delhi-Ghaziabad border)."NH-9 & NH-24 closed from Delhi to Ghaziabad due to farmers' protests. People are advised to take alternate route for Ghaziabad via DND, ITO & Wazirabad," tweets Delhi Traffic Police pic.twitter.com/ntnh4J7CFqFarm reforms implemented in Madhya Pradesh, no confusion over it: CM ChouhanMadhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said that the farm reforms have been implemented in the state adding that there is no confusion over it. While speaking to news agency ANI, Chouhan added that training sessions will be organised on the laws in all the 313 blocks of the state so that they can learn how to benefit from them. Centre will have to listen to protesting farmers, says Rahul GandhiCongress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that the central government will have to listen to the farmers protesting against the new agriculture reforms. Gandhi shared a video of the protesters on Twitter and wrote, “ “Mitti ka kann kann goonj raha hai, sarkar ko sun na padega---The government will have to listen (to the farmers).” मिट्टी का कण-कण गूंज रहा है,सरकार को सुनना पड़ेगा। pic.twitter.com/yhwH6D8uWOI challenge Rahul Gandhi, DMK to debate over reforms: JavadekarUnion minister Prakash Javadekar hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and challenged him and the DMK for an open debate on whether the farm reforms introduced by the central government are in the interest of farmers or not. Gandhi on Thursday had called the agitation a ‘Satyagraha’ and urged people to support the farmers. Rahul Gandhi suddenly said you'll have to withdraw #farmlaws. I am giving him open challenge for a debate, whether the laws are good, in the interest of farmers or not. I am giving challenge to Rahul Gandhi & DMK to debate: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar in Chennai. (25.12) pic.twitter.com/QIbnVGgjcXCentre adopting a callous and insensitive attitude towards farmers: SADThe Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) targeted the Central government over the ongoing stir and accused it of adopting a “callous and insensitive attitude” towards farmers. Party president Sukhbir Singh Badal said the government should hold talks on ways and means to repeal the three farm laws in a “sincere manner.

Hindustan Times

27-12-2020

India