More than 3 lakh farmers submit letters in support of farm laws to Agriculture Minister

The farmers’ protest against the three farm laws has entered its 28th day on Wednesday.

New Delhi: The farmers’ protest against the three contentious farm laws entered the 28th day on Wednesday (December 23, 2020) as talks between the Centre and the farmers union leaders yet again fail to produce any result.

On Sunday, the Joint Secretary in the Union Agriculture Ministry in a letter asked the protesting farmer leaders to specify their concerns over its earlier proposal of amendments in the farm laws. He also asked them to choose a convenient date for the next round of talks so that the ongoing agitation could end at the earliest.

The agitating farmer union leaders said on Tuesday that they will take a call on Centre's letter on Wednesday.

The farmers have decided to further intensify the movement against new farm laws and said that the Haryana's toll plazas will be made free from December 25 to December 27.

The farmers have hinted that they will not accept anything other than complete rollback of the three laws. The farmers’ agitation is against the three contentious farm laws passed by the Centre back in September.

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24 December 2020

00:00 IST

19:39 IST

Swaraj India's Yogendra Yadav reading United Farmers' Front's new letter addressed to Centre: We want to assure Centre that protesting farmers and unions are ready for a discussion with goverment. We're waiting for government to take the discussion forward with an open mind and neat intention.

Govt is constantly holding talks with so-called Farmers' leaders & organisations, who're not associated with our movement at all. This is an attempt to break our movement. Govt is dealing with protesting farmers, the way it deals with its opposition: Yogendra Yadav, Swaraj India https://t.co/ZQCXUQWpbc pic.twitter.com/Hwz7iRnrQk

— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2020

19:36 IST

Yogendra Yadav, Swaraj India: United Farmers Front today has written a letter to govt. It states that govt shouldn't question the letter written by United Farmers' Front previously as it was a unanimous decision. Govt's new letter is a fresh attempt to defame the farmers' association. We urge the govt not to repeat those meaningless amendments which we have rejected but come up with a concrete proposal in writing so that it can be made an agenda, and the process of negotiation can be started as soon as possible. Govt is constantly holding talks with so-called Farmers' leaders & organisations, who're not associated with our movement at all. This is an attempt to break our movement. Govt is dealing with protesting farmers, the way it deals with its opposition.

19:35 IST

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar: On December 25, over 9 crore farmers will receive Rs 18,000 crores in their accounts as part of PM Kisan Saman Nidhi Yojna. PM Narendra Modi will be the Chief Guest. By last evening, 2 crores farmers have registered themselves for this online event.

On 25th December, 9 crore farmers will receive Rs 18000 crores in their accounts as part of PM Kisan Saman Nidhi Yojna. PM will be the Chief Guest. By last evening, 2 crores farmers have registered themselves for this online event: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar pic.twitter.com/T2bIO9veyx

— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2020

19:31 IST

Shiv Kumar Kakka, National President, Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh: We urge the government to create a conducive atmosphere for a fruitful dialogue. Even the Supreme Court has said that suspend implementation of farm laws. This will lead to a better environment to hold talks.

We urge the government to create a conducive atmosphere for a fruitful dialogue. Even the Supreme Court has said that suspend implementation of farm laws. This will lead to a better environment to hold talks: Shiv Kumar Kakka, National President,Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh pic.twitter.com/XuBOhUG2qE

— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2020

19:28 IST

Yudhvir Singh, Bhartiya Kisan Union: The way Centre is carrying this process of talks, it's clear that the government wants to delay this issue and break the morale of protesting farmers. Government is taking our issues lightly, I'm warning them to take cognizance of this matter and find a solution soon.

The way Centre is carrying this process of talks, it's clear that govt wants to delay this issue & break morale of protesting farmers'. Govt is taking our issues lightly, I'm warning them to take cognizance of this matter & find a solution soon:Yudhvir Singh, Bhartiya Kisan Union https://t.co/JkkfhdMArC pic.twitter.com/AgD9uIIGid

— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2020

19:27 IST

14:45 IST

Addressing a demonstration by farmers` organisations here, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said the state is standing in solidarity with agitating farmers because if food scarcity hits the country, its maximum impact will be on the consumer. "Kerala stands in solidarity with agitating farmers. The protest is gaining public support day by day. The Centre should listen to reasonable demands of the farmers and scrap the farm laws," he said. "Many people are asking what Kerala has to do with it. If food scarcity hits the country, its maximum impact will be on Kerala, a consumer state. That is why Kerala will also be part of this protest," the Chief Minister added. (ANI)

14:43 IST

Amid the ongoing farmers agitation along Delhi`s borders, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Kailash Choudhary, said that farmers from Kashmir to Kanyakumari are in favour of the new Union farm laws. However, farmers from certain regions have fallen into the trap of the opposition parties which are instigating them.

The Minister said that the people camping at the borders of the national capital do not represent the farmers of the entire country, but they instead include people indulging in politics in the guise of protesting farmers. He said the majority of the farmers have come out in support of the agrarian reforms. (IANS)

14:16 IST

Nearly 3,15,000 farmers from 20 states signed and submitted their letters in support of the three agricultural laws to the Agriculture Minister. 

11:32 IST

The Chilla and Gazipur borders have been closed for traffic coming from Noida and Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests, say Delhi Traffic Police.

10:12 IST

The United Kisan Morcha has formed a committee of five members to decide on Centre's that the proposal for talks.  

This committee of five member farmer leaders will prepare a draft regarding the proposal of the government and this draft will be put in front of 40 farmer leaders during a meeting. 

The meeting of the United Kisan Morcha will be held at 2:00 pm today. In this meeting, it will be decided whether there should be a dialogue with the government and if there is a framework for that.

10:01 IST

BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said, "Dialogue is the solution, we also know this, we are waiting for the talks to resume! Unfortunately the farmer is agitating on the roads on Farmers Day."

07:54 IST

On Tuesday, the 27th day of their protest, the farmer leaders discussed their next plan of action after the Centre issued a letter to them seeking a date for the sixth round of talks to end the ongoing strike against the farm laws and resolve all issues pertaining to the MSP. There will be a ''Sanyukt Morcha'' meeting to decide how and when to respond to the government. We will evaluate the government's letter and then decide," Gurmeet Singh,  farmer union leader, said.

07:49 IST

The agitating farmer union leaders said on Tuesday that they will take a call on Centre's letter on Wednesday. "32 farmer unions from Punjab held a meeting and discussed the next course of action. A meeting of farmer leaders from across India would be held on Wednesday where a decision on the government's offer will be taken," Kulwant Singh Sandhu, a farmer leader, said during a press conference at Delhi's Singhu Border.