On Friday, the Bhartiya Kisan Morcha moved the Supreme Court against the Farm Laws.Farmers protest highlights: The agitation by the farmers against the Narendra Modi government’s Farm Laws 2020 entered its 17th day today. While the Centre has tried to placate the farmers with some tweaks in the existing Acts, the farmers are adamant on complete rollback of what they are terming as the ‘black laws’. Today, the demonstrators have vowed to ‘free up’ the toll plazas across the country. They have also said that the Delhi-Jaipur Highway will be completely blocked. In view of this, the Centre has deployed over 3,000 troops at the Delhi borders. Special arrangements have been done to ensure smooth working of the toll plazas.
On Friday, the Bhartiya Kisan Morcha moved the Supreme Court against the Farm Laws. The farmers say that the concession provided by the Centre are of no use. They say that the Modi government should have consulted them before formulating the laws. Many feel that the efforts by the Centre are only half-hearted. A Modi govt minister recently said that Pakistan was involved in instigating the farmers.
Highlights
Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni on Saturday said that trolleys coming from Punjab are being stopped. "We appeal government to allow farmers to reach Delhi. If the government doesn't accept our demands before 19th December, then we will start a fast from the martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur on the same date," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar holds a meet with farmers' leaders from Haryana at Krishi Bhawan, reports ANI.
Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Singh Chautala finally broke silence over his meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. He said that there will be a meeting between the farmers and the Centre and he hopes there will be a resolution in next 48 hours. On the ‘Khalistan’ element in the protest, Chautala said that there is no such thing everyone has a very ‘positive conduct’.
The farmers have announced that there will be a mega tractor march on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway tomorrow at 11 am. They said that they will block the highway.
Amid intense protests, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar today. Is something brewing?
While the Centre had said that it is ready to give written assurance on MSP, farmers say that it’s not enough. Talking to news agency ANI, farmer leader Dunga Singh said that the Centre should introduce MSP law and cover all produce such as milk, sugarcanes, grains and vegetables
Dozens of farmers were detained in different parts of this district on Saturday for trying to make toll plazas on highways toll-free as part of their stir against the Central agri laws, police said. A large number of protestors at Kurana village under Tappal police station have been taken into police custody and would be kept under detention till 11 pm, officials told PTI.
Love Kumar, Addl CP (Law & Order) says that the situation is normal on ground. He says that nobody has faced any issue since morning.
According to the latest updates, Singhu, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari and Mangesh borders have been shut down.
In a traffic advisory, the officials said that the commuters should avoid Outer Ring Road, GTK Road and National Highway-44.
Shiromani Akali Dal's Sukhbir Singh Badal has slammed the Modi govt and said that the Centre was trying the defame the farmers by calling them 'Khalistanis.' Badal also urged the prime minister to listen to the farmers.
While farmers have now started ‘freeing’ up toll plazas in Haryana and UP, Punjab toll plazas have not been able to collect the fee since October 1st. A PTI report said that the NHAI has been incurring a loss of Rs 3 crore daily due to non-collection of the toll.
Addressing the FICCI AGM, PM Narendra Modi once again tried to convince the farmers about the positive effects of the farm laws. He said that the interest of the farmers will be protected at all cost.
Farmers are protesting the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020.
The Congress on Saturday cited a media report to claim that 11 farmers had died in the last 17 days while protesting against the new agri laws, with former party chief Rahul Gandhi asking how many more sacrifices will farmers have to make to get the legislations repealed.
An Indian Express report says that massage centres and open-air gyms have started operating at protest sites at Delhi borders.
Former ace batsman Yuvraj Singh posted a special message for farmers on his birthday. He said that he wants a speedy resolution of the crisis. Distancing himself from what his father said, Singh signed off his birthday post with 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan! Jai Hind!'
News agency ANI tweeted clip showing the protesting farmers closing the Bastara toll plaza and asking the vehilces to go without paying the toll.
As part of the agitation, the farmers closed the Shambhu toll plaza in Haryana’s Ambala. The plaza has been made toll-free and the commuters are going without any obstruction.
The number of farmers is bound to increase as more and more farmers are leaving their homes to join the Delhi teams. Several farmers have begun their journey from Kurukshetra, an ANI tweet said.
Latest reports say that the police personnel are guarding the toll plazas at Delhi borders.
RLP leader Hanuman Beniwal has begun his protest march from Naguar, reports ANI.
Bharatiya Kisan Union' Rakesh Tikait says that he doesn’t have any knowledge about anti-national elements. He says in case the Centre has any information, it should arrest such people.