Farmers' Protest Highlights: Govt Wants To Bring UCC To Divert Attention From The Farmers Issue, Says Dimple Yadav
Farmers' Protest Highlights: Follow this space for the latest updates on Farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' March.
Fourth round of talks between leaders of farmer unions and Union ministers, being held in Chandigarh today. The meeting was being attended by Union Ministers Arjun Munda, Nityanand Rai and Piyush Goyal.
Previous meetings were held on February 8, 12, and 15, but they failed to yield a resolution.
Samajwadi leader Dimple Yadav voiced her concern regarding the ongoing farmers' protest. She said, "The government is using rubber bullets and tear gas against the farmers, who do not have the means to protect themselves. The government wants to introduce the UCC just to divert the public's attention from the farmers' issue."
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann reaches Chandigarh venue to join a meeting between Union ministers and farmer leaders.
Farmer leaders arrived at Mahatma Gandhi Institute in Sector 26 in Chandigarh, ahead of the meeting with Union Ministers.
Congress leader Harish Rawat expressed his view on the ongoing farmer's protest. He said, "Last time farmers were given assurance regarding MSP, now they are restless because the election is coming and no guarantee has been given and burden of debts are increasing on them. Inflation is also increasing and these are the reasons why they are protesting...Govt must find a solution to this."
On Farmers' 4th round of meet with central govt, former Haryana CM and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda asserted on finding a solution, stating, " I hope they can find a solution. Govt must take a decision on MSP..."
On the farmers' fourth round of talks with the central government, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed optimism, stating, "I hope a solution comes out."
#WATCH | On Farmers' 4th round of meeting with central govt, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal says, " I hope a solution comes out" pic.twitter.com/ubq7femzCu
— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2024
Farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ March: Visuals of security arrangements at Tikri border as farmers' protest continues.
Punjab: Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu says "...Farmer's MSP and income will be doubled, is there a bigger lie than this in the world?..."
"We have sent them our demands and a detailed discussion has been held on every issue during the three rounds of talks (between government and farmers). They (central government) now need to take a decision. The ball is in their court and the whole country is looking towards them," says farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher ahead of fourth round of talks between government and farmers.
As the farmers 'Delhi Chalo' protest entered Day 6 on Sunday, security was stepped up at the Singhu Border.
The Haryana government on Saturday extended the ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts by two more days till February 19 in the wake of the farmers' agitation. The affected districts are Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa. The government had earlier extended the suspension of mobile internet on February 13 and 15.
In the order, additional chief secretary of Haryana T V S N Prasad said, "After assessment of the current prevailing law and order situation in the state, the conditions are still critical and tense in the districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa," as quoted by news agency PTI.
Underlining that the Modi government is fully cognizant of farmers’ issues, Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar on Saturday said the ongoing talks between farmer leaders and the Centre will definitely lead to an "effective" redressal.
"I am sure demands and issues raised by our farmers are of very serious nature and their resolution is necessary through understanding and dialogue,” Jakhar said in a statement in Chandigarh, as quoted by PTI. Only a farmer knows the true essence of issues and challenges of today's agriculture, he added.
General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Sarvan Singh Pandher says, "It is our 6th day at the Shambhu border. Today we are also holding talks with the govt. The govt has asked for some time and said that it will discuss the matter with the union ministers and find a solution to it."
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher demanded on Saturday that the Centre bring an ordinance on giving a legal guarantee to Minimum Support Price (MSP), as reported by news agency PTI. The demand comes a day before the fourth round of talks between farm leaders and union ministers over their various demands. Union ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal, and Nityanand Rai and farmer leaders will meet on Sunday for the fourth round of talks.
MSP is a key demand of farmers currently camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri points of the Punjab-Haryana border.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Saturday announced that farmers will stage dharnas in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Uttarakhand on February 21 to press their demands, as reported by news agency PTI.
Speaking to reporters after attending a panchayat in Sisauli in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar, Tikait said a resolution was passed during the meeting asking the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) to launch a tractor march to Delhi in the last week of February if the government does not accept farmers' demands.
Besides a legal guarantee for MSP, the farmers are demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, and withdrawal of police cases, among others, PTI reported.
Union ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal, and Nityanand Rai are scheduled to convene with farmer leaders from Punjab on Sunday for the fourth round of discussions. Previous meetings on February 8, 12, and 15 failed to yield conclusive outcomes.
As farmers continued their protests on Delhi's borders, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh delivered a message of reassurance, stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi considers them as family members. Speaking at the BJP's national convention in the state-of-the-art Bharat Mandapam in the national capital, Singh emphasized the government's commitment to the welfare of farmers, asserting that the NDA government has undertaken more initiatives for the agricultural sector than any previous administration.
"A lot has been done over the last 10 years of this government in the interest of farmers. The highest input cost for farmers is the one that goes into purchasing and sourcing fertilisers. Across the world, today, a bag of urea is priced at Rs 3,000 but in our country, it is available at Rs 300 per bag. The budgetary allocation for the agricultural sector used to be Rs 25,000 crore before 2014. However, it has since been increased to Rs 1,25,000 crore. Nearly Rs 18 lakh crore has been received by farmers in the form of MSP in the last 10 years. Our government has given 2.5 per cent more MSP to the farmers. Also, till now, farmers have received Rs 2,80,000 crore under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. Under PM Safal Bima Yojana, they paid Rs 30 crore in premiums and successfully claimed Rs 1.5 lakh crore," Rajnath said.
Sarvan Singh Pandher, leader of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, expressed cautious optimism ahead of the farmer leaders' meeting with representatives of the central government. He emphasized the significance of Prime Minister Modi's role in addressing the farmers' demands, saying, “Entire country is looking towards PM Modi to gather up courage and take firm decision on MSP and loan interest waiver. We hope to get good news from tomorrow’s meeting. We haven’t yet taken back our decision to go to Delhi, but if the central government accepts our demands, the matter will be solved here itself. The ball is in the government’s court.”
Farmers Protest: In a powerful display of solidarity emerged as family members of the agitating farmers joined them at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border.
Speaking on the ongoing farmers protest, former Jammu and Kashmir CM Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "This is the second time a protest is happening. I would like to request the government to resolve it once and for all. This (protest) is not right for them (government), farmers' and citizens of Delhi."
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Saturday demanded that the Centre should bring an ordinance on giving a legal guarantee to MSP, a key demand of farmers currently camping at the Shambhu and the Khanauri points of the Punjab-Haryana border. The demand comes a day before the fourth round of talks between farm leaders and Union ministers over their various demands.
On the possible impact on prices of vegetables due to road blockages because of ongoing farmers' protests, a vegetable trader at New Delhi's Ghazipur mandi said, "There is no impact on the prices of vegetables currently. If protests continue and there are more road blockages, then the supply of vegetables from UP, Ganganagar, Pune etc may get affected leading to a possible hike in prices of some vegetables."
Protests were held in parts of western Uttar Pradesh on Friday to mark the 'Bharat Bandh' call given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha. "We are holding the protest for the demands, including implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report, loan waiver etc," Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait told reporters, as quoted by news agency PTI.
A Haryana police sub-inspector posted at the Shambhu border has died, an official said on Friday. Hira Lal, attached to the Haryana Railway Police, was deployed at the Shambhu border in view of an ongoing farmers' protest, a police spokesperson said, as reported by news agency PTI. The SI experienced a sudden decline in his health conditions while he was on duty, the spokesperson added.
Lal was promptly rushed to the Civil Hospital in Ambala, but despite efforts by medical personnel, he died, the spokesperson said.
The Sanyukta Kisan Morcha and the Tripura unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) on Friday called for protests in the state against the alleged security crackdown on agitating farmers amid their protests at various border points in the country, as reported by news agency ANI.
Amid the standoff between the protestors on the Punjab-Haryana, and Delhi-Ghaziabad borders, the Sanyukta United Kisan Morcha and CITU in Tripura condemned the alleged tear gas shelling and caning of farmers.
Background
Farmers' Protest Highlights: Hello and welcome to this space brought to you by ABP Live. Follow this space for the latest updates on Farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' March.
As the farmer protest at the Shambhu border enters the sixth day, Union ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal, and Nityanand Rai, along with leaders of farmer unions, will meet on Sunday for the fourth round of negotiations. The two sides previously met on February 8, 12, and 15, however, the discussions were ineffective.
On February 13, farmers from Punjab began their march to Delhi, but were halted by security troops at the Shambhu and Khanauri points on Punjab's Haryana border. The demonstrators have remained at the two border crossings since then. Aside from a legal guarantee for MSP, farmers are seeking implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm laborers, agricultural debt waivers, and the dismissal of police charges, among others.
A clash between farmers and Haryana Police broke out on Friday, the fourth day of the 'Delhi Chalo' march by farmers, organised by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. Haryana Police resorted to tear gas to disperse protesting farmers as they approached barricades at the Shambhu border near Ambala. The farmers seek acceptance of their demands, including a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
On Friday, commuters in Punjab experienced trouble as buses refrained from operations due to the 'Bharat Bandh.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) members staged protests at toll plazas in Haryana, preventing toll collection. Protests also occurred in parts of western Uttar Pradesh, with BKU leader Rakesh Tikait participating in a demonstration in Muzaffarnagar.
The bandh had minimal impact in Shahajahanpur, Budaun, and Meerut. Various farmer bodies, including Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal), Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dakunda), Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal), Bharatiya Kisan Union (Qadian), and Kirti Kisan Union, participated.
Following inconclusive talks between Union ministers and farmer leaders, a fresh confrontation unfolded. Both sides are set to reconvene on February 18 for the fourth round of discussions, after previous meetings on February 8, 12, and 15 failed to yield results.
Industry body PHDCCI said it apprehends severe hit to trade and industry and loss of employment in the northern states from a lingering farmers' agitation which would result in losses worth Rs 500 crore daily. A lingering agitation will cause Rs 500 crores economic loss daily and will have an impact on Q4 Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of northern states majorly Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, Sanjeev Agrawal, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry said.
Commuters in Punjab faced inconvenience on Friday as buses stayed off the roads in response to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha's call for a 'Bharat Bandh' to press the government to accept farmers' demands including a legal guarantee of MSP.Though there was a partial response to the bandh call in Haryana, markets and commercial establishments at several places in Punjab remained shut.
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