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While the country tackles a pandemic and farmers’ protests, all clear given to Central Vista project

Central Vista project

While India tackles the Covid19  pandemic and is witnessing the farmers protesting in the bone-chilling winter and rains, the central vista project gets clearance from the Supreme Court. While on one hand, the court laments about the burden of cases and PILs, on the other hand, the court does find time for clearing a project which would cost the public exchequer around Rs 11000 to 14000 crores as per estimates. Some estimates also state that the cost can shoot well above Rs 20000 crores.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday approved the Central Vista re-development project, in a 2:1 verdict. The apex court said in its judgment that the exercise of the power under the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) Act was valid. The court also stated that the recommendations of environmental clearance by the Ministry of Environment were proper.

The three-judge bench hearing the case comprised Justices Dinesh Maheshwar, A M Khanwilkar, and Sanjiv Khanna. Justice Khanna, who challenged the project, wrote, “Despite nationwide lockdown and objections, NOC was given to the project by the Central Vista Committee by way of a meeting held via video conferencing and without giving any reasons. The meeting was headed by ADG Works who has experience only in road maintenance,” as reported by Bar and Bench.

The SC was hearing a batch of petitions that questioned whether the project complied with land use and environmental regulations peculiar to the area which houses the Parliament and Central Secretariat buildings.

In November, the bench had reserved the verdict. On December 7, last year the top court had allowed the Centre to proceed with the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the Central Vista project on December 10 after the government assured it that no construction or demolition work would commence till the apex court decides the pending pleas on the issue. The Centre had told the bench that there would be only foundation stone-laying ceremony, and no construction, demolition or felling of trees would be done for the project as of now.

The Central Vista revamp, announced in September, 2019 envisages a new triangular Parliament building, with seating capacity for 900 to 1,200 MPs that is to be constructed by August, 2022 when the country will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day.

Defending the project, the Centre had told the Apex court that the existing Parliament building had many deficiencies, such as inadequacy of space, structural weaknesses, and security issues. GOI said that the Central Vista project will save the public exchequer Rs 1,000 crore that the Government currently pays as rent for many of its offices. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) had submitted that the current strength of the Lok Sabha has remained at 545 on delimitation carried out on the basis of the 1971 Census and that it is likely to increase substantially after 2026 when the cap ends. The GOI had submitted that the decision to have a new Parliament building has not been taken in haste and no law or norms have been violated in any manner for the project.

The government’s latest proposal for the redevelopment of Central Vista before an expert panel of the Ministry of Environment and Forest dropped the proposed new Prime Minister’s Office from the plan, while revising the estimated cost from ₹11,794 crore to ₹13,450 crore.

The Central Public Works Department’s proposal for terms of reference, which is a step before the application for environment clearance, was discussed by the MoEF Expert Appraisal Committee recently. A source said that the CPWD was given suggestions and asked to address the issues raised in representations from the public.

The CPWD on December 9 had submitted a proposal for TOR for the “development/redevelopment of Common Central Secretariat buildings and Central Conference Centre along with Prime Minister’s Residence, SPG Building, and Vice President’s Enclave,” with a total built-up area of 17,21,500 square metre and demolition of 4,58,820 sqm. This plan did not include the proposed PMO that was mentioned in an earlier version of the proposal submitted in November. It was said that there were issues of pending land-use change and litigation. The CPWD had first submitted a plan for the 10 secretariat buildings and conference centre and the TOR which was approved in October. Then, the CPWD applied for amending the TOR to include the PMO, PM’s residence, SPG building, and V-P’s Enclave, but the EAC in its meeting on November 25 returned the proposal. The EAC asked the agency to “refrain from piecemeal approach” and apply again with an “integrated approach,” according to the minutes of the meeting.

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Update on farmers’ protests- the seventh round of talks remained inconclusive- West Bengal government to pass anti-farm-bill resolution

The seventh round of talks between union leaders and Centre have ended without any breakthrough. The farmer-union leaders stuck to their demand of withdrawal of the farm-laws but the Centre proposed a panel to take the matter forward. Next round of talks will take place on January 8.

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that he remains hopeful of a solution in the next meeting on January 8, but asserted that efforts need to be made from both sides for a solution to be reached. The farm-laws allegedly have serious loopholes which can harm the farmers’ livelihood. The laws were passed in the middle of the pandemic in a parliament which had no question hour, which many suggest was to benefit the corporate lobbyists like Ambani and Adani groups who have significant operations in Agro-business and are looking forward to augment and strengthen them.

As per reports of PTI, the first hour of talks focused only on the three laws and the other key demand of farmers for a legal guarantee on the MSP procurement system did not come up for discussions. Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, who participated in the meeting, told that the first hour of discussion remained focused on the three laws.

Tikait asserted the strong conviction of the farmers that unless the three laws are repealed, the protests would not stop. Protesting farmers who have been camping at Delhi borders for the last 39 days braving bone-chilling cold and now rains have threatened to intensify their protest if their two major demands, the repeal of the three new farm laws and the legal backing for the minimum support price (MSP) are not accepted by the government.

West Bengal government to pass anti-farm-bill resolution

West Bengal Chief Minister has said that her government will pass anti-farmer bill resolution in the West Bengal Assembly. Earlier, Kerala Assembly too had passed a resolution against the farm laws.

Hardening their position ahead of the seventh round of talks with the government, protesting farmer unions had said that they will take out a tractor parade towards Delhi on January 26, when the country will celebrate Republic Day, if their demands are not met. Addressing a press conference, the union leaders had said that time has come for “decisive” action as their demands have not been addressed by the government yet.

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Update on farmers’ protests- Kerala CM  Pinarayi Vijayan moves resolution against farm laws- Rajasthan CM Gehlot criticizes Centre- Chilla, Ghazipur borders of Delhi remain closed

It has been more than a month that the farmers’ protests are going on at the Delhi-borders, with the sixth round of talks concluding on December 30. The farmers are protesting as there are glaring loopholes in the laws which will benefit the corporate lobbyists. The laws were passed in the middle of the pandemic in a parliament which had no question hour, which many suggest was to benefit the Ambani and Adani groups who have significant operations in Agro-business and are looking forward to augment and strengthen them.

In Kerala Assembly CM  Pinarayi Vijayan moves resolution against central farm laws

On Thursday Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan moved a resolution in the state’s assembly against the three farm reforms introduced by the central government in September. The resolution was moved in a one-hour special session convened only to discuss the farmers’ protest and express solidarity with them. The chief minister said, “The current situation makes it clear that if this agitation continues, it will seriously affect Kerala. There is no doubt that Kerala will starve if the supply of food items from other states stops.”

PM-Kisan benefit money rerouted by beneficiaries to support the farmers in the protests

Last week, when PM  transferred the first tranche of funds under the PM-Kisan Yojana directly to farmers’ accounts, little did he know that these very funds would be ploughed back to sustain the protests being held on the outskirts of New Delhi. On December 24, Rs 2000 each was directly credited to the accounts of 9 crore farmers. This was the first part of the Rs 6,000 annual package to be given to farmers under the Union Government’s mega-outreach plan.

A majority of villagers who received this money were quick to transfer it to the accounts of those protesting along Delhi’s borders.

Satbir Singh Sultani, general secretary, Punjab Kirti Kissan Union, led the way by donating Rs 2,000 to the community kitchen at Singhu and said, “We have enough funds to sustain ourselves. But then every bit counts.”

Sultani said that he had received reports that hundreds of villagers were donating money received under the Central Government scheme to ensure ration at the kitchens did not run out.

From the Dorangla village, located near the international border, Septuagenarian Hardyal Singh, said that he had transferred the money to his son’s account who is protesting in New Delhi.

“On the one hand, we are fighting a proxy war instigated by Pakistan, but on the other our own PM is waging a bigger war against us. We do not need his money. We have better ways to keep the agitation going,” he said.

Sehaj Pal Singh Randhawa, a law student hailing from Khunda village, near Dhariwal, said that he had been part of the Delhi protest for the past 15 days and was amazed at the farmers’ resolve to go in for a protracted battle.

Rajasthan CM Gehlot slams Centre over Farmers’ stir ‘Farmers forced to welcome New Year out on roads’

Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot castigated the Centre for not resolving the issues of farmers by saying that farmers were forced to welcome New Year out on the roads.

Gehlot tweeted, “It is sad that our farmer brothers and sisters, who are protesting would welcome New Year out on roads and away from homes. A sensitive, responsive government would never let this happen.”

As farmers’ protest enters Day 36, Chilla, Ghazipur borders of Delhi remain closed

The ongoing farmers’ protest entered Day 36 on Thursday. As farmers continue to camp at Delhi’s borders demanding a repeal of the three farm laws, the capital’s borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh remained closed at multiple points on Thursday. On Wednesday, a small breakthrough was achieved during talks with the government as Centre agreed to accept two demands of farmers.

The borders with Uttar Pradesh at Chilla and Ghazipur remained closed on Thursday for those coming from Noida and Ghaziabad.

Commuters coming into Delhi from Uttar Pradesh were advised to take routes passing through Anand Vihar, DND, Loni DND and Apsara borders which have remained mostly unaffected.

The traffic at these borders is also slow as police continues to check these border points for groups of protesting farmers who may try to enter the capital.

For borders shared between Delhi and Haryana, the routes passing through Singhu, Tikri, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari, and Saboli and Mangesh have continued to remain closed.

The traffic police said that they have been diverting traffic from Mukarba and GTK Road. Motorists can choose other border routes such as the Delhi-Gurgaon and Delhi-Faridabad stretches between the two states to travel on.

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Update on farmers’ protests: Next round of talks on Dec30-More farmers from Uttarakhand set to join the protests-more farmer-organizations are pooling in to join the protests

The farmers’ protests running for more than a month are gaining momentum day by day. Farmers from multiple states are gradually pooling at the borders of Delhi. Teams have been placed to promote the movement over social media with special people ensuring cyber-security of the live-streaming and the posts. Supports from various groups and different parts of the country (like doctors) have gathered for the farmers, cornering the central government into an increasingly uncomfortable and uneasy position. Here are some recent updates on the protests.

Farmers agreed for talks on December 30-criticize absence of agenda in letter of invite

Protesting farmer unions on Monday agreed “in-principle” to a government proposal of holding the next round of talks on the new agricultural laws on December 30. They said that the Centre should have spelt out the agenda of the meeting in its invite. “In our letter sent to the government on December 26, we had clearly mentioned that repeal of three farm laws and legal guarantee for MSP should be part of the agenda for fresh talks, but despite this, the government in letter today has not mentioned any specific agenda,” a leader of Samyukt Kisan Morcha said.

No stopping our movement, say the farmers of Uttarakhand

In Uttarakhand, the intensity of farmers’ protest against the three new farm laws is increasing with the protesters insisting that they will march to the borders of New Delhi to join protesters from other states. This comes after farmers from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and other organizations from MP involved in the wholesale market are joining the protests at the Delhi-border.

United Sikh Nagar farmers augmenting the protests

The intensity of the protest has increased especially in the US Nagar district which has a sizable number of Sikhs, many of whom are farmers. The farmers’ passion was evident on December 25 when more than 1,000 farmers heading towards the Delhi border clashed with a heavy police force that was deployed to stop them at Bazpur.  The farmers broke through the barricades on their tractor injuring some policemen. The videos and photographs of the incident made rounds on social media. Later the district police booked about 1,500 unidentified farmers on charges of rioting and stopping police from doing their duty. However, no arrests have been made so far. Many of the farmers who broke through the barricades eventually reached Ghazipur on Delhi’s eastern border where a large number of protesters have already pitched camp.

Farmers and Sikh organizations supporting them have now decided to join the agitating farmers near Delhi in larger numbers

Gurbaz Singh Virk said, “In no way we are going to stop our agitation against the farm laws. After a call by the farmer organizations to head Delhi on December 25, we did that by breaking the police barricades. Now, soon again a similar call is going to be given on which more number of farmers are going to head towards Delhi.”

Gurbaz Singh Virk is the US Nagar district president. United Sikh Federation is agitating with the farmers of the district at Ghazipur on Delhi’s border since December 25.  Virk said that the farmers have drawn a strategy on “how to gather more farmers from all over the state to head to Delhi.”

“We have divided all the 13 districts into sectors. From there the farmers would gather in US Nagar and prepare to head to the Delhi border while waiting for the next call of our leaders,” he said.

Gurinder Singh Sahni, another farmer from US Nagar agitating against the farm laws, expressed his anger against the government for deploying a large number of police to stop them.

Sahni stated and put forth a rhetoric, “First this government tried to threaten the farmers against the protest by filing a case. Then they deployed a significant police force at the state border with barricades to stop us. What does all this signify? Are we criminals?”

Lashing out at the BJP government in Uttarakhand, Sahni added, “When even the Supreme Court had said that the farmers should not be stopped from protesting then why is the government stopping us using the police? We are not going to stop our protest and soon head towards Delhi again.” Supreme court, in the face of criticisms of being indifferent  had stated that the protests can go on till they are peaceful.

Sahni stating about the Dasvand (10% contribution of produce to charity like Langar) in Sikhism, said that the Gurudwara management committees or Gurudwara prabandhak committees of the local gurudwaras in US Nagar have also extended their support to the protesting farmers.

Amid the ongoing protest by farmers, the Opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Uttarakhand have also put their weight behind the farmers to attack the ruling BJP.

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Update on farmers’ protests- Hazare threatens to launch hunger strike- Kejriwal challenged Union ministers to debate the laws with the protesting farmers

Anna Hazare threatens to launch hunger strike against the farm-laws and issues of farmers

Social activist Anna Hazare, who was a prominent face of India against corruption movement, has threatened to go on a hunger strike if his demands on issues concerning farmers are not met by the Union government by the end of January next year, and said that it would be his “last protest”. “India against corruption” movement had launched the political career of present CM of New Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal.

Hazare said that he had been holding protests for cultivators for the last three years, but the government has done nothing to resolve the issues.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal “challenged” any Union minister to debate the laws with the protesting farmers

On Sunday, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the Singhu border to interact with the protesting farmers and “challenged” any Union minister to debate the laws with the protesting farmers so that it becomes clear “how beneficial or harmful these laws are.” Kejriwal had earlier visited the Singhu border, which has emerged as the epicentre of the stir, on December 7.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi criticizes the indifferent BJP leaders over the Farm-laws

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Monday said that the government should listen to the farmers and take back the farm laws which have numerous flaws. “It is a sin to use the kind of words they are using for farmers. Government is answerable to farmers. Government should listen to them and take back the laws,” she tweeted.

Meanwhile, the PM, who has remained away from direct interaction with farmers clearly showing either lack of his grasp over the situation or fear of facing scathing criticisms from the farmers will flag off the 100th Kisan Rail from Sangola in Maharashtra to Shalimar in West Bengal.

On Sunday, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar described the farm unions’ decision to return to the negotiation table as a “good step” and expressed hope that a solution would be found to the stalemate over the new farm laws through discussions.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, meanwhile, reaffirmed that the Centre has no intention of scrapping the minimum support price (MSP) regime, and that no “mai ka lal (no one)” can take away land from the farmers. The next round of talks between the farmer-unions and the government is slated to be held tomorrow. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of 40 farm organizations, on Saturday wrote to the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, announcing the resumption of talks.

Farmer unions in Haryana announced that they would continue to allow toll-free movement of vehicles on highways until the Centre accepted their demands. In other news, Singhu and Ghazipur borders saw a noisy morning on Sunday, with the farmers banging thaalis during Prime Minister’s monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address. The man ki baat has witnessed an increasing number of dislikes over social media and YouTube, which shows gathering disenchantment and discontentment of people with the vacuous talks with no substance.

Congress MLAs protest against farm laws in Madhya Pradesh

Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh held a peaceful protest opposing the Centre’s new farm laws on Monday. Congress has alleged that the three-day assembly session was postponed fearing farmer-protests by the party.

The Assembly session, scheduled to begin today, was postponed after 60 officials and staffers, including five MLAs, tested positive for Covid19, officials said on Sunday.

Delhi’s borders with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, continue to stay closed

Protests against the Centre’s three contentious agricultural laws entered day 33 on Monday as the government and the farmers’ unions prepare for the sixth round of talks on Tuesday. The farmers’ unions had on Saturday accepted the government’s second proposal to hold the sixth round of talks at a date and time as per the unions’ convenience, having rejected an earlier invitation.  Delhi’s borders with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana continue to stay closed. The Ghazipur and Chilla borders with UP are closed for those coming from Noida and Ghaziabad.

(Source: PTI)

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Update on Farmers’ protests- Tikait receives threat-RLP quits NDA- MP Harinder Singh Khalsa quits BJP

It has been a month since farmers from Punjab and Haryana, and other states began their protest march to the national capital and camped near the capital seeking the removal of the three controversial farm laws passed by the central government in September. Groups of farmers from other states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu will be either joining the protests or have already joined.

The farmers have refused to hear any of the fake promises of the PM who has time and again tried to cajole the farmers (using religion wherever possible, like visiting Gurudwara) and avoiding direct talks. The PM has remained away from direct interaction which clearly shows either lack of his grasp over the situation or fear of facing scathing criticisms from the farmers.

Till now, five rounds of talks have been held between farmer groups and Union ministers which have remained inconclusive. The protesters had 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 meeting of farmer-groups was to be held on Saturday where a formal decision was to be taken on the invite for the resumption of talks. Activist Yogendra Yadav said that the farmers are ready to resume discussions from Tuesday, December 29.

The Centre has projected that the new laws will eliminate middlemen and will allow farmers to sell their produce across India. However, the farmers maintain that the laws and their loopholes would demolish the Minimum Support Price (MSP) policy and do away with the wholesale market system.

Bhartiya Kisan Union Spokesperson receives death threat

Rakesh 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 have forwarded the recording to the police captain. They will do what is needed to be done next,” he said.

MSP should be part of talks: Tikait

Farmer-leader Rakesh Tikait stated that modalities for repeal of the three farm laws, and legal guarantee for MSP should inevitably be part of agenda for talks with government.

RLP quits NDA over farm bills as stated by 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.

Former Lok Sabha MP Harinder Singh Khalsa quits BJP citing government’s negligence towards farmers

Former Lok Sabha MP Harinder Singh Khalsa resigned from BJP on Saturday citing  negligence of  government towards the farmers. He said that he is resigning “in protest against the insensitivity shown by party leaders & the government towards the sufferings of the farmers, their wives, and children protesting against the three agrarian laws”.

Saamna said, Centre indifferent towards farm stir

Amid 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 at 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.

(Source: PTI )

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Update on Farmers’ protests: members of BJP flee out of hotel to avoid wrath of farmers- protests range from breaking barricade to standing in metal chains

Farmers’ protests

The protests of farmers are growing stronger day by day with an increasing number of farmers pouring in from various states, like from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and Bihar.

Hotel picketed in Punjab

In Punjab’s Phagwara, a group of scared and cornered BJP leaders slipped out (ratted out) through the backdoor under police protection on Friday after farmers protesting the central government’s new agricultural laws picketed a hotel that they were holding an event in. Demonstrators from the Bharti Kisan Union (Doaba) protested at the hotel where the BJP leaders were observing the birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The protesters claimed that the hotel was owned by a BJP activist who also ran a company that supplied cattle and chicken feed. They said that they will boycott the company’s products. Led by the union’s vice president Kirpal Singh Mussapur, several demonstrators held a protest outside the hotel and surrounded the BJP leaders and workers who had managed to get inside before the farmers began their agitation.

The police also added that the protesters also did not allow several BJP activists, including Bharati Sharma, district president of BJP’s Mahila Wing, to go inside the hotel.

Those who had gone inside had to slip out one by one from the hotel’s backdoor under police protection to save themselves from the wrath of the protesters. They included BJP district and block presidents Rakesh Duggal and Paramjit Singh Pamma Chachoki and former mayor Arun Khosla.

Mr Mussapur alleged that the BJP leaders were conspiring against the farmers and working on propaganda. The protesters also raised slogans against the current central government and union minister Som Parkash who belongs to Phagwara.

Farmers drive tractors over barricade

Farmers protesting the central government’s Farm-laws clashed with the police in Uttarakhand’s Udham Singh Nagar district on Friday, with dramatic footage showing the demonstrators running a tractor over a barricade as dozens of policemen try to hold them back.

A video posted on Twitter showed a large crowd of protesters facing off with the police. A few protesters driving a green tractor charge at a barricade, running it down and forcing the policemen to finally get out of the way.

Farmer-unions indicate resumption of dialogue & to again meet on government’s fresh talks offer-SAD calls out the callous and insensitive attitude of GOI

Protesting union leaders alleged after PM’s speech that it was an attempt to ‘divide and mislead’ farmers. On Friday, the protesting farmer unions met to discuss the government’s latest letter inviting them for talks, with some of them indicating that they may resume their dialogue with the Centre to find a solution to the deadlock over the contentious agri-laws. The unions said that they will hold another meeting on Saturday where a formal decision on the Centre’s invitation is likely to be taken. An official in the Union ministry of agriculture and farmers’ welfare said that the government was expecting the next round of talks to take place in the next two-three days.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday said that the Centre should stop defaming farmers and hold talks with them on ways to repeal its contentious agriculture laws. The SAD president, in a statement, said that the central government is exhibiting a “callous and insensitive attitude” towards the suffering of farmers who are braving the severe cold wave conditions at Delhi borders. “It almost seems that the government wants to punish the farmers for raising their voice against the three agricultural marketing laws which were forced through in the last parliamentary session. This is the reason why the centre has adopted a policy which is aimed at tiring out the farmers,” the SAD leader said.

Kabil singh’s protests against slavery of farmers

Kabil Singh’s tall body was bound by heavy metal chains and his fists clenched all through from morning to evening for the last 18 days. He is a farmer from Fazilka in Punjab and he has been standing facing the main stage at the Singhu Border agitation site while portraying himself as the symbol of the “slavery” that the farmers have been fighting.

The metallic chain, a medium-sized lock and a few iron nuts and bolts attached to them weigh around 5.5 kilos, said the 42-year-old Kabil Singh. He said that he has been standing at the same place and in the same position from 7am to 7pm everyday for the last 18 days even as farmers and other visitors to the site flock to take selfies with him. “I will take this position until the black farm laws are repealed or until I drop dead,” said Singh, his fists still clenched.

He said that he decided to be the symbol of a silent bound farmer amidst the loud speeches being delivered in front of him from the stage located about 100 metres from him.

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After Maharashtra, farmers from Tamil Nadu are going to join the protests at Delhi- BKU welcomes the decision

farmers

On Tuesday, a delegation of Tamil Nadu Farmers Protection Association said that hundreds of farmers from Tamil Nadu were ready to join the protest at Delhi- borders if the central government did not roll back the three farm laws.

The leaders said that hundreds of farmers from the south Indian state have planned to drive to Delhi in tractors by next week, educating people about the lapses and harms of the new farm bills on their way to join the movement in Delhi.

The 12-member delegation from Coimbatore that had come to visit the farmer-groups who have been camping at Singhu border since November 27, said that the farmers’ demands are legitimate and the central government cannot turn a deaf ear towards them.

Nalla Gounder, coordinator of the Tamil Nadu Farmers Protection Association said, that in Tamil Nadu also,  there were protests against the bills in small groups.

“Since the protest in Delhi by our farmer brothers from Haryana and Punjab is growing stronger, we want to add to the number and boost their morale. I am myself a farmer and we are well aware of the harms of the new bills. We support the demand for it to be repealed. If the government continues to act deaf towards our demands, hundreds of farmers from Tamil Nadu are ready to fuel the ongoing protest,” Gounder said.

The coordinator said that 200 farmers had booked train tickets to come to Delhi but they were stopped by the state government. He also added, “12 of us have come today by air and we ensure more our men will join in days to come.” Easan, another farmer leader who had come to Delhi from Tirupur in Tamil Nadu, said that at least 100 tractors are ready to start moving towards Delhi by next week. “On our way to the Capital by road we will spread awareness about the dangers of the new farm laws. Each tractor will have at least 10-12 farmers,” Easan said.

Welcoming the support, Harinder Singh Lakhowal, general secretary, Bharatiya Kisan Union, Ludhiana said that they were delighted to see farmers from other states coming out in support.

Lakhowal also said, “A major protest against the bill was also organized today in Maharashtra. They even contacted us and assured us of their physical presence if need be. We are delighted to have witnessed such a massive response to our movement that will benefit farmers in the India regardless of which state they come from.”

On an overall basis, the farmers’ agitation had remained peaceful on Tuesday as it completed its 27th day. The farmers at the Singhu border spent their day mostly delivering speeches from the central stage, raising anti-farm law slogans, singing songs, raising banners, cooking and distributing langars.

Senior police officers also said that their deployment at the border remained as usual. A senior police officer from Singhu border said, “The protest remained peaceful on Tuesday with no untoward incident reported from any part of the Delhi’s borders where the farmers have been camping since last month. We maintained our deployment of the security personnel and the situation is being closely monitored.”

With regards to the farmers’ protests, a Congress delegation led by Rahul Gandhi would meet  the President on December 24 to submit around two crore signatures collected from across India.

A relay hunger strike has begun as farmers harden their stance amid protests that began late November around Delhi borders. After five rounds of negotiations failed, the government had asked the protesting farmers to choose a date for the next round of talks. The relay hunger strike is the third major national event staged by the farmers after a countrywide shutdown earlier this month, which was backed by opposition parties and trade unions, and last week’s hunger strike by farmer leaders.

Farmer groups have also appealed to those in Bihar and other states to join the agitation to further pressurize the government to repeal the three contentious farm laws. Meanwhile, thousands of farmers have started off from Maharashtra to join the protest at Delhi borders where farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh have been camping for weeks. Shiromani Akali Dal, a former NDA ally, has demanded an emergency Parliament session to annul the new laws. The LDF government in Kerala has decided to convene a special session on Wednesday to pass a resolution against the farm laws.

As the farmers from Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra are gathering to support the protests, the GOI is getting gradually cornered over the contentious farm laws.

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Haryana Deputy CM Chautala recently met Agriculture minister N S Tomar & is in a tight spot due to farmers’ protests

farmers’ protests

Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana, Dushyant Chautala is currently in a tight spot due to the farmer’s protests. There are hints that the alliance between his party-JJP and CM Khattar’s BJP might be broken due to the farmers’ protests. Chautala met Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Saturday regarding the farm laws, which are with major loopholes and have stirred protest across the country. During the meeting, Chautala asserted that minimum support price (MSP), among the key demands of agitating farmers against the farm laws, will be ensured to each farmer as long as they are a part of the state government. He has also met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi a day after the former announced that he will resign from his post in the Haryana government if he is unable to ensure minimum support price (MSP) for the procurement of farmers’ crops.

Chautala also said that he is hopeful that the next round of talks between the Centre and the farmers will be held “in the next 24 to 48 hours” and will lead to a conclusive result.  The meeting comes as farmers have intensified their agitation against the three farm-laws enacted in September. On Saturday, farmers blocked Delhi-Agra and Jaipur highways and held demonstrations at various places.

While the government has assured the farmers over MSP, the agitating farmers are demanding an act for the scheme instead of a “written guarantee,” promised by the Union agriculture minister earlier. Dungar Singh, a farm leader from Uttar Pradesh, said, “We want MSP of all our produce including potatoes, sugarcane, grains, vegetables, and milk. We do not want this guarantee in written form but we want a law for MSP now.”

Meanwhile, farmers announced that they will hold a hunger strike on December 14 as they gave a call for nationwide agitation. They also announced to take out a tractor march on Sunday from Shahjahanpur in Rajasthan and said that they will block the Jaipur-Delhi main road.

The BJP holds power in Haryana with its 40 seats out of the 90-seat Haryana Assembly, and the support of 10 JJP MLAs and five independent MLAs. Congress, on the other hand, has 31 seats. This development of Chautala’s meetings comes when thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, are protesting at the gates of the national capital against the three recent farm-laws passed by the Central government with support pouring from all quarters.

The farmer-leaders are engaging with a delegation of the Central government in several rounds of talks to resolve their differences; however, all the meetings have remained inconclusive so far.

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Farmers’ protests get emboldened with provisions like free fuel and support from around the world

In an effort to strengthen the farmers’ protests which entered its 14th day on Wednesday, leaders, and workers of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) began giving free fuel at a petrol pump at Delhi-Amritsar national highway to support more and more farmers approaching towards Delhi.

Gursharan Singh, a SAD worker said, “We have started this to encourage more and more people of Punjab to join the agitation and further strengthen it. We are doing this with the help of the local youth and our NRI friends.”

A day after Bharat Bandh on December 8, the protest seems  to have gotten more strengthened  as the late-night talk between the farmers’ union leaders and  the Home Minister offered no way out of the ongoing impasse. Meanwhile, traffic in, around, and out of the Capital remained congested as Singhu, Auchandi, Piao, Mangesh borders remain closed.

The farmers are prepared to be on the road unless their demands are met. They have set up a langar at Singhu border. The farmers have come with ration, cylinders, stoves, and other necessities.   DJ system has also been placed to keep up the spirits. Arrangements of WiFi, tractors with amenities, air-conditioning are also there. A protester said that if the protest goes on till May, June, the farmers and their leaders can conduct the meetings in the tractors.

On Wednesday as the GOI sent a new proposal, including the assurance of minimum support price, change in the APMC act, tax on private players among others, the protesting farmers hardened their stance and said that if the government is stubborn to not withdraw the laws, then the farmers are stubborn too to carry on with their protests.

Bharatiya Kisan Union national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said, “Farmers would not go back. It is a matter of their respect. Will government now withdraw laws? Will there be tyranny? If the government is stubborn, then so are farmers. Laws have to be withdrawn.”

Rakesh Tikait also indicated that there is no thaw in the ongoing stalemate, which has laid siege to the Capital.

The Farmers are getting more determined to hold up the protests as more support pour in from abroad. More members of the US House of Representatives have come out in support of the agitating farmers here. From California, a Democrat, and Republican Congressmen have backed the farmers.

Republican Congressmen Doug LaMalfa, representing the second-largest district in California, said that he stood in solidarity with the Punjabi farmers protesting for their livelihoods and protection from “misguided, manipulative government regulations”. They must be allowed to protest peacefully against their government without fear of violence, he demanded. Joshua Keck Harder, another US Representative from California and a Democrat, wanted the Indian government to uphold the right to peaceful demonstration and ensure their citizens’ safety.

The author is a student member of Amity centre of Happiness