New Delhi:
Talks between three union ministers and a representative group of thousands of agitated farmers yielded no resolution on Thursday as union leaders stuck to their demand for repeal of new farm laws and even rejected lunch, tea and water. that was offered to them. for almost eight hours of agitated parliamentarians.
For its part, the government assured the group of almost 40 peasant leaders that all their valid concerns would be addressed, but the other side pointed to several loopholes and deficiencies in the laws, which they said were hastily passed in September.
The Agriculture Ministry tweeted that farmers’ concerns were addressed by Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who led the government side of the talks.
Narendra Singh Tomar told reporters that the next meeting will take place on Saturday at 2 pm.
Here are the live updates on the farmers’ protests:
Traffic alert
The Gazipur border on NH 24 is closed to traffic from Gaziabad to Delhi due to protests from farmers. People are advised to avoid NH 24 to come to Delhi and to use Apsara / Bhopra / DND to come to Delhi.
– Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) December 4, 2020
The borders of Tikri, Jharoda are closed for any traffic movement.
Badusarai Border is open only to light motor vehicles such as cars and two-wheelers.
The Jhatikara border is open only for two-wheelers
– Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) December 4, 2020
Representatives of farmers’ organizations who are having a crucial meeting with the government, refused to share bread with the three participating Union ministers on Thursday. At lunchtime, the farmers said “no” to the food provided by the government and stuck to the langar, which was brought by a waiting truck. Images from inside Vigyan Bhawan, where the meeting is taking place, showed farmers’ representatives gathered at a long table for a hasty lunch. Some sat on the floor in a quiet corner.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that speculations about the mandi closure and the support price system are misleading and false and that farmers should not heed such speculations. Families who occupy an acre or two of farmland in the state for 50 years will receive pattas. Online arrangements will be made soon for all land-related records, the Chief Minister said.
Half of the farmers’ protest will end if the government guaranteed minimum price (MSP) becomes a right by law, Harsimrat Kaul Badal of Akali Dal said on Thursday, questioning: “What is wrong with giving people what are you asking for? ” . The government, he said, had missed the bus to solve the problem before it exploded and now, instead of “holding onto its ego,” it should “listen to the farmers and present a bill that is welcome by all.” Read here
Delhi: Members of the Civilian Welfare Charitable Trust distributed medicines to protesting farmers stationed at the Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana border), today.
“In an emergency, these drugs can be used by our brother farmers,” says a member of the trust. pic.twitter.com/Q6MjxCidIU
– ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2020
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