More than 850 academics sign an open letter in support of agricultural laws

Farmers have threatened to intensify their agitation on January 4. (Archive)

New Delhi:

More than 850 faculty members from various educational institutions across the country have come forward with a signature campaign in support of three controversial farm laws, against which thousands of farmers have protested on the borders of the national capital for more than a month. .

So far six rounds of talks have been held between the Union government and the farmers’ unions. Although a consensus was reached on issues related to the environment and the Electricity Law, the stagnation continued in the two main demands, the legal guarantee on the Minimum Price of Livelihood (MSP) and the complete reversal of the three agricultural laws . The next round of talks will take place on January 4.

Farmers have threatened to escalate their agitation if the government does not reach a solution on January 4.

Here are the live updates on the farmers’ protests in India:

Farmer dies by suicide in Madhya Pradesh, leaves note addressed to PM

A 35-year-old farmer committed suicide over alleged harassment by an electricity distribution company in a Chhatarpur village in Madhya Pradesh. In a note left behind by farmer Munendra Rajput, he asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hand over his body to the government to “sell every part of my body and pay the dues.”

Members of his family have alleged that officials from the energy distribution company (discom) confiscated his flour mill and motorcycle for an electricity quota of Rs 87,000 amid the pandemic. (Read the full story here)

West Bengal: Activists from the Center for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) protest in Siliguri in solidarity with farmers against agricultural laws (1.1.21)

“We oppose the policies of the BJP government. The way the bills were passed has set a dangerous precedent. We will continue to fight for farmers,” says one protester. pic.twitter.com/eJotAku96s

– ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2021

Farmers warn of concentration of tractors if demands are not met in talks on January 4

Protesting farmers will intensify their agitation on Delhi’s borders if the center rejects their demands to repeal the three farm laws and give the guaranteed minimum price of living legal status in the next round of talks, scheduled for January 4, politician Yogendra Yadav, speaking on behalf of the farmers’ unions, reported on Friday.

The decision was made on Friday at a meeting of the joint front of 40 farmers’ unions that has been leading the protests. (Read the full story here)

So far, six rounds of talks have taken place between the center and the farmers’ unions
So far six rounds of talks have been held between the Union government and the farmers’ unions. Although a consensus was reached on issues related to the environment and the Electricity Law, the stagnation continued in the two main demands, the legal guarantee on the Minimum Price of Livelihood (MSP) and the complete reversal of the three agricultural laws . The next round of talks will take place on January 4.

More than 850 faculty members from various educational institutions across the country have come forward with a signature campaign in support of three controversial farm laws, against which thousands of farmers have protested on the borders of the national capital for more than a month. .