Farmers protest live updates: Govt to soon hold next round of talks with protesting farmers to end stalemate, says Union minister

Amid the prevailing deadlock between farmers and the central government over the new farm laws, Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Som Parkash met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the latter's residence on Sunday. Meanwhile, the farmers' agitation in and around Delhi entered its 18th day on Sunday, with farmers threatening to block the Delhi-Jaipur highway. On December 11, the government had sent a proposal to the protesting farmers with some possible amendments in the laws. However, the farmers had rejected the government's proposal and demanded the repealing of laws. They said they will intensify the agitation if the laws are not repealed.

Alleging that the Central government is working in favour of the corporate sector, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait on Sunday reiterated that farmers will not end the agitation till the three recently passed agriculture sector laws are repealed.

Thousands of farmers under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), led by its Punjab president Satnam Singh Pannu and general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher, reached Delhi on Sunday, breaking through a checkpoint near Kundli border. As per the KMSC, the convoy was so large that it could not be controlled even with eight loudspeaker vehicles of Delhi police, which also had to remove a second checkpoint one kilometer behind the Kundli border.

(ANI)

Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna on Saturday hoped for a peaceful and fair solution to the farmers' issues in India, saying he is encouraged by the ongoing dialogue between the protesting farmers and the government. Khanna, 44, was recently elected for a third consecutive term from the congressional district representing Silicon Valley.

Punjab Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) Lakhminder Singh Jakhar on Sunday said he has resigned from service in support of farmers protesting against three new farm laws. Jakhar said he tendered his resignation to the state government on Saturday. Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and other areas have stayed put at various Delhi border points, protesting against the new farm laws, which they fear will dismantle the minimum support price system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporates.

Singhu border, the first key farmers' agitation site, on Delhi-Chandigarh route has turned into a commanding centre of farmers' demonstration in the national capital during the last 17 days with making future strategy for the sit-in and selecting representatives to hold discussion with government in resolving their issues that erupted after three farm laws were enacted three months ago by the Parliament. The peaceful protest that involves thousands of farmers mainly from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh is being centrally monitored by a group of farmers' representatives belonging to over 40 farmer unions of different states and towns who have been camping at Singhu since November 26.