Farm Bill

The deadlock between farmers and government has been extended further as the eighth round of talks went inconclusive. While the government did not show any sign to revoke the laws, the farmer’s representative asked the leverage of states passing their own laws. Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said government can only consider if farmers give other option than repealing laws. Reportedly, the next round talks have been scheduled to January 15.… read-more

Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and six other US lawmakers have urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to deliberate on the ongoing farmers' protest with India. "Many Indian Americans are directly affected as they have family members, ancestral land in Punjab," they said in their letter to Pompeo, dated December 25. However, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava stated that many of the comments from foreign … read-more

Journalist P Sainath, whose name has been suggested by the Supreme Court for the panel to look upon the farmers' protests, said that the new laws are deeply flawed. Sainath has clarified that he will not be a part of the panel until the government answers a series of questions asked by him. Moreover, he has extended his support towards the farmers' demand for repealing the laws.

In a first casualty that can be linked to the ongoing farmers' protest, a Haryana-based Sikh priest shot himself on December 16. The priest, Sant Ram Singh, took this drastic step near Delhi's Singhu border and cited the farmers' misery as reason. "I'm unable to witness the pain of the farmers. I can't bear this sadness," he wrote in his suicide letter. He added that his suicide was a voice against the government's oppression.

Supporting the 'December 8 Bharat Bandh’ called by farmers, activist Anna Hazare has started a day-long hunger strike in his Ralegan Siddhi village in Maharashtra. Anna said the protests in Delhi should spread throughout the nation to create a pressure on the Centre. The 83-year-old also released a recorded message appreciating the farmers for the non-violent protests. Hazare said, “I had backed this cause earlier also, and will continue to… read-more