Farmers Protest in Delhi: Farmers have been demonstrating since late last month over the new farm bills

New Delhi:

As the protest by the farmers, camping at the Delhi borders, against the Centre's agricultural reforms has entered its sixteenth day today, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has urged union leaders to consider the proposals and said he is ready for further discussions with them.

"The government is ready to consider with an open mind any provision in the new laws where farmers have any issues and we want to clarify all their apprehensions," Mr Tomar said.

Farmer groups on Wednesday turned down the centre's written offer of amendments in farm laws, and announced a series of plans to escalate their protest.

Meanwhile, farmers have also announced that they will block railway tracks if their demands are fulfilled by the government.

The farmer unions, which held a meeting on Thursday, said they will soon announce a date for blocking tracks across the country.

"We will block railway tracks if our demands are not met. We will decide on the date and announce it soon. The blocking of tracks will not be limited to Haryana and Punjab but it will be done across the country," farmer leader Boota Singh said at the press conference.

Here are the live updates on farmers' protests:

Dec 11, 2020 10:14 (IST)

Members of Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee begin their journey to Delhi to join the ongoing farmers protest against the new agriculture laws


"Around 700 tractor trolleys are moving towards Delhi's Kundli border," says SS Pandher, Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committe.

Dec 11, 2020 09:52 (IST)

"Jan Andolan" If Farmers' Demands Not Met: Anna Hazare

Social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday extended his support to farmer protests and warned the Central government that he would begin a "Jan Andolan" if farmers' demands remain unaddressed.


"The then Congress government was left shaken during the time of ''Lokpal Andolan''. I see these farmer protests issue along the same lines. On the day of Bharat Bandh, I had organised an andolan in my village in Ralegan-Siddhi. I had fasted for a day in support of farmers," said Mr Hazare.


"If the government does not accept the demands of the farmers, I will once again sit for a ''Jan Andolan'' that will be similar to the Lokpal agitation," he warned.


Over the past few months, thousands of farmers have been protesting against three new agricultural laws, which they feel could be exploited by the private sector to buy their crops at lower prices.