Bharat Bandh live updates: No talks between govt & farmers on Wednesday, says farmer leader after meeting with Shah

Farmers continue to camp at Singhu border (Haryana-Delhi border) to protest against the farm laws

The meeting was positive. The govt will give a proposal to farmer leaders which will be discussed. We want withdrawal of the three farm bills but govt wants amendments in the bills: Rakesh Tikait, Spokesperson, Bhartiya Kisan Union after meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah

Congress on Tuesday accused BJP of misrepresenting its election promise on APMCs as it demanded that the government hold a Parliament session to repeal the contentious farm laws and discuss agri reforms.

The Bharat bandh called on Tuesday in support of farmers got a lukewarm response across the country, with reports of disruptions of normal life from only a few states like Telangana, Andhra and Odisha. ​​​While there were no reports of violence in Punjab, movement of vehicles, including buses, was affected due to closure of roads at various places by farmers.

Union minister Piyush Goyal seeks help of chartered accountants to help farmers understand Centre's reforms

Union commerce and food minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday urged chartered accountants to make farmers understand the benefits of the legislative reforms undertaken by the Centre. Goyal said the government was ready to address the fears expressed by some sections of farmers and said that new doors were being opened for them which would exponentially increase their income.

A five-member delegation of political leaders comprising Congress’s Rahul Gandhi, NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar, Left’s Sitaram Yechury and D Raja and DMK MP T K S Elangovan will meet President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday evening to seek his intervention in resolving the impasse between the government and farmers protesting against the new agri laws.

All 13 unions at meeting with Shah demanded repeal of laws, we'll decide on next round of talks after consulting others: Hannan Mollah

Amit Shah told us govt will give in writing amendments it is willing to make; we want repeal of laws, there is no middle path: Hannan Mollah

Tomorrow we will hold a meeting at Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana border) at 12 pm: Hannan Mollah, general secretary, All India Kisan Sabha

The government is not ready to take back the farm laws: Hannan Mollah

Bandh near total in Punjab, farmers also block highways in Haryana

Farmers blocked highways, at places parking their tractors in the middle of the road, and traders downed shutters in Punjab and Haryana during the Bharat Bandh Tuesday over the new farm laws. The bandh was near total in Congress-run Punjab where farmers also squatted on railway tracks, disrupting train services on two sections for a few hours. In neighbouring Haryana, where a BJP-led government is in power, the response to the bandh called by farmer unions and supported by several non-BJP parties was mixed.

A day before the government's crucial sixth round of talks with representatives of protesting farmers, home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday met a select group of union leaders in a bid to break the deadlock. Sources said 13 farmer leaders were called for the meeting, which began after 8 pm. The farmer leaders included eight from Punjab and five from various nationwide organisations.

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said that the five-member delegation - Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, a representative of the DMK, CPI general secretary D Raja and he - will meet the President tomorrow at 5 pm on behalf of the opposition parties.

Some farmer leaderss decline to meet Amit Shah at his residence

Confusion prevailed among farm organisations about the venue of the proposed meeting with Amit Shah this evening. Some farmer leaders declined to go to Shah's residence for the meeting, and accordingly the venue for the meeting was changed.

5-member Oppn delegation to meet President on farm bills on Wednesday

The nationwide shutdown was observed in around 10,000 places in 25 states, claimed Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav. Emergency services were exempted and banks, too, continued operations as the pan-India shutdown, backed by most opposition parties and trade unions, rolled out noisily but peacefully with its impact felt in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, the epicentre of the snowballing protests, as well as in states such as Odisha, Maharashtra, Bihar and Jharkhand.

'Tomar assures MSP to Haryana farmers', says Khattar after meeting minister

Taking to Twitter, the Haryana CM said, "For our government, the interest of Haryana's Annadata has always been important and will always be. Regarding farmers' issues today I met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. He has assured over Minimum Support Price and said "MSP pr kbhi aach nhi aayege."

Chhattisgarh CM Baghel demands convening a special session of Parliament for repealing the three controversial farm laws