farm protest, farm law, minister meeting, CPCB, Pollution DeIhi, PM Modi, APMC

4 December 2020

• Farmers' refuse to stop protest till farm laws are repealed

  Farmer leaders have clearly stated that the agitation would continue till the farm laws are repealed, however, the government has softened its stance on some demands of the farmers.

  After a seven-hour long meeting on Thursday at Vigyan Bhawan, the representatives of farmer organisation said they don't want any amendments in the farm laws rather these laws should be withdrawn immediately. In addition to the three farm laws, they have also demanded the removal of a heavy penalty on pollution.

• Govt will consider the demands of farmers on APMCs, private markets

  Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the government will consider the demands of the farmers for level playing field between the APMCs and private markets or trade area outside the APMCs and other issues in the farm laws.

  He was interacting with reporters after the fourth round of talks between the Central government and representatives of farmers' organisations at Vigyan Bhawan here on Thursday. He said that the government is committed to protect the APMCs and consider the issues such as market fee, registration of traders so there should be similarity in the APMCs and trade areas outside the APMCs.

• India will start vaccination only after expert nod: PM seeks suggestions

  Addressing an all-party meeting on Covid vaccines delivery and distribution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that state governments' advice will be sought on the matter as to who all will get the inoculation first, and urged political leaders to write in their suggestions.

  "Experts believe that the vaccines will be ready in few weeks, and Indian scientist is very confident of developing them," Modi said. Public health will be a top priority for the government as pricing of the vaccines are concerned, he said adding that the vaccination process will start only after the experts give nod.

• Delhi's local pollution sources also need to be dealt with as per CPCB

  The Central Pollution Control Board on Friday said that open dumping of garbage; construction-demolition activity, unpaved roads, and re-suspension of road dust are the major local sources contributing to Delhi's air pollution at a time when the contribution of stubble burning to the crisis has plummeted to merely one per cent.

  This holds importance the air quality index of the national capital remains in the higher end of the 'very poor' category, at 380 microgrammes per cubic metre, even in the absence of stubble burning. This is due to emission from the local sources, along with unfavourable meteorological conditions.

• Prominent farmer leader Rajewal complains of chest pain

  Prominent farmer leader and Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) President Balbir Singh Rajewal, who has been holding talks with the Centre for repealing the farm laws, has complained of chest pain.

  Rajewal was among a group of more than 34 farmer leaders who put out a five-point set of demands that seek to frame a specific law on minimum support price (MSP) and end the punishment provision for stubble burning, during the fourth round of talks with the Central government in New Delhi on Thursday.

• Fruits & veggie prices show slight dip as arrivals improve in Delhi

  Despite the closure of several routes connecting Delhi, due to the farmers' protests, the arrival of fresh vegetables and fruits in the national capital has brought down their prices, although wholesale prices of potatoes registered a slight rise while onions have declined.

  Prices of all seasonal green vegetables including cabbage, spinach and peas have dropped, while off-season vegetables like okra, luffa, gourd have surged. The farmers' agitation protesting against the Centre's farm laws was launched on November 26.