Farmers protest live updates: Union Home Minister Amit Shah meets Narendra Tomar as farmers threaten to intensify agitation

One lane of NH 8 from Delhi to Jaipur has been opened for traffic by the police. The road to Delhi from Jaipur remains closed.

Medha Patkar, Hanan Mola, Yogendra Yadav are addressing the farmers. Farmers hailing from Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Rajasthan have assembled at this session. 

Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Som Parkash meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah at latter's residence over farmers' issue.

Rajasthan: Security personnel put barricades near Jaisinghpur-Khera border (Rajasthan-Haryana).

Rajasthan: Security personnel put barricades near Jaisinghpur-Khera border (Rajasthan-Haryana).#FarmersProtest pic.twitter.com/Br4Q0XxmpI

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2020

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor joins protest being held by party MPs from Punjab at Jantar Mantar. He said, "My friends here are asking the Centre to settle the matter with the farmers' unions and also to have winter session which should have been held by third week of November."

On the Centre's stand that they will not repeal the law, he said, "So what! We never told that we will head back if they will not repeal the law. We will continue our march towards Delhi."

Farmers protesting near Jaisinghpur Kheda area in Rewari at the Rajasthan-Haryana border are waiting for more farmers to arrive, for their march towards Delhi. "Today more people and unions are coming from Rajashatan at the border area. After gathering the crowd we will move towards Delhi. Among other things, we want the three laws to be repealed. We are standing with the farmers of Punjab and Haryana. We don't have any separate demands. We are with our union leaders," said Banwari Lal from Jaipur, who is a Convener of Rashtriya Kisan Mahasabha. 

Thousands of farmers are currently staying put at Delhi's borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in protest against the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. They have expressed apprehension that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporations.

These protestors have gathered at the Noida border and want to proceed to Delhi to join the bigger stir called by farmers from Punjab and Haryana.

At Dalit Prerna Sthal in Noida, close to the Chilla border, another group of farmers belonging to the BKU (Lok Shakti) is staging a protest against the new laws. Some of the group members had on Saturday tonsured their heads and had earlier gone semi-naked during their protest.

The movement on the DND and the Kalindi Kunj routes, both connecting Delhi and Noida, was also normal, officials said. 

Officals said normal traffic resumed between Noida and Delhi via Chilla border after farmers vacated the spot they had been occupying since December 1 for their sit-in demonstration.

Delhi: Protesters opened the Chilla (Delhi-UP) border for traffic movement last night; visuals of vehicles from the area.

Delhi: Protesters opened the Chilla (Delhi-UP) border for traffic movement last night; visuals of vehicles from the area. pic.twitter.com/VmhGXdHsgM

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2020

Heavy police security deployment seen on NH-8. According to reports, heavy commercial vehicles can be seen plying on NH-8. 

State president of Kisan Union (Bhanu) Yogesh Pratap Singh, who is sitting on a hunger strike, said that mere dialogue won't solve the issue. He added that farmers' demand must reach Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Former soldiers have joined farmers protest against farm laws. Several Americans have also reportedly joined the protest.

The farmer said that those indulging in agreesive or violent protest are not farmers and are outsiders. 

A farmer said that they are protesting peacefully at Singhu border and have not indulged in any chaos. 

Bhartiya Kisan Union Bhanu' (BKUB) state president Yogesh Pratap Singh begins hunger strike in support for farmers protesting against the farm laws. He said he will sit on strike until the government withdraws the central farm laws. 

In an exclusive conversation with Zee News, Smriti Irani claimed that "Congress has been shedding crocodile tears. The party has always used poverty as a political weapon." 

Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani speaks on farmers protests. She says, "There was never any communicatio breakdown between the government and farmers. The government has assured that MSP process will continue. So far, 33 lakh farmers have been benefitted with these reforms."

BJP condemns defacing of Mahatma Gandhi statue in Washington by Khalistani supporters. 

Farmers protest at Singhu (Delhi-Haryana border) enters 18th day on Saturday. A protester says, "I reached here last night. More farmers are coming from Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana. 500 more trolleys will arrive here on 16th December."

Delhi: Farmers' protest at Singhu (Delhi-Haryana border) enters 18th day.

A protester says, "I reached here last night. More farmers are coming from Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana. 500 more trolleys will arrive here on 16th December." pic.twitter.com/O2DN4E7bz5

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2020

Farmers to begin tractor march at NH-8 at 11 am on Sunday. 

Amid protest against new farm laws, farmers open makeshift gym at Singhu border

Amid the protest against newly enacted farm laws, farmers at the Singhu border opened a gym and invite others as well to use the makeshift facility. "We have brought all the gym equipment and till the time central government does not agree on our demand, will do exercise at this location only," a farmer, Jaspreet Singh told ANI. He added that those who are interested in doing work out at the gym can also join.

Anti-Modi slogans raised by Khalistani supporters during a protest held in support of agitating farmers in Washington on Saturday.

Khalistan supporters vandalise Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Washington

Members of Khalistani separatists desecrated the statue of Mahatma Gandhi during a protest organised by Sikh-American youths on Saturday in support of farmers who are protesting against the recently enacted agri laws in India.

Hundreds of Sikhs from in and around Greater Washington DC area, Maryland and Virginia, along with many from other states like New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio and North Carolina, on Saturday carried out a car rally to the Indian Embassy in downtown Washington DC, where they gathered to express solidarity with the protesting farmers.