FARMER UNIONS BEGIN TALKS WITH CENTRE; SAY NO TO PANEL, AGREE TO REVERT WITH

OBJECTIONS

Moving to resolve the standoff with farmers protesting at the gates of Delhi

against newly enacted farm laws, the Centre opened talks Tuesday with farmer

representatives who, while not warming up to its suggestion of forming a

committee to look into their demands, agreed to continue the dialogue.

Following the meeting that lasted three-and-half hours in Vigyan Bhavan in

New Delhi, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who led the

talks with the farmers, told reporters: "The meeting was good, and we have

decided to hold the next round of talks on December 3. We wanted a small

group to be constituted, but the farmer leaders wanted the talks to be held

with everyone. We do not have a problem with it."

It is learnt that the ministers conveyed to union representatives that it

would be difficult to hold talks with 35 people, so they should provide

names of 5-10 people with whom discussions could be held. But this was not

acceptable to the representatives.

Tomar, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State (Commerce and

Industry) Som Prakash spoke to representatives of 35 farmer unions who have

been camping for the last six days at Delhi's borders.

Later, Tomar also met western UP farmer leaders, including BKU leader Rakesh

Tikait, at Krishi Bhavan. These farmer leaders were not present at the

Vigyan Bhawan meeting. "Tikait from the BKU called me. They also work for

farmers. They came here and discussed issues regarding the Acts and other

needs of the agriculture sector. We asked them to give us their issues in

writing. We will also consider these," Tomar said.

Following the meeting at Vigyan Bhavan, farmer leaders expressed the hope

that their demands would be considered and the issues resolved soon. The

Ministry of Agriculture, in a statement, said, "Various issues related to

Farm Reform Acts were discussed at length and talks were held in a cordial

atmosphere."

"During the interaction, it has been suggested by the Government to the

representatives of Farmers Union to identify the specific issues related to

Farm Reform Acts and share with the Government on 02.12.2020 for

consideration. These issues will be discussed during the fourth round of

meeting to be held on 03.12.2020," the Ministry said - two rounds of talks

were held before the farmers from Punjab and Haryana showed up on the

borders of Delhi, and the talks Tuesday was the third round. "It was assured

that the Government of India is always committed to protect the interest of

farmers and is always open for discussions for farmers' welfare," the

statement said.

Emerging from the meeting, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Punjab) general secretary

Jagmohan Singh said, "The meeting was alright. We told them there are many

provisions in these new Bills which are against farmers. they proposed that

a committee be set up. the attitude of governments always is to set up

committees and commissions, and the deliberations are unending. we

outrightly rejected the proposal."

"They said it is possible to find a solution the day after tomorrow, or else

we will have to sit again. We said we are ready for discussions. Even

Parliament runs for two months. agriculture is the backbone of the country.

we can sit and discuss. but the agitation will continue. in fact, it will be

strengthened. till our demands are met," he said.

Sources said both the government and the ruling BJP are keen to find a

solution, but are in no mood to withdraw the farm laws. The government's

stand on the laws, which it says benefit farmers, was made clear by Prime

Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat address last Sunday.

CANADIAN LEADERSHIP'S COMMENTS ON FARMERS PROTEST "ILL-INFORMED": MEA

SPOKESPERSON

Canadian leadership's comments on the ongoing agitation by farmers are

"ill-formed", an official of the Ministry of External Affairs said on

Tuesday. The Indian response came hours after Canada's Prime Minister Justin

Trudeau said his country has contacted Indian authorities "through multiple

means" to express concern about the protesting farmers.

"We have seen some ill-informed comments by Canadian leaders relating to

farmers in India. Such comments are unwarranted, especially when pertaining

to the internal affairs of a democratic country," said Official Spokesperson

Anurag Srivastava in response to a media query.

Mr Trudeau earlier said that the news about the protest unfolding around

Delhi "is concerning". "We are all very worried about family and friends...

Canada will always be there to defend the rights of peaceful protesters," he

said announcing that Canada has reached out to the Government of India

regarding the protests which have drawn support from his vocal coalition

partner Jagmeet Singh of New Democratic Party (NDP), which has a strong base

among the Indo-Canadian community.

In response, to the Canadian Prime Minister's comments, Mr Srivastava said,

"It is also best that diplomatic conversations are not misrepresented for

political purposes."

INDIA PLANS DAM ON BRAHMAPUTRA TO OFFSET CHINESE CONSTRUCTION UPSTREAM

India is considering a plan to build a 10 GW hydropower project in Arunachal

Pradesh, an Indian official said on Tuesday, following reports that China

could construct dams on a section of the Brahmaputra river.

The river, also known as the Yarlung Tsangbo in China, flows from Tibet into

India's Arunachal Pradesh state and down through Assam to Bangladesh. Indian

authorities are concerned Chinese projects could trigger flash floods or

create water scarcity.

"The need of the hour is to have a big dam in Arunachal Pradesh to mitigate

the adverse impact of the Chinese dam projects," TS Mehra, a senior official

in India's federal water ministry, said. "Our proposal is under

consideration at the highest level in the government," Mehra said, adding

the Indian plan would create a large water storage capacity to offset the

impact of Chinese dams on flows.

Some analysts warned that damming the Brahmaputra could potentially develop

into another flashpoint, as Beijing's dam building activities moved closer

to the Indian border.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

======================

AUSTRALIAN PM SENDS WECHAT MESSAGE TO CHINESE DIASPORA IN SPAT

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison has used Chinese social media

platform WeChat to criticise a "false image" of an Australian soldier posted

on Twitter by the Chinese government.

China has rebuffed Morrison's calls for an apology after its foreign

ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian posted the digitally manipulated image of an

Australian soldier holding a bloodied knife to the throat of an Afghan child

on Monday.

China's embassy said the "rage and roar" from Australian politicians and

media over the image was an overreaction.

In a WeChat message on Tuesday night, Morrison wrote that the diplomatic

dispute over the image of the soldier "does not diminish respect and

appreciation for the Chinese community in Australia".

He defended Australia's handling of a war crimes investigation into the

actions of special forces in Afghanistan, and said Australia is able to deal

with "thorny issues" like this in a transparent manner. Australia has

previously said 19 soldiers will be referred for potential criminal

prosecution for the killings of unarmed Afghan prisoners and civilians.

China on Friday imposed dumping tariffs of up to 200% on Australian wine

imports, effectively shutting off the largest export market for the

Australian wine industry, amid a worsening diplomatic dispute that has seen

a serious of trade reprisals imposed by China.

US ATTORNEY GENERAL FINDS 'NO VOTER FRAUD THAT COULD OVERTURN ELECTION'

US Attorney General William Barr says his justice department has found no

proof to back President Donald Trump's claims of fraud in the 2020 election.

"To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a

different outcome in the election," he said.

His comments are seen as a big blow Trump, who has not accepted defeat. He

and his campaign have filed lawsuits in states that he lost, as they begin

certifying Joe Biden as the winner.

Barr said that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of

Homeland Security have investigated that claim, "and so far, we haven't seen

anything to substantiate that". A DOJ spokesperson later stressed the

department had not concluded its investigation and would continue to

"receive and vigorously pursue all specific and credible allegations of

fraud as expeditiously as possible".

THE REST

========

HARYANA ALLY JJP SUGGESTS: WHY NOT ADD A LINE ON MSP

With most of the 10 JJP MLAs coming out in support of the protesting

farmers, the BJP ally in Haryana Tuesday backed their demand for assured MSP

for crops. JJP chief Ajay Singh Chautala, the father of Haryana Deputy Chief

Minister Dushyant Chautala, said the Centre should consider inclusion of

MSPs in the farm laws. "What is the problem in writing one line?" Ajay

Chautala said.

Dushyant's younger brother and JJP leader Digvijay said the JJP would decide

its "future strategy" depending on talks between farmers and the Centre.

The farmers are demanding that either the MSP guarantee be weaved into the

current farm laws or a separate law be introduced to ensure the same. On

Tuesday, several JJP MLAs, some of whom have been backing the farmers'

objections to the new farm laws from the start, came out in their support.

Regretting that "annadata" are sitting on the roads, Ajay Chautala said,

"There are statements by the (Union) Agriculture Minister and the Prime

Minister himself that we will continue MSPs. Then it should be added (in the

document). What is the problem in writing one line?"

DDC PHASE 2: SOUTH KASHMIR PULLS DOWN VALLEY TURNOUT TO 33%

After an encouraging first phase of the District Development Council (DDC)

polls, the Kashmir Division saw a dip in voter turnout in two districts in

south - Anantnag and Shopian - in the second phase.

Braving chill, men and women turned out in large numbers at the polling

stations, waited patiently in long queues in the twin constituencies of

Bandipore in North Kashmir, recording a 69.66 per cent voter turnout.

In contrast, most voters in South Kashmir's Pulwama, Anantnag and Shopian

stayed away from the polling booths. These three districts registered a low

turnout: 8.67 per cent, 16.09 per cent and 17.28 per cent, respectively.

Compared with the 41 per cent turnout in the Valley in the first phase, the

Election Commission said only a third of total voters cast their votes in

the second phase. In Jammu, the turnout was significantly higher at 65.54

per cent, placing the overall poll percentage of the Union territory at

48.62 per cent.

TN GOVT ANNOUNCES PANEL FOR CASTE-BASED SURVEY

The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday announced that it has decided to set up

a commission to examine and suggest methodologies to conduct a caste-based

survey in the state, the first such exercise after the 1950s and a

long-pending demand of different political parties and community groups.

The announcement came amid protests by the PMK, an ally of the NDA and

AIADMK, which has been demanding 20 per cent reservation in government jobs

and education in the state for the Vanniyars - a powerful Most Backward

Class (MBC) community from north Tamil Nadu.

According to the party, the community accounts for 25 per cent of the state

population but its representation in government jobs is less than 8 per

cent. The party has also been demanding to know the current share of each

community in terms of government jobs and education.

With six months to go for the assembly polls, the government's move to set

up the commission is a strategic one as the entire process - from setting up

of the commission to the survey - would take much more time than that and

may help it duck the heat.

VOTE FOR GOA FORWARD PARTY, GET COMPULSORY SIESTA HOUR

In Goa, where campaigning for the 2022 polls is set to kick off next year,

the first election promise has been made: "imposition of compulsory siesta

hour". Speaking at a press meet, Goa Forward Party leader and former BJP

ally Vijai Sardesai said that if made chief minister, he would ensure a

compulsory siesta hour anytime between 2 and 4 pm.

It was an off-the-cuff remark, but Sardesai, whose party has been aggressive

about its push for 'Goan identity', later reiterated that he was serious

about the need to preserve "sussegad".

"Sussegad is derived from the Portuguese word sossegado, which means a

relaxed, carefree, chilled-out attitude that's associated with Goa. The word

sosseg means peace. And mind you, an afternoon nap is an integral part of

sussegad. It is clinically proven that a short nap or siesta boosts your

memory, improves job performance, lifts your mood and makes you more alert,"

he says.

While many associate the afternoon nap with laziness, Sardesai wouldn't hear

of it. "Instead of being part of the rat race, Goans like to take it easy,

which should not be mistaken for laziness. Even though we are sussegad, we

still meet our deadlines. It is the culture of Goa. Everyone needs to learn

from this and respect this," he adds.

PUBLIC OFFICE HAS TO FACE CRITICISM, ALLOW YOUTH TO EXPRESS: BOMBAY HC

Stating that a "public office in a democracy" has to face criticism, the

Bombay High Court on Tuesday said "ultimately, the people have to find a

balance between the rights of the entire society and individual rights". The

court also observed that "if we do not allow the younger generation to

express, how will they know that what they are expressing is right or

wrong".

The division bench of Justices S S Shinde and M S Karnik was hearing a plea

filed by Sunaina Holey (38), a Navi Mumbai resident who was booked by the

Mumbai and Palghar police for allegedly making offensive remarks on social

media against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray

in July this year.

Holey sought interim protection from arrest and quashing of all FIRs and

charges levelled against her.

NEVER SPOKE OF VACCINATING ALL: CENTRE

Amid hectic planning for the rollout of a potential Covid-19 vaccine in

India, the government today said it had never spoken of inoculating the

entire country against the virus. Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and ICMR

chief Balram Bhargava, both members of the National Taskforce on Covid-19

Vaccine Administration, said the purpose of vaccination was to break the

chain of virus transmission and the same could be done by inoculating a

critical mass of people.

"There has never been any talk of inoculating the entire country," Bhushan

said.

Adding to the issue, ICMR chief Bhargava noted, "The purpose of vaccination

is breaking the chain of Covid transmission. We may not have to vaccinate

all the people if we can break that chain by inoculating a critical mass of

people. But even after that, masks would have to be worn."

The government also made it clear today that the ongoing vaccine trials in

India were safe. Bhushan said an adverse event reported during the Serum

Institute's Covid vaccine trial in October was unrelated to the vaccine and

the Drug Controller General of India, after reviewing safety data from

trials, did not find any cause to halt trials.

AChennai-based trial participant sought compensation of Rs 5 crore from the

Pune company for suffering a "severe adverse reaction". ICMR and SII are the

Indian partners of the vaccine being developed by Oxford University and

AstraZeneca. On Sunday, SII had said the trial participant's allegation was

"malicious", his medical condition was not linked to the vaccine trial, and

that it would seek damages of Rs 100 crore.

SC FROWNS UPON COVID NOTICES OUTSIDE HOMES

The Supreme Court on Tuesday disapproved of pasting posters outside Covid-19

patients' houses, saying once posters were pasted on their homes, they were

treated as untouchables even as the Centre said the practice was not a part

of protocol prescribed for the pandemic.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan

that some states on their own were following this practice to prevent the

spread of the virus and the practice has nothing to do with stigmatising

Covid-19 patients.

However, the Bench said the ground reality is "something different" as once

such posters are pasted at their homes, they are treated as untouchables.

Mehta said the Centre has filed a reply to a petition filed by one Kush

Kalra after the top court's direction to consider issuing nationwide

guidelines to do away with practice of pasting posters outside the homes of

Covid-19 patients.

SOME OF PUNJAB'S FORMER PLAYERS TO RETURN AWARDS

Upset over the treatment being meted out to the farmers by the Central

Government, some of Punjab's former sportspersons have decided to return

their national awards. Former sportspersons, including Arjuna awardee and

Padma Shri wrestler Kartar Singh, Arjuna awardee hockey player Rajbir Kaur

and Arjuna awardee basketball player Sajjan Singh Cheema, have come forward

to show their support for the farmers.

Kartar said that the former sportspersons will go to Delhi on December 5 and

join the farmers in the protest. "Around 50 former players will go to Delhi

from Jalandhar district alone," Kartar said.

"The farmers provide food to us, and water cannons and teargas is not what

they deserve in return," he added.

Kaur said, "There are several young players too who want to go with us to

support the farmers. We were shocked to see the farmers suffering. What will

we do with the awards if our farmers are forced to face such torture?"

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Public opinion is a compound of folly, weakness, prejudice, wrong feeling,

right feeling, obstinacy and newspaper paragraphs. - Robert Peel

OFF TRACK

At a recent party, a lady was telling us about her sister who was coming to

visit her for the holidays. Someone asked how old her sister was, at which

she paused, thought for a bit, and then answered, "She's half as old as I

am, that's how I always remember."

So someone else said, "That's neat... So every year that you age, she only

ages half a year?"

The lady thought about that, and then said, "Oh, yeah, I guess it only works

on even years."