Delhi's border points at Tikri and Singhu remained under heavy police deployment on Friday in the aftermath of the Republic Day violence.
It was a tense night at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border at Ghazipur after the local administration issued orders to protesting farmers to immediately vacate the premises. The farmers, however, refused to give in. Tikait announced emotionally that "we will commit suicide but won't end the protest until the farm Bills are repealed". The order had a ripple effect in Punjab and Haryana, where a campaign began to send more protesters and tractors to the dharna sites as back up.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited two hospitals in the national capital on Thursday where the police personnel who were injured in the Republic Day violence are being treated. "We are proud of their courage and bravery," he said. As many as 394 personnel were injured in the violence at Delhi's ITO, Red Fort and other areas.
In other news, the Noida Police has registered an FIR against eight people, including Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, and journalists Rajdeep Sardesai, Mrinal Pandey and Zafar Agha, for spreading violence on Republic Day through social media posts.
Meanwhile, sources told The Indian Express the central government wants to resume talks with farmer unions only after its offers are accepted. "They lost a good opportunity... They have (now) lost the moral authority. Now, we have to see whether they accept that offer or they come with a counter proposal," a source said.
On Wednesday, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella organisation of farmer unions, called off the march to Parliament House on February 1. However, it said the farmers' agitation would continue and there would be public meetings and hunger strikes across the country on January 30. Two organisations also withdrew from the protests at Delhi's borders in light of the violence.
After two months of peaceful protests at Delhi's borders and 11 rounds of negotiations with the central government, the Republic Day tractor parade spiraled into chaos Tuesday. One protester died when his tractor overturned while ramming a road barrier at ITO, and scores were injured, as mobs resorted to violence and vandalism while forcing their way to the Red Fort and hoisting their flag there.
The Delhi Police has registered 25 FIRs after the violence, and booked 37 of the farm leaders who were involved in the talks.
The six SKM spokespersons who have been named are: Jagjit Singh Dallewal, president, BKU (Sidhupur); Balbir Singh Rajewal, president, BKU (Rajewal); Darshan Pal, president, Krantikari Kisan Union; Rakesh Tikait, president, BKU; Kulwant Singh Sandhu, general secretary, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha; Yogendra Yadav, president, Swaraj Party India. Barring Yogendra Yadav, all the others took part in the talks with the government.
The others who were also among the farm union representatives involved in talks with the Centre and have been named in the FIR are: Boota Singh Burjgill, president, BKU Dakaunda; Nirbhai Singh Dhudike, president, Kirti Kisan Union; Ruldu Singh Mansa, president, Punjab Kisan Union; Inderjit Singh, president, Kisan Sangharsh Committee; Harjinder Singh Tanda, president, Azad Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Punjab; Gurbaksh Singh, president, Jai Kisan Andolan; Satnam Singh Pannu, president, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee; Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu, president, Kisan Sanghrash Committee; Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president, BKU-Ugrahan; Surjit Singh Phool, president, BKU Krantikari; Harmeet Singh Kadian, president, BKU Kadian; Satnam Singh Sahni, general secretary, BKU (Doaba); Bogh Singh Mansa, president, BKU (Mansa); Balwinder Singh Aulakh, president, Majha Kisan Committee; Satnam Singh Behru, president, Indian Farmers Association; Bharat Boota Singh Shadipur, president, Bharti Kisan Manch; Baldev Singh Sirsa, president, Lok Bhalai Insaaf Welfare Society; Jagbir Singh Tanda, president, Doaba Kisan Samiti; Mukesh Chandra, Doaba Kisan Sangharsh Committee; Sukhpal Singh Daffar, president, Ganna Sangharsh Committee; Harinder Singh Lakhowal, general secretary, BKU Lakhowal; Kirpal Singh Nathuwala, president, Kisan Bachao Morcha; Prem Singh Bhangu, president, All India Kisan Federation, Punjab unit; Gurnam Singh Chaduni, president, BKU Haryana; Kavita Kuruganti, Mahila Kisan Adhikaar Manch; Rishipal Ambavatta, president, BKU Ambavatta; Prem Singh Gehlot, president, All India Kisan Mahasabha, Haryana Unit.
One of the FIRs, on the Red Fort incident, names Punjabi film actor Deep Sidhu and Lakhbir Singh Sidhana alias Lakha Sidhana, gangster-turned-politician and president of the Malwa Youth Federation.
Reacting to the Centre's efforts to stop the supply of electricity and water at the farmers' agitation sites and by the police to end the movement, senior leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Punjab Assembly Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday said that by stopping the electricity and water of the agitating farmers, (Narendra) Modi government was trying to crush the farmers' movement, but the farmers were not going to kneel before the government's repression.
"Now the movement will move forward strongly and will uproot the Modi government from power," he said, addressing a press conference here.
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Cheema said that the BJP was sending its 'goons' to protest against the farmers and was trying to intimidate them. He said that on Thursday, the entire nation saw how the BJP tried to force the farmers sitting on the dharna at the Ghazipur border to vacate and tried to spread panic among them. More details here.
In the backdrop of farmers protest playing out at Delhi’s borders, BJP MP Smriti Irani Friday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of supporting anarchic elements to disturb the law and order in the country and “daring to insult tricolour”.
In retort to Gandhi’s remarks criticising the Centre’s controversial farm laws and raising concerns about their consequences, Irani said in a presser: “Instead of calling for peace, he called for anarchic elements to spread fire in country.”
She claimed that the Congress MP “not only wants law-order breakdown but also supports anarchic elements daring to insult tricolour, break nation”. “Rahul Gandhi declared war on Indian people; said cities will burn if PM does not support his stand,” she alleged. More details here.
Farmer unions protesting at different border near Delhi have called for a fast on January 30, saying they would celebrate the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as 'Sadbhavna Diwas'. "We appeal to everyone in the country to join us in observing fast on January 30," PTI quoted a Kisan Ekta Morcha leader as saying.
"Don't need lecture on respecting tricolour from BJP. Majority of farmers have children fighting at borders," PTI quoted farmer leader Yudhvir Singh as saying.
Farmer leader Darshan Pal said, "I appeal to govt to restore internet services at all agitation sites, else we will protest this as well."
Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader Digvijay Singh Chautala on Friday called farmer leader Rakesh Tikait a “true patriot” and said he has always talked about farmers’ interests.
The Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Tikait and others in connection with the violence in the national capital during the farmers’ tractor rally on Republic Day.
“He is the son of country’s great farmers’ leader Mahender Singh Tikait. It is wrong to call him anti-national,” Digvijay told reporters.
“He has always talked about farmers’ interests. If the government has to take action, it should catch people like (Gurnam Singh) Chaduni, who instigated people. But Rakesh Tikait and farmers are true patriots,” he said referring to Tikiat being booked by the police. (PTI)
The Delhi Police on Friday asked nine farmer leaders to join the investigation in connection with the violence at Red Fort on January 26, officials said.
According to officials, the special investigation team (SIT) of Delhi Police has asked farmer leaders Rakesh Tikait, Pawan Kumar, Raj Kishore Singh, Tajender Singh Virk, Jitender Singh, Trilochan Singh, Gurmukh Singh, Harpreet Singh and Jagtar Singh Bajwa to join the investigation.
The notices have been forwarded through WhatsApp to them. A police team has also physically visited the tents where they were staying and pasted it there, officials said.
A senior police officer said, "We kept waiting for them and contacted their coordinators but we did not receive any response." (PTI)
The Delhi Police has arrested nine farmers for attacking one of its personnel at the Burari protest site, officials said on Friday.
Several farmers have been camping at DDA ground in Burari on the outskirts of the national capital since November-end against the Centre's three agri laws.
At around 7.30 pm on Thursday, some protesters came out and tried to move towards Red Fort, however, they were stopped by assistant sub-inspector Harbans Lal deployed at the main entry gate. The farmers then assaulted the policeman and tore his uniform, a senior police officer said.
A case was registered under relevant sections of the IPC at the Mukherjee Nagar Police Station against nine people, police said. (PTI)
Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh: "I do think that the movement has been discredited. The whole world was supporting the farmers. But the moment the violence came, and the symbol of the Red Fort was violated, was when the movement lost steam."
"I think that the government should continue its contact with the farmers and the farmers must go to the meetings. This must be resolved. It cannot continue like this."
"Why was the police needed in the first place? They've had twelve meetings. Had I been chairing the meeting, I would have finished it on the first day. What is the reason for it being prolonged for so much time."
(ANI)
Congress general secretary and Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Rawat on Friday said the only way to end the ongoing farmers' agitation is to repeal the three agri laws.
The government must give up it's adamant attitude and repeal these laws, which is the only solution to this ongoing agitation," Rawat, who is former Uttarakhand Chief Minister, said.
Rawat said farmer leaders have condemned the violence that broke out in Delhi on Republic Day but what has happened after that is for everyone to see.
"An attempt is being made to put the entire blame on the farmers... We also saw the reaction of senior farmer leader Rakesh Tikait when Uttar Pradesh authorities had planned to evict farmers from Ghazipur border protest site," he said.
"I believe if the government is thinking that this agitation will get weakened or that they can use various methods to crush it, then they are mistaken," Rawat told PTI. (PTI)
Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh: This is something of which no Indian can be proud. The Red Fort is a symbol of our Independence and democracy. It was a sad day when I saw that (violence) happen. (ANI)
Union minister Smriti Irani Friday called out Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for instigating "anarchic elements" to spread fire in country.
"Rahul Gandhi not only wants law-order breakdown but also supports anarchic elements daring to insult tricolour, break nation," PTI quoted Irani as saying.
"Instead of calling for peace, he called for anarchic elements to spread fire in country," she said, adding that Gandhi declared war on Indian people by saying cities will burn if PM does not support his stand.
"Shocking but expected of Rahul Gandhi that over 300 injured cops didn't receive a word of consolation from him," she said.
Residents standing along roadside in support of farmers' protest against three farm laws near Matka Chowk in Chandigarh.
Yuva Chetna Manch, a social organisation active in the eastern districts of Uttar Pradesh, has extended its support to Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) protesting against the new farm laws at Delhi's borders and staged a dharna at the district headquarters here on Friday.
The organisation's activists staged a sit-in in front of a Mahatma Gandhi statue at Shaheed Park in Chowk area and extended their support to BKU leader Rakesh Tikait.
Speaking on the occasion, the outfit's convener Rohit Kumar Singh hit out at the Central government alleging that it was committing atrocities on the farmers in Delhi.
Condemning the incident that took place at the Red Fort on Republic Day, Singh held the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) responsible for it alleging that they were behind the violence. (PTI)
Speaking on the police crackdown on farmers protesting at different borders of Delhi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweeted, "The trust of the farmer is the capital of the country. Breaking their trust is a crime. It is a sin to not listen to their voice. Threatening them is a great sin. Attack on the farmer is an attack on the country. Prime Minister, do not weaken the country."
Activist Anna Hazare has announced that he would be launching an indefinite hunger strike against the Union government's new farm laws on Saturday at his village Ralegaon Siddhi in Maharashtra.
"I have been demanding reforms in the agriculture sector, but the Centre doesn't seem to be taking right decisions," he said in a statement issued on Thursday.
"The Centre has no sensitivity left for farmers, which is why I am starting my indefinite fast at my village from January 30," he said. (PTI)
A farmers outfit on Friday said large-scale agitation as is being witnessed in the national capital and states seeking repeal of three farm laws introduced by the Centre is not a solution.
Instead, the farmers should form an organisation and decide themselves on the price of their produce, said Vellangiri Uzhavan, a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO).
The farmers can form FPOs and fix prices so that they need not depend on middlemen, mandis, traders or the government to market their produce, president of Vellangiri Uzhavan Kumar told reporters here. (PTI)
Mahapanchayat over. Farmers going back. Farmer leader Naresh Tikait asks them to "wait" and "leave for Delhi in small groups".
Yogendra Yadav, Swaraj Party: "Modi ji and Yogi ji and all others must listen carefully, farmers will not go back from this movement, humiliated and defamed." (ANI)
Haryana suspends internet services in Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Kaithal, Panipat, Hisar, Jind, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Charkhi dadri, Fatehabad, Rewari, Sirsa till January 30 (1700 hrs). The services are already suspended in Sonipat, Jhajjar and Palwal districts.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi: 'Farmers haven't understood the (farm) Bill completely. In Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan they have understood. The government should know that these protests will not stop here. This agitation will spread from here to the big cities because it is not only the farmers who have been robbed of their livelihood. It is going to create instability which is not good for the country.
"Therefore I urge the government to take back the laws."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on farm laws: "This is the biggest transfer of wealth from the largest number of people to a select group of people. During the Covid the poor got poorer and a handful of people got richer and richer. This anger that you are seeing among the farmers is due to that."
"The PM is working for these handfuls of people. He brought demonetisation, GST, and the new farm laws for them. But he should know that the farmers will not back out. We are with them."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on flag hoisting on Red Fort on Republic Day: "Why were people allowed in the Red Fort? Why weren't they stopped? Ask the Home Minister what the objective was, of letting those people inside the premises."
A group of men claiming to be local residents Friday clashed with the farmers, who are sitting at the Singhu border protesting against the three farm laws, and tried to enter the protest site. The police had to intervene and lobbed tear gas to disperse the clashing units.
Delhi Police SHO (Alipur) Pradeep Paliwal was injured in the violence after a man attacked him with a sword, an official said, adding that some people were also wounded.
The official said that police detained the man who attacked the station house officer. (PTI)
Farmer leaders gathered for Kishan Maha panchayat, at Inter College Muzaffarnagar, in support of Rakesh Tikait, who is protesting against the new farm laws at Ghazipur border.
Artists and social activists protesting at the plaza in sector 17 Chandigarh in support of farmers.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti accused the BJP-led Centre on Friday of using the template of "terrorising Kashmiris" into silence in other parts of the country as well, including in relation to farmer protests.
"GOIs template of terrorising Kashmiris into silence by using draconian laws & othering them is being extended to other parts of the country. Be it CAA or farmer law protests both were termed anti national & anti-terror laws like UAPA invoked to quell these peaceful movements," she said in a tweet.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, who has been vocal in her opposition to three new farm laws of the Centre, said the government should repeal the legislations.
Eight villagers of Bangi Nihalsinghwala village of Bathinda district along with seven others of different Punjab villages have been arrested by Delhi police and sent to Tihar jail following violence in the Red Fort area on Republic Day.
All of them had gone on the call of BKU Sidhupur and were new to the union. A group of 18 villagers from the village including family members of arrested villagers has reached Tikri border and after having a meeting with union president Jagjit Singh Dallewal, they have concluded to go by the decision of union.
Rajinder Singh, sarpanch of the village, said, "Union's office bearers have told us that they will press upon the demand of quashing the FIRs as our boys were not involved in any acts of vandalism or flag hoisting. Hence, they will demand quashing the FIRs. So village panchayat has decided not to apply for any bail of these boys and instead wait for getting the FIRs quashed."
(input by Raakhi Jagga)
Police and local volunteers manage to ensure that farmers and locals protesting against their sit-in protest remain separate at Tikri border.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh asks the government and farmer leaders to shun the rigidness and go one step back to resolve the deadlock over the three contentious farm laws. He also told the farmer leaders to take responsibility for what happened on Republic Day.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh asks the government and farmer leaders to shun the rigidness and go one step back to resolve the deadlock over the three contentious farm laws. He also told the farmer leaders to take responsibility of what happened on the Republic Day.
Locals trying to enter Tikri Border site met with immense resistance by farmer protesters.
Several farmers from parts of Haryana on Friday decided to head towards Delhi's borders to join the ongoing agitation against agri laws, saying the government's moves against peasant leaders will not weaken their protest.
A number of farmers from Jind, Rohtak, Kaithal, Hisar, Bhiwani and Sonipat will be going towards various protest sites at Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur, farmer leaders from Haryana claimed.
At the protest site at the Uttar Pradesh Gate in Ghazipur bordering Delhi, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait broke down while speaking to the media on Thursday evening.
"We cannot tolerate a senior farmer leader being pushed to this situation. We are all united and our stir will continue till we force the government repeal the farm laws," said a protesting farmer near Rohtak's Madina toll plaza on Friday. (PTI)
A group of people gather at Tikri border demanding that the area be vacated by farmers protesting against the three farm laws.
Leaders of Samyukta Kisan Morcha reach stage at Singhu border, say, "Any unwanted situation will be prevented. Leaders are closely working to resolve the conflict. Please keep calm."
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on flag hoisting at Red Fort: "Violence by farmers or police at Red Fort can't be justified. Controversy over hoisting Nishan Sahib over vacant flag pole at Red Fort is non-issue."
"Delhi Sikh Gurudwaras Parbhandak Committee organises Fathe March every year to Red Fort with Nishan Sahib. It is also hoisted at Galwan Valley. Nishan Sahib was part of Republic Day Parade this year. It is not right to criticise Nishan Sahib by calling it flag of Khalistan."
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa with BKU's Rakesh Tikait at the Ghazipur protest site.
Locals stage a protest against farmers at Tikri border.
After intermittent stone pelting, things are now relatively calm after the police action. Tear gas shells and lathi charge by police. Protesters breached several layers of barricades to reach the protest site. Stones were then pelted from both sides.
At Tikri, meanwhile, locals are staging protests demanding the protesters vacate. They claim they are facing problems in their daily lives and transaction of business due to the protests.
The protests in Ghazipur are growing. Lots of farmers, predominately from western Uttar Pradesh, have arrived to join the protests. Meanwhile, Alka Lamba is just outside the Ghazipur protest side. She hasn't been allowed entry yet.
A scuffle breaks out at Singhu border where farmers are protesting against the farm laws. A group of people claiming to be locals have been protesting at the site demanding that the area be vacated. Anti-farmer protesters are clashing with farmers at the border. Police resorts to lathicharge, tear gas to disperse them.
Over 200 tractors from Meerut roll in bringing hundreds of protesters to the Ghazipur site. "Farmers didn't sleep last night. We had returned after the January 26 rally. But this time we are not going back," says Samrat, among those who have just arrived.
Delhi's border points at Tikri and Singhu remained under heavy police deployment on Friday in the aftermath of the violence that broke out during a tractor parade by farmers in the national capital on Republic Day, officials said.
Personnel of the Delhi Police, along with those of the paramilitary forces, have been deployed at the borders. Several roads have been closed and the traffic police has asked the commuters to take other routes.
"Gazipur border closed. Traffic diverted from NH 24, NH 9, Road no 56, 57 A, Kondli, Paper market, Telco T point, EDM Mall, Akshardham & Nizammudin Khatta. Traffic is very heavy in the area & Vikas marg, Pl take alternate route.
"Singhu, Auchandi, Mangesh, Saboli, Piau Maniyari borders closed. Lampur, Safiabad, Singhu school & Palla toll tax borders opened. Pl Take alternate route. Traffic diverted from NH44 near DSIDC Narela. Avoid Outer Ring Rd, GTK road & NH 44," the Delhi Traffic Police said in tweets.
Actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu, who has been booked in connection with the religious flag incident at Red Fort, has said he needs some time to bring out the truth and then will join the investigation.
The 36-year-old Sidhu is in the eye of a storm for being among the protesters who put up a religious flag atop the Red Fort on Republic Day. "Arrest warrant has been issued against me and also a look out notice has been issued against me. First I want to give this message that I will join the investigation," Sidhu said in a video uploaded on Facebook.
He said he needed some time to bring out the truth. "Because whatever has been spread, it is false information and it is misleading the public at large. Therefore, I need a couple of days to bring out the truth and then I will join the investigation," said Sidhu.
The Delhi Police has arrested a man who had allegedly snatched a wireless set from a constable during a tractor parade by farmers at Nangloi, officials said on Friday. According to the police, the accused was previously involved in three cases lodged in the national capital in 2019.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (outer) A Koan said, "We have arrested the accused who snatched a wireless set from Constable Sonu at Nangloi on Republic Day. The wireless set has been recovered from his possession." Delhi's border points at Tikri and Singhu remained under heavy police deployment on Friday in the aftermath of the violence that broke out during the farmers' tractor parade in the national capital on January 26, officials said.
The Editors Guild of India on Friday strongly condemned the filing of FIRs against senior editors and journalists for their reporting on the farmers' tractor rally and the ensuing violence here on Republic Day, saying it was an attempt to "intimidate, harass and stifle" the media. In a statement, the Guild demanded that such FIRs be withdrawn immediately and the media be allowed to report without fear and with freedom.
It said journalists have been specifically targeted for reporting the accounts pertaining to the death of one of the protestors on their personal social media handles as well as those of the publications they lead and represent. "It must be noted that on the day of the protest and high action, several reports were emerging from eyewitnesses on the ground as well as from police, and therefore it was only natural for journalists to report all the details as they emerged. This is in line with established norms of journalistic practice," the Guild said.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday visited the Ghazipur border, where farmers are protesting against three recent farm laws of the Centre, to check the arrangements made for them by the city government.
Talking to reporters, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said the farmers' protest has full support of the Delhi government. "The AAP supports the protesting farmers and I have come here to check the arrangements made by the Delhi government. I have checked the arrangements of drinking water, toilets and other basic amenities for the farmers," he said.
Sisodia said farmer leader Rakesh Tikait had spoken to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and asked for basic amenities.
At the Tikri border, speakers on stage talk of how the Red Fort violence was the Govt’s method of breaking, dividing and defaming the movt and was dirty politics.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Rakesh Tikait Friday thanked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for supporting him and arranging water for farmers at Delhi borders. Kejriwal took to Twitter to reply Tikait, saying the Delhi government is with farmers. "Rakesh ji, we are fully with the farmers. Your demands are valid. It is utterly wrong to discredit the farmers' movement, call the peasants as traitors and make false cases against the peasant leaders who have been agitating peacefully for so many days," kejriwal tweeted.
Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia arrives at Ghazipur. BKU leader Rakesh Tikait thanks Sisodia for supporting the movement. Sisodia says "farmers are being called traitors to favour a few capitalists".
Addressing the addressing joint sitting of Parliament, President said, "After extensive deliberations, Parliament passed 7 months ago 3 important farm law. Implementation of 3 farm laws put on hold by Supreme Court; Govt will respect whatever is the decision of apex court. Over 10 crore small farmers started getting benefits of 3 farm laws; many political parties supported these reforms."
Following this, Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu raised slogans in Parliament, demanding the repeal of the three farm laws.
President also said that "insult of tricolour and Republic Day is very unfortunate". "Constitution gives us the right to freedom of expression and it teaches us that law and rule should be followed," he added.
As farmer's protests continue, CBI conducts "Joint Surprise Checks at about 20 locations in Punjab and Haryana, as part of preventive vigilance." Says move "In the light of the receipt of a large number of complaints of irregularities in FCI godowns".
At the Ghazipur protest site, RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary reached on Friday morning to show his support to the protesting farmers. Protesters were raising slogans "Rakesh Tikait sangharsh karo, hum tumhare saath hai." "Jayant Chaudhary zindabad".
Meanwhile, President Ram Nath Kovind is addressing members of both Houses of Parliament on Friday, a customary speech delivered ahead of the commencement of the Budget session. Opposition leaders of 18 parties have decided to boycott his address in solidarity with farmers protesting at Delhi’s borders against the three farm laws. The legislations were passed amid chaos in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon session last September.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a statement to the media, called for debate and discussion in Parliament. “The coming decade is vital for India’s progress. We have to remember the vision and dreams of the greats who fought for our nation’s freedom. Let there be detailed debate and discussions on the floor of Parliament,” he said. Follow LIVE updates here
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh has announced support to the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), the members of which are staging a protest against the Centre's new farm laws at the Delhi-Ghaziabad border. The former Union minister has spoken to BKU president Naresh Tikait and spokesperson Rakesh Tikait, RLD vice president and his son Jayant Chaudhary said.
"It is a matter of life and death for farmers, but do not worry. All have to stay together, united in this -- this is Chaudhary saahab's (Ajit Singh's) message," the RLD vice president said in a tweet in Hindi.
The Tikait brothers, sons of legendary farm leader Mahendra Singh Tikait, are leading the BKU, the members of which are camping at the UP Gate (Ghazipur border) for two months now demanding a rollback of the contentious farm laws brought by the Centre in September last year.
Hundreds of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) members stayed put on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway on Friday as the crowd swelled there overnight, notwithstanding the Ghaziabad administration's ultimatum to vacate the UP Gate protest site.
On a call of the BKU, more farmers from western Uttar Pradesh districts such as Meerut, Baghpat, Bijnor, Muzaffarnagar, Moradabad and Bulandshahr reached the UP Gate by early morning to join the stir, even as the security forces at the protest site thinned out overnight.
A confrontation was building up at the UP Gate in Ghazipur even as frequent power cuts were witnessed on Thursday evening at the protest site, where BKU members, led by Rakesh Tikait, are staying put since November 28 last year.
Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey and Senior Superintendent of Police Kalanidhi Naithani visited the protest site post midnight to review the situation there even as hundreds of security personnel in anti-riot gears were deployed since Thursday.
The Ghaziabad administration has given an ultimatum to agitating farmers to vacate the UP Gate protest site by Thursday night even as union leader Rakesh Tikait remained adamant, saying he would commit suicide but won't end the stir.
A confrontation was building up at the UP Gate in Ghazipur bordering Delhi with heavy security deployed while frequent power cuts were witnessed in the evening at the protest site, where Bharatiya Kisan Union members, led by Tikait, are staying put since November 28.
The "verbal" communication from the district administration to BKU on Thursday comes after three farmers union withdrew their protest against the three central farm laws over the violence in Delhi on Republic Day. "Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey has communicated to the protesters camping at the UP Gate at Delhi border to vacate the spot by tonight or the administration will remove them," a district official told PTI.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lok Shakti) here on Thursday announced it was ending its protest against the new central farm laws. BKU (Lok Shakti) chief Sheoraj Singh made the announcement during a press conference here, a day after two other farmers' union ended their stir. "The protest has been called off," BKU (Lok Shakti) spokesperson Shailesh Kumar Giri told PTI.
The farmers' union had been camping at the Dalit Prerna Sthal since December 2, demanding withdrawal of the three new farm laws, legalisation of minimum support price (MSP) for crops and implementation of the recommendation of Swaminathan Committee's report. BKU (Lok Shakti) met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and said they ended their protest in the wake of the violence during farmers' tractor rally on Republic Day.
AAP leader Sanjay Singh on Thursday said the party stands with farmers agitating against the Centre's contentious farm laws and its leaders will "voluntarily" court arrest if the police will try to forcibly remove peasants from protest sites.
He said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal spoke to Bharatiya Kisan Union's (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait who told him that the water supply to the UP Gate protest site in Ghaziabad had been cut.
The Rajya Sabha MP further said the party would raise the issue in Parliament. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader's remarks come after the Ghaziabad administration gave an ultimatum to the agitating farmers to vacate the UP Gate protest site by Thursday midnight.
Uttar Pradesh Police Thursday lodged an FIR against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and several journalists, including India Today’s Rajdeep Sardesai, National Herald’s Mrinal Pandey, Zafar Agha of Qaumi Awaz, and The Caravan’s Anant Nath and Vinod Jose, for allegedly spreading misinformation on the farmers’ tractor rally on January 26.
The FIR has been lodged under 11 IPC sections, including Section 124A (sedition), 153-A (promoting enmity between groups), section 295A (deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings), Section 504 (intentional insult), Section 506 (criminal intimidation) and Section 120B (criminal conspiracy to commit offence punishable by death).
Setting the stage for a stormy Budget session of Parliament, 17 Opposition parties announced Thursday that they would boycott President Ram Nath Kovind’s customary address to the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Friday. They said this would be an expression of solidarity with farmer unions who have been protesting at Delhi’s borders for over two months, demanding the repeal of new agriculture laws.
Responding to the announcement, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi said: “I appeal to leaders of all parties not to boycott the President’s address. The government is ready to discuss all issues threadbare, and as much time as is required will be set aside when the Business Advisory Committees of both Houses meet.”