Violence erupted at Singhu border on Friday after a group of some 200 got past three layers of security barricades, claiming the farmers' agitation had affected their livelihoods. With both sides throwing stones at each other, the Delhi Police later said that 44 people, including a 22-year-old man who allegedly attacked a sub-inspector with a sword, were arrested. Sources told The Indian Express all those arrested were farm protesters.
Addressing the violent clashes that broke out between farmers and the Delhi Police at Red Fort on Republic day, President Ramnath Kovind said, “My government has always respected freedom of expression and holding of peaceful agitations in a democratic set-up. However, the recent acts of dishonouring the National Flag and showing disrespect to the auspicious occasion of the Republic Day are unfortunate.”
Meanwhile, stating that he had been been warning for a long time that Pakistan will try to exploit the unrest over the farm laws to disturb Punjab’s peace, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh Friday said central agencies should investigate into possible role of the neighbouring country in the recent disturbances and violence during the farmers’ agitation in Delhi.
“What is happening and what happened at Singhu today is what Pakistan wants,” said Amarinder.
Amid allegations that more than 100 people were missing since the violence during the tractor parade on Republic Day in Delhi, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of 40 farmers’ unions, on Sunday said it has set up a six-member committee to look into the matter.
“More than 100 persons are missing since January 26. We are compiling information on such persons so that we can take up the matter with the authorities,” said Morcha spokesperson Dr Darshan Pal. Read More
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with an Express account.
SHIROMANI AKALI Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal Sunday met farm leader Rakesh Tikait at Ghazipur, and assured him the complete support of his party.
Badal presented him with a ‘siropa’ as well as ‘amrit’ from Darbar Sahib, Amritsar.
Badal said Tikait had made the farming community proud by following the footsteps of his father Mahendra Singh Tikait, a towering farmer leader, a party statement said. Read More
The farm laws have not affected the current MSP system and mandis, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said Sunday as he expressed dismay over former agriculture minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s tweets criticising the legislation.
In a series of tweets, Tomar said that Pawar had himself tried hard to bring the same agriculture reforms earlier. He then attached a point-by-point reply to Pawar’s charges. Read More
The Haryana government Sunday further extended the suspension of mobile internet services in 14 districts till 5 pm on February 1 “in wake of the situation which had built up following incidents of violence in the national capital on January 26”.
According to an official statement, the internet services will continue to remain suspended in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Kaithal, Panipat, Hisar, Jind, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Charkhi Dadri, Sonipat and Jhajjar. Read More
Days after the breakdown of their talks with the government, farmer leaders said on Sunday that while both sides are adamant on their positions on the repeal of the three laws, a discussion on the “MSP guarantee” could pave the way for the creation of a “conducive environment” that is a “must for talks.” Read More
SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday met farmer leader Rakesh Tikait at Ghazipur border and presented him with a 'siropa' (robe of honour), as he assured his party's support to the farmers movement. Badal said Tikait had made the farming community proud by following the footsteps of his father Mahendra Singh Tikait, a towering farmer leader, a party statement said. He reminisced about the joint battles of Mahendra Singh Tikait and SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal for the welfare of the peasantry, it said.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief also met the families of farmers whose next of kin had been missing since January 26, besides those whose relatives have been incarcerated for "supporting" the farmers' protest, the statement said. (PTI)
Despite an increasing number of barricades, thousands of farmers have been converging at Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border following a tearful Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait's impassioned appeal to protesters to bolster the stir. The tide of the over two-month protest against the farm laws, which had lost its sheen after the violence in Delhi during the tractors parade on Republic day, appears to have regained momentum as is evident from the increased number of tents set up at the protest site.
Many protesters waited for hours to talk to Tikait or take a selfie with him as the farmer leader remained busy meeting his supporters and talking to the media. A Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) member said Tikait has been sleeping only for around three hours a day for the last three days. "He had complained of blood pressure issues, but is doing fine now," the member said. (PTI)
The Delhi Police has sent over 50 fresh notices to people, including farmer leaders, in connection with the violence that broke out during the tractor parade on Republic Day, officials said on Sunday. The Delhi Police had earlier issued notices against 44 people. The police have identified several people and sent notices to them, a senior police officer said, adding that the process will continue further.
According to the police, some tractors, used during the violence, have also been identified and notices are being sent their owners. The process of issuing notices is taking time as many people are not residents of Delhi and letters are being to their addresses, police said.
Teams of Delhi Police are carrying out investigations at several locations outside the national capital, including Punjab and Haryana, to apprehend the people who were involved in the violence. They are also looking for those who hoisted flags at the Red Fort, they said. Teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory also visited Ghazipur, Red Fort and ITO to collect evidences. They have recovered a lot of evidences, including a big rope with knots, that was used to climb on Red Fort, police said. (PTI)
Haryana BJP leader and former MLA Balwan Singh Daulatpuria on Sunday quit the ruling party in solidarity with the farmers who are protesting against the Centre's new agriculture laws. Daulatpuria, who had joined the party ahead of 2019 assembly polls after switching over from INLD, announced his decision at a Panchayat held at his village Daulatpur here.
Talking to reporters later, he said the three agriculture laws "are anti-farmer which should be repealed immediately". "A Panchayat was held in my village. They directed that I should come out fully in support of the farmers who are protesting against these laws, after which I announced my decision to quit the party... I will fight shoulder-to-shoulder with farmers and also visit the Tikri border protest site," Daulatpuria, a former MLA from Fatehabad, said.
The Aam Aadmi Party Sunday asked Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to deploy the state police for the security of farmers protesting at Delhi borders against the three new Central laws. In a letter to Singh on Sunday, AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadha said the Punjab Police must provide protection to farmers so that no harm is done to them and they can continue to protest against the 'black farm laws' in a peaceful manner.
'The Aam Aadmi Party demands that you deploy Punjab Police in sufficient numbers to surround the camps where the peaceful protests are being held from all sides,' Chadha said.
'This protection to the farmers is absolutely essential in the light of recent attacks on them, engineered and executed by goons from BJP,' he said. Chadha also attacked the BJP over the issue, alleging the party proposes to continue its 'attitude of intimidating' any person who dares to raise a voice in opposition.
The ripples of farmers' protest against the new agri laws on Delhi's borders spread further in western Uttar Pradesh with thousands of people converging for a 'mahapanchayat' on Sunday in Baghpat, the third such congregation in the region in as many days. The 'sarv khap mahapanchayat' took place at the Tehsil ground here with farmers pouring in from nearby districts as well in tractor-trollies, many of which are decked up with music systems, the tricolor and farmer unions' flags.
This is the third 'mahapanchayat' of farmers in the region after a massive congregation in Muzaffarnagar on Friday and in Mathura on Saturday, both resolving to support the ongoing BKU-led protest at the Ghazipur border against the three new farm laws. BKU leader Rajendra Chaudhary told the crowd, the movement has to be continued with full strength. (PTI)
Haryana government has extended the suspension of mobile internet services (2G/3G/4G/CDMA/GPRS), SMS services (only bulk SMS) and all dongle services, etc. provided on mobile networks except the voice calls in the territorial jurisdiction of districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Kaithal, Panipat, Hisar, Jind, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Charkhi Dadri, Sonipat and Jhajjar till 5 pm on February 1, 2021.
An official spokesperson said that this order has been issued to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in the jurisdiction of these districts of Haryana and shall be in force with immediate effect. Any person who will be found guilty of violation of aforesaid order will be liable for legal action under relevant provisions.
The meeting will be held at 11 am at Punjab Bhawan, according to a government statement issued Sunday.'This is not the time to stand on ego but to come together to save our state and our people,' the chief minister told the parties.
As per the government statement, the meeting will discuss the situation arising out of the recent developments in the ongoing farmers' agitation in Delhi, especially in view of the Republic Day violence, 'the Singhu border attack on farmers, and the massive vilification campaign against them'.
Singh urged all parties to join the meeting in a spirit of unity, in support of the farmers and in the interest of Punjab. The Chief Minister said the 'crisis' triggered by the farm laws was a matter of concern for the entire state and its people. 'Only through collective efforts of all Punjabis, and all the political parties of the state, can the crisis be tackled effectively and the farmers' interests be protected,' he said. (PTI)
In his first remarks on the violence and vandalism on Republic Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the nation was “saddened by insult to the tricolour.”
“We have to infse times to come with new hope and novelty. Last year, we displayed exemplary partience and courage. This year too, we have to work hard to attain our resolves. We have to take our country forward at a faster pace,” PM Modi said in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ address.
Breaking away from the designated route for the tractor rally, hundreds of protestors wielding sticks and clubs and holding the tricolour and union flags, felled barriers at the borders, clashed with police, and entered the city from various points to lay siege to the Red Fort and climb the flagpole on Republic Day. The farmers are demanding the repeal of the three farm laws.
The Delhi Police Welfare Mahasangh staged a protest on Saturday against the attack on police personal during the tractor rally violence in the national capital on Republic Day. The protesters demanded strict action against those who attacked police personnel during the tractor rally organised by farmers to highlight their demand for repeal of the Centre's three farm laws.
"My husband, son and daughter are in police. If the police resorted to any action, then they would have faced suspension or enquiry. We also come from a farmer's family. We want strict action against those who attacked police," Geeta Saroha said. Who is responsible for the security of police personnel, she asked. The protesters were carrying placards and raised slogans against the unruly mob. Madhu Mudgal, whose husband suffered a minor injury near his eye, condemned the violence. (PTI)
Between 1987 and 2001, a series of political misadventures triggered a steady decline in the aura of the country’s most charismatic farm leader Mahendra Singh Tikait, and with it Sisauli, a bustling Muzaffarnagar village nestled amidst sugarcane fields which went from being called “Kisano ki Rajdhani” (farmers’ capital) to “Jaton ki Rajdhani” (capital of the Jats) to “Baliyano ki Rajdhani” — capital of the Baliyan khap headed by Tikait.
And then he would get a second wind. In 2001, Tikait, on whose call lakhs occupied the Boat Club lawns in the national capital in 1988, was struggling to muster numbers for a protest at the Muzaffarnagar town hall. Thinking that the modest gathering was being a nuisance, an overzealous sub-divisional magistrate ordered lathi-charge, and in the ensuing chaos the sexagenarian farm leader fell with an injury to his forehead. Images of a wounded Tikait in the papers the next day led to an outpour of support the farmer leader hadn’t seen in years. (Read Daksh Panwar's piece here)
In the aftermath of violence at Singhu border, farmers have stepped up “internal security” — from increased vigils to checkpoints — to prevent any untoward incident and ensure “political agents” do not get a chance to incite violence again.
A group of 200 men had got past three layers of security barricades on Friday, claimed that the farmers’ agitation had affected their livelihood, and damaged tents and shelters while clashing with farm protesters. Farmers alleged that the crowd had gathered at the behest of the BJP.
Said Rupinder Singh, president, Naujawan Bharat Sabha, “We have created a security room near the main stage, 10 people are present there at all times. We are also monitoring the situation on the ground through volunteers. Fewer people are being allowed near the stage after increased checks. Youth wings of unions have been told to guard their trolleys and remain on standby in case there is a situation to control. We will not let BJP and RSS break our protest since it was them who sent people to attack us.” (Read more here)
With the Budget session of Parliament getting under way, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday chaired an all-party meeting where he said the Government’s offer to keep the implementation of the three farm laws on hold for 18 months is still on the table. And that Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar is just a phone call away for taking forward talks with protesting farmer unions.
This assurance came after almost the entire Opposition, which had boycotted the President’s address yesterday, raised the farm protests issue. Many, including the Congress, demanded the repeal of the laws and a discussion in Parliament.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad flagged FIRs being filed against farm union leaders in connection with the Republic Day violence in Delhi.Leaders like CPM’s Elamaram Kareem, too, raised the FIR issue. To which the Prime Minister reportedly said: “The law will take its own course.”
The Union Home Ministry’s decision to suspend internet at the three main protest sites at the capital’s borders — Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur — has created several hurdles for protesting farmers, already suffering from a patchy network over the past few days. From connecting to their families, staying updated on the news or sharing videos and photos on social media about the protest, many aspects of their day-to-day life have been hit, they say.
Hundreds of men from Pakora Chowk in Bahadurgarh, part of the Tikri border protest, left for Singhu on directions of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) to “protect” farmers there, a day after stone pelting and violence broke out when a group of 200 men entered the site. Hundreds of farmers from Haryana, meanwhile, made their way to the Tikri protest site in tractors on Saturday, saying they are joining “for the long haul”.
Eminent novelist and essayist Arundhati Royon Saturday came out in support of the farmers who are agitating on Delhi borders, and said the new farm laws which they are opposing will help only the corporate sector. Speaking at Elgar Parishad, a conclave, here, Roy also slammed the BJP governments at the centre and in states over issues such as anti-conversion laws and lockdown. "It is very important for us to stand by the farmers," the Man Booker award-winning writer said. "The new agriculture laws will break the backbone of the farm sector and give the control to the corporates," she said, alleging that the Union government was trying to discredit the agitation. --PTI
The Congress on Saturday slammed the BJP over FIRs filed against party MP Shashi Tharoor and six journalists, with its leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleging that the ruling party has "torn to shreds" the "dignity of democracy" by this action.
Reacting to the development, Gandhi said the trend of the BJP government threatening public representatives and journalists by filing FIRs is "very dangerous".
"Respecting democracy is not the government's prerogative but it is its responsibility. The atmosphere of fear is like poison for democracy," she said in a tweet in Hindi. "The BJP government has torn to shreds the dignity of democracy by FIRs against senior journalists and public representatives," she added.
In a statement, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "The BJP governments at the Centre and in states are hell-bent on brutally and blatantly silencing every contrarian or dissenting voice by hook or by crook." (PTI)
Alleging that the BJP’s “goons” have continuously been attacking farmers in a bid to intimidate them to vacate the protest sites at Delhi borders, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Saturday demanded that the Punjab government provide police security to the peasants.
Addressing media through a Facebook live session, AAP national spokesperson Raghav Chadha alleged that several local BJP leaders and “miscreants backed by BJP-RSS” had threatened and attacked farmers at Ghazipur border and pelted stones on them at Singhu border.
“The continuous attacks on our ‘annadatas’ and the unfortunate incident that occurred at the Red Fort on January 26 has established the role of the BJP in suppressing the farmers’ movement. It has also proved the intention of the BJP, that they will attack the farmers, intimidate them and create disturbance in their movement. There is a clear safety and security threat to the farmers,” Chadha said.
Delhi Police has filed an FIR of criminal conspiracy, IPC sections,153,504,505 (1)(b) against Shashi Tharoor, journalists-Rajdeep Sardesai, Mrinal Pande, Paresh Nath, Editor in chief of Caravan, Anant Nath, Managing Editor of Caravan & Vinod K Jose, Executive Editor of Caravan.
Probing the violence that erupted during a tractor rally by farmers on Republic Day, the Delhi Police Saturday said it has received 1,700 video clips, CCTV footage from public related to the incidents.
"National Forensic Sciences University team has been called to analyse videos related to Delhi tractor rally violence," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) B K Singh told PTI.
He further said the police is examining dump data of mobile calls and the registration numbers of tractors. (PTI)
Gram panchayat member of village Sukhna Ablu, district Muktsar read resolution conditions for going to Delhi. Rs 500 per acre fine for those who don't go, they can come back in emergency. Social boycott of the ones who neither go nor pay fine.
Delhi's Singhu border was fortified with several layers of barricades and increased presence of security personnel on Saturday, a day after violence erupted during a demonstration by 'locals' against agitating farmers sitting there for over two months to demand the repeal of Centre's new agri laws.
The venue on the GT Karnal road, one of the major protest sites, also had a thinner presence than previous days even though protesting farmers asserted that it was "swelling" with more people from Punjab and Haryana coming to join them.
The entry to the farmers' protest venue was closely guarded by police and para military personnel with even mediapersons finding it difficult to reach there.
A senior police officer, on condition of anonymity, said "There is blanket order not to allow free movement across the protest site in view of yesterday's violent protest as any mischief could aggravate the situation." (PTI)
Villagers brought water in clay pots and home-made food for Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Saturday in a show of support for the ongoing stir against the new farm laws, even as local authorities sent tankers of drinking water and mobile toilets at the protest site.
Tikait urged the government to restore internet services, which have been banned by the Centre at protest sites on Delhi's borders Saturday.
A little boy from a Ghaziabad village reached the protest with a tiffin filled with homemade 'parathas' and pickle along with water. Some villagers from western Uttar Pradesh including places like Muzaffarnagar, Greater Noida, and Meerut also reached Ghazipur border with water and buttermilk in clay pots to feed the protestors.
Water and power supply at the protest site was disrupted by the local administration two days ago following an ultimatum to protestors to vacate the spot by Thursday night, prompting Tikait to say he would drink water only when farmers bring it from their villages but continue the stir.
Overwhelmed by emotion, tears welled up the eyes of Tikait, who had proclaimed he would rather commit suicide than end the protest for farmers. (PTI)
Delhi Police has so far registered 38 cases, arrested 84 people in connection with Republic Day violence, PTI quoted officials as saying.
Haryana extends suspension of internet services in Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Kaithal, Panipat, Hisar, Jind, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Fatehabad, Rewari, Sirsa till January 31 till 5 pm. The services are already suspended in Sonipat, Jhajjar and Palwal districts.
A breakdown, and the rise of farmer leader Rakesh Tikait.
Raising concerns over the three new farm laws, NCP President Sharad Pawar on Saturday said the legislation will adversely affect the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and weaken the mandi system.
Pawar said he virtually participated in the all-party meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which issues related to the proposed agenda for the Budget session, farmers' agitation, women's bill and other important issues were discussed.
Pawar said the new laws will adversely impact the MSP procurement infrastructure thereby weakening the mandi system. MSP mechanism has to be ensured and strengthened further, he added.
"Reform is a continuous process and no one would argue against the reforms in the APMCs or Mandi System, a positive argument on the same does not mean that it is done to weaken or demolish the system," Pawar tweeted.
"During my tenure, the draft APMC Rules - 2007 were framed for the setting up of special markets thereby providing alternate platforms for farmers to market their commodities and utmost care was also taken to strengthen the existing Mandi system," he tweeted. (PTI)
AAP claims that violence that took place during tractor parade on January 26 was scripted by BJP with help of Delhi Police to 'defame and discredit' farmers' movement. (PTI)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on January 26 violence in Delhi: "Nobody would support Jan 26 violence, we condemn it. Everyone has strongly deplored the farce which some anti-social elements created at Red Fort. Farmers must put forth their demands peacefully. The restraint they showed while protesting for 65 days was commendable."
"Why are they not initiating a judicial inquiry? Those (farmers) who were protesting peacefully for around 70 days can't do something like this. Impartial probe must be done." (ANI)
A team of forensic experts on Saturday visited the Red Fort to collect evidence in connection with the violence that broke out at the iconic monument on Republic Day.
Thousands of protesting farmers had breached the monument on January 26 after deviating from their tractor rally route triggering a conflict with the police.
The Crime Branch of Delhi Police is investigating the matter and several teams have been formed to identify the culprits.
The force has termed the vandalisation at the fort as an "anti-national act". "A team of forensic experts visited Red Fort and it is collecting evidence," an official said. (PTI)
PM Modi simply narrated discussion being held between govt and farmers. He just said that Agriculture Minister assured farmers that he is a phone call away from them provided they accept govt's proposal. The government is just hedging the issue out of its egoistic and obstinate mindset: Congress' Leader of Opposition in Lok Saba Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury after all-party meeting. (ANI)
BKU (Rajewal) president Balbir Singh Rajewal on Saturday said the farmers’ agitation that suffered a hit in the aftermath of the Republic Day violence, had revived and would continue till it was taken to its logical conclusion.
Addressing the media in Chandigarh, Rajewal credited Rakesh Tikait, saying the Uttar Pradesh leader’s emotional appeal to keep the agitation afloat had worked wonders. “We are thankful to Tikait sahib and we will invite him to Punjab and honour him,” Rajewal said.
At the same time, he appeal to the farmers of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and UP to ensure the agitation remained peaceful. “After the Red Fort incident, the agitation suffered for a day and a half. It picked up again after that. We should know that we are able to put more pressure on the government if we continue to ensure peace. If we get provoked and react, remember that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will win. Do not get provoked. I know a lot is being done by the Centre, the BJP and RSS to provoke farmers,” he said.
The Centre has been continuously trying to resolve issues of protesting farmers through talks, PM Modi says at the all-party meeting ahead of the Budget Session. (PTI)
Residents of Mohali sitting on a hunger strike against three farm laws.
As more people head towards Singhu, Ghazipur, and Tikri borders to join the protesting farmers, the Union Home Ministry has temporarily suspended internet services at the three borders and their adjoining areas from 11 pm of January 29 to 11 pm of January 31 to 'maintain public safety and averting public emergency'.
The Haryana government has already suspended mobile internet and SMS services in 14 districts and extended the same in three others till 5 pm on January 30. With this, only voice calls are now allowed in 17 of the 22 districts.
Farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal has appealed the people to join the farmers' protest at Delhi borders but not do anything if someone tries to instigate them.
To shore up dwindling numbers at protest sites, several panchayats in Punjab have started passing resolutions asking people to send one person from every village home to the dharnas at Delhi borders.
Virk Khurd village panchayat in district Bathinda passed a resolution on January 27 mandating that one villager from every house will go at Delhi borders and stay there for at least one week. The resolution said that those not complying with the decision will be fined Rs 1,500 and if a person refuses to pay the fine, village will boycott that person.
The resolution also stated that if any villager’s vehicle gets damaged during the Delhi morcha then panchayat will bear expenses for its repair. With signatures of over 1,700 voters, the resolution carries the signatures of the sarpanch Manjeet Kaur.
(Report by Raakhi Jagga)
Hundreds of farmers stayed put at the Ghazipur border on Saturday morning, as more supporters poured in at the protest site on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway in Ghaziabad.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union-led protest against the Centre's new farm laws here looked like it was going slim on Thursday but more protestors have joined the stir, following a mahapanchayat of farmers on Saturday in Muzaffarnagar, while supporters also poured in from Haryana and Rajasthan districts.
"The movement was and is strong," BKU's Meerut Zone president Pawan Khatana told PTI.
"This is not a political protest. Anybody who shares the ideology of the BKU and Rakesh Tikait are welcome here. But it is our appeal to those who do not wish to support the movement till the end that please do not come only to leave in between," he said. (PTI)
The grand alliance parties in Bihar, led by RJD, form a human chain in Patna in protest against the three new farm laws. "We will continue to organise such protests until the laws are repealed," ANI quoted RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha as saying.
Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) chief Hanuman Beniwal says he is not participating in today's all-party meeting called to discuss the agenda for the Parliament's Budget Session. Beniwal had pulled out his support to the BJP government in protest against the three farm laws. (ANI)
Farmers waiting to board the train at Mansa railway station to join protests on Delhi borders.
Advocates from the Mansa Bar Association announced that they are going on a day-long hunger strike in solidarity with the farmers protesting against the Centre's new farm laws.
In a video shared on Twitter, Canadian MP Jagmeet Singh condemned the violence that broke out in the National Capital on Republic Day and called on the country's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to intervene. "Those calling to harm farmers must be held accountable and the right to peaceful protest must be protected I am calling on Justin Trudeau to condemn the violence, immediately," he wrote in a tweet.
Security has been ramped up at Ghazipur border to prevent "miscreants" from causing trouble during the ongoing farmers' agitation against the Centre's contentious new farm laws, ANI reported.
"Security deployment at Ghazipur border was increased to see any miscreant doesn't enter protest and create ruckus. But few people made assumption that we're going to use force. We said that we'll have discussion before coming to conclusion & it's underway," Uttar Pradesh ADG Law and order Prashant Kumar told ANI.
The move by the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh to get the farm protest site at Ghazipur vacated has the potential to revitalise the agitation against the Centre’s new agriculture laws after the violence at Red Fort during Republic Day appeared to have dented its credibility, according to the ruling party’s senior leaders in western UP and Haryana.
Speaking to The Indian Express, the leaders, including several MPs, said that Thursday’s order from the Ghaziabad administration and the heavy police deployment to evict the protesters led by BKU leader Rakesh Tikait have inflamed the sentiments of farmers, especially those from the Jat community which carries significant political weight in western UP, Haryana and parts of Rajasthan. Read more here.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh condemned the violence during the tractor parade on Republic Day but added that it was not a crime to hoist Nishan Sahib on a vacant flag post at the Red Fort. He also urged Union government and farmer unions to take a step back and shun rigidness.
“Violence by farmers or police at Red Fort can’t be justified. But controversy over hoisting Nishan Sahib over vacant flag pole at Red Fort is a non-issue,” the Jathedar said in statement.
He added: “Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee organises Fateh March every year to Red Fort with Nishan Sahib. Nishan Sahib is 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 the flag of Khalistan.”
“Before BJP supporters we are farmers and how can we tolerate such anti-farmer policies of our own government.”
Among scores of pakka morchas currently underway across Punjab, there is one that stands out for being run by a majority of BJP supporters to oppose farm laws brought by the BJP-led Union government. Further, it is being staged inside the Lok Sabha constituency of BJP MP and Union Minister Som Prakash.
Even after the Red Fort incident, the protesters holding fort at this dharna at Harsa Mansar Toll Plaza in Mukerian, Hoshiarpur district, said that their protest will continue. Read more here.
Following protests near the dharna site of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangrash Committee( KMSC) at Singhu border, Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan) leaders announced that they will be marching from Tikri border to Singhu border in support of the protesting farmers on Saturday afternoon.
The BKU (Ugrahan) leaders added that an attack on farmers would not be tolerated as they were all part of the same movement and were protesting against the Centre's three contentious farm laws.
For the first time since November 26, when the sit-in started there, violence erupted at the farm protest site in Singhu. In full view of police who kept watching, an estimated group of 200 got past three layers of security barricades Friday, claimed that the farmers’ agitation had affected their livelihood, and damaged tents and shelters while clashing with farm protesters.
The Delhi Police later said that 44 people, including a 22-year-old man who allegedly attacked a sub-inspector with a sword, were arrested. Sources told The Indian Express all those arrested were farm protesters. Read more here.