Daily Briefing: Latest on farmers’ protest; PM Modi’s visit to the UAE; and more

Over two years after they ended their year-long protest at Delhi’s borders following the repeal of the three new farm laws, Punjab’s farmer groups were back on the road on Tuesday, trying to march to the Capital, through Haryana, even as security forces put up multi-layer barricades and fired teargas shells — including some dropped from drones — to stop them. Here’s what happened.

Among the major demands made by the farmers this time around is the enactment of a law to guarantee minimum support prices (MSP) for all crops, as per the formula recommended by the Dr M S Swaminathan Commission. This comes at a time when a committee appointed by the central government in July 2022 continues to deliberate on ways to make MSP more “effective and transparent”. But, what has the committee done so far?

Unlike after the 2020-21 farmers protest — when the Centre was forced to repeal the three contentious agricultural laws — this time around, the BJP doesn’t seem too worried. According to party leaders, while the protests made for “bad optics”, they were optimistic about “counter-polarisation” in the state along with Haryana and west Uttar Pradesh.

⚡ Only in Express

Express Opinion | With PM Modi visiting the UAE, C Raja Mohan writes about India’s relationship with the Gulf: “Much has changed in how India and Arabia deal with each other today. Five factors underlie this transformation.”

📰 From the Front Page

During PM Modi’s visit to Abu Dhabi yesterday, India and the UAE signed multiple pacts to boost bilateral investments and infrastructure development in the two countries. Here’s what you need to know.

PM Modi is set to inaugurate Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple today. Built in the Nagara style of architecture, it was built using 18 lakh bricks, seven lakh man hours and 1.8 lakh cubic metres of sandstone directly from Rajasthan.

Stating that some of the Supreme Court’s comments were “highly unwarranted” and “caused serious prejudice to the State”, the Gujarat government has approached the top court to review its January 8 judgment cancelling the remission granted to the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case.

👩🏽‍💻 Must Read

Banks and fintech startups have a new niche yet growing segment in mind — young international travellers. By offering a zero forex card – here’s how they plan to make overseas expenditure significantly cheaper.

Confusion over India’s wrestling body has resurfaced with the United World Wrestling (UWW) lifting the suspension it imposed on the Wrestling Federation of India. This leads to an anomalous situation where the WFI is now recognised by the world body but remains suspended domestically.

And Finally…

On Valentine’s Day, author Devapriya Roy writes on a “new and frantic love” – a kind “so demanding that everything else recedes in its wake.”

Minister of State (Home) Nityanand Rai is one of the three Union ministers tasked to represent the Government during talks with protesting farmers. But Rai had to skip the second round of talks on Monday. Where was he? Find out in today’s Delhi Confidential.

🎧 In today’s episode of the ‘3 Things’ podcast, we revisit the story of Sukesh Chandrashekhar and how he managed to con Bollywood actors like Jacqueline Fernandez and Nora Fatehi, and allegedly pulled off a Rs 217 crore scam.

Until tomorrow

Rahel Philipose and Sonal Gupta

Business As Usual by EP Unny