News Analysis India

Tag: Agri Laws 2020

  • Attack on my convoy pre-planned by BJP workers: BKU supremo Rakesh Tikait

    By PTI
    ALIGARH: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait claimed on Saturday that the attack on his convoy of vehicles in Rajasthan’s Alwar was “pre-planned by BJP workers” and said it should serve as a reminder to the farmers protesting against three new agriculture laws of the Centre about the travails and challenges they are going to face in the days to come.

    Addressing a “kisan mahapanchayat” at Bhaimalkheda village in this Uttar Pradesh district, Tikait said such attacks “are, in fact, strengthening our resolve to further intensify our struggle, which is a battle for our existence”.

    Talking to reporters after the “mahapanchayat”, he said, “We are mentally prepared for more such incidents.”

    Stones were allegedly pelted at the convoy of Tikait, an influential farmer leader, in Rajasthan’s Alwar district on Friday, damaging the rear windshield of his car.

    Police had detained a student leader, who the BKU claimed belonged to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and accused the saffron party of being behind the attack.

    Addressing the “mahapanchayat” here, Tikait issued a call to the protesting farmers to be mentally prepared to continue with their agitation at least till the end of the year, when they would taste victory.

    He urged them to be mobile phone savvy so that they can be active on social media.

    Tikait, who held a “mahapanchayat” in Aligarh for the first time after the farmers’ agitation was launched in November last year, alleged that corporates had fully entrenched themselves in the present ruling dispensation, including the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

    He said how else can one explain the construction of huge grain depots and godowns in several parts of the country “even before the controversial farm laws came to existence”.

    The BKU leader said this itself provides conclusive evidence of the government’s intentions.

    He warned the farmers that even more draconian measures are on the anvil as far as the farm laws are concerned, including stringent regulations regarding crop seeds.

    Tikait alleged that under the proposed measures, farmers would be liable to be bound by pernicious terms and conditions, which would place them at the mercy of the seed-selling firms.

    He said the three laws would make it impossible for the farmers to enjoy the right to use the seeds of their choice and frustrate them to such an extent that they would be compelled to sell their land to corporates.

  • BKU supremo Rakesh Tikait’s convoy attacked in Alwar, farmer leader blames BJP for attack

    Express News Service
    JAIPUR: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) supremo Rakesh Tikait’s car was allegedly attacked in Rajasthan’s Alwar on Friday. Stones were allegedly pelted at his convey, damaging the rear windshield.

    The incident reportedly occured in Tatarpur village of Alwar district. Tikait was on his way to Bansur from Harsora village of Alwar when his convoy was attacked. Tikait was going to Bansur after addressing a gathering in Harsora.

    The farmer leader was quick to share the information on Twitter wherein he blamed the BJP for the attack. Tikait tweeted, “Attacked by BJP goons at Tatarpur intersection of Alwar district of Rajasthan, Bansur Road. Death of democracy.” The farm leader even shared a video of a damaged car, saying that the attack was carried out by “BJP goons”.

    Police have detained a student leader, who the Bhartiya Kisan Union claimed, belonged to ABVP, the student wing of the BJP, and accused the party of being behind the attack.

    Tikait, however, was not in his car when the stones were allegedly pelted, Bhiwadi Superintendent of Police Ram Murti Joshi said, adding no one was injured in the incident.

    “At this, some of the cars stopped and their occupants in the vehicles argued with them over the issue. Amid all this, the windshield of one car was damaged apparently in stone pelting,” the SP said.

    BKU’s state president Rajaram Meel, who was accompanying Tikait, alleged that at least 40 to 50 people carrying sticks stopped the convoy and entered into an altercation with them.

    राजस्थान: अलवर में किसान नेता राकेश टिकैत के काफिले पर कुछ लोगों द्वारा कथित तौर पर हमले का मामला सामने आया है।राकेश टिकैत ने बताया, “पुलिस का पिस्टल छीनने की कोशिश की गई। पत्थर मारकर गाड़ी के शीशे तोड़ दिए गए, लाठी चलाई गई।” pic.twitter.com/eqLeYjYyge
    — ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) April 2, 2021

    Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot came out in support of the BKU leader and took to Twitter to slam the BJP for the alleged stone-pelting.

    Gehlot tweeted, “The attack on the convoy of  BKU leader Rakesh Tikait in Alwar by BJP folks is condemnable and action will be taken against the culprits. The BJP’s opposition to the farmers’ agitation through irresponsible statements reflects their anti-democratic attitude and is shameful.”

    After the incident, farmers blocked the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh Ghazipur border in protest. Tikait’s supporters blocked National Highway 9, but after a short while, traffic was restored through police intervention.

    Tikait has been spearheading the over four-month-long farmers’ agitation at the Delhi-Ghazipur border, against the three farm laws passed by the Centre last year.

    Last week, he had asserted that agitating farmers were prepared for a long haul and will relent only when their demands are met. Tikait and his supporters want the Centre to withdraw the farm laws and provide a legal guarantee on MSP.

    (With PTI inputs)

  • Ensure safety of BJP leaders: Punjab government to district authorities

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has asked deputy commissioners and district police chiefs to ensure safety and security of BJP leaders during their scheduled programmes, a day after a party MLA was assaulted by a group of farmers protesting against the Centre’s agri laws.

    According to an order issued by the state home affairs department, additional personnel of the India Reserve Battalion, the Punjab Armed Police and commandos may be sought wherever required.

    BJP MLA from Abohar in Fazilka district Arun Narang was allegedly thrashed and his clothes ripped off by a group of protesting farmers in Muktsar’s Malout on Saturday.

    The BJP leader had gone to Malout to address a press conference.

    “All DCs (Deputy Commissioners) and SSPs (Senior Superintendents of Police) are directed to personally ensure that such an incident does not happen anywhere in the state in future,” according to the order issued by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) on Sunday.

    “In view of the extremely surcharged atmosphere when such BJP programmes are scheduled in your districts, DCs, CPs (Commissioners of Police), and SSPs must ensure the maintenance of public order and communal harmony and ensure the safety and security of visiting BJP leaders,” it said.

    After the Muktsar incident, the BJP had held protests at many places in the state against the attack on Narang.

    Several Punjab BJP leaders had even staged a sit-in outside the official residence of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh here on Sunday.

    Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore too had condemned the attack on Narang and had sought a report from the Congress-led government in the state.

    The governor had called up the Punjab Chief Minister, who holds the home portfolio, and conveyed his serious concern over the incident.

    Several political parties had already condemned the incident.

    BJP leaders in Punjab are facing the ire of farmers demanding the withdrawal of the Centre’s three new agricultural laws for the last four months.

    The agitating farmers have even disrupted programmes of BJP leaders on a few occasions.

  • Farmers celebrate ‘Holika Dahan’ by burning copies of Centre’s farm laws

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Farmers camping at Delhi borders on Sunday burnt copies of the Centre’s new farm laws they have been protesting against during ‘Holika Dahan’, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha said.

    The protesting farmers celebrated Holi at the borders and maintained that their agitation will continue till the farm laws are repealed and a separate law on minimum support price is enacted, it said in a statement.

    The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a joint front of farmer unions, also said that it will observe “FCI Bachao Diwas” on April 5, adding that offices of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) will be gheraoed from 11 am to 5 pm across the country.

    “The government has made several attempts to end the minimum support price (MSP) and public distribution system (PDS) indirectly. The FCI’s budget has also been reduced over the last few years. Recently, the FCI also changed the rules for procurement of crops,” the statement said.

    The SKM also condemned the passage of the Haryana Recovery of Damages to Property during Disturbance to Public Order Bill, 2021 by the Haryana Assembly, saying it aims to suppress agitations.

    “It contains dangerous provisions that would surely prove fatal to democracy,” the body added.

  • Will fast unto death if farm laws not repealed: Bhagat Singh’s kin

    By Express News Service
    CHANDIGARH: Freedom fighter Bhagat Singh’s nephew Abhay Sandhu announced to go on a fast unto death if the Centre does not accept the demands of the agitating farmers till March 23.

    Sandhu and his kin reached Delhi’s Singhu border where the Samyukta Kisan Morcha revived a century-old Pagdi Sambhal Jatta’ movement in the ongoing protest against the three central farm laws.  

    The family members of the martyr were honoured with turbans and presented memento by the farm leaders.

    March 23 was chosen for its historic overtone as it is observed as Shaheed Diwas to commemorate the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev Highlighting the importance of the Pagdi Sambhal Lehar, the SKM leaders said a peasant movement had gained momentum forcing the British to take back three laws which were enacted in 1906.

    The unity of the farmers affirms that this present movement will also be successful more than a century later, they asserted. 

  • Union Minister Ramdas Athawale attacks Rahul Gandhi over ‘two friends’ jibe at PM Narendra Modi

    By PTI
    PUNE: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Saturday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was misleading farmers protesting against the Centre’s new agri marketing laws.

    Gandhi, speaking at a rally in Rupangarh in Rajasthan earlier in the day, had said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through the three new farm laws, wanted to “hand over” the country’s agriculture sector to his “two friends”.

    Hitting out at Gandhi, Athawale said the allegations the Congress leader was making about big industrialists and the farm laws were aimed at misleading farmers.

    The Union minister was speaking to reporters in Pimpri Chinchwad.

  • PM Narendra Modi’s parasite reference has deeply hurt farmers: Union leaders

    By PTI
    GHAZIABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi referring to farmers as ‘parasites’ has deeply hurt the farming community, leaders of unions protesting against the Centre’s agriculture laws said on Saturday.

    They also called on the farming community to respond to the ‘diplomatic abuses’ with ‘diplomatic punishmen’ by rejecting the government.

    The remarks came as farmer leaders Darshan Pal, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Gurnam Singh Chaduni and Rakesh Tikait of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha held an interaction with the press at Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border.

    The farmer leaders also announced that on Sunday torch processions and candle marches will be organised across the country to pay homage to the soldiers who have laid down their lives in line of action and the farmers who have died during the ongoing stir on the Delhi borders since November.

    ALSO READ: Protestors won’t return home till agreement is reached, says BKU leader Rakesh Tikait

    “The event will be held from 7 pm to 8 pm,” the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) said in a statement.

    Farmer leader Darshan Pal said through the “kisan panchayats”, they are trying to put pressure on the government so that it accepts their demands and the protest could end.

    “Farmers of the entire country are involved in the movement,” he said.

    Referring to a discussion on the farmers’ movement in the British Parliament, Pal said, “The government should understand our problem.”

    Balbir Singh Rajewal said the prime minister has given ‘diplomatic gaaliyan’ (abuses) to farmers in Parliament.

    ALSO READ: Rakesh Tikait address ‘mahapanchayat’ at Kurukshetra, criticises PM Narendra Modi’s remark on protesters

    “By calling the farmers parasites, he has deeply hurt the entire farming community. The prime minister, through his statement, has given wounds to the farmers of the country that would be remembered for generations,” Rajewal said.

    He added that the government has given ‘diplomatic abuses’ to farmers, who should reject it and give a ‘diplomatic punishment’.

    Chaduni claimed that with the new laws, the entire business of farming will go to big corporates and the farmers would be left to fend for themselves.

    He was also apprehensive that the big corporates would hoard grains in warehouses and control price of crops according to their will.

    ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi should ask MPs, MLAs to give up pension, use funds to support youth, says Rakesh Tikait

    “Farmers are not going to leave the borders of Delhi without having their demands met by the government,” he added.

    Tikait said the protesting farmers are ‘guests of Delhi’ who will keep coming to the national capital and going back to their homes to look after their farms.

    “We are holding farmers’ meetings across the country and will keep doing it until the demands are met. We are ready for talks with the government but the channel would remain same – the Singhu border,” Tikait said.

    He also said the Samyukta Kisan Morcha will provide a list of questions to farmers who will pose these to their elected representatives.

    He called on farmers to keep the momentum of the protests going, along with keeping an eye on their farms.

    The farmer leaders also expressed concern over protesters ‘missing’ since the January 26 violence in Delhi and those arrested by police in connection with the probe into the incident.

  • Farmers would have died even while staying back home: Haryana Agriculture Minister JP Dalal

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: In a controversial remark over farmers’ death at various protest sites, Haryana Agriculture Minister JP Dalal on Saturday said they would have died even if they had stayed back home.

    Dalal made the remark in Bhiwani in response to a reporter’s query over the ‘death of 200 farmers’.

    “Had they been at their homes, they would have died there also,” Dalal said.

    “Listen to me, out of one to two lakh, do not 200 people die in six months?” he asked in response.

    “Someone is dying of a heart attack and someone after falling ill,” he added.

    Several Punjab and Haryana farmers, participating in farmers’ agitation against the Centre’s three farm laws at various Delhi border points, have died of different reasons including cardiac arrest.

    Hours after making the statement, the Haryana agriculture minister said he has seen ‘twisted’ statements, attributed to him, on social media.

    He said ‘wrong meaning’ was given to his statements.

    “If anybody is hurt by it, I tender my apology,” he said, adding he would continue to work for farmers’ welfare.

    He said it is painful if anyone dies.

    Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala attacked Dalal over his remarks and said such a statement can only be made by an ‘insensitive’ person.

    “These words can only be used by an insensitive man for agitating ‘annadatas’,” said Surjewala in a tweet.

    Haryana Congress chief Kumari Selja too slammed Dalal for his statement.

    “This reaction and laughter of the Haryana agriculture minister on the sacrifice of our farmer brothers are very sad,” she said in a tweet.

    Punjab Congress leader Raj Kumar Verka also demanded Dalal’s ouster from the Haryana Cabinet over huis ‘insensitive’ remarks.

    Thousands of farmers have been protesting since late November at Delhi borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, demanding a rollback of 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.

    The protesting farmers have been expressing fear that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) mechanism, leaving them at the “mercy” of big corporate houses.

    The Centre, however, has been insisting that the new laws will bring better opportunities to farmers and introduce new technologies in agriculture.

  • Some people agitating just for sake of protest: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar on farmers’ stir

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said some people are agitating just for the “sake of protest” against the Centre’s farm laws, which reflects their “vested political intent”.

    He, however, said the Centre will be ready for any amendement in the laws if required.

    According to a statement, Khattar said this after a meeting with state MPs in New Delhi, in which their suggestions were sought for the next state budget to be presented in the Haryana assembly in March.

    Commenting on the agitation against the farm laws, Khattar said the Centre is clearly of the view that the three laws are for the benefit of farmers and will give a boost to the agricultural sector.

    ALSO READ: Rakesh Tikait address ‘mahapanchayat’ at Kurukshetra, criticises PM Narendra Modi’s remark on protesters

    Some people are protesting just for the ‘sake of protest’ and it shows their ‘vested political intent’, the chief minister said according to the statement.

    However, if through a positive dialogue, any amendment in these laws is required, then the Union government will always be ready for it, the CM said, adding that he is hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon.

    In the meeting held at the residence of Union minister Rattan Lal Kataria on Friday, the CM said suggestions and expectations of the MPs regarding the development of their constituencies will be looked into during the preparation of the state budget.

    ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi should ask MPs, MLAs to give up pension, use funds to support youth, says Rakesh Tikait

    He said like the previous year, this year too the state’s budget will be prepared after holding discussions with the Haryana MPs.

    The valuable suggestions given by the MPs will definitely be incorporated in the upcoming budget, the CM said.

    The meeting was attended by Rattan Lal Kataria, MPs Arvind Kumar Sharma, Dharambir Singh, Ramesh Chander Kaushik, Nayab Singh Saini, Sanjay Bhatia, Brijendra Singh and Sunita Duggal.

    Rajya Sabha MPs Lt Gen D P Vats (retd), Dushyant Gautam and Ram Chander Jangra were also present, as per the statement.

  • VP Venkaiah Naidu favours moderation while using social media to prevent abuse, calls for ending farmers’ stir

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday called for moderation in the use of social media to prevent its abuse and avoid controversies so as not to hurt anyone’s feelings.

    His comments came in the backdrop of the government expressing “strong displeasure” over Twitter’s delay in taking prompt action against accounts and hashtags spreading misinformation and provocative content about the farmers’ stir.

    In an informal interaction with reporters, Naidu, who is also the Rajya Sabha chairman, called for an early resolution to the ongoing farmers agitation through talks and said extreme or maximalist positions would not help in resolving the issue.

    Referring to the discourse on pulling down and restoring some accounts by Twitter regarding some comments on farmers’ agitation, Naidu stressed the best of way to effectively use social media without offending others is for the users to adopt the principle of moderation in content generation.

    Asked what he meant by moderation, the Vice President said extreme positions should not be taken so as not to hurt anyone’s feelings.

    Asserting that he was against controlling social media, Naidu said such effective platforms should not be misused and abused, and social media should not be allowed to be converted into theatres of war.

    ALSO READ: Rakesh Tikait address ‘mahapanchayat’ at Kurukshetra, criticises PM Narendra Modi’s remark on protesters

    Wars are hazardous to all, he said.

    “Content for social media should be generated in a restrained and responsible manner by keeping the reactions to such content in mind. Such reflection would minimise offensive posts. Provocation should not be the objective. Sharing of views for better perspectives should be,” the Vice President said.

    About the farmers’ agitation, he said taking extreme or maximalist positions would not help in resolving the issue.

    Both the government and the farmers are willing to talk further even after 11 rounds of discussion already held.

    Talks should be taken forward for early resolution of the issue, Naidu said.

    ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi should ask MPs, MLAs to give up pension, use funds to support youth, says Rakesh Tikait

    “Taking extreme or maximalist positions by any side makes it difficult to resolve the issue as it makes accommodation of the other point of view difficult. Accordingly, the principle of moderation applies in this case as well,” he said.

    Referring to 100 years of first direct elections to the country’s central and provincial legislatures in 1920 and consolidation of India as a democracy and a Republic, he said, “Democracy is all about discussion and negotiated resolution of differences. It inherently calls for moderation without taking to extremes.”

    “It applies to both the issues concerning social media and farmers’ agitation.”

    Thousands of farmers have been protesting since late November at Delhi’s borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, demanding a rollback of three contentious laws, which they feel would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the “mercy” of big corporations.

    However, the Centre has maintained that the laws will bring better opportunities to farmers and introduce new technologies in agriculture.

    ALSO READ: No ‘ghar wapsi’ till farmers’ demands are met, says BKU leader Rakesh Tikait

    Naidu said the during the Budget session, Rajya Sabha has witnessed the crescendo of positivity and clocked near 100 per cent productivity during first part.

    He noted that during the farewell of four retiring members of the House, including the Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, Rajya Sabha witnessed a “crescendo of positivity with both the sides expressing and demonstrating good will for each other and prime minister leading the way in this regard”.

    “Such a human spirit brings out the best of all. Even though political differences are bound to be there, such spirit of recognition of contributions of all sections of the House builds bridges,” the Rajya Sabha chairman said.