News Analysis India

Tag: Delhi farmers protest

  • Farmers protest at Noida border against ‘attack’ on Rakesh Tikait

    By Express News Service
    NOIDA: Traffic movement was disrupted between Noida and Delhi through a key route on Friday evening after a group of farmers started protesting on the road stretch. The members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) demonstrated against the attack on their leader Rakesh Tikait in Rajasthan earlier on Friday.

    “The Chilla route between Noida and Delhi has been affected due to the demonstration. Commuters can use the DND (Delhi-Noida Direct) flyway or the Kalindi Kunj route for travelling,” a Noida Traffic Police official said.

    Due to the sudden closure of the route, several vehicles piled up on the busy road stretch at the Uttar Pradesh-Delhi border around 8 pm. Stones were allegedly pelted at the convoy Tikait in Alwar district, damaging the rear windshield of his car.

    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.

    The incident took place when Tikait’s convoy reached Tatarpur chauraha on its way to his second rally venue, the SP said, adding the farmer leader addressed two rallies in the district on Friday. He said Kuldeep Rai, a student leader of Alwar-based Matsya University, along with his supporters showed black flags when the cavalcade was passing.  “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.

  • Most promises kept, Amarinder Singh sad about  Centre’s farm stand

    Express News Service
    CHANDIGARH: Despite his Congress party sweeping the recent civic body elections where electronic voting machines (EVM) were used for the first time in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has advocated reverting to ballot papers. He thinks EVMs can be manipulated.  Talking on the occasion of completing four years at the helm in Punjab, Amarinder also claimed that his government has fulfilled 85 per cent promises made in the manifesto of 2017. He said this is a record, bettering the mark of 81 per cent set by  Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh.

    “I support reverting to the paper ballot system. In this electronic age, why are advanced countries like Japan, Sweden, UK, Norway not using EVMs? They  know this can be manipulated. Why are we using them?” he asked. Amarinder opposed the policy of excessive regionalisation followed in certain states. “I believe India is one country. Too much regionalisation is not good,” he said,  responding to a question on job reservation for local youth in neighbouring Haryana. “If we start regionalising, we will suffer,” he warned.

    Making it clear that his government was opposed to the Centre’s farm laws, Amarinder urged the government to bring in new laws after discussions with farmers. However, Amarinder added that he could not see a middle path to break the stalemate. “What’s the point in making it a prestige issue? How many more farmers do you want to kill? They are poor farmers sitting there, with women and elderly,” he said, pointing out that Punjab has lost 112 farmers since the agitation began.

    Asked about Navjot Singh Sidhu’s reinclusion in the state cabinet, the chief minister said: “Everyone wants him to be part of our team.” He sounded hopeful that Sidhu would take a positive decision soon. Amarinder said he would also be happy to have Partap Singh Bajwa and Shamsher Dhullo as part of the team. “In a difficult hour, you have to set aside your own ambitions and stand with the party,” he said.Taking serious note of the increase in drone movement from across the border, Amarinder said: “As long as I am here, no Khalistani or Pakistani or any other terrorist activity will be allowed to disturb the peace of the state.”

  • Farmers’ protest: Ghazipur border reopens, traffic movement allowed from Delhi to UP

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: The Ghazipur border, which was closed due to farmers’ protests against Central farm laws, was reopened on Monday for traffic movement. However, the movement is allowed only for those entering Uttar Pradesh from the national capital.

    The decision to open the carriageway of the National Highway-24 going towards Ghaziabad from Delhi has been opened after discussions between Delhi Police with police officials of Ghaziabad district.

    “In view of prevailing law and order situation at the Ghazipur border and considering public convenience, the carriageway of NH-24 going towards Ghaziabad from Delhi has been opened after consultation with police officials of Ghaziabad District, Uttar Pradesh,” said Delhi Police.

    “Traffic Alert: Gazipur Border, Delhi to Gazipur is open for traffic movement,” Delhi police tweeted.

    On March 2, the Ghazipur border, which remained closed since January 26 following the Republic Day violence, was reopened for vehicular movement. Later, the border was closed for traffic movement.

    Ghazipur border is among those sites where farmers have been protesting since November 26 last year against the three newly enacted farm laws — 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.

    As agitating farmers assemble at the Gazipur border and tried to break police barricades, one carriageway of the National Highway 24 for Uttar Pradesh to Delhi was first closed for traffic on December 3 last year. 

  • Farm laws: Footfall at mahapanchayats emboldens unions 

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, body of farmer unions leading the protest against the new farm laws, claimed on Friday that over 10,000 farmers participated in ‘mahapanchayats’ in Bilari and Bahadurgarh.

    “The impressive series of farmer mahapanchayats continue to unfold in a massive outpour of support. Today, tens of thousands of farmers participated in Bilari and Bahadurgarh mahapanchayats,” it said in a statement.

    “Farmers vowed that they will not allow corporations to profiteer in the name of ‘Food’ and at the expense of farmers. Hunger is not a business opportunity and shame on those governments and corporations that think so,” the statement said.

    The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) said 228 protestors have sacrificed their lives and became martyrs in the present agitation. “It is shameful that the government is admitting on the floor of parliament that it has no plans to extend support to the families of such martyrs. The government is to be blamed squarely for the lives lost. how many more lives does the government want to see sacrificed before it agrees to the legitimate demands of the protestors? We condemn the insensitivity of the government,” the farmers’ body asserted.

    Meanwhile, a signature campaign was launched at Singhu border demanding the release of Dalit rights activist Navdeep Kaur, who was arrested from the protest site. In another development, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait revealed plans by unions to hold meetings in PM Modi’s home state Gujarat and said protesters in Delhi will not return home until the Centre reaches an “ agreement” with them.

  • Government’s responsibility to ensure peace during ‘Chakka Jaam’: Farmer leader 

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Kisan Andolan Committee (KAC) leader Jagtar Singh Bajwa on Saturday said the ‘Chakka Jaam’ will be peaceful, and it is government’s responsibility to ensure that no anti-social elements create violence.

    “Our entire protest so far has been peaceful. The whole farmer fraternity wants to peacefully organise ‘Chakka Jaam’. But the government has to ensure, with the help of its agencies and security forces to prevent rowdy elements are conspiring to create violence, it should be prevented.”

    “We will organise ‘Chakka Jaam’ everywhere in the country barring Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand as Tikait announced last evening. We will register our protest against farm laws in front of authorities in these two states by submitting the memorandum,” he added.

    He further said that people from protest camps have gone back to their villages to ensure peace during ‘Chakka Jaam’ in their regions.

    READ HERE | Chakka jam today outside Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand

    Around 50,000 personnel of Delhi Police, Paramilitary and Reserve Forces have been deployed in the Delhi-NCR region to maintain law and order. At least 12 metro stations have also been put on alert. Heavy deployment of police personnel was also seen at the Red Fort.

    Farmer unions on Monday announced a countrywide ‘Chakka Jaam’ on February 6 from 12 pm to 3 pm.

    Farmers have been protesting at different borders of the national capital since November 26 last year against the three newly enacted farm laws: 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. 

  • BSP says Centre taking more efforts against farmers than on Indo-Pak borders, demands repeal of farm laws

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Bahujan Samaj Party Rajya Sabha MP Satish Chandra Misra on Friday slammed the Centre and alleged that the Centre had adopted an oppressive approach towards the ongoing farmers’ agitation against the three farm laws. He also urged the Centre to shun its ego and repeal the farm laws.

    Speaking during the ongoing discussion on the motion of thanks on the President’s address, the BSP leader said, “The BJP government has deployed jawans, allowed the use of water cannons and tear gas against farmers, blocked food supplies, water, even the toilets. They didn’t think even once that women were also present amongst protestors. This is what a gross violation of human rights is.”

    Misra alleged that farmers have been termed as anti-nationals and terrorists. “Remember, they have nothing to lose so you can’t suppress their voices,” he added.

    “The government has embedded spiked on roads, dug up trenches to deter the protestors. It seems like they are putting more efforts against farmers than on even the Indo-Pak borders. They have not dug up trenches for farmers, but for themselves,” he said.

    “Farmers are in fear that they will lose their land, and rightly so. You are selling Railways, Oil, Gas, even Ports. Forget private banks, the talk of selling even government banks is on. The way you sold stakes of LIC into the hands of private players, there is growing apprehension in the minds of farmers that you will reinstate the zamindari system by selling their land,” he added.

    He also raised questions over the intent of the Centre behind the new farm laws and decision to not give legal status to the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for all crops. He urged the Centre to shun its ego and repeal the farm laws.

    “We demand complete rollback of farm laws, the legal guarantee of MSPs for all crops, and the complete implementation of Swaminathan report,” he further remarked.

    Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 last year against the three newly enacted farm laws: 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. 

  • India compares Red Fort incident with Capitol violence as US flags internet cut

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Reacting for the first time to the ongoing farmers’ protests in Delhi, the US on Thursday said the new farm laws could improve market efficiency. It, however, frowned upon the Narendra Modi government’s crackdown on protesters by snapping internet connectivity at protest sites.

    “Unhindered access to information, including the internet, is fundamental to the freedom of expression and a hallmark of a thriving democracy,” the US State Department said. Urging India to resolve the deadlock through dialogue, it said “peaceful protests” are hallmarks of a democracy.

    ALSO READ | Oppression against us attracting international attention: Farmers

    In response, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said temporary measures with regard to internet access in certain parts of the NCR region were taken to prevent possible escalation of violence.

    “As you can see, the US State Department has acknowledged steps being taken by India towards agricultural reforms,” Srivastava added.

    “The incidents of violence and vandalism at the historic Red Fort on the 26th of January have evoked similar sentiments and reactions in India as did the incidents on the Capitol Hill on the 6th of January and are being addressed as per respective local laws,” he added.

    ALSO READ | Nuancing our response as support to farmers’ agitation goes global

    The remarks from the US administration come a day after India hit out at celebrities like pop star Rihanna and environment activist Greta Thunberg for allegedly spreading inaccuracies about the strike.

  • NDA ally JD(U) comes out in support of farm laws, asks farmers to resume talks with Centre

    Express News Service
    PATNA: Amid the ongoing farmers’ agitation against the new farm laws, JD (U) has come out in support of the new laws on Wednesday. JD(U) national president RCP Singh through a media statement said that the farm bill is not the “anti-farmer” in any manner.

    Singh said that the three farm laws are not the ‘anti-farmer’ and the “mandis” in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh used to be a den of corruption. “When our government came to Bihar, we abolished the APMC Act and see its result today. The grain production in Bihar was 81 lakh tonnes in 2005 that has now gone to 181 lakh tonnes”, Singh said.

    Quoting figures, RCP Singh said that Bihar has done well in the agriculture sector after abolishing the APMC Act. “In terms of productivity, maize production has increased by 135%, paddy by 119% and wheat by 118%. The opposition should not confuse people on such issues”, he said.

    Referring to the first law of the Kissan Bill, Singh said that the first law says that the farmer has the freedom to sell his products. There are no restrictions and is completely free. Similarly, talking about contract farming he said that informal contract farming is still happening in Bihar and UP.

    Talking about the Essential Commodities Act, he said that it came in 1954-55. “That was the era of scarcity. At that time, we were able to feed people when grains came from outside the country. Today we are in surplus in the production of food grains, fruits and vegetables”, he said.

    RCP Singh said that if somebody feels the three laws require improvement, then they should sit down and talk with the government. “We need to understand this. According to the order of the Supreme Court, the government is calling for talks, but you are calling the government dogmatic. Who is stopping you from talking? Let’s talk. How should the income of farmers increase, how should our farming be profitable, how should people not leave agriculture, should be discussed”, he said.

  • Maoists extend their support to farmers’ protest, hold Modi government responsible for Red Fort violence

    By Express News Service
    RAIPUR: As the farmers at the Delhi-UP borders continue their agitation against the Centre’s Farm Laws, the banned CPI (Maoist) has come forward to extend their support to the ongoing protest.  

    Three different outfits of the Maoists issued a joint statement expressing solidarity with the farmers and issued an appeal to continue the protest against the three farm laws of the Centre.

    The spokesperson of the Central Committee of CPI (Maoist) Abhay stated that the farmers’ agitation in Delhi and across the country reminds the then opposition to the Rowlatt Act of British India. He alleged “the central government is showing its stubborn attitude towards the plea of farmers”.

    Now the outlawed Maoists extend their support to the farmers’ protest @NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard pic.twitter.com/Y87rtAmTCv
    — Ejaz Kaiser (@KaiserEjaz) February 1, 2021

    The rebel organisations that cited the farmers’ tractor parade as “peaceful”, held the union government accountable for the march on Republic Day turning violent leading to uproarious scenes.

    Ranita Hichami, head of Krantikari Adivasi Mahila Sanghathan Dandakaranya and Vijay Markam of Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan demanding withdrawal of the laws had alleged such ‘laws would favour the corporate companies’.

    The Maoists claimed that not just the farmers but around 80 per cent of the country’s population would be affected by the three new agriculture laws.

  • Farmers’ protest: Internet snapped at Delhi borders for two days

    By Online Desk
    The Ministry of Home Affairs has suspended internet services on a temporary basis at protest sites till 11 pm of January 31, official sources said on Saturday.

    Internet connectivity has been snapped at Singhu, Ghazipur, Tikri borders and adjoining areas.

    The decision for suspending internet services has been taken to “maintain public safety and averting public emergency” under Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules 2017, the official said.

    One of the leaders of the farmers’ protests underway in and around Delhi, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said that the government feels “that if they weaken the movement, then it is their responsibility.”

    He added that the farmers’ movement will only become “greater” if the government tries to “crush” their voice. 

    गाजीपुर बॉर्डर पर इंटरनेट बंद कर दिया है सरकार ने , उन्हें लगता है कि इससे आंदोलन को वो कमजोर कर देंगे तो ये उनका वहम है । किसानों की आवाज़ को कुचलने के वो जितना प्रयास करेंगे ये आंदोलन उतना बड़ा होता जाएगा।
    — Rakesh Tikait (@rkeshtikait) January 30, 2021

    Hundreds of farmers have stayed put at the Ghazipur border on Saturday morning, with more supporters pouring in on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway.

    The Bharatiya Kisan Union-led protest against the Centre’s new farm laws 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.

    ALSO READ | Farmers’ protest: Union leaders observe day-long fast on Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary

    BKU’s Meerut Zone president Pawan Khatana, who is at the demonstration site with the BKU leader, 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.

    The protest sites are covered by heavy security deployment, including personnel of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), Rapid Action Force (RAF) in anti-riot gears and civil police.

    The protesting farmers expressed apprehension that these laws could be detrimental to the minimum support price (MSP) system, which makes them vulnerable to big corporations. 

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

    (With inputs from PTI)