News Analysis India

Tag: Farmers Protest

  • How can one claim the largest protest in history is all paid actors: Mia Khalifa on farmers’ stir

    By IANS
    MUMBAI: Lebanese-American former adult star Mia Khalifa tweeted early on Tuesday taking a dig at allegations that foreign celebrities were being paid to tweet in favour of the farmers protest in India.

    “I realized it’s inconceivable for us to understand how one can so vehemently claim the largest protest EVER, in HISTORY, is all paid actors, but India has over 1 BILLION PEOPLE, and we can’t fathom that… (It tallies up to about the same amount of insane QAnon believers tho),” she wrote.

    I realized it’s inconceivable for us to understand how one can so vehemently claim the largest protest EVER, in HISTORY, is all paid actors, but India has over 1 BILLION PEOPLE, and we can’t fathom that… (It tallies up to about the same amount of insane QAnon believers tho)
    — Mia K. (@miakhalifa) February 8, 2021

    In response, while a section of netizens supported her, trolls and memes featuring her also made it to the comments section, taking a jibe at Mia for interfering in India’s internal matter.

    ALSO READ | Farmers protest: Mia Khalifa questions the silence of ‘Mrs Jonas’

    Mia’s tweet comes a day after she questioned Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ silence over the farmers’ agitation in India. 

    “Is Mrs. Jonas going to chime in at any point? I’m just curious. This is very much giving me shakira during the Beirut devastation vibes. Silence,” Mia had tweeted on Monday. 

    However, she was soon reminded by netizens that the actress did speak out about the issue back in December.

  • Tweet in favour of protesting farmers: AAP to Sachin Tendulkar

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: AAP leader Preeti Sharma Menon has written a letter to cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar asking him to tweet in favour of protesting farmers as demanded by a young man who reportedly protested outside the former India captains residence here on Monday.

    Sharma Menon said the man, Ranjeet Bagal, came all the way from Pandharpur in Solapur district, around 400km from Mumbai, to request Tendulkar to put out at least one tweet in support of the farmers protesting against the Centre’s new agriculture laws near Delhi for more than two months now.

    In a photo shared by the AAP, Bagal can be seen holding in his hands a poster which questions Tendulkar when he will tweet in support of farmers.

    आम आदमी पार्टी च्या राष्ट्रीय नेत्या प्रीति शर्मा मेनन यांनी सचिन तेंडुलकर यांना पत्र लिहून शेतकऱ्यांच्या समर्थनार्थ ट्वीट करण्याची विनंती केली आहे.#म@AAPMaharashtra @PreetiSMenon #Farmers#KisanAndolan pic.twitter.com/RmqhmvkNeb
    — Dhananjay RamKrishna Shinde (@Dhananjay4AAP) February 8, 2021

    The poster also bears the name of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, a farmer organisation led by former MP Raju Shetti.

    Preeti Sharma Menon has endorsed Ranjeet’s request and has written an open letter to Sachin Tendulkar, imploring him to tweet in favour of our farmers who are protesting, a statement from the AAP said.

    Several celebrities, including Tendulkar, and legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, recently rallied around the central government on social media using hashtags #IndiaTogether and #IndiaAgainstPropaganda following tweets by American pop singer Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg who had backed the agitating farmers.

  • Do not link farmers’ stir with any religion, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal urges PM Narendra Modi

    By PTI
    FAZILKA: Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to link the agitation against the farm laws with any religion or community and said he should instead focus on giving ‘justice’ to farmers.

    The SAD chief told reporters here that farmers are on one platform against the Centre’s three contentious agricultural laws.

    “We should all be clear that farmers are fighting for the welfare of the ‘annadaata’ at large and we should not try to divide this struggle by trying to limit it to one religion or community,” Badal appealed to the PM while adding that he should instead focus on ensuring ‘justice’ to farmers.

    ALSO READ: At Singhu border, Rakesh Tikait’s cutouts, posters and badges of farmers stir draw crowd

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday had slammed those abusing agitating Sikh farmers, saying it won’t do the country any good as he went on to appeal to the protesting farmers to withdraw their over two-month-long stir and give the new agriculture reform laws a chance.

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

    The protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system, leaving them at the “mercy” of big corporations.

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

    SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was here to address ward-level meetings ahead of the February 14 civic body polls in the state, also slammed the ruling Congress, accusing it of unleashing ‘goondaism’.

    He urged the SAD workers to be resolute and ensure the victory of Akali candidates.

    He alleged that even though there was a ‘complete collapse’ of the law and order and the State Election Commission (SEC) had ‘abrogated’ its constitutional duty, the SAD will not be cowed down by such ‘tactics’.

    ALSO READ: Ready to take agitation across the nation, says Rakesh Tikait

    He said the officers who ‘murdered democracy’ and its institutions at the instance of the Congress party will be taken to task once the SAD formed a government in the state.

    Meanwhile, the SAD complained to the State Election Commission (SEC) regarding alleged changing of wards of many voters in Batala and urged it to immediately take action.

    In a complaint, SAD’s senior vice-president and spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said it is forwarding a complaint in this regard from MLA Batala Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal, in which he has mentioned how the ruling party is ‘trying to change’ wards of several hundred voters even after allotment of election symbol to the candidates.

  • ‘Informal’ school started by farmers’ group at Singhu border resumes after two-week break

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A makeshift ‘informal’ school at Delhi’s Singhu border, where farmers have been protesting the new agri laws, has resumed after a two-week break with less children owing to the tense situation following the tractor parade violence on Republic Day.

    A group of farmers from Punjab’s Anandpur Sahib had in December started the school in a makeshift tent for school going children who had accompanied their parents to the Singhu border protest site and those living in the slums nearby.

    Pioneered by writer Bir Singh and advocate Dinesh Chaddha, the temporary school is part of the multiple ‘sewa’ practices being offered at the protest site.

    ALSO READ: At Singhu border, Rakesh Tikait’s cutouts, posters and badges of farmers stir draw crowd

    Sukhwinder Singh Barwa, a resident of Roop Nagar district in Punjab, said they resumed the classes on February 5.

    “We started the school in the first week of December. There were over 170 students studying here. Due to the tense situation on Republic Day, we closed it on January 24. It was later resumed on Friday,” Barwa said.

    He said there were 30 local students who have never been to school before.

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

    “As the schools have opened and the internet was suspended here, most of the students who came here from Punjab and other states have gone back to attend their classes and to prepare for their upcoming exams. Now around 60 students come here. They are from class 1 to 7,” he said.

    The timing of classes is from 11 am to 4 pm.

    “During morning hours from 8 am to 11 am, there is library time where people read books whatever they want according to the availability. Earlier, we used to get almost every newspaper, however, after the restrictions were imposed, we only get few Hindi and Punjabi papers,” Barwa said.

    ALSO READ: Ready to take agitation across the nation, says Rakesh Tikait

    “We are teaching students general subjects, including morale science and languages. We also have the history books of different religions and those who are interested can read them. There are eight to nine teachers who teach students in a group of 10 according to their class,” he added.

    Its not just academic learning at the makeshift school but skill learning too.

    “Many students have tried their hands in painting also and they have done a really good job. They have created several beautiful pictures on charts which we have displayed at ‘Sanjhi Sath’, the place where classes being held. Several people come here by their own and draw pictures and write slogans on charts,” Barwa said.

    ‘Sanjhi Sath’ is a reference in Punjabi used for a place where people gather to have discussions.

    Maninder Singh, a resident of Ludhiana in Punjab, said children love them a lot.

    “Sunday is a holiday, but yesterday many students came to the school and urged us to take their classes. They wanted to study. We have not planned for the future when the protest will end, but we will do something for the children” he said.

    Maninder said the volunteers came in contact with each other at the protest site and started doing their work.

    Thousands of protesting farmers had clashed with the police during the tractor rally called by farmer unions on January 26 to highlight their demand for repeal of the Centre’s three farm laws.

    Many protesters, driving tractors, reached the Red Fort and entered the monument.

    Some protesters even hoisted religious flags on its domes and the flagstaff at the ramparts, where the national flag is unfurled by the prime minister on Independence Day.

  • PM Narendra Modi betrayed farmers by saying nothing about their problems: Congress

    Mallikarjun Kharge said PM Narendra Modi never bothered about the issues raised by the Congress and only talked about what he thought.

  • Is Maharashtra govt mentally stable? Ex-CM Devendra Fadnavis on probe into celebs’ tweets on agri laws

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The BJP on Monday slammed the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government after Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said the state intelligence department will probe allegations that some celebrities were pressurised recently to issue tweets in connection with the ongoing farmers’ protest.

    In a stinging attack, senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis termed the move as “disgusting and highly deplorable” and said the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) should feel ashamed while using the word “probe” for Bharat Ratna awardees.

    He also said that it seems necessary to probe the “mental state” of those who demanded the investigation and those who ordered it.

    “Has this MVA Govt lost all its senses? MVA should feel ashamed while using the word ‘probe’ for BharatRatnas! Actually, now it seems necessary to probe the mental state & stability of the ones who made such demand & of people who ordered probe against our BharatRatnas!” Fadnavis tweeted.

    Many celebrities including cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar rallied around the central government on social media using hashtags #IndiaTogether and #IndiaAgainstPropaganda following tweets by Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg backing farmers who are protesting near Delhi border.

    ALSO READ | Maharashtra govt to probe if celebs were forced to tweet on farmers’ stir by BJP: Congress’ Sachin Sawant

    Tendulkar and Mangeshkar are recipients of Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India.

    In an apparent swipe at the Shiv Sena which heads the MVA government, Fadnavis, a former chief minister, asked, “Where is your Marathi Pride now? Where is your Maharashtra Dharma? We will never find such ‘ratnas’ (gems) in entire Nation who order probe against BharatRatnas who always stand strong in one voice for our Nation!” Earlier in the day, home minister Deshmukh said the intelligence department in Maharashtra will probe whether some celebrities were allegedly pressurised recently to issue tweets in connection with the farmers’ protest after American pop star Rihanna and others talked about the stir on social media.

    Deshmukh, a senior NCP leader, made these remarks after the Congress sought investigation into the BJP’s alleged connection to the tweets posted by celebrities and whether they were “arm-twisted” to issue such tweets.

    The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is one of the ruling constituents with the Congress in the Sena-led government.

    Hitting back at Fadnavis, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant accused the BJP of deliberately trying to twist the issue.

    He said the Congress demaned the “probe of the BJP (connection to the tweets)”, and not of celebrities.

    “Why BJP is keeping mum on why tweets of Akshay Kumar and Saina Nehwal are matching with each other? Why Suniel Shetty tags his tweet to a BJP office bearer? Why BJP is scared of probe?” Sawant tweeted.

    Sawant further questioned why the drafts of most of the tweets are identical and have the same word “amicable” mentioned in them.

    He also claimed that there is a “great possibility” that some celebrities were “arm-twisted” by the BJP into issuing the tweets rallying around the Central government.

    “Those need to be given protection. Those who have opined on their own their opinion must be respected,” he added.

    He alleged that the BJP was capable of pressurising celebrities.

    “It is the duty of MVA govt to provide atmosphere where every individual can exercise their right of freedom of speech without any pressure. Even if pressure is from Modi govt,” Sawant added.

  • Farmers’ protest: After PM’s invite, ryots say ready for talks, ask government to choose date

    Express News Service
    CHANDIGARH: Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to end their agitation and return to the dialogue table, farmers’ leaders said they have never shied away from talks and would resume discussions once the Centre sends a fresh proposal and fixes the date and time. President of Krantikari Kisan Union Punjab Dr Darshan Pal said they have had 11 rounds of talks with three Union ministers, and were ready to continue engaging with the Centre. Dr Pal is a senior member of the umbrella organisation of multiple farmers’ unions. 

    Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait sought to reiterate the farmers’ position, saying they wanted a legal guarantee on MSP, cushioning the farmers from the vagaries of demand-supply defined rates for their produce. “If the government wants to hold talks, we are ready,” he said. The previous 11 rounds had failed to end the deadlock with the farmers sticking to their demand for the repeal of three farm laws, too.  

    Meanwhile, Dr Pal hit out at the prime minister’s andolan jivi (professional protestors) remark, saying: “We are proud of being andolan jivi. Without andolan, nothing changes. The British left our country only due to andolan,’’ he said. Tikait also sought to dismiss the remark saying that a protest that was earlier branded as Punjab’s, and later described as Jat-Sikh agitation, has managed to unite farmers across the country. “This is a protest by farmers across the country united for a cause,’’ he added.

  • PM Modi quotes Manmohan Singh referring to those taking ‘U-turn’ over farm laws

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Defending Centre’s policies for farmers and referring to those taking a “U-Turn” from laws, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday quoted his predecessor Manmohan Singh who had once called for making one single market for agriculture produce.

    “Manmohan Ji is here, I would read out his quote. Those taking a U-Turn (farm laws) will perhaps agree with him. ‘There are other rigidities because of marketing regime set up in the 1930s which prevent our farmers from selling their products where they get the highest rate of return…” said PM Modi in his reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in Rajya Sabha.

    “…It is our intention to remove all those handicaps, which come in the way of India realising its vast potential at one large common market,” he added.

    “Manmohan Singh Ji had made his intentions clear to give farmers the freedom to sell their produce, and have just one market. And we are doing it now. You all should be proud. ‘See, what Manmohan Singh Ji had said, Modi is having to do now. (woh Modi ji ko karna pad raha hai). Be proud!” PM Modi said.

    PM Modi’s statement comes amid the protest staged by farmers 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.

    The Prime Minister also said, the eyes of the world are on India and there are expectations that India will contribute to the betterment of our planet.

    He also said India is a young and enthusiastic land of opportunities and won’t let opportunities pass it by.

    On Friday, the marathon debate in the Rajya Sabha on the motion of thanks to the President’s address concluded with 50 speakers from 25 political parties taking part in the discussion, which was spread over three days.

    The discussion was one of the longest such debates with high participation of members, said officials.

    Eighteen members from BJP, seven of Congress and 25 from other parties had participated in the debate. 

  • Maharashtra govt to probe if celebs were forced to tweet on farmers’ stir by BJP: Congress’ Sachin Sawant

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Congress leader Sachin Sawant on Monday informed that Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has given orders to the Intelligence Department to probe the row over tweets by celebrities on the farmers’ issue.

    He also hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging that national heroes were being intimidated by the ruling party.

    “The government sprung into action after Rihanna tweeted on the farmers’ issue. This was followed by a series of tweets from celebrities. If a person, be it a celebrity, opines on their own, it’s fine. But there is scope for suspicion that the BJP is behind this. Similar words like ‘amicable’ have been used in these tweets,” Sawant told ANI.

    #WATCH | There was series of tweets after MEA’s response to Rihanna’s tweet. If a person opines on their own, it’s fine but there’s scope of suspicion that BJP could be behind this…Spoke to HM Deshmukh. He has given orders to Intelligence dept to probe: Congress’ Sachin Sawant pic.twitter.com/kutYYJjxqG
    — ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2021

    Celebrities like Sachin Tendulkar, Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty and Lata Mangeshkar among several others had tweeted calling for unity in the country after international pop star Rihanna, teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg and others extended their support to farmers protesting at the borders of India’s capital against the three agriculture laws.

    ALSO READ | Won’t allow business over hunger; need law on MSP: Rakesh Tikait as PM Modi defends farm laws in RS

    “National heroes should be provided security if BJP is intimidating them. I spoke to Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and he said it is a serious matter. He has given orders to the Intelligence department to probe into this,” the Congress leader said.

    He further emphasised that celebrities can and should be allowed to speak up for the country if they want to and added that there should be an investigation to see if the BJP has a role to play in the tweets.

    “They can speak for the country if they want of their own free will. We want an investigation to see if there is any pressure from the BJP. Was there any arm twisting? These things have happened before,” he said.

    Earlier on Saturday, days after Sachin Tendulkar made comments about the farmers’ protest, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday asked the former Indian skipper to “exercise caution while speaking about other fields”.

  • Farmers’ stir: Take cognisance of internet suspension during protest, political activist urges CJI

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Political activist and columnist Tehseen Poonawalla has written to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) S A Bobde urging him to take suo-motu cognisance of the “arbitrary suspension” of internet by the government whenever there is a protest.

    Under the present government, India holds the “disgraceful record of most internet ban amongst democracies across the globe” Poonawalla said.

    “Your Lordships, it is with great distress I am writing to you, pleading to immediately take suo-motu cognisance of the arbitrary suspension of internet by the government whenever there is a protest.

    ALSO READ | Won’t allow business over hunger; need law on MSP: Rakesh Tikait as PM Modi defends farm laws in RS

    “Your Lordships, you will agree that the internet today is an integral part of our lives. From medical records to daily livelihood, the internet is firmly embedded in today’s human life,” he said in the letter written to the CJI on Friday.

    He further said that the “present government and their supporters brand most dissent as anti-national, most dissenters as terrorists so that they can come down heavily and curb free speech while they themselves indulge in hate and provocative statements”.