News Analysis India

Tag: Farmers Protest

  • Delhi Police send notice to activist Yogita Bhayana over her tweets on Republic Day violence

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police has sent a notice to social activist Yogita Bhayana over her “fake” Twitter posts on the Republic Day violence in the national capital asking her to appear for questioning, officials said on Wednesday.

    Responding to the development, Bhayana accused the Delhi Police of “suppressing” her voice, and said her only “crime” was that she had been supporting the farmers protesting against three Central agricultural laws.

    ALSO READ| One arrested for violence at Red Fort during farmers’ tractor parade on Republic Day

    The notice has been sent to Bhayana asking her to appear before the police in a case registered under Indian Penal Code sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), and 505(1)(b) (circulating statement, rumour that may induce somebody to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility).

    “This is to inform you that investigation of the above said case is being carried out. During investigation, it was found that the two allegedly fake posts were uploaded from your Twitter account,” the notice says.

    “You are requested to inform the source and reason for uploading the posts. You are also requested to inform the date, time of place where you will be available for the investigation. Please inform the said details within two days from the receipt of this notice,” it stated.

    दिल्ली पुलिस ने मेरे नाम पर #FIR दर्ज किया है।मेरा गुनाह ये है कि मैं किसान आंदोलन में किसान भाइयों का साथ दे रही हूं।#DelhiPolice मेरी आवाज को दबाना चाहती है !!
    — Yogita Bhayana ਯੋਗਿਤਾ ਭਯਾਨਾ (@yogitabhayana) February 3, 2021

    In a tweet in Hindi, which she has pinned on her wall, Bhayana said, “The Delhi Police has registered an FIR against me. My crime is that I have been supporting the farmers in their protest. The Delhi Police wants to suppress my voice.”

    मैंने अपने दिन की शुरुआत अपने हाथ में #DelhiPolice की #FIR के साथ की थी।मैंने अपने दिन का अंत हजारों लोगों के साथ किया,जिन्होंने मेरे नाम पर विश्वास दिखाया।जिनके वजह से ट्विटर पहली बार ट्रेंडिंग कर रही हूँ.दिल से धन्यवाद
    — Yogita Bhayana ਯੋਗਿਤਾ ਭਯਾਨਾ (@yogitabhayana) February 3, 2021

    In another tweet, she said, “I feel Delhi Police is misgoverned and doing exactly opposite of what we expect from them. I am with farmers and I know I am fighting for truth.”

     On January 30, the Delhi Police had filed a case against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, The Caravan magazine and others for allegedly misleading public regarding the death of a protester at ITO during a tractor parade by farmers on January 26 which had turned violent.

    Earlier, Tharoor and six journalists were booked by the Noida Police for sedition, among other charges, over the violence during the farmers’ tractor rally in Delhi. The Madhya Pradesh police has also filed a case against Tharoor and the six journalists over their alleged “misleading” tweets on the violence during the farmers’ tractor rally in Delhi.

    ALSO READ| Student, youth activists gather at Mandi House for march in support of protesting farmers

    On January 26, thousands of protesting farmers had clashed with the police during the tractor rally called by farmer unions to highlight their demand for repeal of the Centre’s three farm laws. One protesting farmers had died at ITO during the march, with the Delhi Police saying he was killed after his tractor overturned.

  • Motivated campaigns targeting India won’t succeed: S Jaishankar on global support for farmers’ stir

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Motivated campaigns targeting India will never succeed, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday, in comments that came on a day his ministry hit out singer Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg for their support to farmers agitating against the new agricultural laws.

    ALSO READ| India equipped to resolve crisis amicably: Lata Mangeshkar

    A tweet by Rihanna extending support to protesting farmers triggered a wave of support for them by a number of global celebrities, activists and politicians. “Motivated campaigns targeting India will never succeed. We have the self confidence today to hold our own. This India will push back,” Jaishankar said on Twitter with hastags #IndiaTogether and #IndiaAgainstPropaganda.

    Motivated campaigns targeting India will never succeed. We have the self confidence today to hold our own. This India will push back. #IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda
    — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 3, 2021

    In a strong response to the remarks made by Rihanna and other celebrities and activists, the Ministry of External Affairs earlier said the “temptation” of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments is “neither accurate, nor responsible”.

    Besides Rihanna, Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg, Meena Harris, an American lawyer and niece of US Vice President Kamala Harris, actress Amanda Cerni, singers Jay Sean, Dr Zeus and former adult star Mia Khalifa too voiced their support to the protesting farmers.

    Rihanna on Tuesday became the first global name to voice her support to the ongoing farmers agitation while criticising the Internet shutdown at the protest sites at Delhi border.

    ALSO READ| Akshay, Ajay and others say ‘India against propaganda’ after Rihanna, Greta support farmers protest

    In its reaction, the MEA also said some “vested interest groups” are trying to enforce their agenda on the protests and that a very small section of farmers in parts of the country have some reservations about the farm reforms which were passed by the Parliament after a full debate and discussion.

    “Before rushing to comment on such matters, we would urge that the facts be ascertained, and a proper understanding of the issues at hand be undertaken,” the MEA said in the statement on ‘recent comments by foreign individuals and entities on the farmers’ protests’.

    Tens of thousands of farmers have been protesting at three border points on the outskirts of Delhi demanding a complete repeal of the three farm laws.

  • Mobile internet curbs lifted in Haryana’s Panipat and Charkhi Dadri districts

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government on Wednesday lifted mobile internet curbs in Panipat and Charkhi Dadri, even as the services will continue to remain suspended in five other districts of the state till 5 pm on February 4, an official said.

    The mobile internet services were suspended in some districts of the state “to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order” amid a protest by farmers against three agri laws. The official said that the curbs have now been lifted in Panipat and Charkhi Dadri districts.

    However, the state 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 five districts — Kaithal, Jind, Rohtak, Sonipat and Jhajjar till 5 pm on February 4.

    The 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 order stated.

    The government’s move to suspend mobile internet services in 17 districts earlier and later on keeping these suspended in a few places led to protests by farmers in the state. Opposition parties had also condemned the curbs on mobile internet in some parts, saying the move would affect the students who were preparing to appear in final exams.

    On Tuesday, the state government had ordered suspension of mobile internet services in three districts near Delhi after violence broke out during the farmers’ tractor parade in the national capital on Republic Day.

  • Rahul Gandhi ‘conspires’ with anti-India elements during his visits abroad: BJP

    BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra hit out at Gandhi over his attack on the government over the farmers #39; issue.

  • Congress made deal with BJP to not raise farmers’ protest issue in Parliament: AAP MP Sanjay Singh

    After being marshalled out of Rajya Sabha, Singh asked the Congress to clarify its stand on the farm laws enacted by the Centre recently.

  • Ex-SAD leader sends legal notice to Twitter to delete Kangana’s defamatory tweet against farmers

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Manjit Singh GK has sent a legal notice to social media giant Twitter asking it to immediately delete the account of Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut for tweeting alleged defamatory statements against farmers.

    The legal notice, which was sent to the Managing Director of Twitter in Maharashtra on Tuesday through e-mail, said the posts by the actress are factually incorrect and are maligning or tarnishing the image, reputation and goodwill of farmers and the entire Sikh community associated with them.

    The notice, sent through advocate Naginder Benipal, said it was given for attacking the three farm laws passed by the Central Government with the assent of the President.

    Referring to Ranaut’s tweet, it said that on February 2, she had replied to a tweet of international pop star Ms.Rihanna who had tweeted “why aren’t we talking about this?! #FarmersProtest”.

    In her reply, Ranaut tweeted “No one is talking about it because they are not farmers they are terrorists who are trying to divide India, so that China can take over our vulnerable broken nation and make it a Chinese colony much like USA.”

    The notice claimed that the actress was using her fan following to try and defame the farmers and the Sikh community so associated with it and has declared them anti-national by claiming them to be terrorists who are trying to weaken the strength and protection of the country.

    “My client is very concerned and serious in protecting the integrity of the nation, the farmers and the entire Sikh community and will not accept such derogatory, false and malicious statements against the farmers,” Benipal said in the notice.

    It said Singh, President of Jagg Asra Guru Ott (JAGO) a religious party, has taken objection to the actress’ act and he is constrained to issue this legal notice to Twitter to delete her account immediately to stop her from harming the peace of the nation.

    “In the light of the aforesaid, it is requested that the said tweets be taken down/ blocked off from your web portal with immediate effect. The said defamatory/ disparaging/ denigrating (statements) have already been reported on your web portal as per the procedure prescribed albeit they are available for public viewership till date.

    Kindly note, that if the said tweets are not take down and her account is not blocked from your platform, then you shall be considered liable for the defamatory content and as such we reserve our right to initiate appropriate legal proceedings as per law which shall be at your sole risk and consequences,” the notice said.

    It also said that if the company fails to comply with the notice, it shall be solely at its risk and consequences and that Singh would be entitled to seek recourse of all legal remedies.

  • Farmers’ protest is ‘experiment’, will be replicated if successful: MP minister Narottam Mishra

    By PTI
    BHOPAL: A senior Madhya Pradesh Minister claimed on Wednesday that the farmers’ protest against the new farm laws is an “experiment” which could be replicated to push against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and other measures of the Centre.

    Speaking to reporters here, state home minister Narottam Mishra also said that like the protest against the CAA, the present agitation on Delhi borders is based on only assumptions and not facts.

    “The farmers’ agitation is not a protest but an experiment,” the BJP leader said.

    “If it is successful and the farm laws are withdrawn, then these people will start protests against CAA, (the abrogation of) Article 370 and the Ram temple,” he alleged.

    The protesters term the farm laws “black laws” but can not explain what is “black” about them, Mishra said.

    “Like the anti-CAA protest, the farmers’ agitation is a movement based on assumptions,” he said, while accusing the Congress of misleading the farmers and hampering their talks with the government.

    Farmers have been agitating against the three new central agriculture laws at Delhi borders since November.

  • Farmers’ protest: Tikait holds show of strength, warns govt of ‘gaddi wapsi’ demand

    By PTI
    JIND (HARYANA): In a show of strength here by protesting farmers, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday warned the government that it could find it difficult to stay on in power if the new agri-marketing laws are not repealed.

    Just before Tikait was to begin his speech at the ‘mahapanchayat’ in Kandela village, the stage on which the farmer leaders had gathered collapsed under their weight.

    Nobody was reported hurt and the BKU leader went on to address the large gathering.

    Calling for a “wapsi” (withdrawal) of the three new central laws, the BKU leader indirectly warned the Narendra Modi government that it could lose its “gaddi” (power) if the agitation continues.

    “We have so far talked about “bill wapsi” (repealing the farm laws). The government should listen carefully. What will you do if the youth call for “gaddi wapsi” (removal from power)?” he said.

    He asked the Centre to repeal the three laws and frame a new one to assure the continuation of the minimum support price (MSP) system.

    The BKU leader from Uttar Pradesh has been camping at Ghazipur on the Delhi-UP border as part of a campaign by farmer unions against the central laws enacted in September.

    Farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, are also massed at Tikri and Singhu on the Delhi-Haryana border for two months.

    After violence on Republic Day, police barricaded these protest sites with cement barriers and spikes on the roads leading to them.

    Criticising the restrictions, Tikait said, “When the king is scared, he secures the fortress.”

    He suggested that he would lay down on the nails embedded on the roads there so that others can cross them by stepping on him.

    He said the Centre must talk with the farmer unions spearheading the agitation.

    The ‘mahapanchayat’ was attended by Haryana BKU chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni and BKU leader from Punjab, Balbir Singh Rajewal.

    Over 50 “khap” leaders were also present.

    Jind is often considered part of Haryana’s political heartland and the ‘mahapanchayat’ was meant to muster support for the agitation.

    It was organised by Sarva Jatiya Kandela Khap headed by Tekram Kandela.

    Shortly before Tikait was to speak, the makeshift stage collapsed.

    He appealed to the gathering not to panic and began his speech.

    Farmer leaders said there were no reports of anyone being hurt.

    Tikait said the campaign against the farm laws was going strong.

    “The way we are getting support from khap panchayats, we will win this fight.”

    He urged everyone involved, particularly the youth, to keep protesting in a peaceful manner.

    Tikait underlined the role played by farmers and their unions from Punjab.

    “We need their help. Haryana and Uttar Pradesh will back them. We will maintain the prestige of the farmer’s turban,” he said.

    Five resolutions were passed at the “mahapanchayat”.

    These urged the government to repeal the new laws, give a legal guarantee for the MSP, implement the Swaminathan Commission report, waive farm loans and release farmers arrested after the events in Delhi on January 26.

    Khap leader Kandela said the prime minister and the Union home minister should directly talk with the protesting farmers.

  • Lok Sabha adjourned twice as Opposition continues protest over 3 new farm laws

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned twice on Wednesday as the protesting opposition members demanded a separate discussion on the farm laws issue.

    As soon as the House met at 4 PM, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury tried to raise the issue of farmers’ agitation, saying that the matter is maligning the image of the country.

    “We are concerned,” he said.

    Urging members to return to their seats, Speaker Om Birla said they should maintain the dignity of the House or else he will have to take disciplinary actions against those who violate norms.

    He said the Question Hour is important and it should go on.

    But opposition members refused to relent, forcing him to adjourn the proceedings till 4.30 PM.

    Following the first adjournment when the house reassembled at 4:30 PM, Chowdhury demanded that there should be a separate discussion on the Presidential address and the farmers’ issue.

    The Speaker said the members should maintain the dignity of the House and return to the seats.

    He said that sufficient time and opportunity would be given to them to express their views.

    Birla urged AAP leader Bhagwant Mann to go to his seat if he wants a discussion and warned him of action.

    But the opposition members refused to relent forcing him to adjourn the proceedings again till 5 PM.

    Several farmer unions have been staging protests at various border points of Delhi since late November demanding the repeal of the farm laws.

    Members of the Congres, DMK, Trinamool, and Bhagwant Mann of the AAP were at the forefront of raising slogans against the farm laws and the treatment meted out to the protesting farmers.

  • India’s reputation has taken ‘massive hit’: Rahul Gandhi on farmers’ protest

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing farmers’ protest against the new farm laws, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said India’s reputation has taken a “massive hit” and its biggest strength, its soft power, has been “shattered” by the BJP and the RSS.

    Addressing a press conference, he said that the farmers’ issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible and the government needs to listen to them.

    Asked if India’s image at the international level has taken a beating with barricading at Delhi’s borders where farmers are protesting and reports of treatment meted out to them, Gandhi said, “Absolutely the reputation of India has taken a massive hit. Not only on how we are treating our farmers, but on how we treat our people, how we treat journalists.”

    “Our biggest strength, you can call it soft power, has been shattered by the BJP-RSS, their mindset,” he said.

    Referring to the multi-layered barricading and roadblocks at protest sites, the former Congress chief asked why the national capital was being converted into a “fortress”, and asserted that farmers work hard for the country and should not be treated in this manners Alleging that there is no leadership in the country anymore, Gandhi said, “My constant request to the prime minister is ‘do your job’.

    Your job is not to sell this country to one per cent of the population, your job is to protect the ‘kisaan’ (farmers) who are standing outside (Delhi). Go hold their hand, give them a hug and tell them ‘what is it that I can do for you’.”

    “So the PM has basically given up, he is now on a different plane. We are going somewhere else now and the country is not being run. It is my request to the prime minister that please gather up your courage and run the country,” he said.