News Analysis India

Tag: Farmers Protest

  • Haryana government extends suspension of mobile internet in 14 districts till 5 pm on February 1

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government on Sunday further extended the suspension of mobile internet services in 14 districts till 5 pm on February 1 to “prevent any disturbance of peace and public order” amid a protest by farmers against three farm laws.

    According to an official statement issued here, the government has extended the suspension of mobile internet services in districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Kaithal, Panipat, Hisar, Jind, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Charkhi Dadri, Sonipat and Jhajjar till 5 pm on February 1.

    In the fresh order issued by the Home Department, the suspension has not been extended in Yamunanagar, Palwal and Rewari districts, where the mobile internet services were suspended earlier. “The Haryana 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 the territorial jurisdiction of the 14 districts,” the statement said.

    “This order has been issued to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in the jurisdiction of these districts of Haryana. Any person who will be found guilty of violation of aforesaid order will be liable for legal action under relevant provisions,” it added.

    Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the decision was taken in the wake of the situation which had built up following incidents of violence in the national capital on January 26. Talking to reporters in Ambala, Khattar said the decision to suspend the internet for a temporary period in that situation was appropriate and it would be restored once things normalise.

    Referring to the criticism of the Congress party which said that suspension of the mobile internet services would also affect the students, Khattar said his government had made all arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic also to ensure that studies of students were not disrupted.

    Hitting out at the Congress, he alleged that the party has contributed towards the situation which has built up after January 26 incidents. Khattar said that the issue can be resolved through dialogue and added the prime minister has said that doors are always open for talks.

    Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala had claimed that the internet ban was ordered “with the intention to crush the farmers” agitation” and demanded its immediate resumption. He had said the decision would affect professionals working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, students, traders and shopkeepers and cause inconvenience to the common people.

    The state government on Tuesday had ordered suspension of mobile internet services in Sonipat, Jhajjar and Palwal districts after a violent farmers’ protest rocked Delhi. On Friday, it extended the suspension to 14 other districts.

    There are a total of 22 districts in the state. Thousands of protesting farmers had clashed with the police during the tractor rally in Delhi called by farmer unions on January 26 to highlight their demand for the repeal of the Centre’s three farm laws.

    Many of the 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.

  • Farmers’ protest: Media bodies condemn arrest of journalists by Delhi police

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Media bodies on Sunday condemned the police action against two journalists who were picked up during the farmers’ protests at Delhi’s Singhu border for allegedly misbehaving with police personnel.

    They said that such crackdowns impinge on the media’s right to report freely and interferes with its right to freedom of expression. Freelance journalist Mandeep Punia and Dharmender Singh (with Online News India) were detained by Delhi Police last evening for allegedly misbehaving with personnel on duty.

    While Singh was later released, the police arrested Punia on Sunday. The Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Club of India and the Press Association demanded Punia’s immediate release and said no journalist should be disturbed while carrying out their duties at any place.

    “Such crackdowns impinge on the media’s right to report freely and interferes with our right to freedom of expression, and freedom of the press as guaranteed by the Constitution of India,” the bodies said in a joint statement.

    They said that Punia has been reporting on the present farmers’ agitation right from the beginning and his arrest “is part of the government crackdown on journalists to prevent them from doing their job independently and freely”.

    “Punia is a young freelance journalist who contributes to The Caravan and Junputh. The Delhi Police used brutal force while picking him up (on Saturday) and did not share his whereabouts to other media colleague entire night,” the media bodies said.

    They said the copy of the FIR against Punia was issued only this morning. Four IPC sections — 186 (voluntarily obstructing public servant in discharge of his duties), 353 (assaulting or using criminal force on a public servant in execution of his duty), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to a public servant in the discharge of his duty) and 34 (acts done in furtherance to common intention) have been pressed against him, they said.

    Police had earlier said they placed barricades at the border following the violence on Friday to ensure that no one could get through. However, some people including the journalist were trying to remove the barricades, the police had alleged, adding the scribe also misbehaved with the police personnel there.

    On Friday, clashes broke out at Singhu border between farmers and a large group of men claiming to be local residents who hurled stones at each other.

    The Singhu border is one of the main protest sites gainst the new farm laws. Delhi Police SHO (Alipur) was injured in the violence. At least 44 people, including the man who attacked the SHO, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

  • Farmers’ stir: Thousands converge for third ‘mahapanchayat’ in western UP in as many days

    By PTI
    BAGHPAT: The ripples of farmers’ protest against the new agri laws on Delhi’s borders spread further in western Uttar Pradesh with thousands of people converging for a ‘mahapanchayat’ on Sunday in Baghpat, the third such congregation in the region in as many days.

    The ‘sarv khap mahapanchayat’ took place at the Tehsil ground here with farmers pouring in from nearby districts as well in tractor-trollies, many of which are decked up with music systems, the tricolor and farmer unions’ flags.

    This is the third ‘mahapanchayat’ of farmers in the region after a massive congregation in Muzaffarnagar on Friday and in Mathura on Saturday, both resolving to support the ongoing BKU-led protest at the Ghazipur border against the three new farm laws.

    BKU leader Rajendra Chaudhary told the crowd, “the movement has to be continued with full strength.

    ” The ‘mahapanchayat’ is also deliberating on the January 26 police action against farmers protesting in Baghpat district against the new central farm laws, a local Baraut resident, who is attending the event, told PTI.

    Chaudhary Surendra Singh of the Desh Khap and Chaudhary Subhash Singh of the Chaubisi Khap are among key regional farmer leaders attending Sunday’s ‘sarv khap mahapanchayat’, where supporters of Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) were also present.

    A khap is a traditional social council representing a community or a region in parts of north India with a Chaudhary as its titular head.

    “Beshak Dilli mein police walon ne kisano ko dande maare hon, par hum aaj bhi bolte hain ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ (No doubt policemen hit farmers with batons in Delhi, but we are nevertheless saying: hail soldiers, hail farmers),” a local leader told the crowd from the stage.

    “Whatever happens, we will respond with non-violence and not violence.

    Our leaders at protest sites and our panch (leaders of the panchayat) will make decisions and we all will follow them,” he added.

    The two-month-long protest against the farm laws appeared to be losing steam after widespread violence during a tractor parade by farmers on the Republic Day, but an emotional appeal by BKU leader Rakesh Tikait gave it a fresh lease of life with thousands of farmers gathering at the Gazipur protest site and the ‘mahapanchayats’ from western UP extending support to the stir.

    The farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and parts of UP, have been protesting at Delhi’s 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 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.

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

    PTI KIS RT RT 01311732 NNNN

  • Journalist arrest: Congress slams BJP, Rahul says those who fear truth, arrest honest scribes

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday slammed the BJP-led Centre over the arrest of a freelance journalist from the Singhu border with party leader Rahul Gandhi saying those who fear truth arrest honest scribes.

    Mandeep Punia was arrested from the Singhu border on Sunday for allegedly misbehaving with the police personnel on duty at the farmers’ protest site there, officials said.

    A case was registered against him and he has been arrested now, a senior police officer said, a day after the scribe was detained.

    Reacting to the development, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Hindi, “Those who fear truth arrest honest journalists.”

    He also tagged a video purportedly showing Punia being held by police at the border protest site.

    Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said journalists covering the farmers’ movement are being arrested, cases are being slapped against them and the internet is being shut down in many places.

    “The BJP government wants to trample upon the voice of the farmers, but they have forgotten that the more you suppress, the more voices will rise against your atrocities,” she said in a tweet in Hindi.

    Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, in a tweet in Hindi, addressed PM Modi and said by slapping false cases at the BJP’s behest against journalists exposing the attack on farmers and shutting down mobile internet at protest sites, “you will not be able to suppress the farmers’ movement and shut out the country’s voice”.

    At a press conference, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate hit out at the government, saying it is the 70th day of the protest by farmers and they have been forced to sit at the borders by an “insensitive, obstinate and stubborn government that itself dug trenches and refused the farmers any entry in Delhi”.

    “For anybody who tries to show their plight, their pain, this government will go after them — whether it is people in social life, in political life or journalists.

    A very young journalist by the name Mandeep Punia was arrested and was presented before the magistrate even before his Defence lawyer could reach,” she said, slamming the government over the scribe’s arrest.

    “We strongly condemn the sedition cases they have filed against our own MP Shashi Tharoor or the kind of sedition cases that have been filed against Mrinal Pande, Rajdeep Sardesai, Vinod Jose, Zafar Agha, Paresh Nath and Anant Nath ,” Shrinate said.

    “We condemn it as these are the people who are trying to show the real face of the farmer, who are trying to bring to light the plight of the farmer and instead of standing with them and letting them do their jobs honestly, this government goes after them,” she said.

    Tharoor and the six journalists have been booked by police, including in BJP-ruled states such as Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, over their allegedly misleading tweets on the violence during the farmers’ tractor rally in Delhi on Republic Day.

    Democracy is being “weakened” with every passing day and institutions are being “destroyed”, Shrinate said.

    Thousands of farmers, mostly from Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting at several border points into Delhi since November-end, demanding repeal of the three agri laws and a legal guarantee to the minimum support system for their crops.

    Enacted last September, the three laws have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.

    However, the protesting farmers have expressed their apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of the MSP and do away with the wholesale market system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

  • AAP asks Punjab CM to deploy state police for security of farmers protesting on Delhi borders

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party Sunday asked Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to deploy the state police for the security of farmers protesting at Delhi borders against the three new Central laws.

    In a letter to Singh on Sunday, AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadha said the Punjab Police must provide protection to farmers so that no harm is done to them and they can continue to protest against the “black farm laws” in a peaceful manner.

    “The Aam Aadmi Party demands that you deploy Punjab Police in sufficient numbers to surround the camps where the peaceful protests are being held from all sides,” Chadha said.

    “This protection to the farmers is absolutely essential in the light of recent attacks on them, engineered and executed by goons from BJP,” he said.

    Chadha also attacked the BJP over the issue, alleging the party proposes to continue its “attitude of intimidating” any person who dares to raise a voice in opposition.

    “It is very obvious from the recent behaviour of goons that have been disrupting meetings by pelting stones and other violent behaviour that the BJP will, in keeping with its standard modus operandi, (keep) attempting to intimidate our farmer sisters and brothers,” he added.

    On Saturday too, Chadha had asked Singh to deploy the state police at the protest sites.

    However, Punjab’s ruling Congress had ridiculed the demand of the main opposition party, saying the party was not running an “anarchist” government in the state, “like Arvind Kejriwal (was) in Delhi”.

  • Farmers dance to folk tunes at night as cops put up barbed wires, barricades at Ghazipur border

    By PTI
    GHAZIABAD: Hundreds of farmers, who reached a key protest site on the Delhi-Meerut highway in Ghazipur on the national capital’s border with Uttar Pradesh, danced to upbeat tunes overnight as more supporters continued to pour in on Sunday.

    Security measures were strengthened with multi-layer barricading and barbed wires coming up on both sides of the highway stretch that has become the Bharatiya Kisan Union’s (BKU) camping site since November 28 last year in a major farmers’ stir over three new farm laws of the Centre.

    Farmers reached the Ghazipur border from western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajastan, Uttarakhand as a turban-clad Rakesh Tikait led the charge for the BKU, the appeal of which coupled with a clarion call from a January 29 “mahapanchayat” of farmers in Muzaffarnagar has re-energised the stir, which was fast losing its sheen and momentum after the Republic Day violence in Delhi.

    According to the Ghaziabad administration, senior officials and police officers are regularly monitoring the situation at the Ghazipur border.

    Vehicles proceeding towards and coming from the protest site are being checked while drones have been deployed for aerial monitoring at the site, officials said.

    “The situation is under control and is being regularly monitored,” an officer of the district administration said.

    The groups of farmers camping at the site braving the cold nights were seen dancing to folk tunes and songs eulogising the nation and farmers as some young protesters carried music systems to Ghazipur on their tractor-trollies.

    Thousands of farmers have been protesting at Delhi’s 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 expressed the 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.

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

  • Freelance journalist arrested for ‘misbehaving’ with police at Singhu border

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A freelance journalist was arrested from the Singhu border on Sunday for allegedly misbehaving with the police personnel on duty at the farmers’ protest site there, officials said.

    A case was registered against him and he has been arrested now, a senior police officer said, a day after the scribe was detained.

    Police had earlier said that they placed barricades at the border following the violence on Friday to ensure that no one could get through.

    However, some people including the journalist were trying to remove the barricades, the police had alleged, adding the scribe also misbehaved with the police personnel there.

    On Friday at the Singhu border, there were clashes between farmers and a large group of men claiming to be local residents who hurled stones at each other.

    The Singhu border is one of the main protest sites gainst the new farm laws.

    Delhi Police SHO (Alipur) was injured in the violence.

    At least 44 people, including the man who attacked the SHO, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

  • Country saddened by insult to Tricolour on Republic Day: PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the country was saddened by the “insult” to the Tricolour on Republic Day, referring to the religious flag incident at Red Fort during the farmers’ tractor parade.

    In his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ broadcast, Modi maintained that his government is committed to “modernising” farming and has been taking many steps.

    “The efforts of the government will also continue in future,” he said, amid intense protests by a section of farmers from states like Punjab, Haryana and UP near the Delhi border against three farm reform legislations enacted by his government.

    Farmer unions have demanded that these laws by repealed.

    While recounting a number of developments in January this year, including India’s remarkable come-from-behind series win over Australia in the recent Test series, Modi made a brief reference to the farmers’ tractor rally on Republic Day which witnessed incidents of violence.

    “Amidst all this, the country was saddened by the insult to the Tricolour on January 26 in Delhi. We have to infuse times to come with new hope and novelty. Last year, we displayed exemplary patience and courage. This year too, we have to work hard to attain our resolves. We have to take our country forward at a faster pace,” he said.

    Referring to India’s corona vaccination exercise underway, the prime minister said the country has not only rolled out the world’s largest vaccination drive but is also vaccinating its citizens at the fastest rate.

    The country has vaccinated over 30 lakh corona warriors in 15 days, he said, adding the US and the UK took 18 and 36 days to reach this figure.

    “Just as India’s fight against Corona became an example, our vaccination programme too is turning out to be exemplary to the world,” he said.

    Noting India’s decision to send vaccines to several countries and the praise it has received from their governments and citizens, he said during the moment of crisis India is able to serve the world since it is capable and self-reliant in the field of medicines and vaccines.

    “The same thought underpins the Atmanirbhar Bharat Campaign. The more India is capable, the more will it serve humanity; and the world will benefit more,” Modi said.

    Speaking of the recent announcement of Padma award winners, he said the tradition of conferring the honour on unsung heroes that was started a few years ago has been maintained this time too.

    “I urge all of you to know more about these people and their contribution,” he said.

    Noting that the country is approaching its 75th year of Independence, Modi urged people, especially youngsters, to write about freedom fighters and incidents associated with their struggle.

    The freedom struggle was fought with full might in every part, every city, every town and village of India, he said, and highlighted the comments of a resident from Munger in Bihar about the ‘Tarapur Martyr Day’.

    On February 15, 1932, Britishers had mercilessly killed several of a group of brave young patriots, and the incident has not received as much publicity as it should have, he said.

    “Write books about the saga of valour during the period of freedom struggle in your area. Now, as India will celebrate 75 years of her freedom, your writings will be the best tribute to those heroes of our freedom. An initiative has been taken for young writers for the purpose of India Seventy-Five. This will encourage young writers of all states and of all languages,” Modi said.

    With the country observing Road Safety month between January 18 and February 17, the prime minister said road accidents are a matter of concern not just in our country but also the world over.

    Modi often highlights the presence of different aspects of Indian tradition and culture in different parts of the world during his monthly radio address and this time spoke of yoga’s popularity in the South African country of Chile.

    You will be pleased to know that there are more than 30 yoga schools in Santiago, the capital of Chile, he said, and noted that the name of the Vice President of the Chilean Senate is Rabindranath Quinteros, inspired by India’s nobel laureate poet-philosopher Rabindranath Tagore.

    The prime minister also highlighted remarkable efforts of individuals and groups of people in different parts of the country in various fields.

  • Punjab CM Amarinder Singh calls all-party meet on February 2 to show unity over farmers’ protest

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: Alleging that farmers from Punjab are being beaten up by police and assaulted by goons at their protest site on Delhi borders, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh called an all-party meeting on Tuesday to show unity and evolve a consensus on the way forward on the three contentious Central farm laws.

    The meeting will be held at 11 am at Punjab Bhawan, according to a government statement issued Sunday.

    “This is not the time to stand on ego but to come together to save our state and our people,” the chief minister told the parties.

    As per the government statement, the meeting will discuss the situation arising out of the recent developments in the ongoing farmers’ agitation in Delhi, especially in view of the Republic Day violence, “the Singhu border attack on farmers, and the massive vilification campaign against them”.

    Singh urged all parties to join the meeting in a spirit of unity, in support of the farmers and in the interest of Punjab.

    The Chief Minister said the “crisis” triggered by the farm laws was a matter of concern for the entire state and its people.

    “Only through collective efforts of all Punjabis, and all the political parties of the state, can the crisis be tackled effectively and the farmers’ interests be protected,” he said.

    “Our farmers are dying out there at the Delhi borders for more than two months now. They are being beaten up by the police and assaulted by goons. They are being harassed by being deprived of basic amenities,” the CM said.

    With a large number of farmers from Punjab at the receiving end of this battering, he said, it was imperative for all parties of the state to come together to evolve a cohesive strategy on the issue.

    The CM expressed hope that all political parties in Punjab will put aside their differences to find a solution to the problem, which, he said, touches every Punjabi.

    Farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at Delhi’s borders for over two months now, demanding scrapping of the farm laws and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price for crops.

    After briefly appearing to be fizzling out following the Republic Day violence in Delhi, the farmers’ stir against the agri laws seems to be reviving with more and more of farmers groups heading to the national capital from various parts of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

  • Freelance journalist detained at Singhu border for allegedly ‘misbehaving with police’

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A freelance journalist was detained at the Singhu border on Saturday for allegedly misbehaving with the police, officials said.

    Barricades had been placed at the border following the violence on Friday to ensure that no one could get through, a senior police officer said.

    Some people including the journalist were trying to remove the barricades.

    The journalist also misbehaved with police personnel and was detained, the officer said.

    On Friday, clashes broke out between farmers and a large group of men claiming to be local residents who hurled stones at each other at the Singhu border, one of the main protest sites against the new farm laws.

    Delhi Police SHO (Alipur) was injured in the violence.

    At least 44 people, including the man who attacked the SHO, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

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