News Analysis India

Tag: Farmers Protest

  • Opinions can change, says CJI Bobde; defends farm panel

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: A day before the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the plea related to farmers’ protest, Chief Justice of India SA Bobde remarked that person is not disqualified to be a member of a committee merely because he/she has previously expressed an opinion on the subject matter which is under consideration by that committee.

    “There is a very peculiar lack of comprehension about constitution of a committee,” said a three-judge bench, comprising CJI Bobde and Justices L Nageswara Rao and Vineet Saran. 

    ALSO READ: Not scared of PM Narendra Modi, will continue to oppose three farm laws, says Rahul Gandhi

    “There is some confusion regarding the law. One person may have an opinion before being part of the committee, but his opinion can change. There is no way that such a person cannot be part of the committee,” the CJI said.

    Though the remarks were made during the hearing of a case pertaining to inefficiencies in criminal trial, it assumes significance as the SC had come under criticism not only from farmers but also political parties over the nomination  of members to the committee that was set up to resolve the stalemate over the three farm laws.

    ALSO READ: Farmers have constitutional right to take out rally – Unions

    The farmers have rejected the panel saying all the four members had backed the contentious laws. After the uproar, one of the members — Bhupinder Singh Mann —recused himself from the committee citing the prevailing sentiments and apprehensions amongst the farmers. 

  • Congress wants to derail government-farmers talks: BJP 

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  The BJP on Tuesday accused the Congress of working to derail the ongoing talks between the Centre and farmers’ unions, hitting back at Opposition party’s leader Rahul Gandhi over his attack on the Narendra Modi government over farm laws and national security.        

    Senior BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar said the Congress does not want the talks to succeed and has resorted to obstructive tactics. 

    “The Congress is adopting the strategy of protest-obstacle. The presser of Gandhi shows the desperation of the Congress. The talks with the farmers continue and we are confident that it will succeed,” said the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting at the BJP headquarters. 

    ALSO READ: Not scared of PM Narendra Modi, will continue to oppose three farm laws, says Rahul Gandhi

    BJP chief J P Nadda had early in the day posted a series of questions to Gandhi after the latter addressed a press conference to attack the government.

    “When is the Rahul Gandhi and the Congress stop spreading falsehood on matters related to China? Can he refute that thousands of kms of areas, including the place stated by him in Arunachala Pradesh was gifted to China by none other than (former PM Jawahar Lal) Nehru?” asked Nadda in his tweets. 

    Both Nadda and Javadekar reiterated that the Congress had promised in the party manifesto of steps to reform the agricultural marketing. Reacting to the unveiling of the book ‘Kheti ka khoon’ by Gandhi, Javadekar charged that the Congress has an apparent love for the word ‘khoon (blood)’. 

    ALSO READ: Farmers have constitutional right to take out rally – Unions

    “Weren’t the 1984 riots and the consequent massacre of Sikhs across the country khoon ki kheti (harvest of blood),” asked Javadekar. 

    ‘No change in our route of tractor rally on R-Day’  

    CHANDIGARH: Farm union leaders have told the Delhi Police that a peaceful tractor march and tableux depicting the lives of farmers will be taken out on the Outer Ring Road in the national capital.

    The unions said the police ited traffic and security constraints on the Outer Ring Road to request them for choosing an alternative route, but the proposal was turned down.

    ALSO READ: Supreme Court panel to meet farmer leaders on Thursday

    “We told the police not to waste our time. We will carry out our tractor rally as per schedule. But we assured them that it will be peaceful and we will return to our demonstration sites,’’ a farm leader said. A large number of tableuxs depicting the culture of  different states will form the part of the parade and we are under construction,’’ he said.

    Similarly, Swaraj India’s Yogendra Yadav said the tractor parade will be taken out on the route which has already been planned before. 

  • Not scared of PM Narendra Modi, will continue to oppose three farm laws: Rahul Gandhi

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Launching a scathing attack on the Centre, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the new farm laws are designed to “destroy” the agriculture sector and hand it over to three or four crony capitalists, asserting that the only solution to the farmers’ issue is to repeal the Acts.

    “The three new laws are designed to destroy Indian agriculture. How have they designed to do it, by destroying the mandi, by destroying the Essential Commodities Act and by making sure that no Indian farmer can go to court to protect himself and to me.

    ALSO READ: Farmers have constitutional right to take out rally – Unions

    It is a tragedy that this entire country is just watching this ridiculous show. It is a tragedy because it shows me that the country itself is not able to understand the depth of what is happening,” Gandhi said at a press conference where he released a booklet highlighting the “plight” of farmers in the wake of the three farm laws. 

    Responding to a question about BJP president JP Nadda’s remarks that he was distracting the farmers, the former Congress chief said he was not scared of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he was a “clean person” and he would continue to fight alone even if no one sided with him. 

    ALSO READ: Supreme Court panel to meet farmer leaders on Thursday

    “Is J P Nadda my professor that I am answerable to him. Who is he?… I am not scared of Modi or anyone. I am a clean person, and they cannot touch me. They can shoot me. I will stand alone even if everyone is standing on the other side but will fight as it is my religion,” he said. 

    He said that even during the UPA government, the Congress stood with the farmers in Bhatta Parsaul.“Our farmers are sitting outside in the cold, I don’t know why Modi Ji thinks, this is something to be proud of. The whole world is looking and saying what is going on,” the Congress leader said. 

    Sharad Pawar, Uddhav  Thackeray to take part in protest in Mumbai

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav  Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar will take part in a protest to be staged in Mumbai in support of the farmers’ agitating against Centre’s three new farm laws on borders of New Delhi, state Minister Nawab Malik said on Tuesday.

    Some farmers’ organisations have planned to hold protests in Mumbai from January 23 to January 25.

    “Sharad Pawar will take part in the protest to be held at Azad Maidan (in south Mumbai) on January 25.

    ALSO READ: Such arm-twisting tactics won’t weaken farmers’ resolve: Amarinder on NIA notices to union leaders

    The NCP has opposed the farm laws. The chief minister and leaders of the ruling MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) will also take part,” said Malik, who is the national spokesperson of the NCP.

    Thousands of farmers from Nashik in Maharashtra had joined the ongoing protests at the borders of the national capital against the three new agricultural laws.

    Inappropriate to raise issues by foreign MPs: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

    NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday said that it’s not appropriate for Parliaments to comment on laws passed by other countries.  

    Birla made the remark at the virtual meeting of the Standing Committee of the Conference of the Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth, indirectly referring to MPs of various countries raising the contentious farm laws in their House.

    “The Covid pandemic has affected the functioning of Parliaments across the world. Even during the pandemic, some important legislative businesses were transacted by the Lok Sabha…,” Birla added.

    Notably, MPs in Canada, UK had spoken about the farm protests. Thirty-six British MPs had written United Kingdom foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, urging him to raise their concern with India over the farm protests.

  • Supreme Court panel to meet farmer leaders on Thursday

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  The Supreme Court-appointed committee on the new farm laws held its first meeting on Tuesday and said it will meet farmer leaders and other stakeholders on Thursday, a day after talks between the farmers and the Centre. 

    Panel member Anil Ghanwat said both physical and virtual meeting facilities would be available.

    “The biggest challenge is to convince the agitating farmers to come and speak with us. We will try our level best,” he said.

    ALSO READ: Farmers have constitutional right to take out rally – Unions

    “We will meet all stakeholders, including corporates, to understand their view points. We will reach out to everyone who is concerned about the farm laws,” said a member.

    The SC had on January 11 stayed the implementation of the new laws and formed a four-member panel comprising Ashok Gulati, Anil Ghanwat, Bhupinder Singh Mann and Pramod Joshi.

    Shortly thereafter, Mann recused himself after the panel drew flak as all four are known supporters of the three laws.

    ALSO READ: Such arm-twisting tactics won’t weaken farmers’ resolve: Amarinder on NIA notices to union leaders

    While protesting farmers have already refused to meet the panel, one of its members said, “problems can be only resolved through dialogue. Farmers’ organisations should meet us. We will try our best to resolve the issue.”

    In a different case in the SC, Chief Justice of India S A Bobde remarked that a person will not be disqualified from being a member of a committee merely because he/she has previously expressed an opinion on the subject matter under consideration.

  • Farm laws designed to destroy agriculture, only solution is repealing them: Rahul

    He alleged that the laws will put the entire agriculture sector in the hands of quot;three to four crony capitalists quot;.

  • ‘Why did farmers remain poor under Congress govt’: Nadda hits out at Rahul

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: BJP president JP Nadda on Tuesday hit back at Rahul Gandhi for his barb on the Modi government over national security and also targeted the Congress leader over a host of issues, including agriculture and COVID-19.

    Gandhi has attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of national security after reports that China has built a village in Arunachal Pradesh.

    “When will Rahul Gandhi, his dynasty and Congress stop lying on China? Can he deny that thousands of kms, including the one in Arunachal Pradesh he is referring to was gifted by none other than Pandit Nehru to the Chinese? Time and again, why does Congress surrender to China?” Nadda tweeted.

    The BJP chief also accused Gandhi of “provoking and misleading” farmers and asked why did the Congress-led UPA government “stall” the Swaminathan Commission report for years and did not increase the minimum support price (MSP).

    “Why did farmers remain poor for decades under Congress governments? Does he feel sympathy for farmers only in opposition?” he asked.

    Nadda said now that Gandhi has returned from his “monthly vacation”, he would like to ask him some questions.

    “Does Rahul Gandhi have any intention to cancel the Congress party MoU with China and their Communist Party? Does he intend to return the Chinese largesse to trusts controlled by his family? Or will their policies and practices continue to be dictated by Chinese money and MoU?” the BJP chief asked.

    “Rahul Gandhi spared no opportunity to demotivate the nation in the spirited fight against COVID-19.

    Today when India has one of the lowest cases and our scientists have come up with a vaccine, why hasn’t he congratulated the scientists and lauded 130 crore Indians even once?” he asked on Twitter.

    Nadda alleged that Gandhi has been spreading lies that all Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) mandis will be closed down and asked him that wasn’t action against the APMC Act a part of the Congress manifesto.

    Would that not have closed down mandis, he questioned the Congress leader.

    “Rahul Gandhi enjoyed Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu.

    Why did his party ban it and insult Tamil culture when they were in power? Is he not proud of India’s culture and ethos? I hope Rahul Gandhi gathers the courage to answer these questions,” Nadda said.

  • Farmers have constitutional right to take out rally: Unions

    Express News Service
    CHANDIGARH: Protesting union leaders on Monday said farmers have a constitutional right to take out their tractor rally peacefully and asserted that thousands of people will participate in the proposed event on January 26. 

    BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said if the Delhi Police has a problem over thee law and order situation on Republic Day, it can hold a meeting with the Sankyukt Kisan Morcha and suggest alternative routes for the tractor parade. 

    ALSO READ: Such arm-twisting tactics won’t weaken farmers’ resolve: Amarinder on NIA notices to union leaders

    “Thereafter, our farmers’ committee will decide accordingly. But, it is very clear that the tractor march will be taken out in the national capital on January 26.’’BKU Punjab, (Lakhowal Group) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said: “We will take out the rally peacefully. We will exercise our constitutional right and we will definitely enter Delhi.”

    Meanwhile, the farmers on Monday observed ‘Mahila Kisan Divas’ in more than three hundred  districts of the country in recognition of the contribution of women in 75 per cent of all agricultural work, including sowing, transplanting, irrigation, weeding, harvesting, transporting, sorting, packing and in animal labour involved in rearing including provision of fodder, grazing, milking, cleaning, manufacture of dung cakes and processing of milk.

    At various places in Punjab and Haryana, women speakers managed the stage and the protest site. Thousands of farmers, especially from Punjab, Haryana and parts of UP, are protesting for nearly two-months at various Delhi borders against the three farm laws.

  • We have constitutional right to take out tractor rally on January 26: Farmer unions post SC verdict

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Protesting union leaders on Monday said that farmers have a constitutional right to take out their tractor rally peacefully and asserted that thousands of people will participate in the proposed event on January 26.

    The Supreme Court said on Monday that the Delhi Police is the first authority to decide the entry of protesting farmers into the national capital.

    Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) Punjab general secretary Paramjit Singh said that farmers are not going to hold their rally on Rajpath and in other high-security areas, adding that they would only take out it on the Outer Ring Road in Delhi and that there will be no disruption in the official Republic Day parade. 

    ALSO READ| Proposed tractor rally: It’s law and order matter, says SC on plea for injunction against it

    “We are stuck at the Delhi borders. We have not decided to sit at these borders ourselves, we have been stopped from entering Delhi. We will take out the rally peacefully without disrupting any law and order. We will exercise our constitutional right and we will definitely enter Delhi,” Singh told PTI.

    Another farmer leader Lakhbir Singh, who is vice president (Punjab) of All India Kisan Sabha, said that farmers will return to protest sites after taking out the tractor rally on the Outer Ring Road on January 26. “We will not go to any place where there might be a government gathering, and all our tractors will have a national flag and the flags of our farmer unions,” Lakhbir said.

    Asked about their stand in case the Delhi Police does not give them permission for the tractor parade, BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said that farmers have constitutional rights to hold the tractor rally peacefully.

    “If the Delhi Police has some issues over law and order on Republic Day, they can sit with Sankyukt Kisan Morcha and tell about alternatives routes for the tractor rally. Thereafter, our farmers’ committee will decide the same. But, it is very clear that their tractor rally will be taken out in the national capital on January 26,” Ugrahan told PTI.

    Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at several Delhi borders since November 28, demanding a repeal of farm laws and legal guarantee on minimum support price for their crops.

    ALSO READ| Give up stubborn stand and come for discussion on January 19: Narendra Tomar to protesting farmers

    While hearing a petition, the Supreme Court told the Centre that the proposed tractor rally by farmers on the Republic Day on January 26 is a matter of “law and order” and Delhi Police is the first authority to decide who should be allowed to enter the national capital.

    A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde, while hearing the Centre’s application seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor or trolley march or any other kind of protest which seeks to disrupt the gathering and celebrations of the Republic Day, said that police has all the authority to deal with the matter.

    The tenth round of talks between the government and the protesting farmer unions is scheduled on January 19. On the same day, the Supreme Court-appointed committee to resolve the impasse will hold its first meeting.

    The previous nine rounds of formal talks between the Centre and 41 farmer unions have failed to yield any concrete results to end the long-running protest at Delhi’s borders as the latter have stuck to their main demand of a complete repeal of the three acts.

    The Supreme Court had on January 11 stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse. However, Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann recused himself from the committee last week.

  • Farmers’ protest: First committee meet tomorrow

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  A controversial committee appointed by the Supreme Court last week to hear arguments on the three contentious farm laws to resolve the ongoing agitation of farmers, will hold its first meeting on Tuesday, its member Anil Ghanwat said on Sunday.

    While one of its members, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) president Bhupinder Singh Mann recused himself from the committee, the other three, including Ashok Gulati and Pramod Kumar Joshi, will hold an internal meeting on Tuesday and begin hearing all stakeholders from Thursday.

    ALSO READ: Will go ahead with tractor march in Delhi on Republic Day – Farmer unions

    The next round of talks between the Centre and the farmers, too, is slated for Tuesday. On Monday, the Supreme Court is expected to hear a petition filed by the BKU Lokshakti union seeking disbanding of the present committee and putting in place a new one in the interest of harmony and natural justice, as its current members are known supporters of the farm sector reform laws.

    The bench could also look into the possibility of appointing a replacement for Mann who recused himself from the panel. 

    ALSO READ: Give up stubborn stand and come for discussion on January 19: Narendra Tomar to protesting farmers

    Another point of friction is the proposed Kisan Tractor Parade by farmers on Republic Day. The bench will hear a plea by the Delhi Police seeking an injunction against the tractor march or any other kind of protest by farmers that could disrupt Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

    For their part, farmers announced that the Kisan Tractor Parade would be on the Outer Ring Road in Delhi covering about 47 km. Every vehicle will fly a Tricolour and the flag of the respective farmer union, they said after a meeting of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha in at the Singhu border in Delhi. 

    Forget repeal: Amit Shah

    “There is no question of repealing the farm laws. These farm laws, which are aimed at enriching the lives of farmers by strengthening them financially, will be implemented in the coming days,” Union home minister Amit Shah said in Bagalkot on Sunday.

  • Will go ahead with tractor march in Delhi on Republic Day: Farmer unions

    Express News Service
    CHANDIGARH: The farmers unions on Sunday announced that they would hold a peaceful farmers parade on Republic day on Outer Ring Road in Delhi. Every vehicle in the march would fly a tri-colour besides the flag of the concerned farmer organization. Similar parades will also be held in various state capitals.

    The Samyukta Kisan Morcha in it’s meeting at the Singhu border finalised the route for ‘Kisan Tractor Parade’ to be scheduled on January 26 and announced that the parade’ will be organised on Outer Ring Road in the national capital. There will be no disruption in National Republic Day Parade.

    The farmers have urged the Delhi and Haryana Police not to stop their parade. Yogendra Yadav President of Swaraj India said, “Farmers will enter Delhi and carry out a peaceful tractor parade with national flag on Outer Ring Road of the national capital on the Republic Day (January 26) will be of approximately 47 kilometres. No disruption will be caused to the official Republic Day ceremony. Similar parades will also be held in various state capitals in the same fashion.”

    “The authorities had moved the Supreme Court seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor march or any other kind of protest by farmers which seeks to disrupt the gathering and celebrations of Republic Day on January 26. The matter is pending in court,” he added.

    The farmer leaders also criticised the union government attempt to disrupt the farmers agitation by getting National Investigation Agency (NIA) to issue to summons to people backing the stir. Krantikari Kisan Union President Darshan Pal Singh said, “The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is sending summons to those who are part of the protest or supporting it. We condemn this move and attempt by the government to disrupt the farmers agitation nd we will fight this mve of the government also.” 

    Also a ‘Jan Sansand’ is being proposed for January 22 and 23 at Delhi by the opposition parties, as the representatives of the Congress, SAD (Democratic) and AAP met a farmer leader in the national capital today as a meeting in this regard was organised. Gurman Singh Chaduni President of Haryana Bhartiya Kisan Union said, “The meeting was organised today in which the representatives of the political parties in the opposition participated. As no political leader is allowed in our agitation and since they also want to be part it, we decided that they can hold a two day `Jan Sansand’ on January 22 and 23 in which across party lines the political leaders can come on one stage and express their support. As 65 per cent vote went to the opposition parties and 35 per cent to ruling NDA Government led by BJP, if opposition say these laws are no needed then it is voice of the elected representatives.”

    Regarding Chaduni’s meeting with the politicians in Delhi today, the unions cleared that the meeting has no link with the farmers front and he has been called tomorrow to clarify his position. “We will talk to Chaduni regarding today’s meeting. It may be his personal decision,” said Darshan Pal. They also paid the tribute to a total of 121 persons, who lost their lives amid the on-going agitation.