News Analysis India

Tag: Farmers Protest

  • 40-year-old Punjab farmer ends life at Singhu border: Haryana Police

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: A 40-year-old Punjab farmer, who was taking part in the protest at the Singhu border against the Central farm laws, allegedly took his own life by consuming some poisonous substance on Saturday evening, police said.

    The farmer, Amarinder Singh, was a resident of Punjab’s Fatehgarh Sahib district.

    The man was rushed to a local hospital in Sonipat where he died, said Sonipat’s Kundli police station’s inspector Ravi Kumar.

    ALSO READ: Ready with pleas to challenge farm laws, waiting for right time, says Punjab CM Amarinder Singh

    Farmers from various parts of the country, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at different border points of Delhi for over a month now demanding repeal of the three agri laws, which were voted through in Parliament in September amid strong protests by opposition parties.

    The three laws have been projected by the central government as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the country.

    ALSO READ: Agri laws: Wisconsin Speaker supports farmers’ protests; writes to Indian, US envoys

    However, the protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of Minimum Support Price and do away with the mandi system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

    The government has repeatedly asserted that the MSP and Mandi systems will stay and has accused the opposition of misleading the farmers.

  • Ready with pleas to challenge farm laws, waiting for right time: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday said his government has finalised petitions to challenge the Centre’s farm laws and will do so at an opportune time on the advice of legal experts.

    He was reacting to accusations of AAP MP Bhagwant Mann, who alleged collusion between the CM and the governor over sending the agriculture Bills passed in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to negate the farm laws to the president.

    The Punjab CM slammed Mann, accusing him of speaking ‘blatant lies’ and said, “It is unfortunate that people like him, who had no knowledge about the Constitution and legislative procedures, were in politics and making illogical statements with the sole motive of misleading people.”

    ALSO READ: Agri laws: Wisconsin Speaker supports farmers’ protests; writes to Indian, US envoys

    The CM said contrary to Mann’s claims, state Advocate General Atul Nanda had already prepared and finalised requisite petitions for challenging the central Acts.

    “Since these Acts impact the lives and futures of our farmers, all decisions will be taken carefully and judiciously at an opportune time,” said Amarinder Singh in a statement here.

    “Just like his bosses, Mann too has mastered the art of lying and deception but while doing so he has exposed his incompetence as a parliamentarian by making frivolous statements on matters pertaining to the Constitution and legislative procedures,” alleged the CM.

    ALSO READ: SC to hear pleas against new agri laws, all issues related to farmers protest on January 11

    “If you think that you can mislead people of Punjab by your lies, you are utterly mistaken, as every Punjabi has seen through your webs of deceit and your betrayal of the farmers’ cause,” the CM said.

    Amarinder Singh said while his government’s stand on the Centre’s ‘black’ farm laws had been consistent from day one, both AAP and the Shiromani Akali Dal had been doing ‘flip flops’ over it.

    “One day you unanimously support our bills and your party leaders, including Leader of the Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema, accompany me to the governor and the very next day you do a somersault and start opposing them,” said the chief minister attacking AAP.

    He said AAP’s ‘double face’ and its collusion with the BJP to ‘weaken’ the farmers’ agitation has been further ‘exposed’ with Arvind Kejriwal notifying one of the farm laws in Delhi rather than following Punjab’s example of bringing in legislations in the assembly to negate the impact of the black farm laws.

  • Farm laws will give cultivators liberty to settle profitable deals, says Nadda in Bengal

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA: A day after the Centre ruled out repealing three farm laws that has triggered large-scale protests, BJP president JP Nadda kicked off the party’s outreach drive in Bengal titled ‘Krishak Suraksha Yojana’ (farmers’ protection scheme).

    Nadda said the new farm laws will not only strengthen the cultivators but also offer them the liberty to sell their produce.

    Nadda spent the day in East Burdwan and collected fistfuls of rice from five farmers as part of the outreach drive under the banner of ‘Ek Muthhi Chawal’. “Some political parties are misleading a section of farmers. The new farm laws will not only strengthen the cultivators but also give them the liberty to settle profitable deals with contract buyers. We will make arrangements to get the acts implemented,” said Nadda, while addressing a rally. He claimed that during the regime of PM Narendra Modi, the MSP of agricultural products increased by 50 per cent. 

    Selecting East Burdwan to kick off the outreach drive was said to be politically significant because the district is known as Bengal’s rice bowl. The district produces 28 lakh metric ton of rice out of the state’s total production of 150 lakh metric ton. 

    “The move is aimed to countering the narrative spun by the BJP’s rivals that the new farm laws will be harmful to the farmers. The plan to launch was focused at endearing the party to over 72 lakh farmers in the state at a time when opposition parties are slamming the saffron camp over the ongoing protest in the national capital region,” said a senior BJP leader.           

    Nadda announced that BJP workers will meet farmers in 40,000 booth areas across Bengal and collect fistfuls of rice from them to deliver a message that the saffron camp-led central government is determined to uplift the farmers. Sources in the BJP said with the rice collected from the farmers will be cooked as prasad and distributed among the cultivators in the state. 

    Referring to Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s nod to allow the Centre’s PM Kishan Samman Nidhi in the state, Nadda said she (Mamata) of is now allowing the central scheme only after realising that her party is fast losing ground among the farmers in the state. 

    “There is no use crying over spilt milk now. Bengal stands at 24 out of 28 states in terms of farmers’ betterment. I came to the rice bowl of Bengal. This region had a good record of industrial development. In 1947, industrial output was 25 per cent and now it is 3 per cent.

    “The BJP will come to power in Bengal and the benefits of the central scheme will be given to the farmers. More than 76 lakh farmers should get the benefit. The people of Bengal have made their mind to welcome the BJP and overthrow the Trinamool Congress,” he said. 

    Referring to attack on his convoy on December 10, Nadda said it was pre-planned. “Criminalisation in Bengal politics is clearly visible. I am a person who went through political movements. As far as the attack on my convoy is concerned, we will combat it politically,” he said. 

    In a roadshow in Burdwan town, Nadda travelled a stretch of 1.5 km. “The presence of people is unbelievable. They are not BJP workers. They are common people. It reflects that the people of Bengal are all set to welcome the BJP,” he said. 

    On the issue of the Hindu refugees from Bangladesh and implementation of CAA, Nadda said once the rules are framed, “we will implement it.” 

  • Farmers protest at Delhi borders against Shaheen Bagh verdict, petitioner to Supreme Court

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Petitioner Rishabh Sharma, who filed the plea to remove farmers from Delhi borders, has filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court on Saturday urging immediate removal of protesting farmers from the borders claiming the agitation is in violation of its verdict on the Shaheen Bagh protest.

    Sharma said the top court allowed protests subject to public order but was silent on inconvenience to commuters and such permission is against its Shaheen Bagh judgment.

    Sharma, in his affidavit, stated, “If the farmers are allowed to continue protest by blocking the public road, it will not only contradict the court’s own judgment in Shaheen Bagh matter but also cause hardship and inconvenience to the common citizen as the increase in the raw material cost will automatically increase the cost of finished goods.”

    He further mentioned the newspaper reports citing farmers agitation shot up the raw material price by 30 per cent and incurred a daily loss of Rs 3,500 crore

    On December 2020, Sharma had filed a plea before the Supreme Court saying that commuters are facing difficulties due to the road blockades and the gatherings might lead to an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases.

  • ‘BJP will provide justice to farmers after it forms next govt’: Nadda in Bengal

    By PTI
    KATWA: BJP national president J P Nadda Saturday mocked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for agreeing to implement PM Kisan Yojna only after realising that her party is fast losing ground among the farmers in the state.

    Nadda, who launched the ‘Krishak Suraksha Abhiyan’ to woo farmers in the poll-bound state, said it is “too late” for the TMC government to agree to implement the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.

    He said the state government was compelled to go for the beneficiary scheme only after coming to know that “anger of the farmers over being deprived of the central schemes will wipe the TMC government in the state”.

    “The Mamata Banerjee government agreed to implement the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi after such a long time as she has realised that the TMC is fast losing ground in Bengal.

    “But, let me say it clearly that it is already too late for the TMC government,” Nadda said while launching the campaign.

    The TMC government earlier this month softened its stand on implementing PM Kisan scheme in the state, after more than a year of opposition to the programme.

    Nadda asserted the farmers rally at Katwa proves that days of Mamata Banerjee government are numbered.

    He said the BJP would provide justice to the farmers after it forms the next government in Bengal.

  • Extremely worrying that Centre, agitating farmers fail to break deadlock: Mayawati

    The eighth round of talks between the Centre and protesting farmers on Friday failed to break an over-a-month-long deadlock.

  • Canadian opposition leader Ramandeep under India’s scanner

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  India on Friday said that it has noted reports of Canadian Opposition leader Ramandeep Brar being present at the farmers’ protest site.

    “We are currently ascertaining facts in the case. Once that is done, the future course of action would be decided,” ministry of external affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said. 

    Brar courted controversy after he posted pictures of himself with protesting farmers at the Singu border. The Canadian politician is an OCI (0verseas Citizen of India) cardholder. Persons with OCI cards are not allowed to take part in protests in India. The Canadian leader’s action could land him in trouble if the MEA ascertains that he was in violation of the guidelines. 

  • Singhu Border: Sewadars come from Panchkula, do fogging to keep dengue at bay

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Armed with shiny spraying machines, a group of volunteers from a famous Sikh shrine in Panchkula have come to the main farmers’ protest site, straddling a Delhi-Haryana border where they did extensive anti-dengue fogging on Friday to disinfect the area.

    For over 40 days, a massive number of farmers have camped at the Singhu Border, the nerve-centre of the agitation that is seeking repealing of the new farm laws.

    As a stretch of the GT Karnal highway has turned into a temporary site of shelters for peasants, drawn mainly from Punjab and several ‘langars’ being run on the streets, sanitation has emerged as a challenge for them.

    ALSO READ: After Singhu, AAP starts installing Wi-Fi hotspots at Tikri border for protesting farmers

    But volunteerism and a good samaritan spirit, the two defining ideals sustaining this massive campaign, is endeavouring to provide a safer and sanitable environment for the protestors.

    On Friday, a contingent of four men, two of them carrying anti-dengue fogging machines, carried disinfection in various stretches of the protest site.

    Many were taken by surprise as these men, briskly walked around the area, while a white cloud of disinfecting smoke filled the air.

    ALSO READ: Agri laws: Wisconsin Speaker supports farmers’ protests; writes to Indian, US envoys

    “We have come to offer ‘sewa’ (services) from Gurudwara Nada Sahib in Panchkula. We want our farmers to be safe in this environment, so we have brought this fogging machines with us. Due to slush on the streets after rains and organic waste discarded from the ‘langars’, there are chances of breeding of mosquitoes, so we are here to prevent that,” said a volunteer.

    Rainfall in the last few days have created a lot of puddles on the streets at the protest site, potential breeding sites for mosquitoes.

    “Our fellow farmers are suffering in cold and they can contract malaria or dengue, so this is the least we could do. And it is all grace of Waheguru above, the protector of all. We are just the ‘sewadars’, following his will,” said the volunteer.

    ALSO READ: SC to hear pleas against new agri laws, all issues related to farmers protest on January 11

    The imposing Gurudwara Nada Sahib is situated in Panchkula on the bank of the Ghaggar river in Sivalik foothills in Haryana.

    It is a famous religious place of the Sikhs.

    Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, had halted here while travelling from Paonta Sahib to Anandpur Sahib after the Battle of Bhangani in 1688.

    Brothers Dalbir Singh (65) and Balwinder Singh (72) from Panipat, who have been coming on and off to the Singh Border protest site, praised the volunteers from Panchkula.

    “That man carrying the fogging machine, in the front of the marching group, in all probability would be a rich man, but it’s the spirit of ‘sewa’ that has drawn him here. This is what our Guru Nanak Dev Ji had preached serve all without discrimination as we do in langars. The spirit of ‘Sangat’ and ‘Pangat’ drives us,” said Dalbir Singh.

    On Friday, amid winter of January, it was yet another day of protest for the farmers, even as the eighth round of talks between the farmer leaders and the Centre remained inconclusive.

    Cries of ‘Saada Haq, Aithe Rakh’, ‘Jo Bole So Nihal’ and ‘Kisan Union Ekta Zindabad’ rent the air throughout the day, as coloured turbans of protesting farmers added vibrancy to the scene of agitation.

    “We will not budge, until our demands are not met. We will face all challenges with fearlessness,” Balwinder Singh said.

  • Wise course is to keep unpopular farm laws in abeyance: P Chidambaram

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Friday said he was saddened that the government “refuses to relent” on the farmers’ demands and asked whether its meetings with the protesters are aimed at tiring them out.

    He also stressed that the farm laws be kept in abeyance and a fresh start be made by talking to all stakeholders.

    “Saddened that the government remains as adamant as ever and refuses to relent. The wise course is to keep the unpopular farm laws in abeyance and start talking to all stakeholders on a clean slate,” he said on Twitter.

    ALSO READ: After Singhu, AAP starts installing Wi-Fi hotspots at Tikri border for protesting farmers

    The former finance minister said any legal reform of agricultural produce marketing must be based on the widespread consultation and not through “midnight ordinances”.

    “If the government has nothing to offer, why has it asked for another meeting with the farmers’ organisations? Is it a tactic to tire the protesters by asking them to remain in the bitter cold for another week,” he asked.

    “Our thoughts and prayers are with the farmers protesting at Singhur on the border of Delhi,” he also said.

    ALSO READ: Agri laws: Wisconsin Speaker supports farmers’ protests; writes to Indian, US envoys

    Farmers are protesting at Delhi borders for over a month now, demanding a repeal of the farm laws and over 60 of them have died during the protest.

    The government’s negotiations with farm unions to end the agitation appeared heading nowhere at the eighth round of talks on Friday as the Centre ruled out repealing the three contentious laws claiming nationwide support for reforms while the farmer leaders said they are ready to fight till death and their ‘ghar waapsi’ will happen only after ‘law waapsi’.

    ALSO READ: SC to hear pleas against new agri laws, all issues related to farmers protest on January 11

    The next meeting has been fixed for January 15, amid indications that any headway will now depend on a Supreme Court hearing scheduled for January 11 on a batch of petitions related to the protest.

  • After Singhu, AAP starts installing Wi-Fi hotspots at Tikri border for protesting farmers

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: After Singhu border, the AAP has now started installing Wi-Fi hotspots at Tikri border for protesting farmers, party leader Raghav Chadha said on Friday.

    The AAP said Wi-Fi connections would help the protesting farmers to keep in touch with their families.

    ALSO READ: Agri laws: Wisconsin Speaker supports farmers’ protests; writes to Indian, US envoys

    The AAP has strongly come out in favour of the farmers protesting against the new agri laws and its national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has visited the Singhu border twice and expressed his support to the farmers.

    “After Singhu Border, Sewadaar @ArvindKejriwal’s WiFi sewa reaches Tikri Border. Free WiFi Hotspot installation in full swing at Tikri,” Chadha tweeted.

    ALSO READ: SC to hear pleas against new agri laws, all issues related to farmers protest on January 11

    The installation of Wi-Fi hotspots started at Singhu border where Chadha himself went to oversee the process.

    Chadha had said as and when demands come, they would install more such hotspots at other border points too where the farmers are protesting against the Centre’s three farm laws.