Farm sector bills: Farmers in Punjab plan to block railway tracks for 3 days.
Thousands of farmers are protesting today in Punjab, Haryana and parts of Uttar Pradesh against farm bills that were recently passed in parliament amid massive protests by the opposition, and will soon become law.
Protesting farmers blocked the highway and even parked tractors on roads to block traffic. Security has been tightened at state borders.
The protests, which started in the morning, have led to huge traffic jams on roads leading to Delhi.
Opposition parties like the Congress, DMK, Aam Aadmi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Trinamool Congress are supporting the protests. At least 10 central trade unions have also joined the protesters.
The government says the bills - passed amid what the opposition called "murder of democracy" - will help farmers get better prices for their produce by allowing them to sell directly to markets anywhere in the country, at prices they choose. Farmers, however, fear the loss of Minimum Support Price (MSP) or the assured price for their crop from the government, and the entry of private players.
In Bihar, which will vote in weeks, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav took part in a tractor rally. In visuals shared by news agency ANI, he could be seen driving a tractor down a main road in Patna as a large crowd of farmers, marshalled by armed policemen, marched alongside.
The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill were passed by the Parliament earlier this week.
Here are the live updates on farmers' protest:
Punjab singers, actors back farmers, protest against farm Bills
Several Punjabi singers and actors, including Harbhajan Mann, Sidhu Moosewala and Ranjit Bawa, on Friday came out in support of farmers protesting against the agriculture-related Bills passed in Parliament recently.
Devendra Fadnavis Slams Congress For Opposing New Agriculture LawsMaharashtra BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Friday hit out at the Congress and other opposition parties at the Centre for opposing the farm sector bills that were passed in the Parliament.
He said the Congress's stand on the issue was nothing but "double standards" as it was "out of power".
The Congress manifesto itself envisioned the sale of agricultural produce outside APMCs: Prakash Javadekar
The Congress manifesto itself envisioned the sale of agricultural produce outside APMCs. We also made that same promise. Now since we have fulfilled our end of the vow, how are we wrong. This is hypocrisy on their part: Prakash Javadekar, Union Environment Minister
Akali Dal's one bomb (resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal) has shaken up PM Modi: Sukhbir Badal
Bharatiya Kisan Union organises "Chakka Jam" from 10 am to 4 pm in Uttar Pradesh
Bharatiya Kisan Union national spokesperson Chaudhary Rakesh Tikait organised a "chakka jam" (road blockade) in the state from 10 am to 4 pm on Friday against the farm Bills that were recently passed in Parliament despite objection from opposition parties.
"Peaceful protests will be carried out in the districts of Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Bijnor, Shamli, Saharanpur and Ghaziabad. Highways will be blocked for all vehicles except ambulances and other emergency vehicles," Mr Tikait said.
Massive Farmer Protests In Punjab, Haryana, Parts Of UP Over 3 Bills
Highways and railway tracks have been blocked, state borders have been sealed at certain points and additional police forces have been deployed as thousands of farmers launch fierce protests against the controversial farm bills.
Read Here Watch: Bihar BJP workers beat up workers of Pappu Yadav's Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) as the two groups clash in Patna.
Tamil Nadu farmers from National South Indian River Interlinking Farmers' Association sit outside Collector's office in Trichy with human skulls, chained hands, and nooses around their necks to demonstrate against recent farm Bills.
Shiromani Akali Dal's Bikram Singh Majithia attends a protest in Amritsar against farm bills.
Members of Bhartiya Kisan Union block roads, stage protest near Delhi border against recent Farm Bills. Police have been deployed.
New Agriculture Laws Will Enslave Farmers: Rahul Gandhi
Attacking the Centre over the agriculture sector reform Bills passed by the Parliament, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that these would "enslave our farmers" and extended support to the call for ''Bharat Bandh''.
Security At Delhi Borders Amid Protests Against Farm Bills
The Delhi Police has intensified deployment of its personnel at the border areas in view of a nationwide protest call given by various farmer associations against the agriculture-related bills passed by the Parliament recently, officials said on Friday.
Farmers block Delhi-Meerut highway to protest against the farm bills.
Watch: Tej Pratap Yadav sits atop a tractor while Tejashwi Yadav drives it.
We Will Not Let This Injustice Happen: Priyanka Gandhi
Priyanka Gandhi speaking against the farm bills said that MSP will be taken away from farmers. "They will be forced to become slaves of trillions through contract farming. Farmers will neither get the price nor the honor. It will become laborer on his own land. We won't let this injustice happen."
Visuals of large gathering of farmers in UP's kheri district.
Watch: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav drives a tractor as he takes part in a protest against farm bills in Bihar.
Members of Karnataka State Farmers' Association hold protest near Bommanahalli on Karnataka-Tamil Nadu highway against Farm Bills passed in Parliament.
Delhi: Police personnel deployed in Chilla area near Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border point, in wake of the nationwide protest called by farmers today against Agriculture Bills passed in the Parliament.
Bihar: RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) workers protest in Darbhanga, against Farm Bills, while riding buffaloes.
Protests in UP's Barabanki As the protests against farm bills escalate, Ayodhya-Lucknow Highway has been blocked during today's protest.
Punjab: Farmers, under the aegis of Bharatiya Kisan Union and Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI), block Amritsar-Delhi National Highway near Phillaur in Jalandhar, in protest against Farm Bills passed in the Parliament.
Ahead Of Farmers' Protest, Nitish Kumar Supports Farm Bills
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has extended vocal support to the contentious farm bills of ally BJP that has created huge turbulence among farmers and drawn opposition criticism. Breaking his self-imposed boycott of electronic media, Mr Kumar told reporters on Thursday that the countrywide farmers' protest called on Friday is "completely unnecessary".
Read Here Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has appealed to the farmers to strictly maintain law and order, and adhere to all COVID-19 safety protocols, during today's Bandh against the Agriculture Bills: Punjab Chief Minister's Office .
Police personnel are being deployed around Ladowal Toll Plaza in Ludhiana, in the wake of nationwide protest by farmers today, over protests against farm bills. Police official says, "All prepartions have been made, additional forces have been deployed. Farmer leaders have assured us that protest will be peaceful."
Punjab: Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee continues their 'rail roko' agitation in Amritsar, in protest against the Farm Bills.