Farmers' Protest Updates: The farmer protests against farm laws entered its 29th day today.
There is no democracy in India, said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today while adding that it can be our imagination but democracy does not exist in reality in the country.
The Congress leader said, "Democracy? Which country are you talking about? There is no democracy in India."
"There is no democracy in India. It can be in your imagination, but not in reality," he said on Delhi Police taking party leaders into custody during their march to Rashtrapati Bhavan.
"PM Modi is making money for the crony capitalists. Whoever will try to stand against him will be called terrorist - be it farmers, labourers and even Mohan Bhagwat," he added.
The Congress leader added that the Government should convene a joint session of Parliament and repeal these laws.
"I want to tell the Prime Minister that these farmers are not going back home until these farm laws are repealed. The government should convene a joint session of Parliament and take back these laws. Opposition parties stand with farmers and labourers," he added.
"China is still at the border. It has snatched away thousands of kilometres of the land of India. Why doesn't Prime Minister speak about it, why is he silent?" the Congress leader said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making the country weak and outside forces are seeing it as an opportunity, he said. "I want to tell media, understand this, I know you have salaries to protect, but see what is happening," he added.
Here are the Live Updates on farmer protests:
Farmers Protest: Farmers To Halt Toll Collection In Haryana From Tomorrow
Farmers will halt toll collection on highways in Haryana from tomorrow till Sunday. Last time, many commuters complained that despite halting the fee collection, money from Fastag account was deduction. So farmers will also try to ensure that fastag machines are shut.
Farmers Protest: Two Days After Farmers Block ML Khatter's Convoy, Ambala Police Superintendent Shifted
The Haryana government today transferred Ambala Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh Kalia, two days after a group of farmers allegedly blocked Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's convoy and hurled sticks at it, reported news agency PTI. Rajesh Kalia was posted as the Ambala SP over three months ago. According to an official statement, Rajesh Kalia will be replaced by Hamid Akhtar, who till now held the charge of the SP (Security), CID. Now, Mr Kalia has been appointed the CID's SP (Security), it said.
Farmers Protest: New Farm Laws Making Farmers Insecure, Says Sachin Pilot
The Centre should repeal the new farm laws as they are making farmers feel insecure about their future, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said on Thursday, reported news agency PTI. The former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan said the Congress is working hard to ensure that the organisation and the state government fulfil the promises made to the people of the state. "The centre should stop being stubborn and withdraw the farm laws with immediate effect. The farmers are feeling insecure about their future. They are very concerned," Pilot told reporters.
Farmers Protest: If Laws Are Changed By Blocking Roads, Country Will Go Into "Anarchy", Says Bihar Deputy Chief Minister
As the farmers have decided to continue their protest until the Centre repeals the three new agricultural laws, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Tarkishore Prasad said that if laws were changed by blocking roads, the country would go into a "mode of anarchy", reported news agency ANI. "Some leaders of Punjab are protesting at the borders but they are not leading the entire country, they are only representing two states. If any law is changed this way, the country will go into a mode of anarchy," Mr Prasad told news agency ANI.
Farmers Protest: Farmers Will End Their Protest But Congress Workers Won't, Says Union Minister Kailash Choudhary
Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary remained hopeful that farmers will come forward for discussions with the government on three farm laws and end their agitation, reported news agency ANI. He, however, indicated that Congress cadres will continue with the protest. While responding to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remark that farmers won't budge and will keep agitating till three farm laws are repealed, the Union Minister said: "Congress cadre won't stop agitating but farmers will. We are interacting with farmers while Congress and other political parties are inciting them."
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury met the President earlier today and submitted a memorandum containing 2 crore signatures seeking his intervention in farm laws issue.
"No Democracy In India, Only In Imagination": Rahul Gandhi Attacks Centre
Rahul Gandhi, in a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government over the farmer protests, said today there was "no democracy" in India and those who stood up against the PM were labelled terrorists, "even if it was (RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwat".
Read Here The government must take back these new farm laws. I am telling the government this, that the protesting farmers are going nowhere. They will continue to protest till the time the government doesn't take these back. Let me say this again... I said that the start of COVID-19, that India is on a path to destruction, no one listened to me, today they see how our economy is suffering. Today, again, I am saying this, that no one can defeat the farmer and the labourer. Let this be a warning to BJP, that if the farmers and labourers unite, the no force can stop them. The BJP, the RSS, and all of India will get destroyed, says Rahul Gandhi.
Delhi Police Take Priyanka Gandhi, Other Congress Leaders Into Custody
No Permission For Congress March To Rashtrapati Bhavan: Delhi Police
No permission has been granted for Congress' march to Rashtrapati Bhavan today, and only three leaders, who have appointments will be allowed to go there, said Delhi Police. "No permission has been granted for Congress'' march to Rashtrapati Bhavan today. However, three leaders, who have appointments at Rashtrapati Bhavan, will be allowed to go," said Deepak Yadav, Additional District Commissioner of Police, New Delhi.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi meets senior party leaders and MPs at party headquarters.
We will march to Rashtrapati Bhavan. We want govt to atone for their complete lack of consulting farmers before passing these bills. I think President has an important moral role in encouraging and guiding government to not stand on their legislative pride: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor.
Rahul Gandhi-Led Congress Delegation To Meet President Today Over Farm Laws
Rahul Gandhi will lead Congress MPs' protest march today at 10:45 am from Vijay Chowk to Rashtrapati Bhavan and will submit a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind seeking his intervention over farmers'' protest. "Rahul Gandhi along with Opposition leaders met President and submitted the memorandum to resolve farmers'' issue. But there was no action from the President and the government. Rahul Gandhi will lead a demonstration tomorrow at 10:45 am from Vijay Chowk to Rashtrapati Bhavan with Congress MPs," Congress MP K Suresh told ANI on Wednesday.
The chilla, Gazipur borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida and Gaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests.
Haryana Police Registers Case Against Farmers For Blocking Manohar Lal Khattar's ConvoyHaryana Police has registered cases against farmers for allegedly blocking Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's convoy in Ambala. "We have registered cases against 13 farmers under various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and have initiated a probe into the matter," said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Ambala, Madan Lal.
"20,000 En Route To Delhi To Support Farm Laws": Western UP's Kisan Sena
Around 20,000 members of the Kisan Sena will march from western Uttar Pradesh to Delhi Thursday to highlight their support of the centre's farm laws, setting up a potential face-off with thousands of farmers who have been camped around the city borders for nearly a month in protest of those laws.