We are with you and this is a fight for your future: Rahul Gandhi to farmers
A tense situation prevailed at Delhi-Haryana border in Singhu after some people claiming to be "locals" threw stones at farmers protesting there and even tried to uproot their tents. The sudden violence at the protest site this afternoon, which has been tense, prompted the police to use tear gas shells and farmers to appeal for calm.
Delhi's border points at Tikri and Singhu have been under heavy police deployment since morning in the aftermath of the violence that broke out during a tractor parade by farmers in the national capital on Republic Day. Personnel of the Delhi Police, along with those of the paramilitary forces, have been deployed at the borders. Tense standoff was also witnessed at Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border at Ghazipur as farmers refused to budge as police tried to evict them. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait has declared that he is "ready to face bullets" if needed.
The government is trying to tackle misgivings over farm laws at the root of the agitation, President Ram Nath Kovind today told parliament. "Farmers recently carried out a tractor rally. However, there was violence during the protests and there were incidents of insulting that national flag at Red Fort on Republic Day. This was very unfortunate," President Kovind said while addressing a joint sitting of parliament on the opening day of the Budget session.
Here are the live updates on farmers' protest at Delhi border:
Farmers To Hold "Sadbhavna Diwas" On January 30, Observe Fast
Farmers protesting against the Centre's agricultural laws will observe "Sadbhavna Diwas" on Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary on January 30 and hold a day-long fast, farm union leaders said on Friday.
Addressing a press conference at Delhi's Singhu border, the farmer leaders said the fast will be held from 9 AM to 5 PM and appealed to the people of the country to join them.
The farmer leaders also slammed the ruling BJP at the Centre and accused it of trying to "destroy" the "peaceful" agitation against the laws.
"PM Weakening India By Attacking Farmers": Rahul Gandhi
The Congress hit out at the Centre on Friday over the farmers' protest against the new farm laws, with former party president Rahul Gandhi alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "weakening" India by "attacking" farmers.
The remarks by Mr Gandhi came a day after the Congress alleged that the government was trying to divide and intimidate the farmers to break their protest against the three laws.
"PM is weakening India by attacking our farmers and workers. Only anti-national forces will benefit," Mr Gandhi tweeted.
"Rahul Gandhi Declared War": Smriti Irani On Congress' Farmers Warnings
Union Minister Smriti Irani on Friday evening accused Rahul Gandhi of "declaring war on the people of India". This was hours after the Congress MP warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the farmers' protest against the agriculture laws - which has so far been limited to Delhi and nearby regions - could spread to other states if the centre did not repeal the controversial laws.
"Rahul Gandhi today declared war on the people of India. He said that if his political stand is not supported by the PM of our country, then cities will burn! I appeal to every Indian citizen to ensure that Rahul Gandhi's call for violence is met with sustained peace," Ms Irani declared.
Akali Dal Appeals To Workers To Join Farmers' Protests At Delhi BordersThe Shiromani Akali Dal on Friday appealed to its workers to reach the three main farmers' protest sites near Delhi - Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur - to support the agitation against the central agriculture laws, and alleged the centre has been trying to "crush" the protests by unfair means.
The appeal comes on a day when around 200 people clashed with the protesting farmers at the Singhu border - the epicentre of the agitation - demanding they cleared the area. They threw stones and vandalised tents erected by the farmers. Two policemen were injured in the violence.
It is unclear how these people entered the highly cordoned off area.
Read "Rakesh Tikait True Patriot": Haryana Leader Digvijay ChautalaVeteran social activist Anna Hazare has cancelled his planned fast against the three central agricultural laws. He announced his decision today in the presence of senior BJP leader and former Maharashtra chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis.
"I have been doing andolan (agitation) on various issues for a long time. It is not a crime to protest peacefully...I have been raising the farmers' issue for three years... they die by suicide because they don't get the right prices for their crops...the government has decided to increase the MSP (Minimum Support Price) by 50 percent - I have got the letter," he told reporters.
"Since the centre decided to work on these 15 issues (his demands for farmers), I cancelled tomorrow's fast," he added.
Read Akali Dal asks party cadre to rush to farmers' protest sites on Delhi bordersThe Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday asked its party cadre to rush to the three farmers' protest sites on Delhi borders in large numbers to give a further boost to the ongoing agitation.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal also spoke to farmer leader Rakesh Tikait and discussed ways to shore up more strength and support for the farmers' agitation in Delhi, especially in view of the "combined onslaught against farmers by the BJP and the Centre", a party statement said.
Consequent upon the telephonic conversation with Tikait, Mr Badal instructed the Akali cadre to rush to Delhi borders in larger numbers than before and lend strength to the peaceful movement, it added.
While many Akali contingents have already joined the farmers in the gathering, more are on the way in large numbers, Mr Badal said.
Social activist Anna Hazare cancels fast, backs farm laws
Social activist Anna Hazare has cancelled his fast, he has now come in support of farm laws.
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Samajwadi Party, Congress, BSP lend support to protesting farmers, slam BJP over farm lawsAs the farmers' protest at Ghazipur border in Ghaziabad got a new lease of life, the opposition Congress, Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party on Friday rallied support for the movement and slammed the BJP over the contentious farm laws.
The size of Bharatiya Kisan Union protesters camping at the Ghazipur border with Delhi had come down to around 500 Thursday night following an ultimatum given by the local administration to vacate the site, as additional security force personnel were deployed there.
However, the crowd increased manifold overnight and continued during the day as more protesters joined the stir from western UP on the call of BKU leaders.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also threw his party's weight behind the farmers' movement and hit out at the BJP for "torturing" the peasants and levelling "false accusations" against them.
Forensic Science Laboratory team reaches Ghazipur border days after farmers' tractor parade turned violent
A team of Forensic Science Laboratory reached Delhi's Ghazipur border on Friday, three days after the farmers'' tractor parade turned violent, leaving 394 security personnel injured and one agitator dead, officials said.
The team is collecting the forensic evidences at the Ghazipur border, they said.
The tractor parade on Tuesday that was to highlight the demands of the farmer unions to repeal the three new agriculture laws turned violent as protesters deviated from routes, attacked police, overturned vehicles and hoisted a religious flag on the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort.
Maha Vikas Aghadi will make its own law for farmers if needed, says Ashok Chavan
Minister of Public Works Department (PWD) of Maharashtra Ashok Chavan on Friday sparked a controversy by saying that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government will make new laws for farmers in the State.
"MVA government is just waiting for the Supreme Court's verdict on the fate of the farm laws. The government will make its own law ''if needed,'' Mr Chavan told ANI over the phone.
Mr Chavan said the cabinet sub-committee on the three farm laws is not holding meetings as the matter is pending in the Top Court.
Naresh Tikait says people should head to Delhi in a staggered manner to support Ghazipur protest since its the long haul and thousands have reached today.
Police security tightened at Ghazipur border to avoid rowdy elements
The police administration has tightened the security at the Ghazipur border to ensure that no unwanted or rowdy element enters into the farmers' protest site and create disturbances, said Uttar Pradesh senior police official (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar on Friday.
"The UP Government had said from the beginning that we will find a solution by talking to farmers. Everything so far has been done in accordance with it. Tightening of security yesterday or today was done to see that no rowdy element enters into a protest to disturb the atmosphere," Mr Kumar told ANI.
Additional security forces have been deployed at the Ghazipur border in order to maintain the law and situation. Mr Kumar further said that some people expressed baseless doubts and spread them among others.
Haryana Government has suspended internet services
Haryana Government has suspended internet services except voice calls in Ambala, Yamuna Nagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Kaithal, Panipat, Hisar, Jind, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Fatehabad, Rewari and Sirsa till 5 PM tomorrow: State Directorate of Info and Public Relations
Who permitted farmers to enter the Red Fort?, Asks Rahul Gandhi - As for the violence at Red Fort, who permitted farmers to enter the Red Fort? Is it not the Home Ministry's job to ensure that such a mob is not allowed to enter the Red Fort.
- Instead of doing something for the farmers and help them get the best, the government is threatening them, beating them and sending agencies after them
- If left to the farmers, they will not be able to negotiate with big marketing companies and big buyers. Farmers will be at a loss.
- My message to the farmers is that please fight for your right. Do not step back.
- We are with you and this is a fight for your future. There are those who are trying to steal your future, do not let them do that. We are in your support and will help you in whatever way we can
- This anger will spread from villages to cities, from farmers to the people in urban centres. And this will keep spreading from state to state and city to city and will prove to be disastrous for the nation.
- This is the voice of the people. The PM must listen to the voice of the people. I have over 15 years of experience in politics. I can foresee this being flared up even further.
- People are angry and that anger is spreading. The PM is only helping 5-10 people in the country. They are stealing from farmers, from small businesses and from workers in cities. PM Modi is helping these thieves to enter the homes of our farmers.
2 Policemen injured during clashes
The police has been trying to keep the vandals away from the protesting farmers. Two other key border points - Tikri and the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border at Ghazipur - have also been placed under heavy security and remain tense.
Kisan Mahapanchayat begins at Muzaffarnagar, UP. (ANI)
Singhu Farmers Protest: Clashes At Farmers Protest Site After Group Barges In, Cop InjuredA group of over 200 people threw stones and vandalised tents erected by farmers at the Delhi-Haryana border in Singhu, the epicenter of farmers' protests since over two months. A police official was injured with a sword in the violence. The sudden violence this afternoon at the protest site, which has been tense since the Republic Day violence, prompted the police to use tear gas shells and resort to lathi-charge. Farmers too appealed for calm."
A group of people threw stones and vandalised tents at the Delhi-Haryana border in Singhu, the epicenter of farmers' protests for over two months. The sudden violence at the protest site this afternoon, which has been tense, prompted the police to use tear gas shells and farmers to appeal for calm.
A police official has been injured in the violence.
Just In: Stones thrown, tents vandalised by group of people at farmers' protest site at Delhi-Haryana border
Farmers' protest at Singhu: AAP leaders claim police prevented them from supplying drinking water to farmers
Water Minister Satyendar Jain today claimed that the Delhi Police prevented him and DJB vice chairman Raghav Chadha from supplying drinking water to farmers protesting at the Singhu border. The AAP leaders reached the Singhu border with 12 water tankers around 11:30 am. However, police personnel stopped them from going towards the protest site.
"We had come to make arrangements for drinking water and toilet facilities for the farmers. The police prevented the DJB''s water tankers from reaching the farmers," Mr Jain told reporters.
"The police personnel present on the spot said they had been ordered not to allow water tankers to reach farmers. The BJP government in the Centre has denied this basic facility to our farmers," he alleged.
Ghazipur farmers' protest news: "Action" against farmers going to Delhi protest, says Police in UP's Bijnor
Police in western Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor district, 150 kms from the farmers protest site in Ghazipur on the Delhi border, say they will prevent farmer from travelling out of Bijnor to join the protest at Ghazipur being led by farmer leader Rakesh Tikait.
Visuals shot by journalists from the borders of the Bijnor district showed barricades and police personnel checking vehicles on the road. "Section 144 and covid protocols are in place , the protest site at the Ghazipur - Delhi border has been declared 'unlawful' , and so if any farmer takes a four wheeler, two wheeler or tractor towards that site , we will take strict action . District borders are sealed , and we are checking all entry and exit points . If anyone violates this the police will take strict action," Bijnor's police chief Dr Dharm Veer Singh said in a sound byte to the media.
Other visuals shot by local journalists in the Bijnor town showed farmer leaders raising slogans in support of the Ghazipur protests and saying they will go there. "I am sure the administration will support us , we are fighting for our rights," a farmer leader, who gave his name as Vijay , told journalists.
Farmer protest news: Police stopped movement of water tankers at Singhu border, says Delhi minister
Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain, who also visited Singhu border along with AP MLA Raghav Chadha, said that police was not letting farmers procure water at the protest site.
"We're here to inspect arrangement of water & toilets done by us. Police stopped movement of water tankers so that they can't reach here" he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Farmers'protest at Ghazipur border: Manish Sisodia visits Delhi-UP border
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia visits Ghazipur border to oversee arrangements there. Earlier, AAP had tweeted that farmer leader Rakesh Tikait had requested government to arrange water and other basic facilities for farmers.
Farmers protest live news: Farm leader Rakesh Tikait was issued a notice by the Delhi Police on Thursday
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait was issued a notice by the Delhi Police on Thursday, asking him to explain as to why legal action should not be taken against him for breaching the agreement with police regarding the tractor rally on January 26.
Mr Tikait instead asked the government to take action on those who lathi-charged farmers on Republic Day. While crying in front of the media, he said "I will commit suicide if the laws are not repealed. We will not vacate the protest sites."
The emotional appeal of the BKU spokesperson triggered more and more farmers to join the protest overnight at the Ghazipur border. As a result, security was heightened at other Delhi borders as well, including Singhu and Tikri, to avoid any unwarranted situation.
PM weakening India by attacking our peasants and laborers: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, one of the most vocal critics of farm laws, today hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the protests. "Only anti-country forces will benefit," he said in a tweet in Hindi.
A huge crowd of people gathered at Ghazipur border where the farmers' protest against the three farm laws is going on. RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary has arrived at the site to meet BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait and other farmers.
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JUST IN: AAP leaders Satyendra Jain and Raghav Chadha to visit Singhu border at 11 am.
After emotional appeal of farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, farmers converge at Ghazipur border. Brother Naresh Tikait calls for Mahapanchayat at 11 am in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar.
JUST IN: 6 farm leaders called for questioning by Delhi Police over January 26 tractor rally violence.
Farmers' protest live updates: Heavy security deployment continues at Tikri Border
Heavy security deployment continues at Tikri Border, one of the border joints near Delhi. Farmers have been holding protest at Tikri since November end against the farm laws. (ANI)
Farmer protest at Ghazipur border: "Won't budge from protest site," says Farmer leader
Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, who is leadeing the protest at Delhi-UP border, has declared that he is "ready to face bullets" if needed.
"The Supreme Court has justified the peaceful sit-in. There has been no violence on the Ghazipur border. Despite this, the government is adopting a repressive policy. It is the face of the Uttar Pradesh government," Rakesh Tikait told reporters.
Farmer protests: Situation tense at Delhi-UP border, Agitating farmers raise slogans
Agitating farmers raise slogans 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan', 'Inquilab Zindabad' at Ghazipur border (Delhi-Uttar Pradesh); visuals from early morning.
Uttar Pradesh Police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) deployed left the protest site late last night.
1,000 Cops At Delhi-UP Border As Confrontation With Farmers Grows
Huge security arrangements were made at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border at Ghazipur on Thursday evening as farmers protesting against the Centre's contentious farm laws remained locked in a face-off with the police. Uttar Pradesh decided to take action two days after the violence during the Republic Day tractor rally. The local administration had asked the farmers to end their protest and vacate the road by Thursday night. (Read full story
here)
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