Farmers' protest LIVE: Congress workers detained in Gujarat, Karnataka

21:52 September 28

Pilot targets Centre over farm laws, accuses it of betraying farmers

Congress leader Sachin Pilot hit out at the Centre over the new farm laws on Monday and accused it of betraying farmers at a challenging time.

The former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan said the farm bills had deliberately been brought at a time when the economy is collapsing and farmers are suffering losses

"Recently passed farm bills are being opposed in the entire country. The constituents of the NDA are opposing these too. Congress decided to fight alongside farmers from all over the country. Now, we will take it further, but I believe that the central government has betrayed the farmers in a challenging time," Pilot told reporters here.

19:33 September 28

Cong-led UDF in Kerala stops mass agitations following rising COVID-19 cases

The Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kerala on Monday said it has decided to halt mass demonstrations against the Left government, given the worsening COVID-19 situation in the State. The Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, Ramesh Chennithala said the decision was taken after a discussion with all the allies in the UDF.
He, however, said that even though mass agitations will be discontinued, for the time being, protests will continue adhering to strict COVID-19 health protocol.

"In view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the state, the UDF has decided to halt mass agitations against the state government," Chennithala said during a Raj Bhavan march and protest organised by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) against the Farm Bills.

19:20 September 28

Congress workers stage protest against farm bills in Odisha

The Odisha unit of the Congress on Monday staged a demonstration near the Raj Bhavan demanding the repeal of the farm bills passed in the Parliament recently.

President Ram Nath Kovind had on Sunday given assent to three farm reform bills -- the Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
The bills were earlier passed in the Parliament, triggering protests by farmers and political parties in different parts of the country.

17:28 September 28

Haryana Cong holds protest against new agri laws, demands they be withdrawn

Haryana's main opposition Congress held a protest on Monday outside the party's state headquarters here against the agriculture-related new laws, with its leaders claiming these legislations will make 'Atmanirbhar' farmers "dependent" and leave them at the mercy of big corporates.

The Congress workers also raised slogans against the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Haryana.
Carrying placards, some of which read "Anndata ki suno pukar, bandh karo atyachar (Listen to farmers, end their oppression)", the workers demanded that the "black laws", which are "anti-farmers" be withdrawn.

A delegation comprising Haryana Congress chief Kumari Selja, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, party's state affairs in-charge Vivek Bansal, other senior leaders including Kiran Choudhary and Capt Ajay Singh Yadav submitted a memorandum on the issue of the farm-related law to Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya which was addressed to the President.

17:27 September 28

Rajasthan Cong demands that new farm laws be withdrawn

The Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee on Monday submitted to Governor Kalraj Mishra a memorandum addressed to the President, seeking withdrawal of the agriculture-related new laws.
On behalf of the Congress Committee, the party's state president Govind Singh Dotasra and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot submitted the memorandum to Governor Mishra at the Raj Bhavan.
 

16:48 September 28

Telangana: Congress protests against farm bills

Congress in Telangana on Monday staged a protest against the farm bills which were recently passed in Parliament and urged the President to
withdraw them. 

State Congress leaders and the new AICC in-charge for party affairs in Telangana Manickam Tagore sought to submit a memorandum to Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan at the Raj Bhavan.

However, they were taken into custody and shifted to Goshamahal police station in the city, as they did not have an appointment with the Governor, when they began proceeding to the Raj Bhavan from an adjacent government guest house, police said.

They were released by police later.

15:34 September 28

UPCC President held while protesting farm laws

UPCC president Ajay Kumar Lallu and other party workers were held while staging a protest against the new farm laws in the state capital on Monday, a party leader said.
Led by the UPCC president, Congress workers from all over the state converged at the Parivartan Chowk here and staged a protest against the "anti-farm" laws, party's media convenor Lalan Kumar said.
While trying to move towards the Raj Bhawan, party workers and its chief were held, Kumar said.
There are reports from some districts that party workers, who were on their way to Lucknow to take part in the programme, were detained and not allowed to proceed, Lalan claimed.

14:51 September 28

Punjab CM says his govt will move Supreme Court over new farm laws

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday said his government would approach the Supreme Court over the issue of new farm laws.

He also slammed the BJP-led central government, accusing it of snatching the rights of states.

"Will it (Centre) leave anything with them to run their states," Singh asked.

Addressing the gathering, the CM slammed the Centre for bringing the farm laws, saying they would "destroy" the farming community.

"I have said we will take this matter forward. The president has passed these bills and now we will take this matter to the Supreme Court," Singh said.

Stating that his government would take every possible step to protect the interest of the farming community, he said, Two advocates from Delhi are coming here tomorrow and we will discuss this matter with them.

14:09 September 28

"Protests are taking place against an amendment to APMC and land reforms Bill. I had spoken to leaders of farmers associations at Vidhana Soudha, a few days back. They were not willing to discuss the amendment when I called them to discuss the Farm Bill," said Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa.

"They have already decided to protest. Being a farmer's son, I am on the farmers' side. These amendments have been brought after long discussions," Karnataka CM said.

It's my crop, my right. They can sell agricultural produce anywhere in India. We haven't closed doors of APMC, you can sell it at APMC or wherever you can get a fair price. I request farmers, wait for another 6 months or a year. You'll get to know how it'll help you," he added.

13:58 September 28

Karnataka Congress protests against the government at the party office. State Congress chief DK Shivakumar, state in-charge Randeep Surjewala and Siddaramaiah present. 

13:40 September 28

Guj Cong chief among 100 detained for protesting farm bills

Nearly 100 Gujarat Congress workers, including state party president Amit Chavda, were detained in Gandhinagar on Monday after they staged a protest against farm bills passed in Parliament, police said.

In the morning, Chavda, Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani, Congress MLAs Baldevji Thakor, C J Chavda and other party workers gathered at the Ambedkar statue near the Assembly complex and raised slogans against the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Gujarat.

They claimed the farm bills recently passed by Parliament were "anti-farmer and will destroy APMCs".

13:35 September 28

Police detain workers of Congress, JD(S) & SDPI, who were protesting in Madikeri of Kodagu district today, amid statewide protest. 

12:39 September 28

Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh holds a sit-in protest against the against Farm Bills (now laws) at Khatkar Kalan in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.

12:25 September 28

Protestors in Chamarajanagar set tyres on fire during Karnataka bandh.

12:25 September 28

DPCC organized a 'Kisan-Majdoor NYAY March' from Rajghatto stage protest against farm bills. 

Many members, including DPCC chief, got detained by Delhi Police.

12:03 September 28

Farmers in K'taka stage protests against amendments to Land Reforms Act, APMC Act

Pro-farmer organisations backed by a number of other social and political outfits on Monday staged protests across Karnataka over the amendments to the APMC and land reforms act.

The demonstrations were against two important amendments to the Karnataka Land Reforms Act and the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Act passed by the Karnataka Assembly despite strong objection by the opposition parties, mainly the Congress and JD(S).

The amendment to the KLR Act lifts restrictions on purchasing agricultural land and enables any individual to purchase it.

12:02 September 28

K'taka Bandh evokes good response in early hours

A day-long Karnataka Bandh (statewide shutdown) called by several farmers, Dalits and pro-Kannada organisations against the passage of agriculture-related Bills in Parliament on Monday saw protesters engaged in efforts to make it a success across the state.

The Bandh call given by these organisations saw a successful execution in large parts of Karnataka except in districts like Mangaluru and Udupi, where the Sangh Parivar allied groups wields iron-like grip.

Both opposition parties Congress and JD(S) have extended their support to the Bandh call given by these organisations and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee was even participating in the Bandh by organising a protest in front of its state headquarters.

10:50 September 28

Five people - residents of Punjab - detained in connection with the protest and burning of a tractor near India Gate in Delhi. Legal action initiated.

10:46 September 28

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President MK Stalin takes part in a protest against Farm Bills (now laws) in Keezhambi village of Kanchipuram.

10:42 September 28

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene, and other organisations protest in front of Sir Puttanna Chetty Town Hall in Bengaluru. 
 

10:42 September 28

Protesters sit on a road in Hubli, in a bid to stop a bus amid statewide bandh today. 

10:41 September 28

Farmers' organisations offer flowers to shopkeepers in Hubli, requesting them to support today's statewide bandh. 

10:41 September 28

All India Kisan Sabha and other organisation protests in front of Hemavathi statue in Hassan & hold bike rally, in protest against Farm Bills (now laws).  

Farmers' organisation have called statewide bandh today against Farm Bills, land reform ordinances, amendments to APMC & labour laws.

10:40 September 28

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to hold a sit-in protest today against the three farm laws at Khatkar Kalan in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.

10:39 September 28

Police force deployed in Kalaburagi in the wake of a statewide bandh called by farmers' organisations today, in protest against Farm Bills, land reform ordinances, amendments to Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) and labour laws.

10:30 September 28

Punjab Youth Congress workers protest at India Gate

New Delhi: Close to 15-20 unidentified people belonging to the Punjab Youth Congress gathered at the India Gate on Monday morning and set a tractor on fire.

The workers, who were protesting reportedly against the farm bills brought by the Centre, which recently received the assent of President Ram Nath Kovind, had brought the tractor to the site on a truck.

The group of people gathered at the spot raised slogans like "Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh Amar rahe" (Long live Shaheed Bhagat Singh), and "Kisaan-Virodhi, Narendra Modi" (Anti-farmers, Narendra Modi).

They also raised slogans in support of Punjab Youth Congress, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and MP Rahul Gandhi.

The fire on the tractor was later doused and it was removed from the spot by the policemen.