02:24 January 31
Farmers went missing after protest on Jan 26, claim families
Days after the violent protests that broke out in Delhi on January 26, families of agitated farmers reached Alipur police station and lodged missing complaints. People claimed that their family members who participated in the Republic Day tractor rally were reported missing on January 26. Meanwhile, police have launched a manhunt to find the missing farmers.
02:24 January 31
Gurjar leader Madan Bhaiyya extends community's support to farmers' protest
Ghaziabad: Prominent Gurjar leader of western Uttar Pradesh Madan Bhaiyya on Saturday extended his community's support to the Bharatiya Kisan Union in its ongoing protest against the central farm laws.
Without naming him, Madan Bhaiyya also hit out at BJP's Loni MLA Nand Kishor Gurjar, who has been accused by farmers of orchestrating violence at the Ghazipur protest site on January 26, saying he indulged in "anti-farmer acts".
Nand Kishor, however, has denied the allegations.
Madan Bhaiyya said the farmers at Delhi's borders have been protesting for two months now and braving the cold to highlight their demand for the rollback of the new laws and their movement is non-political and peaceful.
22:49 January 30
Day after violence, Singhu border turns into fortress
Delhi's Singhu border was fortified with several layers of barricades and increased presence of security personnel today, a day after violence erupted during a demonstration by ''locals'' against agitating farmers sitting there for over two months to demand the repeal of Centre's new agri laws.
22:47 January 30
Three contentious farm laws will affect MSP, weaken mandi system: Sharad Pawar
Raising concerns over the three new farm laws, NCP President Sharad Pawar today said the legislation will adversely affect the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and weaken the mandi system.
22:34 January 30
84 arrested in connection with R-Day violence: police
Delhi Police has so far registered 38 cases, arrested 84 people in connection with Republic Day violence.
22:27 January 30
New laws will break the backbone of agri sector: Arundhati Roy
Eminent novelist and essayist Arundhati Royon Saturday came out in support of the farmers who are agitating on Delhi borders, and said the new farm laws which they are opposing will help only the corporate sector.
22:24 January 30
AAP wants Capt to provide police security to Punjab farmers at Delhi borders
Alleging that the BJP’s "goons" have continuously been attacking farmers in a bid to intimidate them to vacate the protest sites at Delhi borders, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Saturday demanded that the Punjab government provide police security to the peasants.
22:24 January 30
Received 1,700 video clips, CCTV footage related to R-Day violence: Delhi Police
Probing the violence that erupted during a tractor rally by farmers on Republic Day, the Delhi Police Saturday said it has received 1,700 video clips, CCTV footage from public related to the incidents.
21:51 January 30
Delhi Police files FIR against Shashi Tharoor, Rajdeep Sardesai, others
Delhi Police has filed an FIR of criminal conspiracy, IPC sections,153,504,505 (1)(b) against Shashi Tharoor, journalists-Rajdeep Sardesai, Mrinal Pande, Paresh Nath, Editor in chief of Caravan, Anant Nath, Managing Editor of Caravan & Vinod K Jose, Executive Editor of Caravan.
21:49 January 30
Villagers bring food, water for Tikait as BKU digs heels at Ghazipur border
Villagers brought water in clay pots and home-made food for Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait today in a show of support for the ongoing stir against the new farm laws, even as local authorities sent tankers of drinking water and mobile toilets at the protest site.
21:44 January 30
No talks with govt until arrested farmers are released: Tikait
Bharatiya Kisan Union Spokesperson, Rakesh Tikait said that there will not be any further talk with the government until they release the arrested farmers.
18:30 January 30
PM should talk to farmers directly, says Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot
With the stalemate between the Government and farmers regarding the newly-enacted farm laws continuing despite several rounds of meetings, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today said the Prime Minister should talk to farmers himself to resolve the issue.
18:28 January 30
PM Modi will win if agitation does not go peacefully: BKU president
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) (R) president Balbir Singh Rajewal accused the central government of maligning the image of farmers and warned protesters to be peaceful or else "Prime Minister Narendra Modi will win".
18:10 January 30
Abhay Chautala reaches Ghazipur border
Indian National Lok Dal General Secretary Abhay Chautala today reached Ghazipur border to show solidarity with agitating farmers.
17:58 January 30
Farmers to organise 'Mahapanchayat' in Baghpat
A day after the highly-successful 'Mahapanchayat'at Muzzaffarnagar, which decided that the Ghazipur agitation would continue, a similar event is now being planned at Baghpat on Sunday.
17:20 January 30
'One protester from every house, fine for non-compliance'
Several panchayats in Punjab have passed resolutions asking people to send each family to join the farmers protesting against the three agriculture laws in Delhi. Failing this, a penalty of Rs 1,500 will be imposed on the defaulting house.
17:08 January 30
Farmers raise slogans at Ghazipur border
Farmers raising slogans at Ghazipur border during a hunger strike as part of their ongoing agitation.
16:53 January 30
Govt hedging farm law issue out of its egoistic mindset: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
After the all-party meeting, Congress' Leader of Opposition in Lok Saba Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that PM Modi simply narrated discussion being held between govt and farmers.
He just said that Agriculture Minister assured farmers that he is a phone call away from them provided they accept govt's proposal. The government is just hedging the issue out of its egoistic and obstinate mindset.
16:01 January 30
Forensic experts visit Red Fort to collect evidence
A team of forensic experts visited the Red Fort to collect evidence in connection with the violence during the farmers protest on Republic Day.
15:41 January 30
Centre trying to resolve issues of protesting farmers through talks: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today told leaders of various political parties that his government has been continuously trying to resolve the issues raised by protesting farmers through talks.
15:38 January 30
'Farmers agitation has revived'
BKU (Rajewal) president Balbir Singh Rajewal today said the farmers’ agitation that suffered a hit in the aftermath of the Republic Day violence, had revived and would continue till it was taken to its logical conclusion.
15:01 January 30
Farmers stage protest at Kaushambi police station
The farmers are sitting on a dharna at the Kaushambi police station demanding an FIR be lodged against two BJP MLAs who had made derogatory remarks against farmers.
14:26 January 30
'Giving the farmers offer to deliberate'
"I want to reiterate what Narendra Singh Tomar told farmers. He said - we've not reached to consensus but we're giving you (farmers) the offer and you may go and deliberate. He told farmers that he was just a phone call away," PM Modi told the all-party meeting, as per sources.
14:22 January 30
Internet suspended at protest sites
According to sources, Home Ministry temporarily suspended internet services in Singhu, Ghazipur, and Tikri and their adjoining areas from 11 pm of Jan 29 to 11 pm of Jan 31. The step was taken to maintain public safety.
13:41 January 30
Workers of parties in Grand Alliance form a human chain
Bihar: Workers of parties in Grand Alliance form a human chain in Patna in protest against the three central agriculture laws. "We will continue to organise such protests until the laws are repealed," says RJD MP Manoj Jha.
12:13 January 30
Baghpat farmers leave for Ghazipur border
Hundreds of farmers from Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh have left for Ghazipur border after the police and administration used force to evacuate farmers including farmer leader Rakesh from the protest site.
The farmers who are a part of the protest have said that they support Rakesh Tikait and will continue the protests till the three farm laws are repealed.
Most of the farmers of Chhaprauli, Barout, Ramala, Binauli, Baghpat, Khekra and Chaugama regions are going to Ghazipur border.
11:05 January 30
Farmers continue to protest at Ghazipur
People continue to remain at Ghazipur border, as farmers' agitation against the three Farm Laws of the Central Government goes on.
11:04 January 30
Man held for snatching wireless set from constable on R day rally
The Delhi Police has arrested a man who had allegedly snatched a wireless set from a constable during a tractor parade by farmers at Nangloi, officials said on Friday. According to the police, the accused was previously involved in three cases lodged in the national capital in 2019.
The accused has been identified as Ajay Rathi and is a resident of Haryana.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (outer) A Kon said, "We have arrested the accused who snatched a wireless set from Constable Sonu at Nangloi on Republic Day. The wireless set has been recovered from his possession.
He also said that the accused has revealed that he was instructed not to follow the designated route and reach Red Fort and create disturbances.
Delhi's border points at Tikri and Singhu remained under heavy police deployment on Friday in the aftermath of the violence that broke out during the farmers' tractor parade in the national capital on January 26, officials said.
09:55 January 30
BKU ‘mahapanchayat’ in Mathura today
A maha panchayat of farmers will be held at the Inter College of Nohzhil police station today during which the farmers will prepare a strategy about the future course of action over farm laws. The district administration has made elaborate security arrangements regarding the Mahapanchayat.
Earlier, a sea of farmers had filled the GIC Grounds in Muzaffarnagar as a ‘mahapanchayat’ called by the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) began on Friday.
All the roads leading to the ground were choked by tractors from Shamli, Baghpat and Saharanpur and other neighbouring districts.
The ‘mahapanchayat’ has been called by BKU president Naresh Tikait in the wake of dramatic incidents that unfolded at the Ghazipur protest site on Thursday night, where his younger brother and national spokesperson of the BKU Rakesh Tikait broke into an emotional outburst.
09:00 January 30
BKU (Lok Shakti) re-launches stir against farm laws, relocates to Ghazipur border
Peeved over developments at the Ghazipur border site of farmers' protest, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lok Shakti) on Friday re-launched its stir over the new farm laws, just a day after it had announced withdrawing its protest in Noida.
BKU (Lok Shakti) chief Thakur Sheoraj Singh Bhati called on the union's supporters, who were camping at the Dalit Prerna Sthal in Noida, to now reach Ghazipur border, where BKU members are staying put.
In a video message, Singh also appealed to BKU (Lok Shakti) supporters in western Uttar Pradesh to reach the farmers' mahapanchayat that was convened in Muzaffarnagar.
Yesterday, an MLA of Ghaziabad had reached Ghazipur protest site along with his armed supporters. This act has distressed the soul of (BKU leader) Rakesh Tikait. An announcement was made regarding his arrest and ending of the protest there, but the MLA vitiated the atmosphere there and Tikait broke down, Bhati said.
BKU (Lok Shakti) will not tolerate any policy of suppression. The government or administration can take any action but no MLA or public representative can act cruelly with the farmers and BKU (Lok Shakti) will not tolerate this, he added.
Bhati said his faction will stand shoulder to shoulder with Tikait's BKU in the fight against the new contentious farm laws.
BKU (Lok Shakti) had been camping at the Dalit Prerna Sthal in Noida since December 2, demanding the rollback of the three new farm laws, legalization of the minimum support price for crops and implementation of recommendations of the Swaminathan Committee report.
Bhati, the faction's national president, had Thursday announced ending the protest in view of the violence during farmers' tractor parade in Delhi on Republic Day.
He and some other of his union members later Thursday also met with Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.
07:34 January 30
44 arrested in Singhu border violence
The Delhi police arrested 44 people including the man who attacked SHO Alipur in the violence that broke out on Friday afternoon at Singhu border.
Criminal case under various sections including attempt to murder has been registered in Alipur police station, Delhi and investigation has been initiated.
"Accused Ranjeet Singh, a resident of village Kazampur, Distt Naya Shehar, PS Rahu, Punjab, age 22 years who attacked SHO Alipur with sword has been arrested from the spot," a senior police officer said.
Situation at Delhi's Haryana border at Singhu deteriorated on Friday afternoon as villagers clashed with protesting farmers after one thing led to another and the mob was seen armed with stones, lathis, swords. A police officer among others was injured.
Group of men, who claimed to be from nearby villages and wanted to get the over two-month-old road blockage cleared came to blows with the farmers after heated arguments and then locals damaged tents, leading to stone pelting from both sides. The situation was controlled an hour later.
06:31 January 30
Farmers' Stir LIVE Updates
New Delhi: Farmers protesting the Centre's new agri laws will observe 'Sadbhavna Diwas' on Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary on January 30 and hold a day-long fast, farm leaders said on Friday, and asserted that their agitation will gain strength as farmers in large numbers will join them in the days ahead.
Addressing a press conference at Delhi's Singhu border, the leaders slammed the ruling BJP at the Centre and accused it of trying to "destroy" the "peaceful" agitation against the agri laws.
"The conspiracy of the ruling BJP to destroy this farmers' movement is now exposed to all," said Jagjit Singh Dallewal of Bharat Kisan Union (Sidhupur).
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 asserted that the number of agitators at all the prominent protest venues - Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri - is swelling after the police allegedly tried to remove farmer leader Rakesh Tikait from Ghazipur border on Thursday night.
Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Yudhvir Singh said, "We don't need lecture on respecting national flag from these (BJP) people. Majority of farmers who are sitting here have their children fighting at the borders."
The government's "desperate act to stifle the farmers' movement, especially by forcing them to vacate the Ghazipur border, has boomeranged," he said, adding that tt has given a further push to the movement as more people have joined the agitation since the last night incident.
Thousands of protesting farmers clashed with the police during the tractor parade on January 26. Many of them, driving tractors, reached the Red Fort and entered the monument.
They hoisted flags on the domes and placed the flagstaff at the ramparts of the national monument.
A statement issued later by Samyukta Kisan Morcha said the BJP government is now giving a communal colour to the ongoing peaceful farmers' movement.
"The way the government has unsuccessfully tried to spoil the atmosphere on the Ghazipur border and the Singhu border for the last 3 days proves that the police and BJP-RSS are desperately plotting to kill this movement. Similar unsuccessful attempts were made on the Tikri border too," the statement said.
Krantikari Kisan Union leader Darshan Pal said a large number of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and other states are moving towards Delhi to join the agitation.
Over 800 tractor trollies from Mohali (Punjab) are on their way to various border points in Delhi, he claimed.
Pal also appealed to the government to restore internet services to all agitation sites, saying protest will be held if that was not done.
The farmer leaders said their protest will remain peaceful, and condemned the development at Ghazipur Border on Thursday.
"We were peaceful yesterday, today and will be peaceful tomorrow also. We invite people of this country to join us in this peaceful protest," Pal said.
Another farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal alleged that the "conspiracy" of the government started on January 26 has been exposed.
He said the farmer leaders "condemn tooth and nail" what happened at Singhu Border, alleging the so called "locals" protest was organised at the behest of the BJP.
Police fired tear gas and resorted to baton charge Friday to break up a clash between farmers and a large group of men claiming to be local residents who hurled stones at each other at the Singhu border, one of the main protest sites against farm laws.
The statement said Samyukta Kisan Morcha is overwhelmed by the love of the farmers reaching the Ghazipur border.
"The government and many organizations were claiming that the Ghazipur dharna would be closed by last evening, but the farmers of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have again proven that the farmers' spirits and support are high," it said.
The farmers' movement was peaceful and will be peaceful, it said.
"The events on January 30 will be organized to spread the values of truth and non-violence. The way the government is spreading planned lies and violence is condemnable," the statement said.
02:24 January 31
Farmers went missing after protest on Jan 26, claim families
Days after the violent protests that broke out in Delhi on January 26, families of agitated farmers reached Alipur police station and lodged missing complaints. People claimed that their family members who participated in the Republic Day tractor rally were reported missing on January 26. Meanwhile, police have launched a manhunt to find the missing farmers.
02:24 January 31
Gurjar leader Madan Bhaiyya extends community's support to farmers' protest
Ghaziabad: Prominent Gurjar leader of western Uttar Pradesh Madan Bhaiyya on Saturday extended his community's support to the Bharatiya Kisan Union in its ongoing protest against the central farm laws.
Without naming him, Madan Bhaiyya also hit out at BJP's Loni MLA Nand Kishor Gurjar, who has been accused by farmers of orchestrating violence at the Ghazipur protest site on January 26, saying he indulged in "anti-farmer acts".
Nand Kishor, however, has denied the allegations.
Madan Bhaiyya said the farmers at Delhi's borders have been protesting for two months now and braving the cold to highlight their demand for the rollback of the new laws and their movement is non-political and peaceful.
22:49 January 30
Day after violence, Singhu border turns into fortress
Delhi's Singhu border was fortified with several layers of barricades and increased presence of security personnel today, a day after violence erupted during a demonstration by ''locals'' against agitating farmers sitting there for over two months to demand the repeal of Centre's new agri laws.
22:47 January 30
Three contentious farm laws will affect MSP, weaken mandi system: Sharad Pawar
Raising concerns over the three new farm laws, NCP President Sharad Pawar today said the legislation will adversely affect the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and weaken the mandi system.
22:34 January 30
84 arrested in connection with R-Day violence: police
Delhi Police has so far registered 38 cases, arrested 84 people in connection with Republic Day violence.
22:27 January 30
New laws will break the backbone of agri sector: Arundhati Roy
Eminent novelist and essayist Arundhati Royon Saturday came out in support of the farmers who are agitating on Delhi borders, and said the new farm laws which they are opposing will help only the corporate sector.
22:24 January 30
AAP wants Capt to provide police security to Punjab farmers at Delhi borders
Alleging that the BJP’s "goons" have continuously been attacking farmers in a bid to intimidate them to vacate the protest sites at Delhi borders, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Saturday demanded that the Punjab government provide police security to the peasants.
22:24 January 30
Received 1,700 video clips, CCTV footage related to R-Day violence: Delhi Police
Probing the violence that erupted during a tractor rally by farmers on Republic Day, the Delhi Police Saturday said it has received 1,700 video clips, CCTV footage from public related to the incidents.
21:51 January 30
Delhi Police files FIR against Shashi Tharoor, Rajdeep Sardesai, others
Delhi Police has filed an FIR of criminal conspiracy, IPC sections,153,504,505 (1)(b) against Shashi Tharoor, journalists-Rajdeep Sardesai, Mrinal Pande, Paresh Nath, Editor in chief of Caravan, Anant Nath, Managing Editor of Caravan & Vinod K Jose, Executive Editor of Caravan.
21:49 January 30
Villagers bring food, water for Tikait as BKU digs heels at Ghazipur border
Villagers brought water in clay pots and home-made food for Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait today in a show of support for the ongoing stir against the new farm laws, even as local authorities sent tankers of drinking water and mobile toilets at the protest site.
21:44 January 30
No talks with govt until arrested farmers are released: Tikait
Bharatiya Kisan Union Spokesperson, Rakesh Tikait said that there will not be any further talk with the government until they release the arrested farmers.
18:30 January 30
PM should talk to farmers directly, says Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot
With the stalemate between the Government and farmers regarding the newly-enacted farm laws continuing despite several rounds of meetings, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today said the Prime Minister should talk to farmers himself to resolve the issue.
18:28 January 30
PM Modi will win if agitation does not go peacefully: BKU president
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) (R) president Balbir Singh Rajewal accused the central government of maligning the image of farmers and warned protesters to be peaceful or else "Prime Minister Narendra Modi will win".
18:10 January 30
Abhay Chautala reaches Ghazipur border
Indian National Lok Dal General Secretary Abhay Chautala today reached Ghazipur border to show solidarity with agitating farmers.
17:58 January 30
Farmers to organise 'Mahapanchayat' in Baghpat
A day after the highly-successful 'Mahapanchayat'at Muzzaffarnagar, which decided that the Ghazipur agitation would continue, a similar event is now being planned at Baghpat on Sunday.
17:20 January 30
'One protester from every house, fine for non-compliance'
Several panchayats in Punjab have passed resolutions asking people to send each family to join the farmers protesting against the three agriculture laws in Delhi. Failing this, a penalty of Rs 1,500 will be imposed on the defaulting house.
17:08 January 30
Farmers raise slogans at Ghazipur border
Farmers raising slogans at Ghazipur border during a hunger strike as part of their ongoing agitation.
16:53 January 30
Govt hedging farm law issue out of its egoistic mindset: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
After the all-party meeting, Congress' Leader of Opposition in Lok Saba Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that PM Modi simply narrated discussion being held between govt and farmers.
He just said that Agriculture Minister assured farmers that he is a phone call away from them provided they accept govt's proposal. The government is just hedging the issue out of its egoistic and obstinate mindset.
16:01 January 30
Forensic experts visit Red Fort to collect evidence
A team of forensic experts visited the Red Fort to collect evidence in connection with the violence during the farmers protest on Republic Day.
15:41 January 30
Centre trying to resolve issues of protesting farmers through talks: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today told leaders of various political parties that his government has been continuously trying to resolve the issues raised by protesting farmers through talks.
15:38 January 30
'Farmers agitation has revived'
BKU (Rajewal) president Balbir Singh Rajewal today said the farmers’ agitation that suffered a hit in the aftermath of the Republic Day violence, had revived and would continue till it was taken to its logical conclusion.
15:01 January 30
Farmers stage protest at Kaushambi police station
The farmers are sitting on a dharna at the Kaushambi police station demanding an FIR be lodged against two BJP MLAs who had made derogatory remarks against farmers.
14:26 January 30
'Giving the farmers offer to deliberate'
"I want to reiterate what Narendra Singh Tomar told farmers. He said - we've not reached to consensus but we're giving you (farmers) the offer and you may go and deliberate. He told farmers that he was just a phone call away," PM Modi told the all-party meeting, as per sources.
14:22 January 30
Internet suspended at protest sites
According to sources, Home Ministry temporarily suspended internet services in Singhu, Ghazipur, and Tikri and their adjoining areas from 11 pm of Jan 29 to 11 pm of Jan 31. The step was taken to maintain public safety.
13:41 January 30
Workers of parties in Grand Alliance form a human chain
Bihar: Workers of parties in Grand Alliance form a human chain in Patna in protest against the three central agriculture laws. "We will continue to organise such protests until the laws are repealed," says RJD MP Manoj Jha.
12:13 January 30
Baghpat farmers leave for Ghazipur border
Hundreds of farmers from Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh have left for Ghazipur border after the police and administration used force to evacuate farmers including farmer leader Rakesh from the protest site.
The farmers who are a part of the protest have said that they support Rakesh Tikait and will continue the protests till the three farm laws are repealed.
Most of the farmers of Chhaprauli, Barout, Ramala, Binauli, Baghpat, Khekra and Chaugama regions are going to Ghazipur border.
11:05 January 30
Farmers continue to protest at Ghazipur
People continue to remain at Ghazipur border, as farmers' agitation against the three Farm Laws of the Central Government goes on.
11:04 January 30
Man held for snatching wireless set from constable on R day rally
The Delhi Police has arrested a man who had allegedly snatched a wireless set from a constable during a tractor parade by farmers at Nangloi, officials said on Friday. According to the police, the accused was previously involved in three cases lodged in the national capital in 2019.
The accused has been identified as Ajay Rathi and is a resident of Haryana.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (outer) A Kon said, "We have arrested the accused who snatched a wireless set from Constable Sonu at Nangloi on Republic Day. The wireless set has been recovered from his possession.
He also said that the accused has revealed that he was instructed not to follow the designated route and reach Red Fort and create disturbances.
Delhi's border points at Tikri and Singhu remained under heavy police deployment on Friday in the aftermath of the violence that broke out during the farmers' tractor parade in the national capital on January 26, officials said.
09:55 January 30
BKU ‘mahapanchayat’ in Mathura today
A maha panchayat of farmers will be held at the Inter College of Nohzhil police station today during which the farmers will prepare a strategy about the future course of action over farm laws. The district administration has made elaborate security arrangements regarding the Mahapanchayat.
Earlier, a sea of farmers had filled the GIC Grounds in Muzaffarnagar as a ‘mahapanchayat’ called by the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) began on Friday.
All the roads leading to the ground were choked by tractors from Shamli, Baghpat and Saharanpur and other neighbouring districts.
The ‘mahapanchayat’ has been called by BKU president Naresh Tikait in the wake of dramatic incidents that unfolded at the Ghazipur protest site on Thursday night, where his younger brother and national spokesperson of the BKU Rakesh Tikait broke into an emotional outburst.
09:00 January 30
BKU (Lok Shakti) re-launches stir against farm laws, relocates to Ghazipur border
Peeved over developments at the Ghazipur border site of farmers' protest, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lok Shakti) on Friday re-launched its stir over the new farm laws, just a day after it had announced withdrawing its protest in Noida.
BKU (Lok Shakti) chief Thakur Sheoraj Singh Bhati called on the union's supporters, who were camping at the Dalit Prerna Sthal in Noida, to now reach Ghazipur border, where BKU members are staying put.
In a video message, Singh also appealed to BKU (Lok Shakti) supporters in western Uttar Pradesh to reach the farmers' mahapanchayat that was convened in Muzaffarnagar.
Yesterday, an MLA of Ghaziabad had reached Ghazipur protest site along with his armed supporters. This act has distressed the soul of (BKU leader) Rakesh Tikait. An announcement was made regarding his arrest and ending of the protest there, but the MLA vitiated the atmosphere there and Tikait broke down, Bhati said.
BKU (Lok Shakti) will not tolerate any policy of suppression. The government or administration can take any action but no MLA or public representative can act cruelly with the farmers and BKU (Lok Shakti) will not tolerate this, he added.
Bhati said his faction will stand shoulder to shoulder with Tikait's BKU in the fight against the new contentious farm laws.
BKU (Lok Shakti) had been camping at the Dalit Prerna Sthal in Noida since December 2, demanding the rollback of the three new farm laws, legalization of the minimum support price for crops and implementation of recommendations of the Swaminathan Committee report.
Bhati, the faction's national president, had Thursday announced ending the protest in view of the violence during farmers' tractor parade in Delhi on Republic Day.
He and some other of his union members later Thursday also met with Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.
07:34 January 30
44 arrested in Singhu border violence
The Delhi police arrested 44 people including the man who attacked SHO Alipur in the violence that broke out on Friday afternoon at Singhu border.
Criminal case under various sections including attempt to murder has been registered in Alipur police station, Delhi and investigation has been initiated.
"Accused Ranjeet Singh, a resident of village Kazampur, Distt Naya Shehar, PS Rahu, Punjab, age 22 years who attacked SHO Alipur with sword has been arrested from the spot," a senior police officer said.
Situation at Delhi's Haryana border at Singhu deteriorated on Friday afternoon as villagers clashed with protesting farmers after one thing led to another and the mob was seen armed with stones, lathis, swords. A police officer among others was injured.
Group of men, who claimed to be from nearby villages and wanted to get the over two-month-old road blockage cleared came to blows with the farmers after heated arguments and then locals damaged tents, leading to stone pelting from both sides. The situation was controlled an hour later.
06:31 January 30
Farmers' Stir LIVE Updates
New Delhi: Farmers protesting the Centre's new agri laws will observe 'Sadbhavna Diwas' on Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary on January 30 and hold a day-long fast, farm leaders said on Friday, and asserted that their agitation will gain strength as farmers in large numbers will join them in the days ahead.
Addressing a press conference at Delhi's Singhu border, the leaders slammed the ruling BJP at the Centre and accused it of trying to "destroy" the "peaceful" agitation against the agri laws.
"The conspiracy of the ruling BJP to destroy this farmers' movement is now exposed to all," said Jagjit Singh Dallewal of Bharat Kisan Union (Sidhupur).
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 asserted that the number of agitators at all the prominent protest venues - Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri - is swelling after the police allegedly tried to remove farmer leader Rakesh Tikait from Ghazipur border on Thursday night.
Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Yudhvir Singh said, "We don't need lecture on respecting national flag from these (BJP) people. Majority of farmers who are sitting here have their children fighting at the borders."
The government's "desperate act to stifle the farmers' movement, especially by forcing them to vacate the Ghazipur border, has boomeranged," he said, adding that tt has given a further push to the movement as more people have joined the agitation since the last night incident.
Thousands of protesting farmers clashed with the police during the tractor parade on January 26. Many of them, driving tractors, reached the Red Fort and entered the monument.
They hoisted flags on the domes and placed the flagstaff at the ramparts of the national monument.
A statement issued later by Samyukta Kisan Morcha said the BJP government is now giving a communal colour to the ongoing peaceful farmers' movement.
"The way the government has unsuccessfully tried to spoil the atmosphere on the Ghazipur border and the Singhu border for the last 3 days proves that the police and BJP-RSS are desperately plotting to kill this movement. Similar unsuccessful attempts were made on the Tikri border too," the statement said.
Krantikari Kisan Union leader Darshan Pal said a large number of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and other states are moving towards Delhi to join the agitation.
Over 800 tractor trollies from Mohali (Punjab) are on their way to various border points in Delhi, he claimed.
Pal also appealed to the government to restore internet services to all agitation sites, saying protest will be held if that was not done.
The farmer leaders said their protest will remain peaceful, and condemned the development at Ghazipur Border on Thursday.
"We were peaceful yesterday, today and will be peaceful tomorrow also. We invite people of this country to join us in this peaceful protest," Pal said.
Another farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal alleged that the "conspiracy" of the government started on January 26 has been exposed.
He said the farmer leaders "condemn tooth and nail" what happened at Singhu Border, alleging the so called "locals" protest was organised at the behest of the BJP.
Police fired tear gas and resorted to baton charge Friday to break up a clash between farmers and a large group of men claiming to be local residents who hurled stones at each other at the Singhu border, one of the main protest sites against farm laws.
The statement said Samyukta Kisan Morcha is overwhelmed by the love of the farmers reaching the Ghazipur border.
"The government and many organizations were claiming that the Ghazipur dharna would be closed by last evening, but the farmers of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have again proven that the farmers' spirits and support are high," it said.
The farmers' movement was peaceful and will be peaceful, it said.
"The events on January 30 will be organized to spread the values of truth and non-violence. The way the government is spreading planned lies and violence is condemnable," the statement said.
