Farmers' protest highlights: US calls for dialogue to resolve farmers' agitation

A group of 15 MPs tried visiting the Ghazipur border to stand in solidarity with the protesting farmers but were stopped by the police from accessing the protest site. In the meanwhile, the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha asked the Centre to stop the monologue, saying that barbed wires put up and spikes installed when bridges should have been built to win over farmers. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra headed to Rampur to attended the 'antim ardaas' of Navreet Singh who died on January 26 in Delhi during the tractor rally against the three contentious farm laws.

Rain, heavy barricading play spoiler at Singhu border protest site

Some put the blame on the rain gods while others cried foul over the sturdy barriers put up by the administration as the usually vibrant and upbeat Singhu border witnessed a rare quiet and uneventful day on Thursday.

Not allowing opposition MPs to meet farmers in Ghazipur undemocratic: NC

The National Conference on Thursday criticised the Centre for not allowing a delegation of Members of Parliament of opposition parties to meet the protesting farmers at Ghazipur border and said the move was undemocratic and unparliamentary.

Farmers' protest toolkit: Delhi Police files FIR, suspects Khalistan link

The Delhi Police on Thursday said it has registered an FIR against unnamed persons in connection with the "toolkit", which was shared by teen climate activist Greta Thunberg and others on Twitter, with a top official saying that the initial probe has suggested the document's link with a pro-Khalistan group.

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Farmers' protest toolkit: Delhi Police files FIR, suspects Khalistan link

The Delhi Police on Thursday said it has registered an FIR against unnamed persons in connection with the "toolkit", which was shared by teen climate activist Greta Thunberg and others on Twitter, with a top official saying that the initial probe has suggested the document's link with a pro-Khalistan group.

Asked whether the FIR has been registered against Thunberg, a top official of the Delhi Police said nobody has been named in the case.

Cong MLAs march to meet Guv to demand assembly’s spl session, turned back

Haryana Congress MLAs took out a march to the Raj Bhavan Thursday, claiming that the Governor was refusing to meet them over their demand for a special assembly session they want to bring a no-confidence motion against the BJP-led state government.

Govt shouldn't question patriotism of farmers, they made country Aatmanirbhar: Deepinder Hooda

The government should not question the patriotism of farmers as they are the ones who have made the country self-sufficient in food, Congress Rajya Sabha member Deepinder Singh Hooda said on Thursday.

Participating in the debate on a motion thanking the President for his address to the joint sitting of Parliament at the start of the Budget Session, he also said that the government should show a big heart and accept the demands of the farmers by repealing the three new farm laws.

AAP will continue to support protesting farmers: Sanjay Singh

Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh on Thursday said the party will continue to support protesting farmers and asked the government to take back the new farm laws.

Participating in a discussion on a motion thanking the President for his address to the joint sitting of Parliament at the start of the Budget Session, he said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been helping farmers who are protesting against the laws and would continue to do so in the future.

LS proceedings adjourned amid protest over farm laws

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the second time on Thursday till 6 pm amid uproar by opposition members over the three new farm laws.

As soon as the House re-convened at 5 pm, members of the Opposition started raising slogans against the government and the agri laws.

I still stand with farmers: Greta Thunberg tweets after FIR

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, facing backlash from the Indian government and celebrities, tweeted on Thursday that 'she still stands with farmers'.

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NBA stars extend support to Indian farmers, NFL's Juju Smith-Schuster donates $10,000

American football league NFL star Juju Smith Schuster has donated $10,000 towards medical assistance for the farmers protesting in India against new agriculture laws, while NBA forward Kyle Kuzma has also extended his support to their cause.

The duo's support comes after American pop star Rihanna, shared a news article highlighting the Indian government's crackdown on the protest after it turned violent on January 26 in Delhi.

Priyanka Gandhi meets family of deceased farmer in Rampur

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday met family members of Navreet Singh here, a farmer who lost his life during the protest in New Delhi on Republic Day, and also attended a prayer ceremony for him.

The 27-year-old Singh died after his tractor overturned during the farmers' tractor parade on January 26.

Accompanied by senior Congress leaders including party’s Uttar Pradesh unit chief Ajay Kumar Lallu, Gandhi arrived at the native Dibdiba village of the deceased farmer around noon.

US calls for dialogue to resolve India's farmers' protests

Wading into a sensitive issue for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the U.S. embassy in New Delhi on Thursday urged his government to resume talks with farmers angry over agricultural reforms that sparked a months-long protest campaign.

Largely restricted to the outskirts of New Delhi, the mostly peaceful protests were marred by violence on Jan 26., when some protesters entered the heart of the capital city after the Republic Day military parade and clashed with police.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra meets family members of Navreet Singh, who died after his tractor overturned during the farmers rally on Republic Day, in Rampur district, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 | PTI Photo

Opposition tears into govt handling of farmer protest, says monologue should stop

Opening the second day of discussion on a motion thanking the President for his address to the joint sitting of Parliament at the start of the Budget Session, Manoj Kumar Jha of the RJD said the government has lost the patience to hear and any criticism is painted as anti-national.

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Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and other opposition leaders during their visit to Ghazipur border, in solidarity with farmers' agitation against Centre's farm reform laws.

Opposition MPs stopped from meeting protesting farmers at Delhi's Ghazipur

FifteenMPsincluding DMK’s Kanimozhi and Tiruchi Siva, NCP’s Supriya Sule, Akali Dal leader and former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Trinamool’s Saugata Ray, RSP’s N K Premachandran, travelled in a bus to the Ghazipur border, about 18 km from Parliament.

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Iron nails fixed on roads at Ghazipur border being 'repositioned', says Delhi Police

The statement comes after videos and photos of workers removing the nails near Ghazipur border surfaced on social media.

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Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra enroute to UP's Rampur district to visit family members of Navreet Singh, who died after his tractor overturned during the farmers rally on Republic Day, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 | PTI

Vehicles in Priyanka Gandhi's convoy collide in UP's Hapur, none hurt

Three to four vehicles in Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi's convoy collided on a highway in western Uttar Pradesh's Hapur district on Thursday morning.

No one was hurt in the incident that took place near Garh Mukteshwar area. The vehicles, including SUVs, were following Gandhi's car, according to purported videos that have surfaced on social media.

Accompanied by Congress' Uttar Pradesh unit chief Ajay Kumar Lallu, Gandhi is headed to Rampur to attended the 'antim ardaas' of Navreet Singh, a resident of Dibdiba village in the district who died on January 26 in Delhi where he was participating in thefarmers' protest against the new agri laws.

PTI

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra en route Rampur to meet the family of Navreet Singh, the farmer who died during the tractor rally on Republic Day

Nails that were fixed near barricades at Ghazipur border (Delhi-UP border) are being removed | ANI

Police personnel continue to be deployed at Singhu border where farmers are protesting against Centre's three farm laws

Opposition leaders who have reached Ghazipur border to meet the protesting farmers have been stopped by Police

SC refuses to entertain pleas on tractor rally violence

The top court declined to consider a clutch of petitions, saying the government was inquiring into incident and would take appropriate action.

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Bharatiya Kisan Union Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait addresses during 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' against the new farm laws, in Jind district, Wednesday, Feb. 03, 2021. | PTI

Farmers' protest: Tikait holds show of strength, warns govt of 'gaddi wapsi' demand

In a show of strength by protesting farmers, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday warned the government that it could find it difficult to stay on in power if the new agri-marketing laws are not repealed.

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Looks like ‘international border', farmers on unprecedented barricading at Delhi entry points

The heightened security measures and various restrictions have been imposed at the three protest sites -- Singhu (Delhi-Haryana border), Ghazipur (Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border) and Tikri (Delhi-Haryana border) -- since the Republic Day violence that had left over 500 police personnel injured and one protestor dead.

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Farm stir: International censure hurts establishment

Just as the agitation spreads prairie-fire like in the rural hinterland, reactions emanated from unexpected quarters. On a single day, Rihanna, the pop singer, Greta Thunberg, the celebrated climate activist, and Meena Harris, US vice-president Kamala Harris’s niece articulated their outrage at the combat boot and mailed fist on display against the farmers, as though in concert. Following Rihanna’s intervention, other big names and influencers weighed in. These were Lilly Singh, Canadian YouTuber and talk show host, Jamie Margolin, US climate change activist, Elizabeth Wathuti, Kenyan environmentalist and founder of the Green Generation Initiative and Khaled Beydoun, a law professor at the University of Arkansas. Of course, Meena, Greta and Rihanna didn’t work in tandem but when celebrities take note of occurrences far removed from their universe, it was impossible for a seemingly unflappable Centre to sit tight.

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