Farmers' protest highlights: No point for Oppn leaders to look for votes here, says BKU leader Rakesh Tiktait

Fearing protests on the Budget day, police on Sunday stepped up security at the Delhi borders where farmers are sitting on a protest against the three contentious farm laws by deploying more personnel and taking steps to prevent any protester crossing barricades. Farmer leaders Rakesh and Naresh Tikait demanded that the government release the protesters to create a conducive environment for talks, even as Prime Minister Modi, during his monthly radio address, said that the country was saddened by the "insult" to the Tricolour on the Republic Day, referring to the violence at Red Fort during the farmers' tractor parade.

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Farm laws a 'fire' which would lead to losses: Naresh Tikait

Bharatiya Kisan Union national president Naresh Tikait has termed farm laws a "fire" (aag) which would lead to losses and has urged the Centre to repeal them.

A video of Tikait speaking to reporters in Muzaffarnagar was shared on social media on Sunday.

In the video, he said, "Repeal this bill, this is a fire. This is a fire which will lead to many losses. (iss bill ko dabaa do, yeh aag hai, yeh bahut nuksaan ki aag hai). If the laws are repealed then the government does not stand to lose anything. The bills have put on hold for one-and-half years. Accept your fault, and hold talks."

PTI

R-Day violence: Delhi Police sends over 50 fresh notices to people including farmer leaders

The Delhi Police has sent over 50 fresh notices to people, including farmer leaders, in connection with the violence that broke out during the tractor parade on Republic Day, officials said on Sunday.

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Farmers' protest: Despite increasing number of barricades, thousands converge at Ghazipur

Despite an increasing number of barricades, thousands of farmers have been converging at Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border following a tearful Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait's impassioned appeal to protesters to bolster the stir.

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Haryana govt extends suspension of mobile internet in 14 districts till 5 pm on Feb 1

The Haryana government on Sunday further extended the suspension of mobile internet services in 14 districts till 5 pm on February 1 to "prevent any disturbance of peace and public order" amid a protest by farmers against three farm laws.

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Budget Day: Police intensify security to thwart any protest by farmers

Fearing protests on the Budget day, police on Sunday stepped up security at the Delhi borders where farmers are sitting on a protest against the three contentious farm laws by deploying more personnel and taking steps to prevent any protester crossing barricades.

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Videos of the wrong route of the mob took on Republic Day are being collected. More than 50 notices have been issued. The tractors' registration numbers have been sent to licensing authority to track addresses of owners of tractors. Notices being sent to them as well: Additional CP Crime

No point for Oppn to look for votes here: Rakesh Tiktait

The Opposition leaders must be coming out of empathy. There's no point for them to look for votes here. We will talk to the government as we believe that the issue can only be solved with dialogue: Rakesh Tikait Bharatiya Kisan Union leader

Videos of wrong route the mob took on Republic Day are being collected: Delhi Police

More than 50 notices have been issued. The tractors' registration numbers have been sent to licensing authority to track addresses of owners of tractors. Notices being sent to them as well: ACP Crime BK Singh

(ANI)

Farmers during their onging protest against the new farm laws at Ghazipur, in New Delhi. Credit: PTI Photo

Heavy security deployment at Ghazipur border during farmer's protest against the new farm laws, in New Delhi, Sunday. Credit: PTI Photo

I congratulate Rakesh Tikait ji for his fight against the farm laws. All farmers are grateful to him, our party stands with him: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal at Ghazipur border (ANI)

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal greets Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait at Ghazipur during the ongoing farmers' protest, in New Delhi. Credit: PTI Photo

AAP slams BJP over arrest of journalist

Farmers during their ongoing protest against the new farm laws, at Ghazipur border in New Delhi, Sunday. Credit: PTI Photo

AAP will take legal action against BJP: Sisodia over doctored video of Kejriwal

AAP leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Sunday said that his party will take legal action against BJP for allegedly sharing a doctored video of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on social media. A BJP spokesperson had tweeted a video claiming that Kejriwal has supported the three contentious farm laws.

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Congress slams BJP, Rahul says those who fear truth, arrest honest scribes

The Congress on Sunday slammed the BJP-led Centre over the arrest of a freelance journalist from the Singhu border with party leader Rahul Gandhi saying those who fear truth arrest honest scribes.

Mandeep Punia was arrested from the Singhu border on Sunday for allegedly misbehaving with the police personnel on duty at the farmers' protest site.

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A farmer during the ongoing protest against the new farm laws at Singhu border, in New Delhi. Credit: PTI Photo

Thousands converge for third 'mahapanchayat' in western UP in as many days

The ripples of farmers' protest against the new agri laws on Delhi's borders spread further in western Uttar Pradesh with thousands of people converging for a 'mahapanchayat' on Sunday in Baghpat, the third such congregation in the region in as many days.

The 'sarv khap mahapanchayat' took place at the Tehsil ground here with farmers pouring in from nearby districts as well in tractor-trollies, many of which are decked up with music systems, the tricolor and farmer unions' flags.

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AAP has clearly lost all sense of constitutional & legal propriety: Punjab CM

Trashing as 'arbitrary, absurd & irrational’ the AAP's demand for deployment of state police to protect agitating farmers from Punjab at Delhi borders, CM Capt Amarinder Singh said Arvind Kejriwal’s party had clearly lost all sense of constitutional & legal propriety: Punjab CMO

AAP had asked Punjab CM to deploy state police for security of farmers protesting on Delhi borders.

Media bodies condemn action against journalists during farmers' tractor rally

Journalist groups on Sunday condemned the registration of sedition cases against senior media personalities in connection with farmers' tractor rally and the detention of a freelance journalists Mandeep Punia and Dharmender Singh, saying these incidents interfered with their right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

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Enhanced security during farmers' ongoing protest against the new farm laws, at Singhu border in New Delhi. Credit: PTI Photo

Centre rejects Opposition's demand over discussion on farmers' issues in Rajya Sabha

The Opposition has demanded a separate discussion on farmers issue in Rajya Sabha but the government has not agreed to it saying the MPs could raise the issue during the debate on Motion of Thanks to the President's speech.

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Farmers holding a tricolor take part in a protest against the new farm laws, at Ghazipur in New Delhi. Credit: PTI Photo

A team of Forensic Science Laboratory reaches Delhi's ITO area to collect forensic evidence, days after the farmers' tractor parade turned violent on Republic Day that left one agitator dead and several security personnel injured

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As he (Sharad Pawar) is such a veteran leader, I would like to believe that he was genuinely misinformed of the facts. Now that he has the right facts, I hope he will also change his stand & also explain the benefits to our farmers: Tomar

(ANI)

Here's what Pawar had said

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal presents a sword to Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait at Ghazipur during the ongoing farmers' protest, in New Delhi, Sunday. Credit: PTI Photo

Under new ecosystem, mandis are not affected. Instead, they will be more competitive and cost-effective in terms of services and infrastructure; and both the systems will synergistically co-exist for the common interest of farmers: Tomar

(ANI)

Farm laws do not affect Mandi system: Tomar

New Laws facilitate promotion of additional choice channel for farmers with choice to sell their produce to anyone, anywhere with hassle free movement in & outside state to realize competitive & better net price for their produce. This doesn’t affect current MSP system, says Tomar.

(ANI)

Since Pawar speaks with some experience and expertise on the issue, it was dismaying to see his tweets employ a mix of ignorance & misinformation on the agriculture reforms. Let me take this opportunity to present some facts: Tomar

Sharad Pawar ji is a veteran politician & a former Union Agriculture Minister, who is also considered well-versed with the issues & solutions relating to Agriculture. He has himself tried hard to bring same agriculture reforms earlier: Tomar

(ANI)

Women and children from different parts of Haryana and Punjab arrive on tractors at Tikri border, to join the ongoing farmers' protest against the Center's new farm laws, in New Delhi. Credit: PTI Photo

Farmer leader Naresh Tikait thanked Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for arrangements made on the Ghazipur border. Responding to him, the chief minister said he will offer any help possible to them.

Farmers from different parts of Haryana and Punjab arrive on tractors at Tikri border, to join the ongoing farmers' protest against the Center's new farm laws, in New Delhi, Sunday, January 31, 2021.

Farmers deeply hurt by BJP's moves to defame them: Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said the farmers were deeply hurt by the moves made by the BJP to defame them.

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Aam Aadmi Party's Raghav Chadha writes to Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh saying," AAP demands that you deploy Punjab Police in sufficient numbers to surround the camps where the peaceful protests are being held from all sides."

CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP and Kisan Sabha leader K K Ragesh, who has been protesting at Delhi borders, tests positive for Covid-19. He has submitted notice seeking to table private members bills to repeal three contentious farm laws

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Protest at Ghazipur (Delhi-Uttar Pradesh) border against the Centre's three farm laws continues for the 65th day.

BJP had to post distorted video of Kejriwal to establish credibility of farm laws: Manish Sisodia

OPINION | With a leadership like this, who needs enemies?

With its unbending stance prolonging the fate of the farm laws, with its hauteur riling parts of its own voter base, with its making farmers suffer and brave one of the harshest winters (and the coronavirus) in Delhi, and with its muddled relaying of the route farmers were expected to take into Delhi on Republic Day, to this writer there was no doubt over who was more culpable for the mayhem in the capital. With the Centre, the Delhi Police, too, was made to look inept. The farmers are making arms of the government pay.

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Activists and supporters of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) shout slogans as they burn an effigy of PM Modi during a protest rally supporting the ongoing farmers' protest against the farm laws, in Siliguri on January 31, 2021. Credit: AFP Photo

Most of the farmers have remained peaceful, I appeal to them to negotiate with the government. Also, I want to caution that no movement in the world can be sorted through suppression: Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik

(ANI)

I emerged as a leader from farmers' movement and understand their cause: Meghalaya Guv

It is in the interest of nation to find a speedy solution to the issue. I urge the government to listen to their concerns, both sides should responsibly engage in talks: Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik

(ANI)

Freelance journalist arrested from Singhu border for allegedly misbehaving with police personnel on duty at the farmers' protest site: Officials

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Security deployment continues at Singhu border, farmers' protest enters 67th day

Farmers dance to folk tunes at night as cops put up barbed wires, barricades at Ghazipur border

Hundreds of farmers, who reached a key protest site on the Delhi-Meerut highway in Ghazipur on the national capital's border with Uttar Pradesh, danced to upbeat tunes overnight as more supporters continued to pour in on Sunday.

Security measures were strengthened with multi-layer barricading and barbed wires coming up on both sides of the highway stretch that has become the Bharatiya Kisan Union's (BKU) camping site since November 28 last year in a major farmers' stir over three new farm laws of the Centre.

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Farmers make arrangements for rest during the ongoing agitation over Centre's farm reform laws, at Ghazipur border in New Delhi, Saturday. Credit: PTI Photo

Punjab CM calls all-party meet on February 2 to show unity over farmers' protest

Alleging that farmers from Punjab are being beaten up by police and assaulted by goons at their protest site on Delhi borders, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh called an all-party meeting on Tuesday to show unity and evolve a consensus on the way forward on the three contentious Central farm laws.

The meeting will be held at 11 am at Punjab Bhawan, according to a government statement issued Sunday.

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Enhanced security at Singhu border during farmers' protest against the new farm laws, in New Delhi, Sunday, January 31, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary

Protesting farmers will honour PM Modi's dignity but also protect their self-respect: Naresh Tikait

Farmer leader Naresh Tikait Sunday said that protesting farmers will honour the dignity of prime ministerbut are also committed to protect their own self-respect, a day after Narendra Modi said his government was just a “phone call away” for talks with them.

Tikait said the government should “release our men and prepare an environment conducive for talks”.

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India was very pained at dishonour to Tricolour on Republic Day: PM Modi on Red Fort incident

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the country was very pained at seeing the dishonour to the Tricolour on Republic Day, referring to the religious flag incident at the Red Fort during the farmers' tractor parade.

In his monthly Mann ki Baat radio broadcast, Modi also said the government is committed to modernising agriculture and is taking many steps in this regard.

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Villagers bring food, water for Tikait as BKU digs heels at Ghazipur border

BKU leader Rakesh Tikait on Saturday asked the Centre to explain to farmers why it does not want to repeal the three farm laws, while promising it that they “will not let the government bow its head” before the world.

TIkait appeared to make the conciliatory offer to the government from a position of strength amid swelling support for farmers' stir with hundreds of villagers pouring in at the key protest site, Gazipur’s UP Gate on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border.

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Latest visuals from the Ghazipur border of the 65th day of the farmers' protests

Heavy security deployed at Singhu border

How BKU's Rakesh Tikait became the face of farmers' protest

Following the Republic Day tractor parade organised by farmers' unions and the chaos that ensued in Delhi, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait was one of the leadersnamed in an FIR filed by the Delhi Police. The charges against him included attempt to murder, rioting and criminal conspiracy.

Two days later, visuals ofTikait breaking down at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in Ghazipur on Thursday prompted hundreds of farmers to continue protests on Friday and Saturday.

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Farm stir: Haryana govt extends suspension of mobile internet in 17 districts till January 31

The Haryana government on Saturday extended the suspension of mobile internet services in 17 districts till 5 pm of January 31 "to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order" amid a protest by farmers against three farm laws that witnessed violence earlier this week.

According to an official statement issued here on Saturday, the government has extended the suspension of mobile internet services in Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Kaithal, Panipat, Hisar, Jind, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Fatehabad, Rewari, Sirsa, Sonipat, Jhajjar and Palwal district till 5 pm on January 31.

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More and more farmers heading towards Delhi borders from Punjab

After briefly appearing to be fizzling out following the Republic Day violence in Delhi, the farmers’ stir against the agriculture laws on Saturday seemed to be reviving with more and more of farmers groups heading to the national capital from various parts of Punjab. Various farmer leaders on Saturday claimed that with more and more farmer groups marching towards Delhi, there would a be a record gathering of peasants and farm labourers on the borders of the national capital by February 2.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) president Balbir Singh Rajewal said he expects a record gathering by February 2 at the border points of Delhi. Farmers and farm labourers at some places including Sangrur and Mohali in Punjab observed hunger strike in support of farmers' agitation on Saturday.

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New laws will break the backbone of Agri sector: Arundhati Roy

Eminent novelist and essayist Arundhati Roy on 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.

Speaking at Elgar Parishad, a conclave, here, Roy also slammed the BJP governments at the centre and in states over issues such as anti-conversion laws and lockdown.

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New agriculture laws will undercut MSP procurement: Sharad Pawar

NCP president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said the new agriculture laws of the Union government will adversely impact the Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement and weaken the `Mandi' system.

As farmers' agitation on Delhi borders against the contentious laws continues unabated, Pawar said in a series of tweets that the MSP mechanism should be strengthened further.

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