Farm Laws and the Fallout: Perspectives and Viewpoints

Repeal of the farm laws was one of the main demands of the protesting farmers. But the stalemate continues as their other demands such as legal guarantee on MSP, compensation to families of farmers who died during the movement and withdrawal of cases against them are still to be met.

The SKM, an umbrella body of 40 farmer unions, in a statement on Friday said that farmers struggle for pending demands continues as their is no formal assurance from the Centre as yet on them.

“SKM has not received any reply from the government in response to its letter to the Prime Minister, where SKM had raised six key demands as a pre-condition for withdrawal of the farm movement,” the statement said. It said that permanent morchas in dozens of places continue at Delhi borders and elsewhere.

The SKM statement said that it is noted that BJP leaders are themselves pressuring the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh to address farmers' issues as elections draw closer in the state. “In a video message to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, UP MLA Romi Shahni is being heard pleading for pending arrears to sugarcane farmers to be paid,” the statement said.

The farmers' body said that Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is reported to have said that he will invite farm leaders of the state to discuss unresolved issues with them.

“It is apparent that BJP leaders and its state governments are waiting for an indication from the Union government, and thus it is their responsibility to urgently proceed on the pending demands,” the statement said.

01-12-2021 18:20:34

Govt notifies Farm Laws Repeal Act

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The Centre on Wednesday notified a legislation to repeal the three agriculture laws against which thousands of farmers have been protesting for over a year now.

The Farm Laws Repeal Act, 2021 received the assent of the President of India on November 30, said a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice.

This law was passed by Parliament on November 29 without debate amid protests by Opposition MPs.

The Farm Laws Repeal Act seeks to repeal three new farm laws which were passed by Parliament in September last year with an objective to bring reforms in the agriculture sector, especially marketing of farm produce.

These three farm laws were -- Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

01-12-2021 17:45:07

Where there is a will there is a way: Chidambaram on Centre's 'no record' on farmers deaths reply

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The Samyukta Kisan Morcha SKM on Wednesday also condemned the Centres response in Parliament on compensation to the kin of farmers, who died during the protest against three agriculture laws, and reiterated its demand for financial assistance to the families of those deceased.

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01-12-2021 16:39:31

SKM condemns govt's response in Parl on compensation to kin of farmers who died during protest

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The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday condemned the Centre's response in Parliament on compensation to the kin of farmers, who died during the protest against three agriculture laws, and reiterated its demand for financial assistance to the families of those deceased, an official statement said.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar reportedly said the government has no information about farmers' deaths during the protest and therefore, the question of financial assistance does not arise.

In the statement, the SKM alleged that the BJP government was trying to divide protesting farmers by not starting formal dialogue again and not responding formally to the letter sent by the SKM, reminding it about the pending demands. ''The BJP government should stop attempting to divide farmers even at this stage. Farmers' unions stand united and the Modi government should stop its continued divisive agenda. The SKM is awaiting formal communication with all required details from the government,'' it said.

Criticising the Union government's response, the SKM, an umbrella body of 40 farm unions, said that through such remarks the Centre continues to ''insult'' the huge sacrifices made by protesting farmers.

''The SKM condemns the response of Government of India in Parliament where Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply said that the government has no information about deaths in the farmers' movement and therefore, question of financial assistance does not arise. ''The SKM reiterates its demand for compensation and rehabilitation of the kin of more than 689 martyrs in the ongoing agitation,'' the statement said. Senior farmer leader and SKM core committee member Shivkumar Sharma 'Kakkaji' alleged that the government was ''lying'' and running away from its responsibilities by making such remarks. ''Teams of the Intelligence Bureau were collecting information from us about farmers who were martyred during the course of the movement but still the government is saying that they have no record of such deaths. It shows the government is lying in Parliament. It is the government's responsibility to provide compensation to the families of deceased farmers,'' Sharma told PTI.

He said the government can also check with the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) about farmers' deaths during the agitation as they also collect data about all types of deaths in the country.

The farmers' body also clarified that the agitation is still continuing and no one is leaving protest sites.

''Morchas around Delhi borders continue, with more tractor-trolleys reaching the protest sites and the struggle will continue. More farmers are coming so that everyone can go back together victorious,'' the statement said.

The SKM appealed to farmers not to believe falsehoods being spread about protests ending.

It added that the SKM will hold its meeting on December 4, as announced earlier, and decide the future course of the agitation.

The Punjab Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution against the Centre's three contentious farm laws, claiming that it had unlawfully ventured into the domain of the state government.

It is the second resolution adopted by the Vidhan Sabha against the Centre's three agriculture laws. The first was passed in October last year when Amarinder Singh was the chief minister of Punjab.

The resolution was moved by state Agriculture Minister Randeep Singh Nabha on the concluding day of the two-day Assembly session.

After discussion in the house, the resolution was passed in the absence of two BJP legislators.

''This special session of Vidhan Sabha held on November 11, 2021 through a resolution moved by agriculture minister Punjab and adopted by the House, once again rejects the three contentious legislations which were enacted by the Union government without any competence, by unlawfully venturing into the domain of the states,” it said.

Describing the three farm laws as an ''attack on the federal structure'', Nabha said the Punjab government will not implement these.

According to the resolution, the Vidhan Sabha strongly deprecates and condemns the efforts of the Union government aimed at ''systematic dismantling of farmer-friendly regulated mandis and replacing them with trader-friendly unregulated mandis''.

''The Punjab Vidhan Sabha feels concerned at the unfair concessions extended to the traders and corporations of allowing purchases from unregulated markets without paying market fee, rural development fee etc. and thus providing unfair advantage to unregulated markets vis-a-vis regulated mandis,'' it said.

The resolution said this will eventually lead to shifting of trade from the APMC mandis to the private mandis apart from causing fiscal loss to the state government and adversely affecting rural development.

Participating in the discussion, AAP MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan called the Centre's farm laws as an “attack on the federal structure” and said the residence of the prime minister should be gheraoed to press the central government to repeal the laws.

Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu attacked the AAP-led Delhi government, alleging it had notified one of the Centre's farm laws and claimed that it has not been denotified yet.

Sidhu said it was the Congress which brought a Water Termination Act to now allow a single drop of water to be taken out of the state. It was the Congress which brought the minimum support price, public distribution system and the Food Corporation of India, he added.

It was only the Manmohan Singh government at the Centre which had waived Rs 72,000 crore of farm debt, he further said.

He said that Amarinder Singh-led government had waived Rs 5,000-7,000 crore of the farm debt.

When Sidhu was speaking, Akali legislators were shouting slogans against him.

AAP MLA Harpal Singh Cheema questioned the role of the Congress-led government in the state over the farm laws issue.

Akali Dal MLA Gurpartap Singh Wadala accused the AAP of playing a “double game”, alleging it had notified one of the Centre's three farm laws.

He further said the Akali Dal had broken its ties with the NDA and had left the ministry in the union cabinet over the farm laws issue.

Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia took a dig at Navjot Singh Sidhu, saying when the Punjab Contract Farming Act was brought in in 2013, his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu was part of the SAD-BJP regime.

The house also passed the Punjab Contract Farming (Repeal) Bill, 2021 to repeal the Punjab Contract Farming Act 2013.

The assembly also passed the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Meanwhile, several other Bills including the Punjab Right to Business (Amendment) Bill, 2021, the Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2021, the Punjab Official Language (Amendment) Bill, 2021, the Punjab Learning of Punjabi and Other Language (Amendment) Bill, 2021, the Punjab Affiliated Colleges (Security of Service) Amendment Bill, 2021, the Punjab One-Time Voluntary Disclosure and Settlement of Building Constructed in Violations of the Buildings Bye-laws Bill, 2021, the Punjab Protection and Regularization of Contractual Employees Bill, 2021 and the Punjab Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021 were passed in the House.

11-11-2021 15:38:16

Will stay put until farm laws repealed: Tikait

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Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said the farmers' protests will continue till the contentious farm laws are not repealed by the Centre.

Only the repealing of the contentious laws would ensure the end of the protests, the influential farmer leader asserted.

''The movement will continue across the country until the three black laws are not repealed and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price of crops fixed,'' Tikait said in a Hindi tweet.

''Bill wapsi hi ghar wapsi hai (Withdrawal of the laws will ensure return of farmers to their homes),'' he said in the same tweet.

The Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson said the movement is for safeguarding ''jal, jungle and zameen'' (water, forest and land). The BKU is part of farmers collective the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is spearheading the campaign, particularly the demonstrations at Delhi's three border points of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur since November 2020. Farmers are demanding that the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020; be rolled back and a new law made to guarantee the minimum support price for crops.

The Centre, which has held 11 rounds of formal dialogue with farmers, has maintained that the new laws are pro-farmer, while the protesters claim they would be left at the mercy of corporations because of the laws.

11-11-2021 15:10:19

Punjab Assembly adopts resolution against Centre's farm laws

This special session of Vidhan Sabha held on November 11, 2021 through a resolution moved by agriculture minister Punjab and adopted by the House, once again rejects the three contentious legislations which were enacted by the Union government without any competence, by unlawfully venturing into the domain of the state, it said.Describing the three farm laws as an attack on the federal structure, Nabha said the Punjab government will not implement these.

Read the full article here.

03-11-2021 15:07:53

SKM asks citizens to light a lamp to honour farmers killed during protest

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The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday called upon citizens and all its constituents to light an earthen lamp on Diwali in the name of farmers killed during the ongoing farmers' protest.

The SKM, in a statement on the eve of Diwali, said for protesting farmers, celebration time would arrive only when their demands would be met by the central government.

It said nearly 700 farmers have died in the agitation so far due to the ''obstinate, undemocratic and irrational'' approach of the central government.

''The Samyukt Kisan Morcha calls upon its constituents and citizens in the farmers' movement to light one lamp on Diwali in honour of farmers who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of farmers' rights and livelihoods,'' the statement read.

The SKM also invited people to join protesting farmers at the morcha sites to celebrate Diwali with them, it said.

Thousands of farmers have been camping at the three border points -- Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur -- protesting against the Centre's three farm laws since November 26, 2020.

While the protesting farmers have been claiming that the three laws enacted last year are against their interest, the Centre has been saying these legislations are pro-farmer.

03-11-2021 15:06:17

SKM asks citizens to light a lamp to honour farmers killed during protest

Image Credit: Twitter (@Kisanektamorcha)

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday called upon citizens and all its constituents to light an earthen lamp on Diwali in the name of farmers killed during the ongoing farmers' protest.

The SKM, in a statement on the eve of Diwali, said for protesting farmers, celebration time would arrive only when their demands would be met by the central government.

It said nearly 700 farmers have died in the agitation so far due to the ''obstinate, undemocratic and irrational'' approach of the central government.

''The Samyukt Kisan Morcha calls upon its constituents and citizens in the farmers' movement to light one lamp on Diwali in honour of farmers who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of farmers' rights and livelihoods,'' the statement read.

The SKM also invited people to join protesting farmers at the morcha sites to celebrate Diwali with them, it said.

Thousands of farmers have been camping at the three border points -- Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur -- protesting against the Centre's three farm laws since November 26, 2020.

While the protesting farmers have been claiming that the three laws enacted last year are against their interest, the Centre has been saying these legislations are pro-farmer.

30-10-2021 11:57:25

Farmers' protest: Carriageway on road connecting Delhi to Haryana opened after 11 months

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Deputy Commissioner of Police outer Parwinder Singh said, We had a meeting with the farmer leaders in the morning and later around 1 pm, the stretch going towards Haryana from Delhi has been opened and the traffic movement has started.

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29-10-2021 16:49:30

Reports about police removing barricades from protest site on Ghazipur border wrong: BKU

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The Bhartiya Kisan Union on Friday said that farmers' protest against the three central farm laws at the Delhi-UP border in Ghazipur and elsewhere will continue as usual.

The BKU made this remark in a press statement terming reports that the Delhi police is removing barricades from the National Highway-9 near the protest site as false.

In a party statement, BKU spokesperson Dharmendra Malik also appealed to farmers to gather at the Delhi-UP border in large numbers to strengthen the movement and make it stronger than ever before, casting aside all doubts over the weakening of the movement.

The highway was closed by the Delhi police after January 26 and not by the farmers’ outfit, he said.

After filing an affidavit in the Supreme Court, the Delhi police is now rectifying its mistake while the government is hatching conspiracies against protesters every day, said Malik asking farmers to be wary of the government’s ploy.

Ghaziabad’s Senior Superintendent of Police Pawan Kumar, meanwhile, told PTI that as the Delhi police have removed some barricades at the Ghazipur border, the Ghaziabad police officers are keeping a hawk's eye on every activity so that no untoward incident occurs on the border.

Additional Director General of Police Rajiv Sabharwal and Inspector General of Police of Meerut range too reached the Kaushambi police station near the border on Friday evening and discussed various issues about the farmers blocking the highway.

To maintain law and order in the entire area of the UP-Delhi Ghazipur’s border, it has been divided into seven zones and 13 sectors and senior officers have been deputed by the administration, he said.

The Local Intelligence Unit is also monitoring every activity on the border and giving reports to the higher authorities, he said, adding it's the priority of the police of the two states to keep the vehicular traffic hassle-free in he area, the SSP said.

29-10-2021 16:40:21

Cops lift Ghazipur blockade on one side of NH-9, farmers stay put

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The Delhi Police has removed the blockade put up by it on one of the carriageways of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, a site of the anti-farm laws protest at Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border where scores of protesters continued to stay put on Friday.

The removal of the barriers and concertina wires from the carriageway would help the commuters travelling to Ghaziabad from Delhi, an official said, but it was not confirmed till Friday night if the route was officially opened for traffic. Multiple layers of iron and cement barricades, and at least five layers of concertina wires were put up by the police last year. The arrangements were further beefed up after the January 26 violence in Delhi during the farmers' protest against three new agriculture laws of the Centre.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Priyanka Kashyap said, ''The process of removing the barricades from National Highway 9 has started. The temporary barricading is being removed to ease out vehicular movement. However, National Highway 24 was already open for traffic.'' The opening of the road stretch would help thousands of commuters in Ghaziabad, Delhi and Noida as well as those travelling between the national capital and the interiors of Uttar Pradesh, towards Meerut and beyond.

Police officials and labourers were also seen removing the iron nails that were studded on NH-9 at Ghazipur, where hundreds of protesters, mostly members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), have been occupying a road stretch since November 2020.

The BKU, a participant in the anti-farm laws movement spearheaded by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) -- an umbrella body of over 40 farm unions -- reiterated that the blockade was put up by the police and not the farmers.

BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said the future course of the protest would be chalked out by the SKM.

BKU office-bearers said the farmers want to go to Delhi once the barricades are completely removed and are open to talks with the Centre to resolve the situation.

BKU spokesperson Saurabh Upadhyay said, ''If the government wants the logjam to end, it should talk to the farmers now and we are ready for it. But if it wants the farmers' movement to continue, we are determined to prolong it as it has already been 11 months since the protests began.'' While the police removed a large portion of the barricades, wirings and iron nails from NH-9 (the Delhi-Meerut Expressway flyover) by the evening, the tents and other temporary structures erected by the protesters continued to remain there.

BKU's Uttar Pradesh unit general secretary Pawan Khatana said, ''The government had said it had not placed the barricades and we had said the barricades were put up by the government and the police. We are sitting at the borders of Delhi and once the barricades are removed, we will head towards Delhi. We will go to Parliament, where the laws were enacted.'' While one carriageway -- leading from Delhi to Ghaziabad -- was opened in the evening, the other side remained blocked due to the protesters occupying a stretch on it.

Kashyap said the police have removed the barricades on their end and are ready for vehicular movement.

''We have all arrangements in place and we are very much alert and ready. We will respond as the situation develops,'' the DCP added.

BKU media in-charge Dharmendra Malik said the Delhi Police has ''corrected its mistake'' of blocking the road after the Supreme Court's order.

''But the protest at the Ghazipur border will continue. The BKU appeals to more farmers to join the movement. Every day a new conspiracy is hatched against the farmers' protest but we are also prepared to tackle it,'' he said.

The process to remove the barricades started following the October 21 Supreme Court direction, calling for unblocking of the roads that have remained out of bounds for commuters due to the anti-farm laws protests at Delhi's border points of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur.

While the protesting farmers have been claiming that the three laws enacted last year are against their interest, the Centre has been maintaining that these legislations are pro-farmer.

Thousands of farmers have been camping at Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur, protesting against the three contentious laws since November 26, 2020.

According to a senior police officer, some layers of barricades placed by the police at the Tikri border were removed on Thursday night.

The Supreme Court had, on October 21, said the farmers protesting at Delhi's borders have the right to agitate but they cannot block the roads indefinitely.

29-10-2021 16:32:15

Delhi Police removing barricades vindicates our stand that we never blocked roads: Farmer leaders

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With Delhi Police removing a large portion of the barricades and concertina wires at two anti-farm law protest sites, farmer leaders said the move vindicates their stand that they never blocked roads at the city's border points.

Multiple layers of iron and cement barricades, and at least five layers of concertina wires were put up last year. The arrangements were further beefed up after the January 26 violence in Delhi during the farmers' protest against three new agriculture laws of the Centre.

The Delhi Police on Thursday evening started removing the barricades and concertina wires it had put in place at the anti-farm laws protest site at Tikri Border on Delhi-Rohtak highway. Similar action was initiated at Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border on Friday morning.

Farmer leaders said any decision to entirely clear both the carriageways at the protest sites will be taken by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of over 40 farmer unions protesting against the Centre's farm laws.

They, however, said they would make way for traffic to move in the coming days.

The Delhi Police decision comes days after a Supreme Court hearing that saw farmer unions arguing that the police were responsible for the blockade at the city's borders.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) office bearers said police and not farmers had blocked roads, adding that they are being ''reopened on the directions of the Supreme Court''.

In light of the removal of barricades at Ghazipur border protest site, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said the future course of the ongoing farmers' protest would be decided by the SKM. Senior farmer leader and SKM member Darshan Pal said false allegations were being levelled against farmers that they have blocked roads, which have been rejected by the protesters since day one.

Pal said at the Singhu border, farmers have occupied the portion of road which is already closed for traffic due to construction of a flyover.

Now, the exercise of ''removal of barricades by the police clearly proves our point that it was the police that have blocked roads and not the farmers. We never created any problem. Any bottleneck from our side will also be cleared for traffic movement'', Pal told PTI.

Any decision to entirely clear both carriageways of roads or march towards Delhi will be taken by the SKM, he added.

So far, there is no call to go to Delhi. Any future course of action will be decided in a meeting of the SKM, Pal said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Priyanka Kashyap said, ''The process of removing the barricades from National Highway 9 has started. The temporary barricading is being removed to ease out vehicular movement. However, National Highway 24 was already open for traffic.'' The opening of the road stretch would help thousands of commuters in Ghaziabad, Delhi and Noida as well as those travelling between the national capital and the interiors of Uttar Pradesh, towards Meerut and beyond.

Police officials and labourers were also seen removing the iron nails that were studded on NH-9 at Ghazipur, where hundreds of protesters, mostly members of the BKU, have been occupying a road stretch since November 2020.

Thousands of farmers have been camping at Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur, protesting against the three contentious laws since November 26, 2020.

According to a senior police officer, some layers of barricades placed by the police at the Tikri border were removed on Thursday night.

The Supreme Court had, on October 21, said the farmers protesting at Delhi's borders have the right to agitate but they cannot block the roads indefinitely.

29-10-2021 15:52:21

We stand vindicated, say farm unions as cops begin removing barricades at farmers' protest sites

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With the Delhi Police beginning to remove barricades at two farmer protest sites -- Tikri and Ghazipur -- farm union leaders on Friday said the move vindicates their stand that they never blocked roads at the city border points.

In a statement, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of over 40 farmer unions spearheading the anti-farm law agitation, said the ''partial removal'' of barricades is being done by the police to ''impress the Supreme Court of India''.

Farmer leaders said any decision to entirely clear both the carriageways at the protest sites will be taken by the SKM.

They, however, said way will be made for traffic to move in the coming days.

The Delhi Police's decision comes days after a Supreme Court hearing that saw farmer unions arguing that the police were responsible for the blockade at the city's borders.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) office-bearers said the police and not the farmers had blocked roads, adding that they are being ''reopened on the directions of the Supreme Court''.

In light of the removal of barricades at the Ghazipur border protest site, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said, ''The future course of the ongoing farmers' protest would be decided by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which is leading the movement against the three farm laws.'' Senior farmer leader and SKM member Darshan Pal said false allegations were being levelled against farmers that they have blocked roads, which have been rejected by us since day one.

Pal said at Singhu border, farmers have occupied the portion of road which is already closed for traffic due to construction of a flyover.

Now, the exercise of removal of barricades by the police clearly proves our point that it was the police that have blocked roads and not the farmers. We never created any problem. Any bottleneck from our side will also be cleared for traffic movement, Pal told PTI.

Any decision to entirely clear both carriageways of roads or march towards Delhi will be taken by the SKM, he added.

''So far, there is no call to go to Delhi. Any future course of action will be decided in a meeting of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha,” Pal said.

Thousands of farmers have been camping at the three borders points -- Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur -- protesting the Centre's three farm laws since November 26 last year.

While the protesting farmers have been claiming that the three laws enacted last year are against their interest, the Centre has been saying these legislations are pro-farmer.

The Delhi Police on Thursday evening started removing the barricades and concertina wires it had put in place at the anti-farm laws protest site at Tikri Border on Delhi-Rohtak highway. Similar action was initiated at Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border on Friday morning.

Later in a statement, the SKM said traffic movement was allowed by the protestors in the past and will be done so now too.

''In the latest narrative that they are seeking to spin, partial removal of these barricades is being taken up, ostensibly to impress the Supreme Court of India. SKM takes note of these development, and is watching the manoeuvres of the BJP government,'' the SKM said in the statement.

''SKM leaders have also said that the protesting farmers stand vindicated - it is the police who have barricaded and blocked the roads and not the farmers, and this is something that the farmers have explained in the past too,'' it added. Farmer leader and a representative of Rastriya Kisan Majdoor Sabha, Abhimanyu Kohar said the decision to remove barricades has vindicated the farmers' stand and will ease traffic movement at the borders.

For the last 11 months, we have been saying that farmers never blocked roads as we are simply protesting the farm laws. Today we are proved right. It is good that traffic will now be able to move at borders, Kohar said.

Another farmer leader at Tikri Border and a member of SKM, Sudesh Goyat accused the Delhi Police of obstructing vehicular movement.

In February, protesting farmers at Tikri Border cleared the way for an ambulance but it had to return as the Delhi Police had blocked the road, she claimed.

''We are happy that roadblocks are being removed and now traffic will be able to move. It will also help in reviving economy here as petrol pumps, shops which are shut for 11 months due to road closure will now start functioning again,'' Goyat said.

Farmer leaders also hoped that the Centre would invite farmers for a dialogue to break the logjam over the farm laws.

BKU spokesperson Saurabh Upadhyay said farmers want to go to Delhi but the SKM will take the final call.

''If the government wants the logjam to end, it should talk to the farmers now and we are ready for it. But if it wants the farmers' movement to continue, we are determined to prolong it as it has already been 11 months since the protests began,” Upadhyay told PTI.

On October 21, the Supreme Court had said farmers have the right to protest and was not against this even when a legal challenge against the three farm laws is pending but they cannot block roads ''indefinitely'', an observation that came amid a blame game between the Centre and the farmer unions.

While the farmers' unions alleged that the police were responsible for the blockade at the Delhi borders as it suits them to allow a feeling in the minds of the citizens that farmers are blocking the road, the Centre claimed there was an oblique purpose behind the protests.

28-10-2021 17:43:34

Farmers' protest: Delhi Police starts removing barricades at Tikri border point

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The Delhi Police on Thursday night started removing roadblocks placed at the Tikri border point where farmers have been protesting against the Centre's three farm laws, with sources indicating that one carriageway of the road will open in the coming days.

The move comes days after a Supreme Court hearing that saw farmer unions arguing that the police were responsible for the blockade at the Delhi borders.

The police had put multiple layers of barricades on the roads, complete with giant nails and huge concrete blocks as thousands of farmers had tried to cross Delhi borders in November last year.

Four out of the eight layers of barricades at the Tikri border have been removed. However, the cement barricades are still there and the road remains closed for commuters, an officer said. In videos doing the rounds on social media, JCB machines were seen removing blockades at the Tikri border.

Sources in the Delhi Police said that such exercise is likely to be launched at Singhu and Ghazipur border points in the coming days.

Thousands of farmers have been camping at the three borders points --- Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur --- protesting the Centre's three farm laws since November 26, 2020.

About the removal of blockades at the Tikri Border on Thursday night, a senior police officer said some layers of barricades that were placed by the police have been removed. ''The arrangement at the Tikri border in terms of infrastructure has been reduced. Seven to eight layers of different types of barricades were placed earlier and we have removed some of them,'' the officer said.

This is done as a move to open the road for traffic soon, he said.

''At present, there is no traffic flow as the roads are closed. Barricades will be completely removed soon to slowly ease the flow of traffic,'' the officer added.

The Supreme Court on October 21 had said farmers protesting at Delhi borders against the three farms laws have the right to agitate but they cannot block roads indefinitely even as the farmer unions and the government got embroiled in a blame game.

While the farmers' unions alleged that the police were responsible for the blockade as it suits them to allow a feeling among citizens that farmers are blocking the road, the Centre said there was an oblique purpose behind the protests.

After the court hearing, the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), whose supporters and office-bearers led by Rakesh Tikait are camping at Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border since November 2020, had said the barriers at the protest site have been put by the Delhi police and not farmers.

Tikait, the national spokesperson of the BKU, said protesters at Ghazipur have cleared the path on a service lane leading to the national capital but Delhi Police's barricades were still present there.

28-10-2021 17:19:27

Nihang members decide to stay put at Singhu protest site

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Members of the Sikhs Nihang order, who are camping at Singhu on the Delhi-Haryana border in support of farmers protesting the three central agricultural laws, have decided to stay put and strengthen the agitation, Nihang leaders said on Thursday.According to Nihang leaders, the decision to not leave the protest site was taken in a Mahapanchayat of the religious order held on Wednesday after public support from across the country.We will stay put here.

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28-10-2021 14:50:58

Amarinder-Shah meeting over farm laws postponed

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Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the farm laws was postponed on Thursday.

The meeting between both leaders could not take place as Shah was to leave for Gujarat, said a source close to the former Punjab CM.

Singh was supposed to meet the Union home minister to discuss possible solutions to the ongoing farmers' stir against the Centre's three farm laws.

The former CM on Wednesday had said he will be meeting Shah along with some agricultural experts.

''Tomorrow, I am going to meet Home Minister Shah and 25-30 people will go with me,'' Singh had said while addressing the media here.

Singh had said he had met the Union home minister thrice in the past on farmers' issues.

Singh, who had faced an unceremonious exit from the state government, had said any seat arrangement that he might make with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would be subject to the resolution of the farmers' issue in their interest.

Singh had earlier also met Shah in Delhi and had discussed the prolonged farmers' stir with him while urging him to resolve the crisis urgently with the repeal of the three farm laws.

A large number of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and UP, have been camping at the Delhi borders since November 26 last year, demanding the repeal of the three new farm laws.

26-10-2021 15:00:31

Haryana govt panel talks to farmers over road blockade

Image Credit: ANI

A Haryana government high-powered committee on Tuesday held talks over the road blockade at Delhis Tikri border with farmers protesting the Centres farm laws. The panel headed by Haryana Additional Chief Secretary Home Rajeev Arora held talks with representatives of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, which is spearheading the stir, in Jhajjars Bahadurgarh, close to the Tikri border.Arora was accompanied by DGP P K Agrawal and other officials.

Read the full article here.

25-10-2021 16:38:46

Farmers in Haryana hold protest over short supply of DAP fertiliser

Image Credit: ANI

A group of farmers owing allegiance to Bharatiya Kisan Union on Monday held a protest at Hansi near Hisar against alleged inadequate supply of di-ammonium phosphate fertiliser, as farmers were seen waiting in long queues in couple of Haryana districts to get the DAP.

Farmers held a protest at Hansi, with one of the protesters sitting on an indefinite fast over alleged shortage of the DAP.

''There is a shortage of DAP. If adequate supply is not ensured at the earliest, our protest will continue like this,'' a protesting farmer told reporters at Hansi.

He said due to “shortage” of DAP fertiliser amid Rabi season, farmers have to wait for hours daily in front of offices of cooperative societies and outlets of private dealers to get the fertiliser.

In Charkhi Dadri and Shahabad in Kurukshetra, long queues were witnessed on Monday as farmers waited for hours to purchase the fertiliser.

There were reports that farmers also blocked a road on Mahendergarh-Rewari route for a brief period to protest inadequate availability of the fertiliser.

Some farmers had allegedly forcibly taken away over 100 bags of DAP fertilisers lying outside a shop of a private dealer in Mahendergarh district's Ateli town a few days ago.

Opposition parties have alleged that farmers are running from pillar to post as there is a shortage of DAP.

In a couple of districts including Charkhi Dadri, the fertiliser was being distributed to farmers from police stations under strict watch of the cops.

The state government has maintained that there is no shortage of the fertiliser.

Last week, Haryana Agriculture Minister J P Dalal had claimed that there is no shortage of DAP fertiliser in the state and added that black marketeers are trying to project an artificial shortage.

Earlier on Sunday, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar held a meeting to review the availability and demand of DAP.

''Apart from the issue of remunerative price after calculating the cost of production that was common across the country in this nationwide programme, we also highlighted local issues affecting farmers at the district level in our memorandum to CM Vijay Rupani,'' Dudhatra said.

These laws try to address the issues of farmers who earlier complained they were not allowed to sell their produce in the markets of their choice so that they could get maximum benefit.

Image Credit: ANI

Opposition parties on Sunday warned the BJP-led government that it will face the ''wrath'' of farmers if it does not repeal the three agri laws as they voiced support for the 'kisan mahapanchayat' held by agitating unions in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar in a show of strength.

The ruling BJP, however, termed it as an ''election meeting'' and alleged that the opposition and farmer union leaders were using farmers to engage in politics ahead of elections in Uttar Pradesh next year.

BJP MP Varun Gandhi struck a different line as he described farmers, who have been protesting against three farm laws, as ''our own flesh and blood'' and suggested that the government should re-engage with them for reaching common ground.

Thousands of farmers from Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states on Sunday gathered in Muzaffarnagar for the 'kisan mahapanchayat' and vowed to continue their stir till the agri laws are scrapped.

The event was organised by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) which is spearheading the agitation since November last year.

''The call of truth is echoing. You have to listen, unjust government!'' Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Hindi.

Party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that the ''arrogance of power'' cannot withstand the ''roar of the farmers'' and the whole country is with them.

Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said those stealing the farms of farmers are traitors.

''May this mahapanchayat prove to be a milestone in the direction of a peaceful farmers' movement,'' Congress leader Sachin Pilot said in a tweet in Hindi.

Demanding that the government resume the dialogue with the agitating farmers, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said that ''our Annadatas must get justice and their due''.

''Those who attack our Annadatas will face their wrath. Repeal the three agri-laws.

''Independent India has never seen such a historic 10-month-long struggle. Modi govt must repeal Agri laws & legalise MSP. Discuss with our Annadatas who feed all of us,'' he tweeted.

The BJP's 'Kisan Morcha' head and MP Rajkumar Chahar claimed that those behind the mahapanchayat were not concerned about farmers.

''This was very much a political and election meeting. The opposition and these farmer union leaders have been using the shoulders of farmers to engage in politics,'' he said in a statement.

Chahar claimed that no government has done so much for farmers as the one led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

''Political workers from Punjab and Haryana were brought for the event. They (organisers) are using farmers only for their political interests. It is the Centre and the UP government that are actually working for the welfare of farmers,'' UP BJP spokesperson Alok Awasthi said.

However, party leader Varun Gandhi spoke about re-engaging with farmers and understanding their point of view.

''Lakhs of farmers have gathered in protest today in Muzaffarnagar. They are our own flesh and blood. We need to start re-engaging with them in a respectful manner: understand their pain, their point of view and work with them in reaching common ground,'' he tweeted, posting a short video of the large crowd.

Varun Gandhi's MP mother Maneka Gandhi retweeted his tweet.

His remarks also drew support from RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary.

''Appreciate what Varun bhai is saying but look at what BJP MLA from Khurja, Uttar Pradesh, is commenting.

Though deeper tests required, at the very least, Vijendra should get his eyesight tested. Or he could visit some villages in his constituency and repeat this absurd statement,'' he said.

The RLD leader was referring to a BJP MLA tweet questioning the nationalist credentials of the protesting farmers. He deleted the tweet later.

The Samajwadi Party said the farmers have given the signal for the exit of the BJP government.

''The time has come for the BJP government to go. It is farmers who have given the signal for the exit of the government. They have given the signal on Teachers' Day and have taught a lesson,'' Uttar Pradesh MLC from Samajwadi Party Ashutosh Sinha said.

Wary of the political fallout of the agitation, which has been spearheaded by the politically and socially strong Jat community in western Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has been cautious in its handling of the agitation despite the protesting leaders being trenchant in their criticism of the government.

The party had asked Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi to tender an apology after she had referred to a section of protestors as ''mawali'' (ruffians).

The Centre had held talks with the protesting farmer unions and has offered to amend them but in vain as they did not agree to their demand of withdrawing the three farm laws.

Farmers gathered in large numbers amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Hisar earlier today to protest police action against them for the clash on May 16.

Image Credit: ANI

Scores of farmers from Karnal in Haryana on Sunday left for Tikri on the state's border with Delhi and the site where farmers have been sitting in protest since last November, demanding a repeal of the Centre's three agricultural laws, news agency ANI reported.

"We're headed with thousands of vehicles from Karnal. Every week we will take people from one district to the protest site in order to maintain gathering there," Gurnam Singh, President of the Bharatiya Kisan Union said.

"We are doing this to show the government that we are still awake and our protest has not lost steam," Singh added. When asked about the prudence of continuing with the Speaking protest even in the midst of a virulent COVID-19 wave, the farmer leader said that the government was using the pretext of the pandemic to hide its incompetence. He said if the government was so concerned about preventing the spread of the infection why was there no oxygen and beds in hospitals.

On May 20, a large convoy of farmers from Punjab's Taran Taran left for several Delhi border points to strengthen the ongoing protest.

Farmers at the borders of New Delhi are seeking help on social media after heavy rains damaged their makeshift shelters, forcing them to take shelter in waterlogged tents, wet mattresses, and damaged tarpaulins.

An Instagram user named 'Parvez Singh' shared a video reportedly from Shahjahanpur border where tents seemed blown due to heavy winds and rain. The user asked for help with tarpaulins and rope.

Another Instagram user named 'Swaiman Singh', who is also a practicing doctor at Tikri border shared a video asking for help with plywood beds, as rain caused heavy damage at the protest site.

While another Twitter user named 'Jasveer Singh Muktsar' shared destructive images purportedly from Singhu where farmers' settlement seemed drowned in waterlogged at the site.

Farmers' own newspaper 'Trolley Times' updated about damaged tents and wet mattresses at Ghazipur border in its Instagram account named 'Trolley Times (official page)'.

While another Instagram user named 'Jaspreetdyora' shared a post with images seeking milk supply at Ghazipur border.

20-05-2021 09:59:23

SKM reiterates demands, seeks talks with center

Image Credit: ANI

With spells of rain in the national capital adding to the woes of farmers camping on the borders of Delhi, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday warned the central government to ''not test their patience, initiate the dialogue and accept the demands'', news agency PTI reported.

''... More than 470 farmers have been martyred in the farmers' movement. Many agitators have had to leave their jobs, education, and other work. The government's attitude meanwhile shows how inhuman and careless it is towards its own citizens, the 'anna daatas'. If the government cares about its farmers and wants their welfare, then it should initiate dialogue with the farmers and accept their demands,'' the SKM said in a statement, warning the government to ''not test the patience of farmers''.

So far, there have been 11 rounds of talks between the protesting unions and the government, but the deadlock has continued as both sides have stuck to their stand.

20-05-2021 09:08:50

Farmers to get DAP bag for Rs 1200 despite 'sharp increase' in global prices: Centre

Image Credit: Twitter(@PIB_India)

The Centre on Wednesday hiked the subsidy on DAP fertiliser by 140 per cent, costing the exchequer an additional Rs 14,775 crore, in a bid to ensure the soil nutrient is available to farmers at old rates despite a sharp rise in global prices, news agency PTI reported.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to a PMO statement.

''Government is committed to improving the lives of farmers. Therefore, despite increase in global prices, we have decided to make available the fertiliser at old rate,'' Modi tweeted in Hindi.

After urea, Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) is the most widely used used fertiliser in the country.

''A historic decision was taken to increase the subsidy for DAP fertiliser from Rs 500 per bag to Rs 1200 per bag, which is an increase of 140 per cent. ....With today's decision, farmers will continue to get a DAP bag for Rs 1200,'' the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

Despite the rise in international market prices of DAP, it has been decided to continue selling it at the old price of Rs 1,200 per bag, it said.

''The central government has decided to bear all the burden of price hike. The amount of subsidy per bag has never been increased so much at once,'' it added.

20-05-2021 08:37:06

Tikait hails farmers for putting pressure on govt to increase fertilizer subsidy

Image Credit: ANI

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said that the pressure of farmer organizations was behind the central government's decision to increase subsidy on Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer, news agency ANI reported.

"The rate of the fertilizers had gone to Rs 1,900. The farmer organizations pressurized the government over this. The matter was also raised at the ongoing protest of the Kisan Sanyukt Morcha," Tikait told ANI.

He reiterated his demand for the withdrawal of the three farms laws which were introduced in 2020. "The government should also take back the three farm laws against which the farmers are protesting for six months," he said.

"As the government provided subsidiary on the fertilizers, they should also solve other issues of the farmer community," the farmer leader added. The Centre on Wednesday decided to increase the subsidy for Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer from Rs 500 per bag to Rs 1,200 per bag. With the increase in subsidy in DAP, the Centre will spend an additional Rs 14,775 crore as subsidy in Kharif season.

Recently, the international prices of phosphoric acid, and ammonia used in DAP, have gone up by 60 percent to 70 percent. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar lauded the Centre's decision to increase subsidy on DAP fertilizer and termed the decision as "historic" and said this is the highest such hike.

20-05-2021 05:19:48

Heavy rain damages tents at protest sites, show social media posts

Farmers protesting against the farm laws at Tikri, Singhu, and Shahjahpur borders of New Delhi faced heavy rains, which damaged their makeshift tents and other structures, social media posts showed on Thursday.

A Twitter account named 'Kisan Ekta Morcha' shared images and videos reportedly from Singhu border where tents seemed waterlogged due to heavy rain.

Another account named 'Support Farmers' shared some similar images from Singhu.

An Instagram user 'Asis Kaur' shared some more videos where tents seemed drowned in gushing rainwater.

While another Instagram user named 'Randeep' shared a short video of farmers compelled to cross a pound of water with their belongings on their shoulders.

In another post on Twitter, a user named 'Rajaram Meel' shared some images from Shahjapur border where harsh rain forced protestors to stay inside their tents.

While in Tikri, as shown in a tweet by a Twitter account named 'Royal Jass' a farmer seemed struggling in his tent to stay safe inside.

19-05-2021 08:41:05

Farmers continue to protest against fertilizer price hike in Tiruchi: Report

Image Credit: Wikimedia

Several farmer leaders continued to protest against the steep hike in the prices of fertilizers in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, according to a report by The Hindu.

Consistent in their agitation, a farmers' delegation filed a petition to express their displeasure with the decision of the Centre while another group restarted their protest on Monday.

In a recent development, IFFCO, the largest fertilizer producer in the country, raised the prices of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), a preferred fertilizer, from Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,900 for a bag of 50 kg with a rise to 51.9% from 46% for complex fertilizers. Despite the government's decision to put the price hike on hold, farmer organizations continue to protest against the hike.

“The hike is too steep. The government should fix the price of fertilizers as earlier (prior to decontrol of fertilizer prices),” said R. Raja Chidambaram, the State Secretary of Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam, who presented the petition to the collector with empty fertilizer bags carried on their shoulders.

Earlier on Monday, P. Ayyakannu, the president of the Desiya Thennindhiya Nadhigal Inaippu Vivasayigal Sangam, with 44 members of his outfit was arrested by police personnel as they staged 'road roko' protest, demanding withdrawal of price hike in fertilizers on the Karur By-pass in the city. Ayyakannu had also planned to take the demonstration to New Delhi which was desisted in wake of a spike in COVID-19 cases in the country.

19-05-2021 07:12:38

Tikait warns of 'farming strike' on completion of six months of farmers' protest

Image Credit: ANI

Farmers' union leader and spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, Rakesh Tikait, warned that farmers will leave their farms to protest on streets as the agitation against the three farm laws is about to complete six months on May 26.

The BKU spokesperson, in a tweet on Wednesday, reiterated his demand and blamed the government to be "insensitive" towards farmers.

18-05-2021 12:16:07

Cinema hall, library opened at Tikri border, shows social media post

A cinema hall and library have been opened at the farmers' protest at Tikri border social media posts showed on Tuesday.

A Twitter user named 'Vikas BKU Ugrahan' shared some images of the cinema hall with volunteers making arrangements from the place.

Another Twitter account named 'BKU EKTA UGRAHAN' shared a video purportedly from the Tikri border sharing information about the newly set up places.

18-05-2021 09:37:26

Farmers find focal point in Hisar, protests increased in last two months: Report

Image Credit: ANI

Haryana's Hisar has been emerging as the new focal point of the farmers' agitation in the state as the city is witnessing increased protests over the duration of the last two months, according to a report by The Indian Express.

Earlier on Sunday, it witnessed clashes between policemen and farmers protesting against the visit of CM Manohar Lal Khattar.

As reported, four toll plazas in Hisar have become a center for the mobilization of farmers' agitating against the center's farm laws. Farmers have been visiting the plazas on rotational shifts to continue the protest for a longer time. There have also been reports of committees formed by the farmers at the village level.

"Even since the beginning of farmers’ agitation, Hisar has seen considerable participation in the dharnas at Delhi borders and at toll plazas on national highways. Their strength becomes more apparent whenever any leader of BJP-JJP comes to the district and farmers come on roads to stage protest against them," said Vikas Sisar, a farmer leader.

Earlier in February, Haryana's Jind made headlines for major protests as farmer leaders organized several big Kisan panchayats in the city.

18-05-2021 07:32:10

Paddy farmers worried about labor shortage as transplantation set to start in June

Image Credit: ANI

Paddy farmers in Punjab have shown concern over the shortage of laborers as the crop is been ready for transplantation, which is excepted to start in June, according to a report by Tribune News Services.

The farmers, amid restrictions of moment due to the pandemic, fear that the laborers mostly from Bihar and UP may not be able to work in the process of transplantation. These farmers had to face a labor shortage earlier in 2020 as well due to which the cost for transplantation shot up to Rs 5,000. “The shortage of workers would be more this year as most of seasonal workers had left for their native places. With the ongoing uncertainty, these workers have no plans to return,” said Kewal Singh, a farmer from Amritsar.

Paddy farming is a labor-intensive work and the migrated workers, as reported, are more adept at the work than the local laborers. Even though the Agriculture Department had introduced transplantation machines used for paddy, these have not been popular among the local farmers.

“The nursery for machines has to be grown in a different manner than for the manual transplantation. Moreover, the farmers with small land holdings cannot afford to buy these machines,” said Jaspreet Singh, another farmer, who further added that the experts who help them in operating machines at fields charged around Rs 5,000 per acre and so they don't have any incentives to move to new technology.

18-05-2021 05:49:26

Farmers in Maharashtra concerns over rising prices of fertilizers

Image Credit: Pixabay

Farmers in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district have raised concern over the rising prices of fertilizers amid the grim COVID-19 situation and sought help from the government ahead of the upcoming sowing season, news agency PTI reported on Tuesday.

When contacted, state Agriculture Minister Dada Bhuse told PTI that they have written to the central government to reduce the prices of fertilizers.

Notably, the Centre recently said it is considering subsidies to offset rise in global prices of raw materials of phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilizers in a bid to ensure their availability to farmers at subsidized rates across the country.

The government said it was taking all necessary steps to safeguard the interests of farmers during the COVID-19 crisis.

Farmer Deepak Joshi from Devgaon in Paithan said the rising prices of fertilizers have upset his farming budget.

He said his crop yield last year got sold at lower prices than normal as there were no buyers due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

''Government agencies suggest use of fertilizers while sowing seeds. Not only fertilizers, but the cost of every activity has gone up due to fuel price hike. Earlier, two bags of fertilizers used to cost around Rs 1,100 each. Now, each bag costs around Rs 1,925,'' he said.

Farmer Ishwar Sapkal from Soyegaon town also expressed similar woes.

''To cultivate jowar for a yield of 100 kg of grains, we need 25 kg fertilizer which costs Rs 1,000 now. Last time, I fetched a price of Rs 1,000 per quintal for my jowar crop. So there was no profit at all,'' he said.

Sakpal has 40 acres of land and this year, he has taken up cultivation of turmeric, ginger, and cotton which need less amount of fertilizers as compared to other crops.

Kalidas Apet, working president of the pro-farmer outfit Shetkari Sanghatna, said the increase in rates of fertilizers is justified only if farmers get the right price for their produce.

17-05-2021 09:30:52

'Contract farming is desirable if the farmer is backed by the State or Central govt'

Image Credit: ANI

"We are losing Rs 1-1.5 lakh per acre. We have stopped harvesting as we are not getting even the transportation costs," said Anil Kumar, a farmer from Bhiwani Haryana, in a report published by the Times of India explaining why tomatoes and capsicum farmers are destroying their crops. Farmers growing tomatoes and capsicum has been facing a dire fluctuation in price due to supply glut in the markets which have caused these farmers massive losses for the second consecutive year.

The farmers who are falling to produce any profit are having to leave the produce in the farms. The situation, followed by a bumper harvest in relation to relatively less demand, has led the perishable producers to suffer. Not being able to cover the cost of production, these farmers ask the government to ensure MSP for the vegetables as well. "A version of the MSP that is possible is for govt to fix prices. Government should not necessarily be the buyer... Fixing the MSP means anyone who wants to buy will have to buy at a certain price," Suman Sahai, Scientist Chairperson of Gene Campaign, said in the report. Sahai also suggested some other possible measures to avoid grim situations for farmers, which don't limit contract farming to corporates but suggests "contract farming is desirable if the farmer is protected and backed by the State or Central govt". Watch the report here.

17-05-2021 07:41:08

Social media posts show violence from farmers' agitation during CM visit in Hisar

Social media users on Sunday shared several images and videos purportedly from Hisar, where the farmers had gathered to protest during Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar's visit to inaugurate a COVID-19 hospital.

A Twitter account named 'BKU EKTA UGRAHAN' shared a short video reportedly from the incident showing a large police deployment at the area.

In another tweet, it showed a number of women being detained by women constables reportedly from the incident.

While an Instagram account named 'Saada haq' shared some images and videos showing stills of those purportedly injured in the violence.

News agency ANI also shared some images from the incident, which led to 20 police personnel getting injured due to the violence.

Netizens condemned the violence, 'Ramandeep Singh Mann', a Twitter user called the incident 'shameful'.

While another Instagram account named 'Sikhexpo' shared some videos of violence from the incident.

17-05-2021 06:41:40

Farmers block Haryana-Punjab border near Ambala to express solidarity against farmers in Hisar

Farmers protesting against the center's farm laws on Sunday blocked the Haryana-Punjab border near Ambala after a clash broke out between police and farmers in Hisar on the visit of Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, news agency ANI tweeted.

17-05-2021 06:05:36

Dozens injured as police clash with farmer protesters in Hisar

Image Credit: ANI

A major clash broke out between police and protesting farmers in Hisar on Sunday after the latter protested against Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar at an event who had gone to inaugurate a COVID hospital, news agency PTI reported.

The police used tear gas and force to disperse a group of farmers who tried to march towards the venue. Many people were injured in the violent clash. Khattar inaugurated a 500-bed COVID hospital on school premises and had left the venue just before the protest took a violent turn. The farmers were stopped before they could reach the venue, police said. They allegedly jumped police barricades after which police used force and lobbed tear gas shells.

While farmers claimed that over 50 of them sustained injuries in what they alleged was a police lathi-charge, an official spokesperson said over 20 policemen, including a DSP and five policewomen, were also injured.

Police claimed some farmers pelted them with stones when they tried to stop them. Five police vehicles were also damaged by the protesters, they said. The incident took place when the farmers, who have been protesting against the Centre's new farm laws, started proceeding towards Hisar from the Ramayan toll plaza to stage a protest against Khattar.

Police also detained some agitators, including women.

17-05-2021 05:40:04

Farmers to observe 'black day' on May 26 to mark six months of protests

Image Credit: ANI

Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of over 40 farmer unions, on Saturday announced that it will observe May 26 as ‘black day’, marking six months of their protest at Delhi’s borders against the Centre's three farm laws, news agency PTI reported.

In a virtual press conference, farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal appealed to people to raise black flags at their houses, vehicles and shops on May 26 to protest against the contentious farm legislations.

''On May 26, we will complete six months of this protest and it also happens to mark seven years since PM Modi formed the government. We will observe it as black day,'' Rajewal said.

Rajewal appealed to people to support the call for observing ‘black day’ on May 26.

''We appeal to people of the country and also Punjab to hang black flags at their house, shops, trucks and other vehicles. We will also burn effigies of (PM) Narendra Modi as a form of protest,'' he added.

He said that the government has not heard the farmers’ demand to repeal the three agri laws and ''with increasing prices of fertilizers, diesel and petrol, the farming business is not possible''.

SKM appealed to mass organizations, trade unions, traders' and transporters' organizations to hold ‘black flag demonstrations’ in support of the farmers' demands.

14-05-2021 08:22:09

Khattar urges farmers to suspend stir amid COVID

Image Credit: ANI

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday urged farmers to suspend their stir against farm laws amid the grim Covid-19 situation, claiming that their movements to and from dharna sites were spreading the infection in villages, news agency PTI reported.

Chief Minister Khattar along with Health Minister Anil Vij also expressed exasperation over farmer leaders' reluctance to ask agitating farmers to get themselves tested for Covid-19 and treated against the infection. Urging farmers to stop their stir, Khattar said farmers may resume the agitation later if they wish, but they must stop it as of now.

"If they wish to restart these dharnas once the situation is under control, they are free to do so," Khattar told a news conference digitally.

He said he had appealed to farmers' leaders even a month earlier to suspend their dharnas so that the disease does not spread.

Referring to farmers' movement to and from dharna sites, Khattar said, "What is coming to the fore now is that because of these dharnas, this (infection) has spread." "In many villages, hotspots have emerged because their people are regularly coming and going back from dharna sites," the chief minister added.

Farmers have not only been sitting in protest near the Singhu and Tikri borders but in many other parts of Haryana too.

13-05-2021 10:59:52

In Chandigarh, farmers wait for DBT for wheat from FCI: Report

Farmers in Chandigarh are waiting for the release of direct benefit transfer (DBT) payment from the Food Corporation of India (FCI), that is the transfer of payment for wheat into their accounts for payment of minimum support price (MSP), despite the Centre's keenness to immediately implement the DBT system by the respective state governments, according to a report by The Times of India.

As claimed by the Centre, all the payments are supposed to be transferred in a duration of 48 hours, whereas, Satyajit Singh Thind, a farmer awaiting his payment, said to TOI that he had handed over his wheat produce to a trading company in grain market in Ludhiana earlier on May 1. “I am yet to get my payment from the FCI despite tall claims of the government of releasing payment within 48 hours,” he said.

Whereas, Ramesh Kumar, the person in charge of the trading company, said that several other farmers have been waiting for their pending payments by the FCI. “One of the farmers came to me today as his payment is pending since April 28. FCI officials do not even listen to us though we submit a crossed bank cheque and copy of Aadhaar card of the farmer with farmer’s bill in time to the FCI,” Kumar said.

He further said that the company has been facing delays in the collection of wheat procurement bills by FCI officials. “We are not facing payment problems from the Punjab government’s procurement agencies but only with the FCI,” Kumar said, adding that the delay was observed earlier also.

However, FCI's quality inspector in Ludhiana said that the delay in the release of payments is been caused due to several reasons. "We are facing manpower shortage in office. Sometimes we also have to re-verify bank details. I have been told by senior officers that payments will be cleared in the next two days," the inspector added.

13-05-2021 08:38:08

Farmers concerned about lack of govt communication on procurement in Hyderabad: Report

Image Credit: Pixabay

A large number of farmers in Hyderabad are worried over the absence of government communication on procurement for their produce of jowar (sorghum) and maize crop in the procurement season, according to a report by The Times of India.

The government of the state has already set a target to purchase 80 lakh metric tonnes of paddy but no such announcement has been made for the procurement of other crops for this season.

Earlier in 2020, the state government had procured maize, paddy, sunflower, and jowar among other crops. In 2021, jowar has reportedly been raised in 1.19 lakh acres and maize was cultivated in 4.66 lakh acres of land.

As reported, in the open market the traders were not offering more than Rs 1,600 for a quintal of jowar and Rs 1,500 for a quintal of maize, however, the farmers have urged the government procurement authorities to start procuring per quintal of jowar and maize for Rs 2,620 and Rs 1,850 respectively.

The delay in procurement by the government has been a matter of concern for these farmers as its been a month since jowar and maize was harvested by the farmers.

“Last season, the government said it would not purchase maize as it had discouraged farmers not to cultivate it. However, the farmers had cultivated maize in two lakh acres and following agitations by the farmers, the government procured only 50% of the total produce,” said Anvesh Reddy, state president of All India Kisan Congress.

13-05-2021 06:34:52

Social media posts show damage due to heavy rain at protest sites

Social media posts on Thursday showed videos reportedly from farmers' protest at Singhu and Tikri border featuring tents damaged due to storm and rain last night.

An Instagram user named 'Asis Kaur' shared four short videos from Singhu showing farmers at the site struggling to save tents in heavy rain while the area seemed waterlogged.

A Twitter user named 'Sandeep Singh' also shared a short video showing a 'langar' damaged due to rain at Singhu.

In another thread, it showed tents damaged after heavy rain.

While another Twitter user named 'Vikas BKU Ugrahan' shared a video purportedly from Tikri border last night, Wednesday, featuring tents damaged at the site due to heavy rain and wind.

12-05-2021 08:37:53

Farmers destroy harvest worth lakhs in Bihar due to inadequate market prices: Report

Image Credit: ANI

In the Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, a group of farmers destroyed their harvest of tomatoes with other green vegetables worth lakhs on Tuesday, as the low market prices being offered to them are not even covering their cost of production, according to a report by The Hindustan Times.

As claimed by the farmers, the destroyed crops were grown over an area of around 35,000 square feet (50 bighas) in the district.

Farmers of Ganj Bazaar and adjoining areas claimed that one kg of tomato was not even fetching the wholesale rate of Rs 1, while some other green vegetables were being sold for less than Rs 2 per kg, however, the cost to transport the tomato to market caused them more than Rs 4 for per kg.

“I spent ₹15,000 per bigha to produce tomatoes and now I am not even getting ₹5000 for my produce per bigha. We have been forced to sell our produce for less than ₹1 per kg. Hence, we don’t have any other option left but to destroy our produce,” said Shambhu Prasad, a farmer claiming to destroy tomato harvest worth Rs 2 lakhs.

The price, as reported, has been affected due to lack of vegetable demand by traders in Muzaffarpur amid COVID-19.

12-05-2021 08:07:41

Social media post shows 'sanitization drive' at Tikri

A Twitter user named 'BKU EKTA UGRAHAN' shared a two minutes video purportedly from farmers' protest at Tikri border showing a 'sanitization drive' on Wednesday.

Calling it the second day of the drive, the user had earlier shared a video of sanitization on Tuesday reportedly from the 17km stretch, Tikri border.

While in another video on Tuesday, it showed distribution of face masks and shields for safety of farmers protesting against center's farm laws.

12-05-2021 07:17:49

Farmer leaders prepare to curb COVID-19 spread as more farmers join protest: Report

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Farmer union leaders at farmers' protest at Singhu and Tikri borders have started preparing to tackle COVID-19 and any emergencies arising due to the disease, apart from issuing guidelines suggesting safety measures as more farmers reportedly join the ongoing protest, according to a report by The Indian Express.

Oxygen cylinders and concentrators are also been kept at the sites to avoid any catastrophe caused by COVID-19 at the sites.

“Earlier, the speeches were only about the three farm laws, but now various speakers, including the head of Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan) Joginder Singh Ugrahan, have been talking about the spread of the Covid and asking us to take proper precautions including wearing masks, maintaining distance, and hand sanitization,” said Baljit Kaur, a participant at Tikri border.

Jagsir Singh, a farmer leader, said announcements to drink 'kadha' are being made 5 to 6 times a day.

“We are taking care against the spread of Covid and have already made the activists aware about the things to be followed against the spread of the virus here. We have already placed an oxygen concentrator here in case of any emergency and hopefully it was not needed here as protestors are safe so far and our main focus is on that everyone should wear a mask and maintain the social distancing more,” said Daler Singh Multani, a retired Civil Surgeon at Tikri.

Meanwhile, a makeshift hospital has been set up by the Sanyunkt Kisan Morcha (SKM) while several heath camps have also been set to attend people facing any ailment at the protest site at Singhu border.

12-05-2021 04:49:18

SKM says farmers returning to protest sites with end of harvest season

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The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of over 40 farmer unions, on Tuesday said that farmers were returning to Singhu and Tikri border protest sites after finishing harvesting their crops, news agency PTI reported on Tuesday.

In a statement, the SKM said that large convoys of farmers arrived at the two border points on Monday and this will now continue. ''Yesterday, large convoys of farmers arrived on the Singhu border and Tikri border. Farmers were welcomed at many places on their way to these sites from Punjab. These farmers, who have travelled in tractors, cars and other vehicles, have made arrangements to live in tents and trolleys as they were living before harvesting,'' it said.

''The farmers' strike is getting stronger and the protest sites are also becoming larger. Farmers' tents, trolleys and other vehicles have been permanently there for the last five months in long queues. The pattern of farmers coming back after the harvesting season will now continue,'' it added.

The farmers' outfit said that the government was ''promoting privatisation'' even at a time when ''thousands of people have lost their lives due to the mismanagement of the public health system''.

''The government should increase investment in education, health and agriculture sectors. Along with taking guarantee of the purchase and remunerative price for the crops of the farmers, the government should make a law on MSP and repeal the three anti-farmer laws immediately,'' it said.

11-05-2021 07:34:46

Farmers take COVID-19 safety measures at protest sites

Image Credit: ANI

From conducting disinfection drives to serving immunity-boosting 'kadha' in langars, farmers protesting at Tikri and Singhu borders in Delhi borders against the Centre's three agricultural laws are taking new steps every day to keep the deadly coronavirus at bay, news agency PTI reported on Tuesday.

''We disinfected 17-km of the protest site at the Tikri border. And will do it again in the coming days as well. We have been taking all preventive measures to stop the spread of coronavirus, including distributing masks and sanitizers to the protesting farmers,'' Roop Singh of Bharat Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) said on Tuesday.

Singh claimed that the farmers have not got any support from the government in fighting against coronavirus and that all measures taken to curb the spread of the virus at the Tikri border have been taken by them only.

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at three Delhi border points -- Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur -- for almost six months, demanding a repeal of the three agri reform laws enacted by the central government in September last year.

According to farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar, each and every langar at the Singhu border is being sanitized regularly and to improve the immunity of protesting farmers, 'kadha' is also being served on a daily basis.

''The langars operating round-the-clock are being sanitized regularly. To improve the immunity of farmers, they are being served with 'kadha' as well. Also, there are vaccination camps in the vicinity and whoever wants to get vaccinated is free to get the jab,'' said Kohar from Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farmers’ unions spearheading the stir.

11-05-2021 06:22:11

'Sizeable section of the middle class is opposed to the farm laws'

Image Credit: ANI

"While the farmers protesting on Delhi’s outskirts earlier this year were largely from Punjab and Haryana, the issue seems to have widespread resonance. And the appeal of the farmers’ protests is not limited just to the poor. A sizeable section of the middle class is opposed to the farm laws," writes Sanjay Kumar, a professor at CSDS, and a political analyst, for The Mint. He says that the "tide may be turning" and public opinion about farm laws might be changing, pointing to data from recent post-poll surveys conducted by the Lokniti-CSDS team show significant support for the protesting farmers across states that held elections recently.

He further adds that there are "high levels of awareness about the farmers’ protests, across the four states surveyed." Read the full article here.

10-05-2021 08:07:09

Farmers to hold weekly 'morcha' at Delhi borders: Report

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Gurnam Singh Charuni, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) president, said that the farmers will hold a weekly 'morcha' joined by farmers from four different districts to strengthen the ongoing agitation in a state-level meeting at Singhu border, according to a report by The Tribune.

Speaking at the meeting Charuni said, “we have assigned the duty for this to district and block presidents accordingly. It will help us strengthen the agitation".

The farmer leader also accused State and Union governments of being incapable of making adequate arrangements in the ongoing current condition of COVID-19.

“The government has failed in controlling the pandemic situation. People are dying due to non-availability of oxygen gas, beds, and also medicines,” he added.

He reiterated farmers' demand to repeal the three farm laws as they would not end the protest till their demands are met.

10-05-2021 06:03:47

Image Credit: ANI

Farmer union leader Rakesh Tikait reiterated his demand to repeal farm laws and said that the farmers are not going to end the protest amid COVID surge while addressing a kisan mahapanchayat in Bhiwani, Haryana on Thursday, according to a report by Hindustan Times.

Tikait said that the farmers are ready to talk while the government is trying to muzzle their voice, he added, "government is trying to muzzle the voice of farmers amid rise in Covid cases. We are ready to hold talks with the government and the same are expected to be held by November and December. Farmers in Gujarat are worst affected and if the farmers’ issue won’t be resolved, the BJP government will implement this Gujarat model across nation".

The leader also tweeted about their demand on Twitter on Friday saying farmers won't return until they "win".

29-04-2021 09:00:54

Due of DBT system, farmers worry age-old relation with arhtiyas may suffer: Report

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Farmers in Punjab worry that the direct transfer of payments for the procured crop in their accounts would affect their age-old relation with arthiyas, according to a report by The Times of India.

A number of Rs 8,180 crore MSP had been transferred into farmers' accounts in Punjab while in Haryana about Rs 4,668 crore had been transferred as of April 26, 2021. The farmers are happy with the adopted payment system but some farmer leaders worry that the DBT system might dismantle their relationship and would also have a negative impact on both small and marginal farmers.

"With the arthiya outside the payment system, he is not left with any collateral. The arhtiya has become insecure and will now demand collateral from the farmer. Arranging collateral for loans will become a problem for the farmer," said Chitra Sarwara, a farmer leader.

While speaking on the possible gap, Anoop Singh Chanaut, founder of the non-profit organization Kisan Social Army said, "the DBT system will create fissures in farmer-arhtiya relations. Farmers mostly have taken loans from arhtiyas, they are considered as ATMs for farmers. Right now farmers are happy, but where will the farmers go when he needs money?"

29-04-2021 06:35:54

Farmers eye record wheat crop despite protests: Report

Image Credit: Pixabay

While India battles soaring COVID-19 infections, on the outskirts of New Delhi thousands of farmers still occupy camps, where they are keeping up a months-long sit-in protest against government legislation that they say harms them, international news agency Reuters reported on Friday.

Underlining the organized nature of the movement as it tries to force Prime Minister Narendra Modi to revoke reforms aimed at making agriculture more efficient, farmers are being ferried to and from villages to harvest this year's wheat crop.

The logistical feat is working, at least from the farmers' point of view. They are on track to gather a record 109 million tonnes this year, posing more headaches for a government that some experts say underestimated the strength of rural anger. To appease protesters, the state grain purchaser is likely to have to procure large quantities of wheat at guaranteed prices, trade sources said.

"The government perhaps believed that the agitation would fizzle out as farmers left for harvesting, but they have come up with a smart strategy," said Devinder Sharma, an independent farm and food policy expert. "I think they are here for a long haul."

Protest leader Amreek Singh does not doubt that protests can last as long as is necessary. Volunteers have prepared village rosters to ensure that every time a group of farmers goes to harvest the wheat crop, a group of similar size joins the protests, Singh told Reuters at Singhu, one of three protest camps on the outskirts of the capital. Singh said there was a similar arrangement for Punjab and Uttar Pradesh states, also part of India's grain belt.

29-04-2021 05:34:21

'The threat to our very existence because of the three farm laws is just as real'

Image Credit: ANI

"This is a heartbreaking situation and we cry for those who have lost loved ones to this terrible disease. We also know what death is like. But you have to understand that the threat to our very existence because of the three farm laws is just as real! Do you think we want to be here? We are forced to live on the road because this is hond ki ladaaee (‘fight for existence’) for us," Rohit Kumar, an educator with a background in positive psychology and psychometrics, quotes Jasbir Kaur, a farmer leader of the Punjab Kisan Union at Tikri border, in a feature article published by The Wire highlighting the fight of farmers at the borders of New Delhi amid COVID-19 crisis.

Kumar, in the article, tries to amplify the voice of those being consistent with their demands at borders, as he quoted Kaur "people ask us indignantly why we are still on protest, given the conditions in Delhi. They do not understand that if the virus does not kill us, the three farm laws certainly will. Either way we are in trouble. But it is difficult to explain our existential crisis to those whose existence is fundamentally secure.” Read the full article here.

27-04-2021 04:47:18

SKM to distribute food and essential supplies to Delhi hospitals

Image Credit: Wikimedia

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farm unions spearheading the agitation against the Centre's three agricultural laws, on Monday said they will distribute food and essential goods to hospitals in the national capital, news agency PTI reported.

According to a statement released by the SKM, farmers sitting on several borders of Delhi will distribute food packets and other important goods to hospitals in the city.

Already, farmers on the Ghazipur border are distributing food at the bus terminals, railway stations, and hospitals in Delhi. The packing process will be started on Tuesday at the Singhu border as well, it stated.

A group at the Tikri border announced essential services will be provided and asked people to contact the SKM if any needy person in Delhi is not able to get food, the statement said.

Volunteers are helping vehicles carrying medical oxygen or other services that are coming in the way of the farmers' protest to reach the destination with full support, it added.

27-04-2021 04:42:52

SKM urges police to allow emergency supplies to Delhi through one carriageway

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The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which has been leading farmers' protests at Delhi borders against the Centre's agriculture laws, Sunday requested the Delhi Police to open one side of the highway at Singhu border for emergency COVID-19 supplies to the national capital, news agency PTI reported.

The highway at Singhu Border between Delhi and Sonipat in Haryana has been blocked by the protesters since November last year.

''In a meeting with Superintendent of Police of Sonipat three days ago, it was decided that one carriageway is vacated for essential supplies,'' it said.

In a letter to the deputy commissioner of police, outer-north Delhi, the SKM requested lifting barricades at one side of the highway at Singhu border so that essential supplies are transported to Delhi smoothly.

Earlier on Saturday said one side of all highways at Delhi borders, where farmers have been camping for months to protest the new farm laws, have been opened to ensure free passage for oxygen tankers and ambulances amid the COVID-19 crisis.

However, the SKM alleged, the Delhi Police has not removed the barricades.

25-04-2021 12:56:21

Farmers should not be compelled to get tested or vaccinated forcefully, says BKU leader

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BKU leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni has said protesting farmers should not be compelled to get themselves tested or vaccinated and if health workers tried to force them, they will not allow them to enter protest sites, news agency PTI reported on Friday.

A few days ago, Haryana's Home and Health Minister Anil Vij had said that the farmers sitting at Haryana's borders with Delhi will be tested and vaccinated.

Sonipat, along with Gurgaon and Faridabad, is among Haryana districts that are witnessing a surge in coronavirus cases.

'If they try to force us, then we will not even allow them to enter (protest sites),'' said Chaduni, adding that testing or vaccination should be left to farmers' choice.

A large number of farmers have been sitting in protest against the Centre's three new agri laws for months at Haryana's borders with Delhi at Singhu and Tikri.

Sonipat Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jashandeep Randhawa told reporters here that more than 1,100 farmers have been vaccinated so far.

22-04-2021 10:50:01

Haryana health department to hold meeting with farmers over COVID-19 at protest, says Vij

Image Credit: ANI

Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij on Thursday informed that the officers of the state health department will hold a meeting with farmers who are protesting at the state borders on Thursday evening over COVID-19 vaccination drive, news agency ANI reported.

"Officers of the State Health Department will hold a meeting today evening with farmers, sitting in protests at Haryana borders, regarding their COVID-19 testings and vaccination."

"The department will begin the work after the farmer leaders agree," he added. The minister has expressed his concern for protesting farmers earlier as well. He had participated in a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 8.

"We will work on the guidelines given by the Prime Minister. But my concern is to protect the farmers from the coronavirus, who have gathered at the border of Haryana. I have to save them from the COVID-19," he had said. Earlier this week, amid the massive surge in the second wave of Coronavirus, Anil Vij reiterated his concern over the issue and said, "It is my duty to worry about everyone in Haryana."

22-04-2021 10:44:55

Farmers will not return home until farm laws are withdrawn: Tikait

Image Credit: ANI

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said that the return of the farmers to the home will not happen until the three agriculture laws are withdrawn, according to a report ANI.

He reiterated that protest sites were now farmers' homes. While replying to the allegations that the coronavirus is increasing due to being in the group of farmers, Tikait said, "Farmers are at their home. Where else will we ask them to go? Is Corona spreading from here? We have been living here for the last five months, it's our home now."

Tikait also said that many farmers are struggling to get the second dose of the COVID vaccine. "Many farmers took vaccine but are struggling to get the 2nd dose. We have told officers to set up camp here," he added.

He also refuted the allegation that farmers violated COVID-19 protocols at Iftar. Reacting to the viral video, Tikait mentioned, "People were sitting at a distance from each other. The gathering of 50 people is permitted by the government. There were 22-35 people. Nobody met with each other, no one shook hands." Thousands of farmers have been protesting at Delhi borders - Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur - against the new farm laws which have been place on hold by the Supreme Court.

22-04-2021 06:57:26

From harvesting to crop procurement, farmers in Punjab support those at protests: Report

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The process of harvesting and crop procurement at mandis, of those sitting at Delhi borders to agitate against center's farm laws, is being taken care of by fellow farmers in Punjab during the harvesting season, according to a report by The Indian Express.

"I am focusing on dharna while my fellow farmers are taking care of my harvesting and they will also take it to the mandi too. They are giving every update of my crop on daily basis for the past two weeks," said Sukhminder Singh, a farmer from village Jhumba, Bathinda Punjab sitting at Tikri, who relies on his friend for harvesting wheat on five acres of land following selling the harvest at government agencies at an assured Minimum Support Price (MSP).

While at Jhumba the leaders of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Ugrahan had arranged to harvest his crop earlier from Monday.

“We, a group of 10-12 farmers have arranged this harvesting. We will also do the labour work if required during harvesting," said BKU Ugrahan leader Jagsir.

In a similar case of Amrik Singh, a farmer from village Talwandi Napana district Ferozepur, who has been at the protest site for over two weeks, the harvest is being taken care of by Baljinder Singh, an activist of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (PKMSC).

While Gurdev Singh of village Fatehgrah Panjoor in Moga trusted PKMSC for harvesting of his crop. "When we had come to participate in this protest from Punjab our crops were just getting germinated and today they were harvested and sold in mandis and we are still fighting for our rights,” said Singh expressing his trust in the Committee.

Several activists of BKU village Dakaunda are also managing the crop harvesting of those some farmers sitting at the Delhi borders to protest.

22-04-2021 05:21:35

Hundreds get inoculated at Singhu protest site, Tikri lags behind: Report

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Following Samyukt Kisan Morcha's (SKM) appeal to get vaccinated against COVID-19, over 1,133 farmers were inoculated at farmers' protest at the Singhu border on Wednesday while none showed up at Tikri, according to a report by The Tribune.

After the SKM’s appeal, the Health Department of the state constituted 10 teams for the testing and vaccination of the protesting farmers. Earlier this week, Anij Vij, state Health Minister announced that RT-PCR testing and vaccination would be available at the protest sites in Haryana.

“We have also made an arrangement for the vaccination of farmers near Rasoi Dhaba in the Kundli area,” said Jaswant Singh Punia, a civil surgeon at Singhu.

The SKM medical officer, Balbir Singh, said that the group was following the COVID-19 protocol already.

However, at the Tikri border no protestor came forward to get vaccinated at the special booth set up by health authorities. Expressing distrust for the local administration, Pargat Singh, a BKU leader, said that "we do not have faith in the local administration and will call private doctors from Punjab, if needed".

Being consistent at Tikri, health authorities said that they would continue to convince the protesters to get vaccinated. “Some of the farmers refused to get vaccinated, saying that they had already got the jab in Punjab. Our efforts to motivate the farmers for vaccination will continue,” said Vinay Kumar, a Senior Medical Officer.

22-04-2021 04:34:55

Farmers march to Delhi borders amid Covid surge, willing to get vaccinated: Report

Farmers in large numbers from Punjab left to Tikri borders, where the farmers have been protesting against the center's farm laws, on Wednesday despite COVID-19 restrictions being in place, according to a report by The Indian Express.

The farmer leaders asserted the condition as a compulsion since the government isn't paying heed to the demands made by them. They urged all attending dharnas to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and refuted the claims of causing blockade to emergency services.

Leading a convoy from Bathinda-Dabwali road Punjab, Shingara Singh Mann, BKU (Ugrahan)’s President from Bathinda unit said, “I am 61 years old and I have got myself vaccinated. My second dose is due in the second week of May. No doubt corona is a disease, but not as deadly as being projected. However, our union’s entire state committee has got the first jab and we will be getting the second dose next month. Our president had tested positive for Covid last month and we do understand our responsibilities.”

Mann further added that farmers will get vaccinated “if the Haryana government will organize any vaccination camp in Bahadurgarh area, we will appeal to our members to get themselves vaccinated".

"Nearly 15,000 activists, including a large number of women, had left for Tikri border, where thousands of activists are already putting up. Besides, protests at 42 places across Punjab are continuing and will continue till farm laws are not replead," said Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, BKU (Ugrahan) general secretary in another report by The Times Of India.

An Instagram user 'Varinder Maddoke' shared some images of a convoy purportedly on its way to the Tikri border on Wednesday.

21-04-2021 09:37:05

Farmers refute 'propaganda' allegations of blocking oxygen carriers

Image Credit: Wikimedia

Farmers protesting at several Delhi borders Wednesday rejected as ''false propaganda'' allegations that they were not letting medical oxygen carriers into Delhi, thus putting the lives of several COVID-19 patients at risk, according to a report by news agency PTI.

BJP MP Parvesh Verma had Tuesday night alleged that transportation of medical use oxygen into Delhi was hampered due to the road blockade caused by protesters.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a representative body of several protesting farmer unions, said on Wednesday they have kept away open for emergency services since day one of their agitations. ''Not a single ambulance or essential goods service has been stopped. It is the government that has put strong and multilayer barricades (nails), not the farmers. Farmers are fighting for human rights and they support every human's rights,'' the morcha said.

''A false propaganda is being spread against farmers that they have blocked the roads and not letting oxygen into Delhi. This is completely false news. Yes, we are protesting but not against COVID-19 patients, corona warriors, or common citizens. We are against the government's discriminatory policy on agriculture,'' it added.

21-04-2021 09:20:47

SKM urges migrant laborers from big cities to join protests on Delhi borders: Report

Image Credit: ANI

The United Farmers Front, Smayukta Kisan Morcha, on Tuesday expressed concern on the migration of laborers from big cities and urged them to join the protest at various borders of Delhi, according to a report by The Times of India.

“As long as farmer protests are going on, the migrant workers can join the protest sites where farmers and social welfare organizations will make arrangements for shelter and food for all of them. With this, they can also participate in the fight and make it a common struggle against the government," the front added.

Manjit Singh Dhaner, a farmer leader, recalled the hardships faced by migrants from last year and said "we do not want that miserable situation to be repeated. It's better if you come to protest sites at Delhi border".

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni also called on the migrants and said that the protest can provide them with food for the next six months.

Expressing concern on the lockdown, the Kisan Mocrha said "this lockdown is harmful to the farmers at this particular time as the crops are being harvested when the agriculture implements are used and sometimes farmers may have to go for services and repairs of these instruments in an emergency. Lack of access to those workshops and equipment shops is also a loss to the crop and future of the farmer".

While farmer leader Rakesh Tikait shared a tweet purportedly showing food packaging for migrant laborers.

21-04-2021 06:49:16

Social media posts show grain damage in mandis due to rain

Social media posts showed grain damage in mandis due to rain on Tuesday.

A Twitter user, 'JasveerSingh Mukstar' shared a two minutes video showing sacks of grain soaked in rain due to the unavailability of tarpaulin to cover grain bags.

In another post on Instagram, 'Jasveer Singh' shared a 30 minutes video reportedly from Shri Muktsar Sahib Punjab showing grain drenching in rain. It also featured some farmer's reportedly complaining about authorities' negligence at the mandis. It also showed that the produced wheat in the mandis lying uncovered got damped.

While another Twitter user 'SK Iyer' tweeted about the damage that occurred due to rain in mandis. Iyer tweeted, "With rain in the past 24 hrs in the region impeding the harvest and procurement operations, farmers and arthiyas have complained about the poor arrangements at grain markets".

21-04-2021 05:05:26

Farmers Protest: Khaps determined to counter forcible removal, say 'can't be removed'

Image Credit: ANI

Days after Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij's denial of removing farmers protesting at various borders, several khap panchayats and farmer groups reacted to counter "any such move in the near future" on Tuesday at Khatkar toll plaza, according to a report by The Indian Express.

Leaders from 19 khaps from Jind Haryana declared their resistance if any such efforts were being made in the state in the panchayat at Khatkar toll plaza NH Delhi-Jind-Patiala.

“The khap leaders have resolved to oppose any efforts aimed to remove protesters from dharna sites. The talks over removal of farmers in the name of corona pandemic are brought in the public domain just to break our agitation. But we can’t be removed from dharna sites till we are alive," said Dhadan khap leader, Azad Palwa, after the panchayat.

Attended by a large gathering including women, several khap leaders including Nandgarh Barah khap, Ujana khap, Chahal khap, Kheda khap, Dhadan khap, Binanain khap, and Kandela khap were present at the panchayat.

The agitating farmers alleged that “the corona may be used as an excuse to end their agitation," as Haryana BKU president, Gurnam Singh Chaduni, also called on the farmers to reach Delhi in a series of tweets earlier.

20-04-2021 11:49:12

Vij announces tests, vaccinations for protesting farmers

Image Credit: ANI

Expressing concern for farmers, who have been protesting against the central agricultural laws at Delhi-Haryana borders, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij on Tuesday said they will be tested for COVID-19 and vaccinated against it, news agency ANI reported.

"It is my duty to worry about everyone in Haryana. Farmers are protesting here in large numbers. We have decided to vaccinate them and get them tested for COVID-19. Yesterday, we had a meeting with state-level corona monitoring committee, wherein we took this decision," Vij told ANI.

The Minister further informed that he had talked to Deputy Commissioner of Sonipat and Jhajjar, about the vaccination and testing of farmers protesting at the border. Earlier, Vij had said the state will work on the guidelines given by the Prime Minister, but he is concerned about how to protect the protesting farmers at the Haryana border from COVID-19.

20-04-2021 09:24:35

'High time Indian agriculture transforms into precision agriculture by using modern tools'

Image Credit: Pixabay

"It is high time Indian agriculture transforms into precision agriculture by using modern tools of biotechnology. The farmers’ agitation is also a reflection of deep anguish of the farming community about the growing chasm between agricultural income and income from other economic sectors. Farm income is a function of market prices and cost of production. While Indian market prices for major agricultural commodities are influenced by international prices, cost of production is a function of crop productivity," writes journalist Hem Pande in an opinion published by the Indian Express discussing the outdated practices involved in agricultural production in India that has caused an income disparity in the sector. It also discusses how the practice of genetically modified (GM) agriculture has proven effective in cotton and brinjal production in the country.

Pande, who is the former secretary to the government of India and former chairperson of the genetic engineering appraisal committee, emphasized the use of advanced technologies in agriculture and explained how they benefit the socio-economic and environmental aspects of agriculture. "The current productivity of most of our crops is much lower than global averages. It is in this context that apart from reforms in the market and supply chain, we need to make available the best technologies to our farmers," Pande wrote. Read the full article here.

20-04-2021 08:37:35

Will follow guidelines, won't end protest, says Rakesh Tikait

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Farmer union leader Rakesh Tikait said that the protest would not end in the "pretext" of COVID-19 in a short interview at the Ghazipur border with News24 on Tuesday.

According to Tikait, the protest will continue at the border claiming it to be their "village-home" as he said, "farmers will not leave their home, it is our colony and we will follow the guidelines here". In the four minutes long interview, he reiterated his demand to repeal the farm laws saying "we are aware of Corona, but we will not go anywhere from here". Watch the interview here.

20-04-2021 05:49:59

'Phir Dilli chalo': Unions invite farmers to protest sites amid concerns over future of movement

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Farmer union leaders on Monday raised “Phir Dilli Chalo” slogans announcing farmers return to borders amid reports of evicting the protestors due to the COVID-19 surge, according to a report by The Telegraph.

In a media brief at the Singhu border, Ashish Mittal, a member of All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha, said that several arrangements have been made to facilitate medical support at the sites where the farmers have been protesting since November. Mittal said that the call to return to the border has been made for April 24 on the 150th day of the protest.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the umbrella unit of farmers, announced a week-long vigilance beginning April 21.

“Because it is the harvesting season, many farmers had returned to villages. There are indications that the government is plotting to end the peasant movement on the pretext of the Covid pandemic,” said SKM in a statement on Monday, in a report by Hindustan Times.

A Twitter user 'Vishwa Mohan' also shared a tweet on the call 'Phir Dilli Chalo'.

20-04-2021 04:44:58

March to Parliament deferred but farmer unions vow to continue protests

Image Credit: Wikimedia

Farmer Unions, standing up in front against the three farm laws, decided to put off their plan to hold a march to Parliament amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, according to a report by Financial Express.

The union leaders, however, called upon farmers who been home on the harvesting season to join the protest sites by returning to different borders where the farmers have been protesting since November 2020.

“A decision (on whether to call off the protest) will be taken at the appropriate time, but it (protest) has not been canceled,” said Ashish Mittal, a leader of Farmers' Union Front, Samyukt Kisan Morcha, while briefing on the current decision of farmers.

The march was scheduled to be held in mid of May.

Mittal, further, reacted to the reports of using force against the protesters and said that any such action would be foiled.

With the plan to reinforce the protest, a week-long plan has been strategized at the protest sites that includes vaccination from April 24, and awareness to wear a mask and healthcare arrangements would be facilitated. On May 10, farmers across the country would be conferencing virtually to mark all-India convection at Singhu border, it added.

19-04-2021 11:28:48

Eminent personalities urge govt to begin dialogue with protesting farmers: Report

Image Credit: ANI

As the agitation against new farms is about to complete five months, 45 eminent personalities have come together in an appeal urging the Central Government to invite the protesting farmers for talks and have a more sympathetic approach, according to a report by The Tribune.

The personalities include historians, educationists, economists, food policy experts, former defense officers, businessmen, advocates, former bureaucrats and technocrats, it added. Involving the center, they also appealed to the farmers' umbrella unit, Samyukt Kisan Morcha, to respond to the offer of the talks positively.

In the appeal, they concerned the distress caused among the agrarian society as it read “in the understanding of the farmers, the implementation of three farm laws will not only accentuate their crisis but also pose a serious threat to their livelihood.... Globally, India is facing a serious setback to its cherished values of democratic and human rights.”

It further continued and highlighted the government's approach to the four-month-long agigation. "Already more than 300 people have died and several hundred suffered injuries and detentions in the ongoing struggle and there does not seem to be an amicable solution in sight,” said R S Ghuman, an economist and one of the personalities who made the appeal.

Among the other signatories Sompal Pal Shastry, Sudarshan Iyengar, TKA Nair, R Radhakrishna, Baldev Singh Dhillon, KS Aulakh, Neera Chandhoke, Ashok Arora, Rajinder Singh Cheema, MS Mallik, D Narasimha Reddy, Sucha Singh Gill, Biswajeet Chatterjee, Ajit Kumar Singh, Gurdial Singh Pandher, Devinder Sharma and Kamal N Kabra are some of the personalities making the appeal.

19-04-2021 08:35:41

'But there’s no policy for those in the “middle” and in danger of slipping to the bottom'

Image Credit: Pixabay

"The demand for making MSP a legal right is basically a demand for price parity that gives agricultural commodities sufficient purchasing power with respect to things bought by farmers. It is coming mainly from the 50-75 million “serious full-time farmers” who have surplus to sell and with real stakes in agriculture. They are the ones whom “agriculture policy” should target. Most government welfare schemes are aimed at poverty alleviation and uplifting those at the bottom of the pyramid. But there’s no policy for those in the “middle” and in danger of slipping to the bottom," wrote Harish Damodaran, a journalist, in an opinion published on The Indian Express discussing how many farmers aren't able to sustain their livelihood because input costs and living costs have surged but similar trends haven't been witnessed in prices of crops sold by farmers.

Damodaran, in the opinion, tries to highlight how "real" farmers are being affected by diminishing returns from their crops due to rising costs. "Whether it is crop, livestock or poultry, agriculture policy has to focus on “serious full-time farmers”, most of them neither rich nor poor. This rural middle class that was once very confident of its future in agriculture today risks going out of business". Read the full article here.

19-04-2021 07:35:23

Naresh Tikait slams reports 'maligning' farmers with allegations of spreading COVID-19

Image Credit: Facebook (NareshTikait)

Slamming reports suggesting farmer gatherings as a spreader of COVID infections, farmer leader and Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) National President Naresh Tikait on Saturday questioned the political gatherings in the poll-bound West Bengal and said that farmers are adhering to all COVID-19 guidelines at protest sites, news agency ANI reported.

Speaking to ANI, the farmer leader said, "Elections are underway in Bengal, there are gathering of lakhs of people almost every day. Infections do not spread then? We are following all the COVID norms and protocols and are trying our best to implement them with full alertness, but farmers should not be maligned in this manner for spreading infections."

A day after Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resume talks with farmers' unions assembled at Delhi borders for several months, farmer leader and Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) National President Naresh Tikait on Sunday welcomed his move and thanked Chautala for his initiative.

Further speaking Tikait said, "We are also braving the risks of this pandemic which has currently swept the entire country. We are not being stubborn. We have been urging our farmer brothers to fully cooperate with the Government but at least the Centre should hold talks."

19-04-2021 06:40:37

Farmers dwindling away from Ghazipur border protest site: Report

Image Credit: ANI

Farmers protesting against the center's farm laws are gradually decreasing from the makeshift tents at UP Gate, a protest site near Ghazipur, affected by monotony, the onset of the harvest season, and rising COVID-19 cases, according to a report by Times Of India.

The main stage for farmers' protest at UP Gate since November 2020, now, beholds not more than 600 farmers, the report added. It is the place from where farmers' union leader Rakesh Tikait appealed to keep the protest keep going after the Republic Day violence.

With a considerably low number of protestors at the site, farmer leader, Satnam Singh, acknowledged the decline while showing determination to keeping the protest alive said "do you sense the heat here? It’s true that the number of protesters has come down considerably. There are various reasons for it. But I am here to stay. I have been a dedicated worker of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU). I have stayed here since the beginning of the protest. I need to keep the agitation alive".

Many claimed that the absence of Tikait has had adversely affected the numbers of the protestors there. While several protestors flock to the protesting site to participate in programs, try to keep the protest alive, and leave after a few days, it added.

“Our protest had battled Covid last year and it had little effect. But this time, things are much worse. The virus has instilled a sense of fear among the protesters,” said Vikas Choudhary from Baraut, admitting the dwindling numbers at the UP Gate.

19-04-2021 06:16:56

Ludhiana: Farmers worry produce damage due to slow procurement and poor storage in mandis

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Farmers of Ludhiana Punjab are worried about their crops as fear of produce damage prevails amid delay in procurement, news agency ANI reported on Sunday.

Cultivators have been lining up at local grain markets to sell their wheat. However, they have been facing problems of slow procurement of the crop and poor storage.

"My crop is lying under the open sky at the mandi. There are no arrangements for preventing our produce from rain," said Sukhdev Singh, a farmer. "Government is lying that they have made adequate preparations for procuring our crops. If the rain comes, my crop will be washed away," he added.

On the other hand, the State government has assured adequate arrangements for crop sales and its procurement. Speaking to ANI, Punjab Food and Supply Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu said, "There is no shortage of 'bardana' in mandis. Around 25-28 lakh mega-tonne crops have already been procured. We are receiving 8-9 megatonne tonne crops daily."

19-04-2021 05:40:08

Image Credit: ANI

Amid a surge in COVID cases, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday appealed to farmers to withdraw their stir against the Centre’s farm laws on ''humanitarian grounds," news agency PTI reported.

His appeal came as the state government tightened restrictions on gathering at indoor and outdoor public functions to 50 and 200, respectively.

Khattar said while it is the constitutional right of every person to protest and the state does not have a problem with anyone doing so in a peaceful manner, the situation due to rising COVID-19 cases is a matter of concern.

“At this time, due to COVID-19, life may be put in danger, so this is not the right time to protest,” said Khattar while presiding over a meeting called to review the coronavirus situation, according to an official statement.

Farmers should withdraw their movement on “humanitarian grounds”, the CM said, adding that they can hold their protest once the situation improves. He also directed the deputy commissioners to contact the agitating farmers and try to persuade them.

16-04-2021 04:49:56

Farmers vow to continue protests even as COVID-19 cases hit record-highs: Report

Image Credit: ANI

Thousands of Indian farmers, protesting over three new agricultural laws that they say threaten their livelihoods, have vowed to continue with their around-the-clock sit-ins despite a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in the country, international news organization Reuters reported on Thursday.

Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh states in the north and the desert state of Rajasthan have camped on major national highways for more than four months, demanding a repeal of the laws even as coronavirus infections hit record levels.

The government would increasingly try to use the pandemic as a ruse to break the protest, but the farmers would not leave their protest sites, Rakesh Tikait, a prominent leader of one of the largest farmers' unions, told Reuters.

"We have religiously followed coronavirus guidelines, and we have drawn up plans to stay put until at least November and December, or even beyond that if the government doesn't listen to us by then," he said.

Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has requested protesting farmer union leaders to call off their agitation to stave off any major outbreak of coronavirus cases at three main protest sites near Delhi.

"If the government is keen to ensure that the agitation ends, it should concede our demands. That will be a sure-shot way to end the protest," said Dharmendra Malik, a farm leader from Uttar Pradesh.

15-04-2021 08:36:29

Tents gutted in fire at Singhu border, show social media posts

Several social media users shared images and videos on Thursday reportedly from Singhu border showing tents gutted by fire near the site where farmers are protesting.

Some people on social media speculated that these tents were deliberately burnt by unidentified miscreants. However, Devdiscourse could not independently verify these claims.

An Instagram account named 'sikhexpo.com' shared a video showing destroyed tents.

A Twitter user named 'Harteerath Singh' shared images from the incident near Rasoi Dhaba at the Singhu border.

Another Twitter user 'Sandeep Singh' also shared a video from the incident.

15-04-2021 07:42:01

Farmers say ministers' invitations for talks are 'empty promises': Report

Image Credit: ANI

Several protesting farmers at the Singhu border said on Wednesday that the government has not invited farmers to talk on the unattended demands and is making "empty promises" and "false assurances", according to a report by The Hindu.

Farmers, who have been agitating centers' farm laws for more than four months, said the government has failed to convince farmers against the benefits of these new laws despite 11 meetings with Union Ministers.

"We had a very clear proposal that all the three laws need to be repealed completely. The government conducted 11 meetings, yet they could not explain or impress upon us as to why the laws will be beneficial to us and why we should accept the laws. Statements that they are open for a dialogue is nothing but empty promises," said Gurmeet Singh, a farmer from Moga Punjab’s in the report.

While Amardeep Singh, a farmer from Patiala Punjab, said that the farmers have been sitting on the borders despite facing difficulties and the government shouldn't overlook them. "The government needs to approach us for the next round of talks. How can we suddenly land up on our own?” Singh added.

"When the union leaders went for a discussion, our stand was clear and we wanted a complete repeal of the laws. Our demands have not changed over the past few months. First, the government thought that they could fracture the movement through the January 26 incident but that did not happen. People are still standing their ground over here. By talking of a discussion but not really inviting the leaders for talks, they are only giving false assurances," said Maninder Singh, another farmer from Patiala.

15-04-2021 07:10:32

Farmers struggle to sell crops in Ludhiana mandis: Report

Farmers struggled to sell their produce at Ludhiana mandis, news agency ANI tweeted on Thursday. It quoted a farmer Manjeet Singh complaining that farmers have been waiting at mandis from Tuesday and even had to spend the night in mandi.

15-04-2021 07:00:57

Tikait urges to save country from 'company raj' on Ambedkar birth anniversary

Image Credit: ANI

Farmers protesting against the Centre's farm laws at the Delhi's Ghazipur border paid tributes to B R Ambedkar on his 130th birth anniversary on Wednesday with BKU leader Rakesh Tikait urging people to save the country from the "company raj", news agency PTI reported.

Speaking on the occasion, Tikait alleged that instead of caring for the Indian constitution, the Union government is worried about companies.

The government is not headed by the BJP, it is being run by companies, he said in a statement issued by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU). He urged people to save the country from the "company raj", giving the slogan of "save constitution, save farmers". He alleged that several companies are eyeing the agricultural land under the garb of contract farming.

The country has been sold by the government to these companies, he alleged. On the occasion, Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Ravan said the public is aware of the Union government's policy of divide and rule. All castes and realigns are united and would reply to the government for its dictatorship and exploitation, he said. Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at three border points of Delhi -- Singhu, Tikri (along Haryana), and Ghazipur -- demanding a repeal of the three farm laws enacted by the Centre in September last year.

14-04-2021 12:21:40

Amritsar: Protest against farm laws on 102nd anniversary of Jallianwala Bagh massacre

Image Credit: ANI

Farmers staged a protest against the three central agriculture laws at Jandiala Guru Dana Mandi in Amritsar on the occasion of 102nd anniversary of Jallianwala Bagh massacre on Tuesday, news agency ANI reported.

They also observed a one-minute silence to pay tribute to those who died in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Women protestors raised anti-government slogans, demanding a repeal of the agricultural laws.

Speaking to ANI, Sarvam Pander, a member of Kisan Majdoor Sangh said, "We paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. We appeal to everyone including Hindu, Sikh, Muslim or Christians to unite against the central farm laws." "There are lakhs of farmers sitting at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders. They will continue the agitation until these "black laws" are not repealed. On April 20, thousands of tractors from Gurdaspur will march towards Delhi," he added.

Farmers have been agitating against the three newly enacted farm laws -- Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 at different borders in the national capital.

14-04-2021 12:08:27

Farmer unions in Punjab to march towards Delhi on April 21

Image Credit: ANI

Farmer union leaders on Tuesday announced that the ongoing farmers' protest against centers' farm laws has not been ceased as farmers, women protestors and activists will start a massive march towards Delhi on April 21, according to a report by The Indian Express.

These remarks were made during 'kisan conference’ on the occasion of Baisakhi at Talwandi Sabo Punjab.

The announcement was made by leaders of BKU Ekta Ugrahan at the conference dedicated to the martyrs in Jallianwala Bagh and to mark ‘Khalsa Sajna Diwas'.

Addressing the large gathering, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, state president of BKU Ekta Ugrahan said that the march on April 21 would be led by Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan, union state general secretary, and Jhanda Singh Jehtuke, the state treasurer.

14-04-2021 08:01:06

Arhtiyas, farmers blame DBT system for slow procurement at grain mandi: Report

Several farmers on Tuesday stood at the Khanna grain market with no clarity on procurement of their produce as the arhtiyas were busy attending "class" on the new software for the DBT scheme, according to a report by The Indian Express.

At the biggest grain market in the region, Gurdev Singh Khatkar, a 71-years old farmer waited with his 400 quintals of wheat, clueless about when his crop will be auctioned while Munim Gurmit Singh, an accountant for the past 25 years, was busy learning registration for government's proposed Anaaj Kharid portal for the DBT scheme.

Meanwhile, countless farmers waited in confusion when several arhtiyas and munims struggled to update their details on the portal. Arhtiyas and farmers blamed the new DBT scheme for the problems and the arhtiyas said that they are planning to hire computer operators to help reduce the chaos.

According to the report, the new DBT system requires details including farmers' name, address, mobile number, bank account number, a canceled cheque, and approximate weight of the crop for procurement followed by the variety of wheat, name of the purchasing agency, the pass number for entry inside the mandi that is required to be added to the portal for the generation of an OTP and refilling it on the portal to finish the registration process.

"Apart from this, the portal needs modification as there is no option to enter the quantity in kgs as the crop is to be mentioned in the quintals. But it is filled in gunny bags of 50 kg each and if a farmer’s crop is 100 quintal and 45 kg then arhtiyas are asking the farmer to take the crop back,” said farmer Hardeep Singh.

14-04-2021 07:22:26

'What they need is income while they transition to less water-intensive crops'

Image Credit: Flickr

"Left to its own, this water crisis will only get worse as rainfall becomes more and more uncertain due to climate change. So, a transition away from the rice-wheat cycle in Punjab and Haryana is necessary. Farmers know that too. What they need is income while they transition to less water-intensive crops. The new laws are silent on this. They appear to come with the assumption that a “free market” will solve all problems. Government subsidies to the farm sector are a global reality," writes Kabir Agarwal, an Independent journalist, in an opinion published in The Washington Post discussing the anticipated water crisis in Punjab and Haryana due to the cropping pattern of these two states and how it has been ignored by center in the proposed farm laws.

Kabir further highlighted some possible measures but keeping "consultation" with stakeholder a key factor, he said "in the current environment of trust deficit between the government and farmers, any policy change to enable the transition will be a hard political sell. That’s where consultation is key". Read the full article here.

14-04-2021 05:43:52

Farmers in Haryana compelled to unload produce on roads: Report

Image Credit: ANI

Farmers in Haryana are forced to unload wheat produce on roads due to excessive supply in mandis, according to a report by Hindustan Times. Following a "glut-like situation", the agitated farmers dropped their produce on roads and blocked the Karnal-Yamunanagar route for more than five hours, according to the report.

The situation, as reported, has been caused due to "tardy" lifting at the peak time of harvesting, causing a lack of space to unload produce in Karnal, Kaithal, and Kurukshetra mandis.

Earlier, observing the situation, the Haryana government had ordered not to generate gate passes for 24 hours in 18 mandis on Monday but the farmers continued to reach the mandis with their produce due to the unavailability of godowns.

The protesting farmers further demanded the generation of gate passes and immediate lifting of the procured wheat whereas the arhtiyas blamed the alleged shortage of gunny bags and the new procurement system for the mismanagement in the mandis.

As per officials, out of 3.55 lakh MT of procured wheat only 22 percent is lifted in Karnal mandi, in Kurukshetra out of 1.91 lakh MT procured wheat only 33,189 MT wheat has been lifted, and in Kaithal, only 50,000 MT wheat has been lifted out of 1.90 lakh MT procured wheat.

14-04-2021 04:47:26

'Kisan-Bahujan Ekta Diwas': Farmers call for unity on Ambedkar Jayanti, show tweets

On the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti, farmers protesting against centers' farm laws have called for unity among farmers, several social media posts showed on Wednesday.

A Twitter account 'Kisan Ekta Morcha' shared a post calling for unity.

In another tweet, it dedicated the "platform" to 'Bahujan society' for the day.

The farmers also called for the celebration of the ''Sanvidhan Bachao Divas'' (Save the Constitution Day) on April 14 to mark the birth anniversary of Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

Another Twitter user named, 'ANU' shared a tweet embarking 'Sanvidhan Bachao Divas' and called for people from all communities to come together.

13-04-2021 09:33:40

Punjab to keep Arthiyas involved in farmer payment process with software amendment

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has assured Arthiyas that the State Food Department will amend the procurement software to ensure Arthiyas continue to be involved even when payments are made directly to farmers.

Under the proposed amendments, the amount will still be made directly to the farmers, but after the Arhtiyas have clicked a "pay now" button in the software. The button has to be clicked within 48 hours, otherwise, the amount will be credited directly to the accounts of farmers in 72 hours.

Commenting on the development, Vijay Kalra, the president of the Federation of Arhtiya Association of Punjab, said that Arthiyas will know the status of payment to farmers with the help of this and it could help them get back loans extended to farmers. “If Arhtiyas will not get such a message then the farmer can use that money somewhere else and may not repay the loans,” he said to The Indian Express.

13-04-2021 08:35:06

Private buyers procure mustard produce at prices higher than MSP in Haryana: Report

Image Credit: Flickr

The government of Haryana has not procured a single quintal of mustard that reached the mandis to date as the whole produce has been bought by private buyers at prices higher than minimum support price (MSP), according to a report published by The Indian Express on Monday. The report further added that domestic mustard growers are being benefited due to the increasing global prices of edible oil imports.

The Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry of the state said that the private buyers bought the oilseed at a higher price of up to Rs 5,800 per quintal in Rewari and above Rs 5,500 per quintal in other mandis, while the MSP of mustard is Rs 4,650.

Citing mustard procurement by private players JP Dalal, the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister said, "the government has not purchased even a single quintal of mustard in Haryana mandis till date. We are happy with this situation when the private players buy produce from farmers above the prices of MSP".

“Mustard is used in soaps, cosmetics, personal care products and cattle feed too. We aim to increase the area under the crop also but traditionally it is restricted to southern Haryana and Hisar," said Hardeep Singh, the Director General of Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department.

13-04-2021 07:47:19

Farmers celebrate 'Vaisakhi' at protest sites, show social media posts

Several social media posts on Tuesday showed farmers' celebrating on the occasion of Vaisakhi amid the ongoing protest against centers' farm laws.

A Twitter account named 'Trator2Trolley' shared a tweet calling on people to attend sports and cultural events organized to celebrate 'Vaisakhi' at the Tikri border.

In another tweet, it announced a 'giddha' event, to be held at the Tikri border stage.

An Instagram user named 'DrBai Swaiman Singh Pakhoke' shared a video purportedly from the Tikri border featuring volunteers preparing the ground for tournaments to celebrate Vaisakhi.

13-04-2021 07:34:15

Farmers will follow COVID-19 guidelines, won't end protest due to lockdown: Tikait

Image Credit: ANI

Rakesh Tikait, the spokesperson for the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), said in an interview with News24 on Sunday that the farmers' protesting against three farm laws will not end the ongoing protest due to lockdown, foreseeing the COVID-19 scare.

"Farmers will not go back home till these laws are repealed. They talk of coronavirus but we have told the government that they should not treat this stir like Shaheen Bagh. This agitation will not end. We will follow the coronavirus guidelines and this agitation will continue till our demands are met," Tikait said.

Watch the video here.

Earlier on Thursday, the farmer leader had shared the same on Twitter.

13-04-2021 04:57:24

Arhtiyas demand 'blank cheque' from farmers in Punjab before auctioning crop: Report

Image Credit: ANI

Farmers in Punjab have alleged that arhtiyas have come up with an unlikely demand to provide them with a "signed blank cheque" against payments of loans taken in past cropping seasons, threatening they will not auction crops of farmers who don't do so, according to a report by The Indian Express.

“I assured him that I will pay the entire amount due, but he is not ready to take my word and asked me to give a blank cheque signed by me or my crop will not be auctioned by him in the mandi. But I have not yet to decide on it,” a farmer from Baluana village in Bathinda said in the report.

He alleged that despite paying regular installments on his loan for the past four cropping seasons, the arhtiyas demanded a blank cheque from him, which forced him to delay harvesting his crop as he could not decide whether to furnish the cheque or not.

Farmers in different areas like Khanna, Faridkot, Jalandhar, Sangrur, and Mansa have also reported that similar demands have been made by their arhtiyas.

Arthiyas are reportedly concerned that the farmers would not pay back their dues after getting direct payments for their crops from the government under new rules.

“We have stopped them from doing so and asked them to wait till the time our senior leaders take a decision on the matter,” Jagsir Singh, a farmer leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) from Bathinda, said while acknowledging arhtiyas concern.

12-04-2021 08:07:33

Farmers protest at Golden Gate bridge: Social media posts show march in San Francisco

Several social media posts on Saturday showed pictures and videos allegedly from San Francisco, California USA, where hundreds of farmers rallied in support of Indian protesting farmers and demonstrated at the Golden Gate Bridge.

Sharing images from the demonstration, an Instagram account named 'Sikhexpo' posted images reportedly from the rally featuring large gatherings holding posters, flags, and slogans in support of the protest.

In another post, a video, protesters were seen carrying placards to show support to the protests in India while marching on the Golden Gate bridge.

Dozens of protesters seemed to have gathered for the march, according to social media posts.

12-04-2021 07:27:08

Govt is ready for talks, urge them to call off protests, says Tomar to farmers

Image Credit: ANI

Amid a spike in COVID-19 cases, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar appealed to the farmers protesting at Delhi borders to call off their long-running agitation, saying the government is ready for a discussion whenever they come with a concrete proposal, news agency PTI reported on Saturday.

Tomar expressed concerns about the farmers' health and wellbeing as India witnessed a record surge of over 1.45 lakh coronavirus cases on Saturday. ''Now in the second wave of pandemic, the entire nation, and the world is following COVID-19 protocols. Even protesting farmers should follow the protocols. Their life is important for us,'' Tomar said.

"In the current COVID-19 situation, I urge them (agitating farmers) to call off their protest. The government is ready for a discussion whenever they come with a proposal,'' he told reporters.

Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij has also written to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, urging him to resume talks with farmers protesting against the Centre’s farm laws as the coronavirus scare looms large, PTI wrote in another report on Sunday.

12-04-2021 06:29:47

'Act on contract farming will perhaps not be able to deliver significant results'

Image Credit: ANI

"The Act on contract farming will perhaps not be able to deliver significant results as are being promised. For creating a sustainable pathway to contract farming on a scale required for replacing paddy and wheat by more profitable crop options, the government-supported mechanism like the one for cotton, if not as in the case of paddy and wheat, and/or cooperatives as for milk and sugarcane are a must. This has to be aided by large-scale involvement of farmers’ aggregators like farmer producer organizations or companies," writes Baldev Singh Dhillon and Kamal Vatta in an article published by The Tribune.

Both the authors, who are respectively the Vice-Chancellor and Head, Dept of Economics and Sociology, PAU Ludhiana, Punjab, say that contracts involving governments and their representatives are working effectively while arguing that "claims about effective contract farming involving the private sector are not tenable" giving the example of contract farming involving PepsiCo India in Punjab in the 1990s. Read the full here.

12-04-2021 05:34:19

Image Credit: Wikimedia

The Centre on Friday directed fertilizer companies not to increase the maximum retail price (MRP) of non-urea fertilizers such as DAP and asked them to sell at old rates, news agency PTI reported.

A direction in this regard was issued to fertilizer companies in a high-level meeting on Thursday in the wake of an increase in domestic retail prices of non-urea soil nutrients in line with the global market.

Retail prices of non-urea fertilizers such as di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Potash (MoP), and NPK are decontrolled and are determined by manufacturers, while the Centre gives them fixed subsidies each year.

''...The Government of India had called a high-level meeting and directed fertilizer companies not to increase the price of DAP, MoP, and NPK, and fertilizer companies agreed with it,'' Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya told PTI.

The fertilizer companies have been asked to sell the complex fertilizers at old rates. ''Farmers will continue to get DAP, MoP, and NPK nutrients at old rates,'' he said.

09-04-2021 07:07:34

Protesting farmers to block KMP Expressway on April 24: Report

Image Credit: Wikimedia

Farmers protesting against centers' farm laws have planned to block entry-exits points on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway on April 10 for 24 hours, according to a report by The Times of India.

Earlier on Thursday, the protesting farmers had decided to conduct the expressway blockade, which would start early from 11 am on April 10 where farmers for Nuh, Haryana have planned to block the Rewasan toll plaza.

The blockade, as reported, would affect traffic on the expressway which is a high-speed corridor connecting northern and southern districts of Haryana with over 20,000-odd daily commercial vehicles.

Farmers from their respective places would reach the closest expressway stretch to embark on the blockade, said Mahender Singh Chauhan, a farmer leader in Palwal.

09-04-2021 06:05:18

Farmers oppose fertilizer price hike, demand withdrawal: Report

Image Credit: ANI

Farmers' organization protesting against centers' farm laws has demanded an immediate withdrawal of the recent price hike in fertilizers, announced by the largest fertilizer seller Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) on Thursday, according to a report by Business Line.

Reiterating its demand to the Central government, farmers' umbrella unit Samyukt Kisan Morcha said they demand fair prices for produced crops while highlighting rising input costs. “Farmers are suffering from a deep crisis at this time. Farmers are not getting the support price for their crops. Parallelly, the input cost of farming is increasing so much that it exceeds the prices of the crop,” SKM senior leader Darshan Pal said.

Pal, according to the report, cited the notification issued by IFFCO and said that the prices of Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) has been hiked to Rs 1,900 from Rs 1,200 and "similarly, the prices of other products have also increased. This is a direct attack on farmers. We strongly condemn and oppose this move of the government". The report added that he has threatened to launch a movement demanding withdrawal of the increase in fertilizer price.

09-04-2021 05:45:49

'No reform can succeed that does not strengthen the weak and the excluded'

Image Credit: ANI

"The United Nations estimates that in the year 2050, around 800 million people will continue to live in rural India. Given this unique Indian demographic transition, agriculture will need to be greatly strengthened, especially bearing in mind the complete nightmare our urban metropolises are, for current and future migrants. In a context characterised by grave and growing inequalities, as also a historically skewed balance of power, no reform can succeed that does not strengthen the weak and the excluded. Agriculture can only be reformed by radically enhanced state capacities and qualitatively better regulatory oversight, rather than by opening up spaces for more predatory action by those already entrenched in positions of overwhelming power in the economy," writes Mihir Shah, a Distinguished Professor at Shiv Nadar University, in an opinion piece published by The Hindu.

In the article, Shah tries to explain the ground realities of the Indian agricultural sector and the distress faced by farmers in the country. He explains how farmers often get stuck in debt traps by traders who "double up as moneylenders". He proposes that "the Indian state must continue to intervene in multiple markets, and make critical investments, to ensure the welfare of both farmers and consumers." Read the full article here.

09-04-2021 05:37:08

'Important to engage all actors for designing and adopting sustainable solutions'

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“Given the variety of stressors facing AVCs (agriculture value-chain), it is important to engage all actors (farmers, traders, retailers, and so on) for designing and adopting sustainable solutions," writes Sudeshna Maya Sen, a member of Dr Reddy’s Foundation (DRF), in an opinion published by the Times of India. Sen, who leads the climate action work at DRF, highlights that farming, alone, cannot be seen as a single entity but a system that involves multiple actors, variables, and institutions.

She further uses examples of two Indian states, Sikkim and Telangana, where some policies "failed to become popular because the government assumed certain farmers’ needs, and failed to understand and integrate their complete perspective in designing what was a technically well-established system". Focusing on creating multi-stakeholder platforms that would provide a space to multiple actors of different geographical backgrounds, she wrote "enhanced communication through multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) can promote mutual understanding between actors, create a shared vision, help support innovations, and also prevent possible bottlenecks and conflicts that can threaten the smooth functioning of the AVC. Such platforms help actors voice their concerns which can make value-chain collaborations more inclusive and productive". Read the full article here.

09-04-2021 05:32:24

'A sustainable solution to farm distress requires a unified movement'

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"India’s fragmented farmer politics has not only weakened the agrarian movement, it has also made space for its manipulation by governments to their advantage. Governments have gotten away by providing only piecemeal solutions to pressing farmer problems, whether these relate to indebtedness driving tillers to take their own lives or inefficiencies of the market structure. A short-sighted approach to dealing with agrarian issues based on regional self-interests has also meant that the bargaining power of farmer unions has weakened. While the current agitation may eventually be successful, a sustainable solution to farm distress requires a unified movement based on universal principles that includes diverse interest groups. Only that can ensure better returns on farming and strong support from the government," writes Himanshu, an associate professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University and visiting fellow at the Centre de Sciences Humaines, New Delhi, in an opinion piece published by the Mint.

In the article, he highlights how "fragmentation in the voicing of demands of various groups" has hurt farmers over the years by giving examples of varying agrarian distress faced by farmers from different states. Read the full article here.

09-04-2021 04:34:03

IFFCO hikes prices of popular complex fertilizers: Report

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The country’s largest fertilizer seller Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) has reportedly hiked the prices of fertilizers, according to a report by The Indian Express.

The report said that the price of a 50-kg bag of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) has been hiked to Rs 1,900 from the existing rate of Rs 1,200/bag, a more than 58 percent increase. Maximum retail prices of other popular complex fertilizers with different NPKS (nitrogen, phosphorus, potash, and sulphur) proportions have also reportedly been increased. These include 10:26:26 (from Rs 1,175 to Rs 1,775/bag), 12:32:16 (from Rs 1,185 to 1,800/bag) and 20:20:0:13 (from Rs 925 to 1,350/bag). The Indian Express reported that new prices are effective from April 1.

However, IFFCO said on Thursday it will continue to sell the old stock of about 11.26 lakh tonnes of non-urea fertilizers at old retail rates and the fresh stock with new price tag is not for sale to farmers, news agency PTI reported. It quoted IFFCO CEO and Managing Director U S Awasthi as saying that IFFCO will ensure that there is enough material with old rates. ''I have instructed our marketing team to sell only previously packed material with old rates to farmers. We always take decisions on farmer's first approach,'' he added.

07-04-2021 05:49:50

Farmers get fans to brace summer heat at Tikri border: Social media post

Farmers protesting at the Tikri border against centers' farm laws reportedly received fans from an NGO Hemkunt Foundation with the onset of summer, social media posts showed.

A Twitter account of the foundation shared an update stating it distributed fans across the 5km stretch at the Tikri border.

In another social media post on Instagram, it shared images reportedly from the Tikri border featuring men holding fans from the protest site.

07-04-2021 04:33:52

Farmers laid foundation for 'martyr memorial' at Ghazipur border

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The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) has laid the foundation for a 'martyr memorial' at the agitation site on the Ghazipur-Ghaziabad (UP Gate) border to pay tributes to the farmers who died during the course of the protest against the Centre's three agri laws, news agency PTI reported.

The BKU claimed that soil for the memorial was brought by social workers from the villages of ''320 farmers who died during the protest against the farm laws''.

Soil collected from the martyrs of the freedom movement has also been brought to the protest site, where the foundation for the memorial was laid by BKU leader Rakesh Tikait and social activist Medha Patkar on Tuesday. The memorial would later be constructed permanently, BKU media in-charge Dharmendra Malik told PTI.

Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey, however, said the foundation for the 'martyr memorial' is ''just symbolic and not permanent''.

06-04-2021 07:56:20

Farmers from Gujarat to join ongoing agitation at Ghazipur border

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Farmers from Gujarat will join the ongoing agitation against centers' farm laws at the Ghazipur border on Tuesday, according to a report by The Indian Express. Farmers entering the protest site at the Ghazipur border would bring soil from 800 villages across 33 districts of Gujarat to embark on 'soil satyagraha'.

“The farmers shall be accompanied by BKU spokesperson and farmer leader from west UP Rakesh Tikait, Yudhveer Singh and others at UP Gate from 9-11am. This is being done as a sign of protest," The Indian Express quoted a farmer from the Bharatiya Kisan Union in its report.

BKU leader, Tikait, was on a two-day tour of Gujarat since Sunday to campaign against the Centre's three farm laws.

06-04-2021 07:03:02

'Mitti Satyagargh': Farmers pay homage to 'shaheed farmers', show social media posts

Farmers at different borders protesting against farm laws paid tribute to the 'shaheed farmers' who died during the four months long agitation against centers' farm laws, reportedly by bringing mitti (soil) from different states to the borders, social media posts showed.

An Instagram account named 'BKU EKTA UGRAHAN' shared images reportedly from one of the borders' showing images of 'shaheed (martyrs)'.

In another post, it shared images of "mitti" (soil) from different places with names of those who died in the agitation.

Another user named 'Mohd Abuzar Choudhary' shared an image reportedly from the Tikri border where people seemed to join the 'Mitti Satyagraha'.

While another Instagram user named 'Nav Rahi' also shared images reportedly from the Tikri border featuring women carrying earthen pots to embark on the moment.

While a Twitter user named 'AVIR' shared an image showing pots reportedly being planted at the Shahjanhanpur border.

06-04-2021 05:02:03

Farmers mark 'FCI Bachao Diwas'; gherao FCI offices, godowns: SKM

Farmers across the country marked the "FCI Bachao Diwas'' by gheraoing offices and godowns of the Food Corporation of India in support of remunerative minimum support price for crops and other demands, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha said on Monday, news agency PTI reported.

Memoranda addressed to Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs Piyush Goyal were also submitted, it said.

A Twitter account named 'BKU EKTA UGRAHAN' shared images purportedly blocking FCI offices on Monday.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of over 40 farmer unions, said protests were held in different parts of the country.

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) office in Noida was gheraoed by the protesting farmers, whereas in states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan, the protesters held demonstrations outside FCI godowns, it said.

05-04-2021 12:55:24

Time has come to gherao Gandhinagar and block roads: Tikait

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Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Monday threatened to start a farmers' tractor agitation in Gujarat after Delhi and said the time has come to gherao the state capital Gandhinagar and also break barricades if needed, news agency PTI reported.

Talking to reporters outside the Sabarmati Ashram, Tikait claimed farmers in Gujarat were unhappy and suffering.

''Farmers will conduct agitation in Gujarat using their tractors. Time has come to gherao Gandhinagar and block roads. If needed, we will have to break barricades too,'' Tikait said.

The BKU leader is on a two-day tour of Gujarat since Sunday to campaign against the Centre's three farm laws.

On the second day of his visit, Tikait, accompanied by former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela, paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Sabarmati Ashram.

''Farmers are suffering because there is no agitation here. There is no backing from courts also. Farmers are compelled to say they are happy and making a profit. Please give us that technology which is helping Gujarat's farmers to reap benefits,'' he added.

05-04-2021 09:57:26

Karti Dharti: Newsletter to give 'free and equal' space to women's voices from farmers' protest

“We believed that the role and effort of women participating in the agitation, directly and indirectly, needed a comprehensive platform, and what better than the written word,” Parul, a journalist, quotes Sangeet Toor, the founder and editor of a fortnightly newsletter Karti Dharti dedicated to diverse voices of the current farmers' movement, in a feature published in The Indian Express.

Available in Punjabi, Shahmukhi and English, the four-page newsletter is a cohesive effort of women from the ongoing farmers' protest against centers' farm laws.

“There are so many issues that need to be talked about, with women farmers and woman laborers fearlessly braving so many odds and leading several morchas. Karti Dharti will be a voice for issues that are not only limited to the farm laws but consume the common people and will hopefully initiate new dialogues," Parul quotes Toor expressing her inspiration behind the print edition of the weekly newsletter.

05-04-2021 07:18:34

Reports of farmers leaving agitation sites are wrong, says Tikait

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Refuting claims that farmers have left protest sites along the Delhi border, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Sunday said they had gone to the fields to work and would return when the Central government was ''free from West Bengal elections,'' news agency PTI reported.

Tikait, who reached Gujarat to drum up support for the stir, began his two-day visit by praying at the Ambaji Temple in Banaskantha district and then addressing groups in Ambaji and Palanpur.

Tikait told the gathering that the three laws were enacted to help businessmen and not farmers, and the latter had decided to not move from the protest sites till victory, that is acceptance of all their demands, was achieved.

''All reports that farmers have left the agitation sites are wrong. Farmers come and go. At present, they have gone to work in their fields. We have told them to come back once the government is free from (West) Bengal elections. The entire government is camping in Bengal. Once the government returns, we will start negotiations with it,'' Tikait claimed.

05-04-2021 06:05:08

'Slowly and steady, all safeguards for farmers have been removed'

"Slowly and steady, all safeguards for farmers have been removed, there is even relaxation of land ceiling limits in the state (Karnataka)," Indra Shekar Singh quotes K.H. Patil, an advocate practicing in the Dharwad court Karnataka, in a report featuring farmers from the south Indian state Karnataka, published in The Wire. Patil is referring to the Land Reform Bill, 2020, passed by Karnataka, which he says is a "death-knell for farmers, as it allows for corporatisation and non-agricultural people to buy agricultural land."

Singh, the former director of the National Seed Association of India, who writes on agriculture and the environment, has tried to bring the crisis to light while trying to explain why the farmers’ revolution in Delhi’s borders has stirred "things" in Karnataka. "It’s not only the farmers, but Dalit groups, trade unions, socialism-leaning groups and women have come together, under this banner, to demand that a united front be created,” he quotes Pache Nanjundaswamy, one of the organizers of a kisan panchayat.

Singh also emphasizes why the farmers of Karnataka resonate with the moment as he said, "India’s farmers are grappling with a toxic combination of meagre remuneration, bad policy and corporate markets. Adding ecological and political atrophy to the mix only worsens things". Read the full article here.

05-04-2021 05:22:44

Bamboo huts on Ghazipur border as farmers prepare for summers

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Protesting farmers have built bamboo huts on the theme of the tricolor to protect themselves from the heat at the Ghazipur border. "We have built these huts in order to get respite from the scorching sun. You can see there are big boulders around which absorb heat quickly. So on the order of Rakesh Tikaitji, we are building these shelters," a farmer said.

"We're painting these eco-friendly huts like the tricolor to keep our morale high," he added.

05-04-2021 05:19:10

Farmer bodies protest at FCI offices demanding remunerative MSP

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and other farmer bodies held protests at FCI offices on Sunday and raised various demands, including a remunerative minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

The protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to the Union consumer affairs minister regarding strengthening the procurement system of the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

The demands included the withdrawal of a decision to submit ''jamabandhi'' for the procurement of wheat, rolling back direct payments to farmers in their bank accounts, and a remunerative MSP for crops.

01-04-2021 12:07:14

Movement to run for eight more months: Rakesh Tikait

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The national spokesperson for farmers' union Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), Rakesh Tikait, said that the ongoing farmers' agitation against new farm laws will run "eight more months," news agency ANI tweeted on Thursday.

Thousands of farmers have been protesting on the Delhi-Haryana-Punjab borders since November 2020. Observing a decline in the number of protestors at these borders Tikait said "farmers will harvest their wheat crop by May 10, after which the movement will pick up".

01-04-2021 10:35:10

Farmers to organize 'KPL' at Singhu border: Tweets

To intensify the four months long farmers protest against centers' farm laws at the Singhu border, American Sikh Sangat, the various Sikh organizations from the United States, who extended their support to farmers protest earlier in February is reportedly set to organize "Kisaan Premier League (KPL)" social media posts showed on Thursday.

Posting on Twitter, an account named 'Kisan Ekta Morcha' shared the updates about the National Shooting Ball Championship, KPL, which is going to be organized on April 2 and 3.

Another Twitter user named 'Amanpreet Wariah' called on supporters to join the "Volleyball (Shooting)" KPL on Friday and Saturday at the Singhu border.

One more Twitter account named 'Tractor2twitr' also shared a post inviting farmers supporters for the 'first ever' National Shooting Ball Championship at Singhu border.

01-04-2021 09:47:46

Tikait calls on farmer to lay siege to Suvarna Vidhana Soudha: Report

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Rakesh Tikait, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader, called on farmers from Belagavi, Karnataka, to lay siege to the legislature building of the State of Karnataka in Belagavi (Suvarna Vidhana Soudha) to register and extend support to the ongoing farmers protest against new farm laws on Wednesday, according to a report by The Hindu.

“We are fighting on the Delhi border using tractors as our arms and ammunition. Farmers from this region need not go to Bengaluru to fight, they can lay a siege to Suvarna Vidhana Soudha. They should not seek police permission for the purpose," Tikait said addressing a raita mahapanchayat in Belagavi.

“One village, one tractor, 15- and 10- day formula should be followed. Stage agitation one after the other. There is nothing to fear. If police erect barricades, you park your tractors on road,” Tikait added.

01-04-2021 08:46:45

Farmers protest at Hisar airport road, show social media posts

Protesting farmers in Haryana's Hisar protested at the road leading to the airport ahead of State Deputy Dushyant Chautala's visit, social media posts showed on Thursday.

A Twitter user 'Sandeep Singh' shared a video allegedly from Hisar showing a large gathering with flags supporting farmers' protest trying to block the route.

In another tweet, Singh also shared images from the location.

While another Twitter user named 'Praveen' also shared an image showing protesters trying to block the road.

In a similar post on Twitter, an account named 'Vishal Lochab Farmer' shared a video from the spot.

31-03-2021 12:56:12

Farmers Protest: SKM announces march to Parliament in May

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Announcing their plans for the upcoming two months, farmers, who have been protesting against the new farm laws at the Delhi borders, said they will march to the Parliament on foot in May, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) said on Wednesday, news agency PTI reported.

Yesterday in a meeting SKM decided that the farmers will be undertaking a march to the Parliament, however, the date for the march is yet to be decided.

''It will be joined not just by farmers, but also by women, and unemployed individuals, and laborers who have been supporting the movement,'' farmer leader Gurnaam Singh Chaduni said. Addressing a press conference, he said that the march would be carried out in a ''peaceful'' manner, and special care would be taken that ''what happened on January 26 is not repeated''.

The leaders also shared their plans of forming a committee to control protesters if there is police action in the parliament march. "We will form a committee to let the protestors know what to do in case there is police action during the march".

Farmer leaders also announced their plans to block the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal expressway for 24 hours on April 10.

31-03-2021 10:44:20

Farm laws: SC-appointed committee submits report

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The Supreme Court-appointed committee to study the three new controversial agricultural laws has submitted its report to the apex court on March 19 in a sealed cover, one of its members said on Wednesday, according to PTI.

Farmers have been protesting seeking repeal of the three contentious farm laws on the borders of New Delhi for the last five months. The Supreme Court had, on January 11, stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse.

The committee was given two months to study the laws and consult all stakeholders.

''We submitted the report on March 19 in a sealed cover. Now, the court will decide the future course of action,'' one of the members of the committee P K Mishra told PTI.

As per the committee's official website, the panel held total 12 rounds of consultations with various stakeholders, including farmers groups, farmer producers organizations (FPOs) procurement agencies, professionals, academicians, private as well as state agriculture marketing boards.

31-03-2021 05:57:05

'Farmers’ agitations are not new': Highlighting agrarian distress from past

"It is a fact that farmers’ agitations are not new, but in Independent India, unlike in British India, the process of resolving agitations is not set. In the entire episode agitators as well as society suffer immensely," write Akshay Dhume and RS Deshpande in an opinion published by the Deccan Herald. The authors, are respectively, professor of Economics at Alliance University, Karnataka; former Director of the Institute for Social and Economic Change.

In the article, Dhume and Deshpande categorized the farmers' moment into three parts, each category, invariable in the cycle of production to its distribution. They discussed all the major aspects including land-based movements, price distribution failure, and factor market imperfections in agriculture. Highlighting the vulnerability of the section, they write "farmers’ agitations are usually sparked by a sense of ‘injustice’ experienced by the farming community and the threat to their survival due to adverse impact on income flows." Read the full article here.

30-03-2021 06:02:40

'No choice but to continue the movement,' says Naresh Tikait on future of agitation

"If we stop protesting, it will ruin our future. We have no choice but to continue the movement," says farmer leader Naresh Tikait in a discussion with NDTV on "the future of farmers' agitation" which was also joined by the President of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), Gurnam Singh Charuni, and the President of Krantikari Union Punjab, Darshan Pal Singh.

Speaking further on how far the movement would go, Charuni asserted that "we cannot go if the government does not call us for discussion on farm laws and so we have to sit and protest against the laws". Highlighting the negotiations held between the government and the protesting farmers, Darshan Pal Singh said that "the government has been rigid on the issue and have been trying to create an environment that farmers are rigid". However, he further asserted farmers' faith in democracy and the government. Watch the full discussion:

30-03-2021 05:25:04

Protesting farmers celebrate Holi with vibrant colors, social media posts show

Amidst the ongoing agitation against centers' farm laws, protesting farmers celebrated Holi at different borders of Delhi, Haryana and Punjab by dancing, singing, and burning copies of farm laws, social media posts showed.

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait shared a video on Twitter of burning copies of the laws reportedly from the Ghazipur border where the farmers have been protesting against the new farm laws since late November 2020.

An Instagram user 'Unknwngirl' also shared images from the Ghazipur border which showed farmers in large gatherings burning copies of the farm laws on Sunday.

The news agency ANI also shared a video on Twitter from the Ghazipur border which showed farmers celebrating Holi.

While an Instagram account named 'Saffronstudios' shared a video purportedly from the Singhu border celebrating 'hola mohalla', a three-day long festival that coincided with Holi.

In another post on Instagram, a user 'Asis Kaur shared a video from the Tikri border featuring women playing Holi.

30-03-2021 04:39:52

Farmers call off protest over BJP MLA attack case after police assure probe

Image Credit: ANI

A farmers' protest -- going on against the registration of an FIR against some farmers who had attacked BJP MLA Arun Narang in Malout -- concluded on Monday after the police assured them of a proper probe, news agency ANI reported on Tuesday.

A Punjab Police official said, "no innocent person will be punished and evidence-based investigation will be done."

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Arun Narang was surrounded and restrained on March 27 by agitators in the Malout area of Punjab's Muktsar district. As per a police statement, Superintendent of Punjab Police Gurmail Singh also suffered injuries while attempting to rescue Narang from the situation.

26-03-2021 09:09:56

'Bharat Bandh': Protesters block several roads in different states; public transportation hit

Farmers blocked national highways and other key roads at many places in Punjab and Haryana, and squatted on railway tracks at several locations disrupting road and rail traffic as part of their nationwide protest against the Centre's new agri laws.

In Punjab, members of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh committee blocked railway tracks during 12-hour long 'Bharat Bandh', news agency ANI tweeted.

The Indian Railway canceled four Shatabdi trains and train services were affected at 32 locations as protests affected the rail movement.

The Delhi Police also sent an alert to travelers using the Delhi-Ghazipur highway, asking them to avoid the route due to blockade by the farmers.

The inter-state bus service from Chandigarh for Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana was also terminated till 6:00 pm, the Times of India reported.

However, 'Bharat Bandh' had minimal impact in New Delhi, according to news agency PTI, which reported that there was no disturbance in metro and road transport services, and major markets remained open.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had to briefly close the entry and exit gates of the Tikri Border, Bahadurgarh City, and Brigadier Hoshiar Singh stations, but after a few minutes, the stations were opened for passengers.

26-03-2021 07:31:12

'Workers in the prime-age group face trade-offs in the labor market'

"A decline in the farm employment-to-prime-age population ratio in India is in line with historical experiences of structural transformations of countries towards industry and services. However, what is particular to the Indian experience is that this decline is not mirrored in a corresponding increase in the proportion of prime-age adults taking up non-farm jobs," writes Vidya Mahambare, Sowmya Dahanraj, and Sankalp Sharma in an opinion piece published by Mint. The authors are, respectively, professor of economics at Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai; assistant professor; and postgraduate student at Madras School of Economics.

In the article, the three of them tried to bring out the visage of farm employment in India and how the states traditionally involved in agriculture differ from the others. It also discusses the various reasons that force adults to leave agriculture in different states of the country. They express concern about the pace of productive non-farm job creation and say that agricultural-growth-driven prosperity in states like Punjab might face stagnation if those leaving agricultural work are not successfully employed in other sectors. Read the full article here.

26-03-2021 05:20:29

Social media posts show people observing 'Bharat Bandh'

Image Credit: ANI

The 'bharat bandh' called by protesting farmer unions seems to have been supported by people in large numbers, social media posts showed on Friday. The bandh has been called for the repeal of three agricultural laws, for law on Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and procurement, cancellation of all police cases against farmers, rollback of "electricity bill and pollution bill" and for reducing prices of diesel, petrol, and gas.

Reporting from the 'bandh', news agency ANI shared a video on Twitter reportedly from the Ghazipur border which shows farmers dancing and singing during the protest.

In another tweet, ANI shared images reportedly from the Singhu border where protestors have blocked the road.

Extending support to the 'bandh', Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, also took to Twitter saying, "the history of India is a witness that Satyagraha itself ends atrocities, injustice, and arrogance. May the movement be in the interest of the country and be peaceful."

While a Twitter user Saahil Murli Menghani shared images reportedly from Andhra Pradesh where the shops and transport are shut to observe the 'bandh'.

Another user named 'Raakhijaaga' shared images from Punjab.

25-03-2021 13:40:47

'Have made preparations till November-December,' says Rakesh Tikait

Image Credit: ANI

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said the agitating farmers were prepared for a long haul and will relent only when their demands are met, news agency PTI reported.

Tikait reiterated that the Centre must withdraw the farm laws and provide a legal guarantee on MSP.

He said the farm laws were not only adversely affecting the farmers but will impact other sections as well.

"This fight is not just of farmers but it is also for the poor, small traders..," said Tikait while addressing a farmers' 'maha panchayat at Assandh in this district.

Asserting that farmers were prepared for a long haul, he said, "This agitation will go on for long. We have made preparations till November-December." Referring to his late father Mahender Singh Tikait, he said, "Tikait sahib used to say that when Haryana stands in support of an agitation, government shivers." "They tried to break our agitation by dividing it into lines of Punjab and Haryana and projecting it as specific to a particular state but that did not work," he said, hitting out at the government.

25-03-2021 12:21:01

Social media posts show massive turnout at Karnal 'mahapanchayat'

Several social media users on Thursday shared images and videos showing massive turnout at the 'mahapanchayat' held at Karnal, Haryana, which was also attended by the Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait.

Tikait also shared images from the event on Twitter.

A Twitter user Gurnam Singh Charuni also shared some images purportedly from the mahapanchayat featuring elderly, women, and youth from the event.

Another Twitter user Deep Naman Singh shared a video clip from the event.

25-03-2021 09:03:25

Social media posts show 'renovations' at Tikri border as farmers prepare for long haul

Farmers seem to be preparing for the long haul as evident by social media posts on Thursday that showed "renovations" at the Tikri border protest site to help agitators continue their protest.

An Instagram user Varun Chouhan shared an image of purportedly a newly renovated stage reportedly at the Tikri border.

A Twitter account 'Kisan It Cell' also shared an image of a 'tin shed' being made for people at Tikri.

Taking to Instagram, another user named Jaideep Malik shared a video interviewing one of the protestors who is reportedly making arrangements for the renovation at the Tikri border.

25-03-2021 08:11:42

Medical camp with 40 beds established at Tikri border

Image Credit: ANI

“I’m not scared of hard work...I will do any job, but there are none,” Emily Schmall and Karan Deep Singh quote 28-years Rajwinder Kaur, a widow from Punjab, who struggles to make ends meet with revenue from selling grains. Schmall and Deep, in a feature article published by the New York Times, document many such interviews that highlighted the need for change in the agricultural sector of India but they also assert, quoting an independent economist in Chandigarh, that "this isn’t the way forward.”

It also documented the imbalances in price support and subsidies, and how the protests have stirred prolonged fear in farmers who had suffered economically despite subsidies from the government. The article also discusses deregulation of agriculture in Bihar, which it says is considered a failure by some economists and farmers in Punjab.

“We feel that the struggle of Punjab is everyone’s struggle...and unless everyone contributes to that cause, the protest will not be successful," says a village head Gurjant Singh. The article says that many farmers have asked their family members to tend to their land as they joined the protests while others have pooled their money to support the protests. Read the full article here.

24-03-2021 04:37:29

Farmers will sell their crops in Parliament complex if required: Tikait

Image Credit: ANI

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Tuesday said that farmers, if required, will sell their produce at the Parliament complex as part of their protest against the Centre's new agri laws, news agency PTI reported.

Farmers will not be divided, Tikait said while addressing a 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' in Jaipur's Vidhyadhar Nagar stadium.

News agency ANI also shared a video clip from the event in which the BKU leader asserted the unity of farmers and said "no mandi can be better than Parliament".

Hundreds of farmers are camping at Delhi's borders since November last year demanding that the Centre repeal the three contentious farm laws.

23-03-2021 12:43:03

'Pagdi Langer': Farmers at Ghazipur border wear yellow turbans to observe 'Shaheed Diwas'

Farmers at the Ghazipur border celebrated the 'Shaheed Diwas' on Tuesday by organizing a 'Pagdi Langar' at the site where they have been protesting against three contentious farm laws since November 2020, news agency ANI tweeted on Tuesday. It was one of several events planned at protest sites to observe the 'Shaheed Diwas' or Martyrs' Day.

23-03-2021 07:56:19

Farmers mark Martyrs' day at protest sites with several events: Social media posts

Celebrating the 90th martyrdom day of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev on Tuesday, social media platforms are flooded with images and videos from the events planned at various farmers' protest sites to remember the legacy of the martyrs on 'Shaheed Diwas'.

Taking to Twitter, a user named 'Vishal Lochab Farmer' shared images purportedly from the Tikri border where the farmers have organized 'Bhagat Singh Shaheedi Run' to share the enthusiasm and the spirit of youthfulness among all the protestors.

While an Instagram user 'Asis Kaur' shared a video reportedly from the Singhu border that showed several youths wrapped in yellow turbans and holding banners of Shaheed Bhagat Singh are arriving at the border.

Another user named 'Dr khinda' shared an update about a blood donation camp on the account of 'Martyr Day' at the Tikri border.

While an Instagram account named 'sikhexpo' shared a video of a 4.5 km run to celebrate the day, which featured youth, women, and the elderly participating in it.

23-03-2021 06:09:55

'What Shaheed Bhagat Singh had seen at that time, the same is happening now'

Image Credit: ANI

"He (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) also wrote that ‘Jagirdari’ (feudalism) must be ended and farmers’ should be liberated from their control, adding that farmers’ debt must be waived off as this debt is because of the system because the farmer does not get the full price of their crop. He pointed out flawed marketing as a big problem because of the local loot by the feudal lords. And all such things are even happening today nine decades after his martyrdom where the place of Jagridar, who used to hold resources, is being taken by the corporates and farmers are fighting against their entry into farming, to get Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops and demanding debt waiver," journalist Anju Agnihotri Chaba quotes Prof Jagmohan, the nephew of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, who is also the chairman of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Centenary Foundation, in an article for The Indian Express explaining why is it that the martyr who popularized 'Inqlab Zidabad' resonates with the farmers protesting against center's farm laws since November 2020.

The article also quotes NBS Punjab president Rupinder Singh Chaunda, who says, “what Shaheed Bhagat Singh had seen at that time, the same is happening now. He had written against imperialism and these three laws are pushing us towards imperialistic policies and privatization which will lead to more unemployment among the youth." Read the full article here.

23-03-2021 04:27:50

Farmers Protest: NHAI suffers Rs 814 crore loss in toll revenue till March 26

Image Credit: ANI

National Highways Authority of India suffered a toll revenue loss of Rs 814.4 crore till March 16 on account of farmers' protest in three states, Parliament was informed on Monday, news agency PTI reported.

Considering the heavy loss, state administrations have been requested to restore the user fee collection, Road, Transport, Highways, and MSMEs Minister Nitin Gadkari said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

''Loss of revenue due to farmers' protest has primarily occurred in the States of Punjab and Haryana and at a few plazas in Rajasthan,'' the minister said.

The loss at Rs 487 crore was the highest in Punjab, followed by Rs 326 crore in Haryana and Rs 1.40 crore in Rajasthan, he added.

''No loss of revenue is reported on account of farmers' protest in other States,'' the minister said.

Listing the steps taken in this regard, Gadkari said the matter is being constantly taken up with district and state administration to restore the user fee collection, considering the heavy loss to the government.

22-03-2021 13:44:57

'Impractical' proposal of online transfer of MSP to landowners

"There is no hindrance in providing, land records, but the main problem is that all these 16 lakh farm landowners are not cultivating their respective lands and providing their bank accounts would not serve the purpose of making MSP payment which should go to the real cultivator of that land. As around 45-50 percent owners have given their lands on lease and charging annual rent for that and the persons who are cultivating that land are the cultivators, who do not own that land, while doing farming on it for decades," writes Anju Agnihotri Chaba for The Indian Express in an article trying to explain the proposed practice of making an online transfer of Minimum Support Price (MSP) on the basis of farmers' land records, which she says is "impractical" at the moment.

"According to records, there are around 16 lakh farmer landowners in Punjab and around 9.50 lakh cultivators... How will the government ensure payment to the cultivators?” Chaba quotes Jagmohan Singh, a General Secretary of the Bharti Kisan Union, highlighting the disparity between the operational landholding and the landowners. "When a person is cultivating a land, naturally he/she will sell crop in the mandi and he/she has the right to get the MSP against sold crop but as per the new direction, the money will go in the account of the owner of the land, who has nothing to do with cultivation but only with his/her annual rent," he added. Read the full article here.

22-03-2021 12:27:03

'Making PM-Kisan more inclusive is an important step'

Image Credit: ANI

"A reliable land records database that includes information about landowners and cultivators and is inclusive by design is crucial to minimise exclusion errors and implementation bottlenecks. With the PM-Kisan comprising the largest component in the agriculture budget, there is a need to address its deficiencies drawing from the experiences of Odisha’s KALIA scheme and Telangana’s Rythu Bandhu Scheme. The pandemic, more so than anything else, has highlighted the need for the government to have robust social security mechanisms to reach the most vulnerable sections of the population, and making PM-Kisan more inclusive is an important step in that direction," writes Shreya Deb, Director, Omidyar Network India, an investment firm focused on social impact, in an opinion piece published by Financial Express. In the article, Deb highlights how government support often fails to reach vulnerable individuals supported by agriculture since they are not formally recognized as farmers. Read the full article here.

22-03-2021 09:40:48

Tikait to hold 'first' Kisan Mahapanchayat in Jaipur on Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom day

Image Credit: ANI

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait will address a Kisan Mahapanchayat in Jaipur on March 23, news agency PTI reported.

The mahapanchayat will be held at Vidhyadhar Nagar stadium, said Raja Ram Meel, president of the Jat Mahasabha.

On Monday, Tikait also took the update to his Twitter stating that the mahapanchayat will be organized on the 'martyrdom day of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh'.

"'It will be the first meeting of Tikait in Jaipur. Earlier, he has held a few meetings in other districts like Hanumangarh and Ganganagar,'' Meel told reporters.

22-03-2021 08:02:50

'Turn Bengaluru into Delhi,' Tikait addresses farmers in Bengaluru

Image Credit: ANI

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait had called on farmers of Karnataka to lay siege to Bengaluru with their tractors in protest against the three contentious farm laws passed by the Centre and convert the city to the focal point of agitation, like in Delhi, news agency PTI has reported on Sunday.

Tikait also shared the statement to his Twitter, as he tweeted-

''....you have to turn Bengaluru into Delhi. You will have to lay siege to the city from all directions,'' he told a farmers' mahapanchayat in Bengaluru Karnataka late on Saturday.

Only tractors should be used, like in Delhi, where over 25,000 have blocked entry points to the city, he said.

Tikait claimed that lakhs of farmers and their families have laid siege to Delhi by agitating at the border points and said the stir would continue until the three laws are repealed.

''Unless the three laws are repealed, unless there is a law related to the MSP, you need to continue this agitation in Karnataka as well,'' Tikait said.

22-03-2021 06:14:44

Social media posts call on people to celebrate 'Shaheed diwas' with farmers

Social media posts on Monday called on people to mark Martyrs' Day (Shaheed Diwas) on March 23 by gathering at protest sites where farmers have been protesting against centers' farm laws from November 2020.

A Twitter account named 'Kisan Ekta Morcha' shared a tweet ahead of Shaheed Diwas calling on people to celebrate the bravery of freedom fighters as well as "the fighters of today." Their tweet has been retweeted over 1,600 times at the time of filing this.

Another user 'Jahid Hussain' also shared a tweet calling on people to fast for a day and pledge their meal to someone in need.

While an Instagram user 'Nav Rahi' reportedly shared pictures from a youth conference to pay tribute to freedom fighters at Sunam, Punjab, the birthplace of freedom fighter Udham Singh. The pictures showed a large gathering of youth and women with pictures of martyr Shaheed Bhagat Singh.

Another Twitter account named 'Bharat h mali' also called on a united front 'stand together with farmers' to embark on the 'Shaheed Diwas'.

22-03-2021 05:01:13

House panel recommends adoption of one of three farm laws causing political uproar

Three Congress MPs on Saturday dissociated themselves from the report of a parliamentary standing committee recommending implementation of the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, and alleged the report was adopted against norms and conventions.

The said Act is one of the three contentious agriculture-marketing laws which have triggered protests by farmers and which Congress wants to be repealed.

Three Congress MPs in the panel - Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, Rajmohan Unnithan, and Vaithilingam Ve -- have separately written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, urging him to look into the matter and allow them to record their dissent in writing. The 11th report of the Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs, and Public Distribution was adopted on March 18 at its meeting chaired by acting chairperson Ajay Misra Teni (BJP), and it was tabled in Parliament on Friday.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the farmers' body, has also condemned the demand for ECAA's implementation saying "it is insensitive to the food security of poor people and the demand to increase the procurement of farmers' crops".

"We appeal to farmers, laborers, and common citizens to intensify their struggle for the repeal of the three laws and legal right of minimum support price," the SKM added.

20-03-2021 10:28:38

Tent gutted by fire at Singhu border, says SKM

A fire broke out in a tent at Delhi's Singhu border where farmers have been protesting the Centre's three agri laws, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha said on Saturday, according to news agency PTI.

Sukhwinder Singh, a protester, said the incident took place around 10 am near an under-construction flyover where the tent was put up. However, there was no official word about the incident from the police or the fire department. The tent was completely burnt, the Morcha, which is heading the agitation, said. A man was also injured while trying to extinguish the blaze. The tent was burnt after a cylinder caught fire, the SKM claimed. There were around 10 to 12 people inside the tent when the blaze broke out. Five mobile phones, twenty mattresses, 20 chairs, and dry ration was destroyed, it said, adding that a fire tender from Kundli doused the fire.

A Twitter user Sandeep Singh also shared images from the incident noting that a person got injured due to fire in the tent.

20-03-2021 03:51:57

FCI's proposed new procurement norms spark protests at manids: Report

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Friday claimed that protests were held at several 'mandis' against the new quality specifications and procurement norms proposed by the Food Corporation of India, news agency PTI reported on Friday. The Morcha, which is leading the agitation against the Centre's new agri laws, said the new specifications and norms are a direct attack on the procurement regime and the ongoing protests.

"In addition to being unresponsive to protesting farmers' legitimate demands, the Government of India's Food Corporation of India has brought in new quality specifications and procurement norms in a direct attack on the procurement regime and the ongoing protests."

According to reports, the FCI is deliberating strong quality controls and is proposing a revision of specifications for food grains procurement.

19-03-2021 12:25:21

Farmers not showing up to take COVID-19 vaccine at Tikri border: Report

Image Credit: ANI

It has been three days the vaccination camps were set at farmers' protesting border Tikri-Bahadurgarh border but farmers don't yet seem to agree to take COVID-19 jab, The Tribune said in a report.

It added that no farmer at the Tikri border has shown up at the vaccination camp till the second day, which has forced the health authorities to plan to conduct awareness campaigns against COVID-19 at the site. “We have been contacting farmers for vaccination, but they refuse to take jab. They often claim that the COVID-19 pandemic is nothing but a conspiracy of the Centre to divert the public attention,” The Tribune quoted an official in its report.

Commenting on the issue, a senior BKU leader Purushottam Singh Gill said, "the issue will be discussed in the next meeting of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha to take a final call in this regard."

19-03-2021 08:54:16

Traffic remains closed at Tikri, Singhu border; Ghazipur partially open

Closed for a long period of time due to farmers' protests, the Tikri and Singhu borders remained closed on Friday, the Delhi Traffic police shared the update on its Twitter. However, at the Ghazipur border, NH 24 will remain open for those heading to Ghaziabad from Delhi.

19-03-2021 08:25:38

'Cannot take our small produce to distant cities'

Image Credit: ANI

"If the new laws provide us with the option of selling our crops in a distant place at a better price, it bears no meaning for us. We are small farmers. We cannot take our small produce to distant cities to sell to a private player who may offer a better price than the minimum support price (MSP) that the government pays us. How shall we arrange vehicles to transport? Uncertainties are involved in such an arrangement. Once we park our paddy at their places, we are at their mercy. We do not know what type of bargain they would make with us. Shall they take whatever produces we give them, or will be choosy on the quality? In case they deny buying our produces what can we do? We cannot again bring them back to our villages; distress sell would be the only option," says Rabindra Senapati, a farmer from Puri district of Odisha, in a column by Pradeep Baisakh published in Outlook India. In the column, Baisakh explains problems faced by farmers of Odisha by quoting various stakeholders and argues how new farm laws could negatively impact farmers in the state. Read the full article here.

19-03-2021 07:45:22

Ongoing crackdown underscores deteriorating situation of democracy in India: US Senator

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Ahead of a scheduled visit of the American Senator Lloyd Austin to India between March 19-21, the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has reportedly urged Austin to uphold the issues of "democratic values and human rights" in his discussion with the Indian counterparts.

Senator Robert Menendez, the Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee wrote in a letter, “getting the US-India partnership right is critical to addressing 21st-century challenges, and that includes urging the Indian government to uphold democratic values and human rights,” to Austin.

Expressing concern about the "crackdown" on farmers' protests, he added, "the Indian government’s ongoing crackdown on farmers peacefully protesting new farming laws and corresponding intimidation of journalists and government critics only underscores the deteriorating situation of democracy in India.”

19-03-2021 07:18:35

'Non-violent satyagraha of the farmers against the farm laws is the Salt Satyagraha of our time'

Image Credit: ANI

"The farmer is the salt of the earth. About 70 percent of Indians are directly or indirectly engaged in agriculture. Without them, the whole of India will starve. But for the last three decades, the farmers are suffering a lot. Many have ended their lives to protest the sheer insensitive attitude of the authorities. The non-violent satyagraha of the farmers against the farm laws is the Salt Satyagraha of our time. It is a non-violent protest against the state, its authoritarian laws, dishonesty, distrust and the megalomaniacal demeanour of contemporary India’s leaders," writes K Aravindakashan, a Malayalam novelist and the author of Gandhiyude Jeevitavum Darshanavum, a study of Gandhi, in an opinion piece published by The Indian Express. In the article, he argues that the farmers' protest is similar to the historic Salt March led by Mahatama Gandhi. Read the full article here.

19-03-2021 06:46:53

Satya Pal Malik talking 'unofficially' to both sides to resolve govt-farmers stalemate

Image Credit: ANI

Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik has said he was talking ''unofficially'' to the agitating farmers and the government to press for an early solution to the stalemate over the contentious agri laws, adding there was a growing understanding within the two sides that a resolution needs to be found at the earliest, PTI reported on Thursday.

Malik, who hails from Baghpat in western Uttar Pradesh, asserted the issue of farmers needs to be resolved soon else it will damage the BJP in Western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan. He also expressed regret that ''no one has uttered even a single word'' at the death of agitating farmers during the over 100-day protest by them.

''I am talking unofficially to both the sides pressing for an early solution. There is a growing understanding within the farmer community that a solution needs to be found at the earliest as well as the government,'' Malik told NDTV.

19-03-2021 04:38:45

BKU leader suggests mediators for talks with government

Image Credit: Facebook (NareshTikait)

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Naresh Tikait suggested the names of Union Minister Rajnath Singh and Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik, and JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi as mediators between the protesting farmers and the government on the newly proposed farm laws, PTI reported on Thursday.

Showing willingness on the proposal of mediating between farmers and government, K C Tyagi said, "if any suggestion from the government comes in this regard, I am willing to play such a role."

18-03-2021 11:46:11

'MSP Loot Calculator' for losses incurred when selling below minimum support price

Image Credit: ANI

The Jai Kisan Andolan on Thursday launched an ''MSP Loot Calculator'', which will calculate the losses incurred by farmers when forced to sell crops below the minimum support price, PTI reported.

According to Avik Saha, the national convenor of Jai Kisan Andolan - a nationwide movement dedicated to farmers' rights, the calculator would be sharing new data every day showcasing the losses faced by farmers in different parts of the country in association with the sale of the variety of crops that they grow.

''Its purpose is to expose the false propaganda of the government that the farmer is getting the MSP announced by the government,'' Saha said.

New findings by the loot calculator about different crops in different states and the losses incurred by farmers will now be shared daily on Jai Kisan Andolan's social media pages, he added.

18-03-2021 10:05:30

#300DeathsAtProtest trends on Twitter as farmers pay tribute to those who died at protest

Image Credit: Pixabay

The hashtag #300DeathsAtProtest is trending on Twitter as people paid tribute to those who have died during the protests. Several Twitter users have reacted to the trend by lending support and paying tributes to the dead farmers, however, no official data on deaths at the protests have been released yet.

A Twitter account 'Kisan Ekta Morcha' started the hashtag on the death toll and called the sacrifice 'a wake-up call'.

Taking a jab at the government, the nine-year-old climate activist Licypriya Kangujam also followed the trend and tweeted about the center's silence on the matter.

Another Twitter user Amaan Bali also paid homage to farmers.

18-03-2021 08:55:34

Tikait demands COVID-19 vaccines for protesting farmers

Image Credit: ANI

Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Rakesh Tikait has said that he will take the COVID-19 vaccine as he demanded the availability of the vaccine for every protesting farmer, news agency ANI tweeted on Thursday.

18-03-2021 06:57:40

Independent journalism and power of social media in farmers' protest

Image Credit: ANI

German media outlet Deutsche Welle has highlighted the role of independent journalism and social media to counter "false narratives" regarding the farmers' protests. The feature article by the outlet quotes various journalists who have been working to bring to light the "ground reality" of the protests after being disappointed by the coverage of mainstream media.

The article primarily explains the story of 'Trolley Times', a grassroots newspaper run by a small group of volunteers specifically for the farmers' protest. It also features two independent journalists Sandeep Singh and Amaan Bali, who explain what drives them to cover these protests and the challenges they face. Read the full article here.

18-03-2021 04:52:12

Image Credit: Pxhere

"History has taught the role of grass root extension workers in transfer of technology in agriculture as well as information on farm laws and policies. However, with the advent of ICTs and IoTs, and even before, State Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture virtually stopped filling the positions of Grama Sevaks. It is crucial to note that ICT/IoT can only complement agricultural extension and can never substitute the extension workers in field situations. Hence, it is time for the Government to consider filling the positions of Grama Sevaks, Village level workers, and restore the glory of Agricultural Extension in transfer of technologies," writes MG Chandrakanth, Retired Professor and Head, Dept of Agri Economics, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, in an opinion piece published by The Times Of India.

In the article, he highlights the importance of grass root Grama Sevaks in promoting modern technologies in the agriculture sector. Read the full article here.

16-03-2021 12:39:24

'Need of the hour is handholding of FPOs and empowerment of farmers'

Image Credit: ANI

"Government may think of suitable amendments in the APMC Act to allow direct sale of farm produce by FPOs (farmer producer organizations) at the farm-gate which will be a win-win for all. As Indian farmers lack resources, business acumen and technical know-how, immediate need of the hour is handholding of FPOs and empowerment of farmers through training and capacity building for creation of sustainable agri-value chains and efficient market linkages. If the Indian farmers facilitated success of the Green Revolution in the past, why not the FPOs will be instrumental in doubling the income of the farmers? The caveat is that the government should create a conducive environment in terms of access to finance, technology, professional manpower, and efficient market linkages for making farmers as agri-preneurs and FPOs as vibrant enterprises in India," write M. Srikanth, Associate Professor, National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Hyderabad, and P Saravanan, Professor of Finance and Accounting, Indian Institute of Management Tiruchirappalli, in an opinion piece published by Economic Times.

In the article, they discuss creating an enabling environment for the implementation of farm laws by proposing to look at three important channels. Read the full article here.

16-03-2021 12:13:20

Street play on farm laws a 'hit' among farmers: Report

A 25-minute play performed by People's Art Patiala, which aims to show "the implications of the third farm law on storage of essential commodities", is said to be a "hit" among protesting farmers, The Hindu said in an article on Tuesday.

It says that the group has performed more than 300 shows of the play over the last two months. The show is titled ‘Jina di anakh jyondi ae (Those who have self-respect)’ and portrays the impact on prices of crops if they are stored by the private players instead of the Food Corporation of India.

Satpal, director of the play and founder of the group, said to The Hindu that he feels that the show is a hit because people throw shoes at the actor who plays the villain, representing corporates.

16-03-2021 06:13:33

'State intervention and public policy support could be a part of the solution'

Image Credit: ANI

"Public investment on infrastructure and MSPs needs to increase to improve access of smallholder farmers to APMCs, as the private sector will not replace the state in this matter, as is evident from the Bihar example. This, coupled with an agroecological transition which includes crop diversification, will ensure sustainability for Indian agriculture. Here again, state intervention and public policy support could be a part of the solution," write Christophe Jaffrelot, a senior research fellow at CERI-Sciences Po/CNRS, Paris, and Hemal Thakker, a food and agriculture policy analyst and student of environment policy at the Paris School of International Affairs, Sciences Po, in an opinion piece published by The Indian Express. In the article, they argue that public investment is critical for the agriculture sector, which should be a priority for the government. Read the full article here.

16-03-2021 04:58:29

Delhi HC asks authorities to consider representation to remove barricades from borders

Image Credit: ANI

The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the authorities to treat as a representation a plea seeking direction to remove barricading on various routes connecting the neighboring states with the national capital due to the over 3-month long farmers' protest against the new agri laws passed by the Centre, PTI reported.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh disposed of the petition and asked the authorities, including the Centre, Delhi government, and Delhi Police, to decide the representation in accordance with the law, rules, regulations, and government policy applicable to the facts of the case.

Petitioner Himanshu Kaushik, a practicing advocate, sought to remove unnecessary barricading and obstructions on various routes which have been blocked due to the presence of the protestors there. The plea sought a direction to make separate lanes and routes for heavy vehicles and also direct the concerned authorities to allow free movement of vehicles for public convenience.

It said Delhi's seven borders -- Singhu, Auchandi, Lampur, Piao Maniyari, Mangesh, Tikri, Jharoda are disturbed and the traffic in the national capital its bordering areas continue to remain affected due to the farmers' protest.

16-03-2021 04:31:18

SKM asks farmers not to build permanent structures at protest sites after FIR

Image Credit: ANI

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is leading the anti-farm law protests, on Sunday asked the agitating farmers not to build permanent structures at Delhi's border points where they have been camping since November last year, PTI reported.

The SKM's statement comes in the wake of Haryana Police registering two separate cases against farmers for allegedly raising concrete wall structure and digging a borewell on National Highway-44 in the state's Sonipat district, close to Delhi's Singhu border protest site.

Some permanent structures have started to come up at the Singhu border, one of three prominent protest sites besides Ghazipur and Tikri border points, where agitation against the Centre's three agri laws has been going on for over three months. During a meeting of the Morcha, which included 32 Punjab farmer unions, a decision was taken that the protestors should not build any permanent structures at the protest sites, an SKM statement said.

15-03-2021 05:29:34

Farmers protest at Grammys: Lilly Singh wears 'I stand with farmers' mask at red carpet

Image Credit: Twitter (@Lilly)

Indo-Canadian YouTube star and late-night talk show host Lilly Singh sported a ''I stand with farmers'' mask at the red carpet of the 2021 Grammy Awards to reiterate her support for the ongoing farmers' agitation in India. The 32-year-old social media personality took to Twitter and posted a picture of herself from the 63rd edition of the Grammy Awards.

Singh wrote that since there's intense media spotlight on the red carpet, this was the perfect opportunity to show her solidarity with farmers.

15-03-2021 05:03:20

'This was the reason that I became a doctor'

"It just seemed like this is what I had trained to do ... this was the reason that I became a doctor," says Swaiman Singh, a doctor from New Jersey providing free medical services to farmers protesting in India, in a feature article by Harmeet Kaur for CNN. The article explains how Singh thought he would be at the frontlines of the protests in India for a week, tops but ended up "extended his stay to 10 days, then two weeks and then three. Months later, he's still there -- and can't imagine leaving." It also explains Singh's connection to farmers and to the Punjab state of India. Read the full article here.

15-03-2021 04:38:56

'Sector needs to grow not just for those employed in it but also for the economy as a whole'

Image Credit: Wikipedia

"As a part of the roadmap, the book makes a case for states to move beyond production-centric approach to a value-chain approach with FPOs at its centre. It highlights importance and requirement of growing public investments in basic infrastructure, like roads, markets, power supplies, and agri-R&D. And finally, in the longer run, rationalising subsidies (both input and output) via direct income transfer is suggested, as that will not only empower farmer but will also give them right signals for efficient use of these resources (fertilisers, power, water). This will help put agriculture on a higher growth trajectory, augment farmers’ incomes, and promote sustainable development of agriculture," write Ashok Gulati, Infosys Chair Professor, ICRIER, New Delhi, and Shweta Saini, a Senior (Visiting) Fellow, in an opinion piece published by The Indian Express.

In the article, they analyze a recent publication by Springer Nature which proposes strategies for six Indian states to boost farmer incomes. They also highlight the importance of agriculture in the Indian economy. Read the full article here.

15-03-2021 03:45:39

Ghazipur border reopens for traffic movement

The Ghazipur border, which was closed due to farmers' protests against Central farm laws, was reopened on Monday for traffic movement. However, the movement is allowed only for those entering Uttar Pradesh from the national capital. The decision to open the carriageway of the National Highway-24 going towards Ghaziabad from Delhi has been opened after discussions between Delhi Police with police officials of Ghaziabad district.

"In view of prevailing law and order situation at the Ghazipur border and considering public convenience, the carriageway of NH-24 going towards Ghaziabad from Delhi has been opened after consultation with police officials of Ghaziabad District, Uttar Pradesh," said Delhi Police. "Traffic Alert: Gazipur Border, Delhi to Gazipur is open for traffic movement," Delhi police tweeted.

14-03-2021 13:00:56

Farmers Protest: Haryana Police lodges FIR against alleged construction on NH-44

Image Credit: ANI

Police have registered two separate cases against farmers for allegedly raising concrete wall structures and digging a borewell on National Highway-44 in Haryana's Sonipat district, close to the Singhu border protest site, PTI reported on Sunday.

"Two separate cases have been registered against those who raised a concrete wall structure and dug a borewell on NH-44," Station House Officer, Kundli, Inspector Ravi Kumar said over the phone on Sunday.

The cases have been registered under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the National Highways Act after complaints from the National Highways Authority of India and the local civic authorities, he said. He added the structure and the borewell were coming up illegally.

Kumar said the work on raising permanent structures with bricks and digging of borewell has been stopped after the cases were lodged.

Some farmers protesting the Centre's three agriculture laws have started raising concrete structures near the Singhu border protest site.

12-03-2021 12:28:01

Western Railway resumes train services after long halt due to farmers protest

Image Credit: Twitter (@WesternRly)

In relief to passengers, the Western Railway on Friday resumed scheduled services of special trains, which were affected due to the farmers' agitation in Punjab, an official said, according to a report by PTI.

The Western Railway, in a release, notified that all trains will now run on their proper scheduled routes and timings, as the affected railway tracks at Jandiala in Punjab have been declared fit for train movement on Thursday.

Due to the farmer's agitation in Punjab, the movement of trains was affected at Jandiala station for several days and a few special trains of the Western Railway were either canceled, diverted, short terminated, or short originated, the release said.

The zonal railway also appealed to passengers to take note of this restoration of trains and plan their journey accordingly.

12-03-2021 11:53:45

Tikait addresses 'mahapanchayat' in Jodhpur: Tweet

Image Credit: Twitter (@RakeshTikaitBKU)

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait addressed a 'kisan mahapanchayat' in Piparcity, Jodhpur, Rajasthan on Friday, according to images shared by the leader on his Twitter.

The BKU leader was greeted by the massive turnout, according to pictures by a Twitter user Gurjar which purportedly showed people welcoming Tikait on his way to Piparcity.

Another user Manish Khoja shared a picture reportedly from the event.

12-03-2021 09:33:35

Farmers start constructing two-story house near Singhu border: Report

Image Credit: ANI

Farmers protesting at the Singhu border have reportedly started building a two-story brick-and-mortar house near the protest site, the Times Of India reported on Friday. The report added that BKU Doaba’s Hoshiarpur circle unit also plans to install ACs in the building, which would be big enough to accommodate over 100 protesters.

The building is apparently being constructed to help farmers continue the protest during the scorching summer. "We somehow tolerated the cold nights in winter, sleeping on the road or in trolleys at the Delhi borders, but the fast-approaching summer poses ore problems, especially the threat of getting vector-borne diseases due to mosquitoes. That is why we began construction of a house for protesting farmers. It was started on Wednesday and we will come in, once it is ready," said Manjit Singh Rai, the farm organization president in the report for TOI.

12-03-2021 06:04:06

Farmers withdraw dharna from Amritsar's railway tracks after 169 days

Image Credit: ANI

A group of farmers squatting on railway tracks near Amritsar to protest the Centre's new farm laws withdrew their agitation on Thursday after 169 days, as suspension of trains caused losses to them and traders, PTI reported on Thursday.

Savinder Singh, a leader of the Kissan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee which had been spearheading the stir, said they decided to withdraw the rail blockade at Devidaspura on the Amritsar-Delhi route after a meeting of all protesting farmer unions.

Devidaspur near Jandiala station is about 25 km from Amritsar railway station.

''Farmers were blocking only passenger trains but the Centre decided to stop goods trains as well which caused huge losses to farmers, traders, and industrialists. In the light of current circumstances, farmers have unanimously resolved to end the stir here,'' he said.

News agency ANI reported on Friday that train services have resumed.

12-03-2021 05:00:55

Fruits growers in Himanchal Pradesh call for statewide protest on Monday

Fruit growers in Himachal Pardesh are set to contribute to the ongoing farmer's protest against the center's farm laws with a statewide protest on March 15 over issues faced by farmers in the state, Hindustan Times reported on Wednesday.

A total of thirteen farmers and orchard unions of Himachal Pradesh decided to call upon a joint forum in the capital city on Tuesday on finding common issues among the flower growers, milk producers, and vegetable vendors.

“The forum will try to bring a change in the policies responsible for the crisis in the agriculture and horticulture sectors through a public movement,” said Kuldeep Singh Tanwar, the Kisan Sabha state chief. Tanwar also highlighted farmers' concern that they are not getting the right price for their produce despite the rising input cost of production. “Assistance to farmers and orchardists has been cut. Continuous reduction in subsidy in fertilizers, seeds, fungicides, pesticides, agricultural and horticulture equipment has led to an unprecedented rise in input cost,” he added.

12-03-2021 04:33:21

'Women, as the most marginal of India’s small farmers, may suffer the most'

Image Credit: ANI

"Small farmers are particularly vulnerable to three new laws, which deregulated the agricultural market and weakened the government-established minimum sale price for crops in ways that, demonstrators say, could pit small farmers against big agribusiness firms. And women, as the most marginal of India’s small farmers, may suffer the most if the laws go into effect," write Shreyasee Das, Assistant Professor, Temple University and Bansari Kamdar, Graduate Student, the University of Massachusetts Boston in an article published by The Conversation. In the article, they also highlight various problems faced by women farmers in India from unequal market access to issues in seeking justice. Read the full article here.

11-03-2021 04:48:27

Farmer unions announce Bharat Bandh to mark 4 months of protests

Image Credit: ANI

Farmer unions on Wednesday called for a Bharat bandh on March 26, when their protest at Delhi's borders against the Centre's three new farm laws completes four months, PTI reported on Wednesday.

Farmer leader Buta Singh Burjgill said farmers along with trade unions will protest the hike in fuel prices and privatization of railways on March 15.

"Memoranda will be submitted to district magistrates against the rising prices of diesel, petrol and LPG. Protests will be held at railway stations across the country against privatization," he said.

''We will observe a complete Bharat bandh on March 26, when our protest against the three farm laws completes four months. The peaceful bandh will remain effective from morning till evening,'' he told reporters at the Singhu border.

On March 19, the farmers will observe ''Mandi Bachao-Kheti Bachao'' day, he said.

11-03-2021 04:29:55

Ransomware 'hacktivists' demand justice for farmers: Report

Image Credit: Twitter (@sanjaykatkar)

The Indian cybersecurity software Quick Heal reportedly discovered ransomware named 'sarbloh' earlier on Monday alleging that it was "a part" of the ongoing farmers protest.

The ransomware attack is being circulated via malicious documents that once downloaded encrypt the file with .sarbloh extension and display a ransom note on the screen. However, the note doesn't ask for a monetary ransom but seeks "justice" for protesting farmers. Taking note of the attack Sanjay Katkar, the Co-Founder of Quick Heal tweeted about the malware and a group named 'Khalsa Cyber Fauj' which is reportedly behind the ransomware.

However, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers' unions, has distanced it from the ransomware. Taking note of the issue, Darshan Pal, a prominent leader of Krantikari Kisan Union, Punjab, said that "his farmers’ movement is completely peaceful. Some websites are sending threatening messages related to the Kisan movement through software called ‘SARBLOH RANSOMWARE’ which is not related to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha or the farmer organisations of Punjab," in a statement for The Quint.

10-03-2021 10:20:01

SKM quashes rumors of forming committee to hold talks with govt: Reports

Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella body of farmer unions spearheading the protests, reportedly quashed rumors that a 9-member committee has been formed to hold talks with the government, according to local media reports.

“The SKM clarifies that the headlines being flashed about a nine-member Committee being formed for talks with the government is incorrect. No such committee has been formed,” said Darshan Pal, a prominent farmer leader.

10-03-2021 05:04:41

Heavy rains damage tents at Tikri border: Social media posts

Heavy rains at the Tikri border protest site added to the miseries of farmers who have been camping on the borders of New Delhi since late November, with the continuous downpour purportedly leading to waterlogging at agitation venues, posts on social media platforms showed.

A Twitter user Sandeep Singh shared pictures supposedly from the site showing waterlogging at tents and the damage caused by rains.

Several other users shared pictures of similar scenes from the Tikri border.

10-03-2021 04:31:41

'India lags behind its close competitors in world agriculture'

Image Credit: ANI

"The EBA (Enabling the Business Agriculture) project results reveal that, compared to its close competitors, the strength of India's agricultural regulatory environment is weak on the whole and with respect to key performance indicators. The future of world agriculture and food production is expected to increasingly depend on middle-income countries such as China, India, Brazil, and Indonesia, just like the high-income countries dictating the fortunes of global agriculture in the past five decades. To make the best use of this great opportunity, India needs to put in place an agricultural regulatory system that would make it easier for its farmers to conduct agricultural activities, thereby improving their productivity, competitiveness, and income," writes Sthanu R Nair, a Professor of Economics at the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode in an opinion piece published by The Hindu.

In the article, Nair compares India's 'agricultural regulatory system' to that of other countries based on a recent publication by the World Bank titled Enabling the Business Agriculture 2019. He also suggests measures to support Indian farmers in enhancing their capability to be able to compete with international peers. Read the full article here.

09-03-2021 10:54:20

Farmers protest: CAPF deployment at protest sites in Delhi extended till March 15

Image Credit: ANI

Amid the ongoing farmers' protest against the three farm laws, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the deployment of 93 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in the national capital till March 15 for law and order duties, ANI reported on Tuesday.

"The MHA has extended the deployment of 93 companies of CAPFs including Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Force (ITBP) Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in Dehli till March 15," informed the ministry. "Rest 20 companies of CRPF, BSF and CISF will be de-inducted after March 10," it added.

On February 24, addressing a Kisan mahapanchayat in Rajasthan's Sikar, Rakesh Tikait had threatened the central government and said that if the three laws are not repealed, the farmers will 'gherao' the Parliament with 40 lakh tractors.

09-03-2021 07:48:48

'Women agri-workers lack voice in decision-making, and lack access to opportunities'

Image Credit: ANI

"Contribution of women in rural economies is significant and their role and importance is only likely to grow in coming times. From earning to providing for family nutrition, the role of women is multi-dimensional. It is more imperative than ever that we find ways to empower them. Despite being a substantial member of the farming community, these women agri-workers lack voice in decision-making, and lack access to opportunities. Their problems are nearly unrepresented in the popular policy debates," write Shweta Saini, Senior (Visiting) Fellow at ICRIER, and Pulkit Khatri, research assistant, in an opinion piece published by The Print. In the article, they quote data from various sources including the Census 2011 to highlight the contribution of women in agriculture while also arguing that farm issues disproportionately impact both women farmers and women agri-laborers. Read the full article here.

09-03-2021 05:10:27

Lakhs of tractors will reach Parliament if needed, says Rakesh Tikait in Sheopur

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Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Singh Tikait on Monday said that lakhs of farmers in their tractors would reach Parliament to seek repeal of the three new farm laws if needed, PTI reported.

Tikait, one of the prominent leaders of farmer unions which are protesting against the Centre's new laws on Delhi borders, addressed a huge rally in Sheopur.

''If needed, we, on lakhs of tractors will reach Parliament to press for the repeal of the three black laws. 3,500 tractors entered Delhi on Republic Day. These were not hired tractors,'' he said.

Without naming local BJP leader and Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Tikait said he was powerless.

''The leader you all have chosen has no power. He can't reply to us on his own. He gets back with files and returns with replies,'' the BKU leader said at Sheopur Krishi Mandi.

09-03-2021 04:55:34

'False assertions': India hits back on UK MPs debate on safety of protesters

Image Credit: ANI

The High Commission of India in London has condemned a debate among some British lawmakers on an e-petition over the right of peaceful protests and freedom of the press in India amid the ongoing farmers' stir against three New Delhi laws on agricultural reform, PTI reported.

The Commission damned the debate, held on Monday evening inside the British parliamentary premises, as "false assertions" in a "distinctly one-sided discussion".

"We deeply regret that rather than a balanced debate, false assertions -- without substantiation or facts -- were made, casting aspersions on the largest functioning democracy in the world and its institutions," the commission said in a statement after the Monday evening debate on an e-petition.

The debate was held in response to an e-petition that had crossed the 100,000-signature threshold, required for it to be approved by the House of Commons Petitions Committee.

The debate, held in a hybrid form with some MPs participating via videolink in a room at Portcullis House in London, related to the e-petition entitled "Urge the Indian Government to ensure the safety of protesters & press freedom".

08-03-2021 11:57:16

Entry, exit gates of stations from Tikri Kalan to Brigadier Hoshiar Singh reopened: DMRC

Image Credit: ANI

Entry and exit gates of stations on the Tikri Kalan-Brigadier Hoshiar Singh section of the Delhi Metro's Green Line have been opened, the DMRC tweeted on Monday.

Tikri border is one of the epicenters of the farmers' protest against the new agriculture laws.

Earlier, the DMRC had informed that the entry/exit gates of stations from Tikri Kalan to Brigadier Hoshiar Singh were closed on the green line due to security reasons.

08-03-2021 10:11:27

'Songs and lyrics have been an essential element of protest movements'

Image Credit: ANI

"Farming practice in Punjab is embedded deep into the culture, psyche and essence of the state, manifesting itself through a rich heritage in both religion and folk music. That deep connection between farming and folk music (and also religion) has generated significant support from Punjabi folk singers from across the world. Very early on in the protests, leading folk singers began to publish songs on social media platforms to advocate their support for the farmers’ protest," writes Balbir Barn, a computer science professor and Incoming Academic Dean of Faculty the Science and Technology at Middlesex University in London, UK, in an opinion published by Outlook Magazine.

In the article, Barn argues that songs and lyrics have played an important role in protest movements throughout history and tries to highlight how songs have impacted the farmers' movement in India. Read the full article here.

08-03-2021 08:59:57

Social media posts show large number of women gather at protest sites

Thousands of women joined protests by farmers on the outskirts of Delhi on Monday to mark International Women’s Day, demanding the scrapping of new laws that open up agriculture produce markets to private buyers.

A Twitter user Saahil Murli Menghani shared a video clip purportedly from the Tikri border protest site showing a large number of women taking part in the event.

Another user Niraj Bhatia also shared pictures of women who have gathered at the protest sites.

08-03-2021 07:13:52

'Local issues have broken our back': Highlighting problems of 'sugar bowl' of India

Image Credit: ANI

The emergence of Naresh and Rakesh Tikait may have brought Western Uttar Pradesh to the center of farmers' protest at Delhi borders, but the farming community of the region known as the 'sugar bowl of India' have a long list of other and even bigger problems -- Stagnant sugarcane price, ever-rising diesel rates and the menace of stray animals, to name a few, news agency PTI said in an article.

The article quotes Raj Kumar, a Rawa Rajput from Satheri village in Muzaffarnagar district, says sugarcane prices have not been raised for the past several seasons, whereas companies have reduced the size of urea and DAP (Diammonium phosphate, a popular phosphatic fertilizer) bags, making the manure costlier and the agriculture ''unsustainable''.

''In this region, our elders earlier used to say, 'Uttam kheti, beech vyapaar, neech naukri' (Agriculture is best to earn a livelihood, followed by business and then doing a job), but the sequence has turned upside down now,'' he said.

Echoing similar sentiments, Roshan Lal, a Saini by caste and a small-scale farmer, said more than the three farm laws, it is the delay in sugarcane payment and rising diesel prices, along with the problem of stray cattle, that have made their lives miserable.

''More than farm laws, these local issues have broken our back,'' Lal said, standing by Kumar. ''All this has forced us to raise their voices for farmers' issues,'' he said.

08-03-2021 05:55:59

'The question of solidarity is not an uncomplicated one'

"This is the first time that producers — farmers and workers — have sought to form an alliance in the past three decades of economic reforms. It is yet uncertain what these efforts might lead to but it is clearly a pushback against unfettered capitalism, a condition that has rendered a vast population vulnerable to market vagaries," writes Ravinder Kaur, a labor rights activist, in an opinion published by The Indian Express.

In the article, Kaur argues that farmers and workers have been exposed to a new space in the protests, which allows them to forge solidarity in their struggle. "Yet, the question of solidarity is not an uncomplicated one," she adds. Read the full article here.

08-03-2021 05:31:16

'The remedy involves listening to the people'

Image Credit: ANI

"The current course of standoff and censorship can be easily corrected. The remedy involves listening to the people; consultation before, during and even after policies are passed so they can be amended; and collaboration with those affected. Never before have I seen my faith, my community, my people come together and show the values of standing up for justice, without fear and with service at the forefront, more clearly than they are doing so right now. They are standing for all of India in line with 'Sarbat da bhala,' which means, 'standing for the welfare of all.' They are not anti-Modi or anti-BJP but can simply see that these bills will not serve India in the long run," writes Mandeep Rai Dhillon, author of "The Values Compass: What 101 Countries Teach Us About Purpose, Life and Leadership", in an opinion piece published by CNN.

In the article, Dhillon tries to describe why the farmers are protesting and how the movement has sustained for so long. She also calls for "understanding, listening, and courage" to resolve the standoff. Read the article here.

08-03-2021 05:02:29

Women to take over key roles at farmers' protest on International Women's Day

Image Credit: ANI

News agency ANI shared pictures of women at the protest site on the Tikri border to extend their support to the ongoing agitation against new farm laws on the occasion of International Women Day. Thousands of women farmers are expected to take over key roles at the Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur protest sites at New Delhi's borders on International Women's Day on Monday.

A Twitter user Amaan also shared pictures purportedly from Punjab's Tarn Taran of women leaving to join the protest on the border of New Delhi.

Another Twitter account called BKU EKTA UGRAHAN shared pictures reportedly from the Tikri border of women making arrangements for their day on the border.

"The implementation of long-term strategies that build the resilience of rain-fed agriculture systems in Karnataka will help stabilise rain-fed crop productivity in the state even when faced with adverse climate. Such measures will ensure that in the future agricultural yields are not left to the vagaries of climate and income losses to farmers are kept to a bare minimum," writes Kritika A Gadpayle and Indu K Murthy, both of which work in the area of adaptation and risk analysis at the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) in an opinion piece published by The Indian Express. In the article, without commenting on the farm laws, they highlight the urgency of taking steps to build resilience in the agriculture sector through technical and institutional interventions after assessing climate risks. Read the full article here.

05-03-2021 13:07:03

Farmers prepare to block KMP Expressway to intensify protest

Image Credit: ANI

Indian farmers who have been protesting for months against deregulation of produce markets plan to block a major expressway outside New Delhi on Saturday, the 100th day of their campaign, Reuters reported on Friday.

Tens of thousands have been camped outside Delhi since December, demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi repeal three farm laws that open up the country’s agriculture markets to private companies, which the farmers say will make them vulnerable.

Farmers from the northern states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh plan to stop all traffic on the six-lane Western Peripheral Expressway that forms a ring outside New Delhi for up to five hours, union leaders said on Friday.

“We believe that after these 100 days, our movement will put a moral pressure on the government to accede to our demands, because the weather will also worsen,” said Darshan Pal, spokesperson for the farmer unions’ coalition Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), or United Farmers’ Front. “It will weaken the government, which will have to sit down with us to talk again.”

05-03-2021 12:13:56

It is something for India to resolve, says British govt ahead of debate

Image Credit: ANI

With UK's MPs set to debate next week the safety of farmer protesters, the British government on Friday said what happens in India has ripples in the United Kingdom and gets debated as there is a large Indian diaspora, but asserted that the farmers' protest was India's ''internal issue'' and it was for it to resolve, PTI reported.

British lawmakers will debate the issue of press freedom and safety of protesters in India next Monday in response to an e-petition that had crossed the 1,00,000-signature threshold required for such a debate, the House of Commons Petitions Committee had confirmed earlier this week.

Asked how he looks at the concerns in the UK over the farmers' protest and if it could impact ties, the new British High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis, said, ''Your verb is the correct one. I look at it. This is an internal issue for India.'' ''I think the foreign secretary (Dominic Raab) said it when he was here 'your politics is our politics' in other words things that happen in India have ripples in the UK partly because you have such a big diaspora community in the UK, so these things get debated. Our prime minister (Boris Johnson) was asked about it actually in the Prime Minister's Question Time,'' he said at a media interaction with journalists here.

''This is something we look at but it is something for India to resolve,'' said Ellis, a British strategic expert, who presented his credentials to President Ram Nath Kovind in February to take formal charge as the new UK High Commissioner to India.

05-03-2021 11:32:37

Women take out marches to drum up support for March 8: Tweets

Image Credit: Twitter(@Bkuektaugrahan)

Social media posts on Friday spotted women on tractors ahead of International Women's Day at farmers' protesting sites as they tried to drum up support for events planned on March 8.

A Twitter account BKU EKTA UGRAHAN shared a video purportedly from the Tikri border. The video shows an awareness drive being lead by the women ahead of March 8.

While another user Amaan shared one such video from Bathinda with women riding the tractors to urge people to go to New Delhi on March 8.

Earlier on Tuesday, the leader of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha had announced that the women protesters will lead the protest at borders of New Delhi and other places across the country on March 8.

05-03-2021 05:21:11

'I like this India': TIME magazine highlights role of women in protests and agriculture

“I like this India,” TIME magazine quotes Harsharan Kaur, one of the women protesting against the Centre's farm laws, in a feature article highlighting the role of women in the farmers' protests and in India's agriculture sector. The article quotes various other protesting women from different walks of life describing their experience in the protests.

"I am here now ... and I cannot be oppressed. I cannot be intimidated. I cannot be bought," says Sudesh Kandela, a 55-year-old farmer from Haryana, clenching her fists.

TIME's new international cover celebrates the zeal of women leading the farmers' protest at different protest sites on the borders of New Delhi. Read the full article here.

04-03-2021 07:19:32

Fans, water pumps, refrigerator: Social media posts show preparation for summers at protesting sites

After surviving Delhi's harsh winters, farmers agitating at the borders of the national capital against the Centre's contentious farm laws are now gearing up to battle the summer months with portable fans, mosquito nets, and other necessities. The news agency ANI shared some pictures from Tikri borders showing such arrangements.

A Twitter user Sandeep Singh also shared a video purportedly from one of the protesting sites where the volunteers seem to be distributing free fans to the farmers to beat the heat.

04-03-2021 05:38:39

British parliament to discuss safety of protesters in India

Image Credit: ANI

British lawmakers will debate the issue of press freedom and safety of protesters in India next Monday in response to an e-petition that had crossed the 100,000-signature threshold required for such a debate, the House of Commons Petitions Committee confirmed on Wednesday.

The 90-minute debate will be held at Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament complex in London and will be opened by Scottish National Party (SNP) MP and a member of the Petitions Committee Martyn Day, and a minister will be deputed to respond on behalf of the UK government.

The debate relates to the petition entitled 'Urge the Indian Government to ensure the safety of protesters & press freedom', which called on the British government to make a public statement on the "#kissanprotests & press freedoms". Next week, the issue will come up for debate and is expected to involve backbench MPs who have been vocal on the issue of farmers' protests in India, including Opposition Labour MP Tan Dhesi.

India has emphasized that the protests by farmers must be seen in the context of India's democratic ethos and polity and the Ministry of External Affairs said that some vested interest groups have tried to mobilize international support against the country.

04-03-2021 05:16:29

Five people, including class 10 student, get bail in Republic Day violence

Image Credit: ANI

A Delhi court Wednesday granted bail to five persons, including a class 10 student, in a case related to the violence on Republic Day during farmers' tractor parade against the Centre's three new agri laws, PTI reported on Wednesday. The court said that they cannot be kept in custody merely on the apprehension that they might again commit a similar offense.

Additional Sessions Judge Sudhanshu Kaushik granted bail to Ravi, Ashish, Parvesh, Deepak Singh, and Naveen, who is studying in class 10, on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 30,000 with one surety of like amount each in the case of violence in the Nagloi area.

The court noted that police alleged that the accused persons were amongst the protesters who attacked the police personnel and robbed the gas gun of the police but the same could not be recovered. ''Record shows that investigation in the matter qua the applicant (Ravi), already stands concluded. He is stated to be in custody for the last more than a month. No previous criminal involvement of the applicant has been alleged by the prosecution. ''Keeping in view all these factors, I am of the considered opinion that there is no point in keeping the accused detained in custody. He cannot be kept detained in custody merely on the apprehension that he might again commit a similar offense, more-particularly when there is no record of previous involvement,'' the judge said in his similar order passed on the five bail pleas.

04-03-2021 04:49:28

Amritsar: Farmers modify trollies for summers before leaving for Delhi

The farmers in Punjab continue to extend support to the ongoing farmers' protest against the center's farm laws as they prepare their trollies for summers before leaving for protest sites at the border of New Delhi, ANI reported.

04-03-2021 04:43:13

Govt seeking ways to 'harass' supporters: SKM on income tax raids

Image Credit: ANI

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha condemned the income-tax raids on premises of Bollywood actor Taapsee Pannu, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, and others on Wednesday, claiming that the Centre was trying to ''harass'' supporters of the agitation against farm laws, ANI reported.

The searches are part of an investigation against production house Phantom Films, which was dissolved in 2018, and it's then promoters Kashyap, director-producer Vikramaditya Motwane, producer VIikas Bahl and producer-distributor Madhu Mantena.

In a statement, the SKM acknowledged the ''fearless support'' by many international and national celebrities, and well-known individuals who had been lending support to the farmers' movement against the contentious agriculture laws.

''Instead of fulfilling the farmers' legitimate demands, the government is seeking ways to harass and attack farmers and their supporters,'' the SKM, an umbrella organization of many farmer unions, said.

04-03-2021 04:33:49

'Need of the hour is handholding of FPOs and empowerment of farmers'

Image Credit: Wikipedia

"As Indian farmers lack resources, business acumen and technical know-how, immediate need of the hour is handholding of FPOs and empowerment of farmers through training and capacity building for creation of sustainable agri-value chains and efficient market linkages. If the Indian farmers facilitated success of the Green Revolution in the past, why not the FPOs will be instrumental in doubling the income of the farmers? The caveat is that the government should create a conducive environment in terms of access to finance, technology, professional manpower, and efficient market linkages for making farmers as agri-preneurs and FPOs as vibrant enterprises in India," writes M. Srikanth, Associate Professor, National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Hyderabad, and P Saravanan, Professor of Finance and Accounting, Indian Institute of Management Tiruchirappalli.

In the article published by Economic Times, writers call for nurturing farmer producer organizations (FPOs) with the help of government aid to develop robust agricultural infrastructure and empowering farmers through imparting financial and digital literacy. They argue that these would be important channels to create enabling environment for the implementation of the three farm laws. Read the full article here.

03-03-2021 06:45:23

Social media posts show arrangements for reliable water supply at protest sites

Preparing for the scorching summer heat, farmers protesting on the borders of New Delhi are reportedly making arrangements to ensure a reliable water supply at protest sites. A Twitter user Sandeep Singh shared a picture of a borewell purportedly from the Singhu border.

Another account 'BKU Ekta Ugrahan' shared a picture of a water tank from one of the protest sites.

While Khalsa Aid India also shared a video showing that their teams have increased water distribution drives across the protesting site.

03-03-2021 06:08:48

Women to lead farmers' protest on March 8

Image Credit: ANI

On the occasion of Women's Day on March 8, women protesters will lead the protest at Delhi borders and other places across the country, said Yogendra Yadav, the leader of the umbrella unit for protesting farmers Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Tuesday. Yadav announced this while talking to media about programs planned by protesting unions till March 15.

03-03-2021 05:25:00

'What we then need to do, as a country, is listen, value and incorporate'

Image Credit: ANI

"There may be better ways in which protests and engagement could have happened, from both sides. No side is at fault in this Catch-22 situation. India is a complex idea, and a complex country. Simple solutions based on market economics may not, however attractive on paper, be the best fit for our diversity. What we do have is millennia of experience in agriculture. We also have older persons willing to impart to us their perspective and their opinions, in a profession they operate, by and large. Learning from elders never hurts. What we then need to do, as a country, is listen, value and incorporate this expertise into our administration. In learning and growing from governance lies the strength and beauty of a democracy," write Dr Migita D’Cruz and Dr Debanjan Banerjee are psychiatrists at NIMHANS, Bangalore, in an opinion piece published by The Quint.

In the article, they argue that average Indian farmers are "older" and their decades of work experience shouldn't be dismissed by not including them in discussions related to the future of their profession. Read the full article here.

03-03-2021 03:45:14

Ghazipur border closed again

Image Credit: ANI

The Delhi Police on Tuesday afternoon closed the Ghazipur border again, hours after it reopened a portion of NH-9 for traffic movement, officials said.

The stretch was closed since January 26 when violence broke out during the farmers' tractor parade in the national capital on Republic Day.

The one side of the road which goes towards Ghaziabad from Delhi was opened for traffic on Tuesday morning.

02-03-2021 10:33:10

Social media posts show farmers' preparation to combat scorching heat

As summer approaches, several social media users shared pictures and videos showing farmers' preparation to beat the heat at different protesting sites. A Twitter user TractortoTwitter shared an image supposedly of wooden plywood being used to insulate trollies from the high temperature.

Another Twitter account Khalsa Aid India shared pictures purportedly from the Singhu border showing volunteers carrying air coolers.

While a Twitter user and journalist Man Aman Singh Chhina shared a video of an air-conditioned trolley prepared to provide ease to the protesting farmers at the Delhi border.

02-03-2021 08:02:50

One side of Ghazipur border opens for traffic

Image Credit: ANI

One side of the Ghazipur border, the site of the farmers' protest, was opened for traffic on Tuesday, police said.

The stretch was closed since January 26 when violence broke out during the farmers' tractor parade in the national capital on Republic Day.

The one side of the road which goes towards Ghaziabad from Delhi was opened for traffic in the morning, a senior police officer said.

The other side of the road is still closed, he added.

02-03-2021 07:08:14

Farmer unions plan to intensify protests; block KMP expressway on March 6

Image Credit: ANI

01-03-2021 07:12:03

Dalit Panchayats pledge support to farmers' protest against farm laws

Representatives of a number of Dalit panchayats on Sunday got together and pledged their support to the farmers' agitation against the farm laws.

Organized by Dalit Congress leader and former MP Udit Raj at the Constitution Club, Dalit representatives said Dalits and farmers will now unitedly fight against the farm laws till they are withdrawn.

01-03-2021 04:59:10

'Should be the convincing ground for farmers for reconciliation'

"The Supreme Court has already given a stay and paved for formation of a Committee to look into different aspects of suggestions by farmers. Moreover, the Government too has postponed the implementation by almost a year and a half. This should be the convincing ground for farmers for reconciliation," writes MG Chandrakanth, former Professor and Head of the Dept of Agricultural Economics at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore in an opinion piece published by The Times of India. In the article, he explains the farm laws in five points and appeals to agitating farmers to reconsider their decision to continue protests. Read the full article here.

26-02-2021 09:10:42

Punjab and Haryana High Court grants bail to Naudeep Kaur

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The Punjab and Haryana High Court granted bail to labor rights activist Naudeep Kaur on Friday, more than six weeks after she was arrested in Haryana's Sonipat for allegedly gheraoing an industrial unit and demanding money from the company.

''The court accepted the bail application of Naudeep Kaur. She has been granted bail by the high court,'' her counsel Arshdeep Singh Cheema said.

In her bail plea, the 23-year-old activist had claimed to have been severely beaten up at a police station after she was arrested by the Sonipat police on January 12. The police have denied the charge as ''baseless''.

Kaur had also claimed that she was falsely arraigned as accused in an FIR lodged under various sections, including 307 (attempt to murder), of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The activist claimed she was targeted and falsely implicated in the case as she was successful in generating massive support for the ongoing farmers' movement against the Centre's three contentious farm laws.

25-02-2021 04:50:15

SKM demands immediate release of farmers arrested on 'false cases', writes to President

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Samkyukta Kisan Morcha has written to President Ram Nath Kovind demanding the immediate release of farmers arrested during the ongoing protests against Central agri laws and the removal of "false cases" against them, ANI reported on Thursday. A memorandum or letter to the President on Wednesday by Samkyukta Kisan Morcha read, "Regarding the unconditional release of innocent farmers lodged in jails during the farmers' movement and cancellation of false cases and notices issued."

"Sir, the humble request is that for the last six months the farmers of the country have been fighting in various ways and at various levels against the three agricultural laws and for some other demands including legal guarantee of MSP. Under the leadership of the Samkyukta Kisan Morcha, for the last three months, the farmers have been protesting indefinitely around Delhi, but hundreds of farmers and supporters of the movement have been jailed by the Government of India and several state governments and false cases have been made," the letter read. The Samkyukta Kisan Morcha further said, "Observing 'Daman Virodhi Diwas' (anti-repression day) across the country, we are sending the following demands to you through district and tehsil authorities. We hope that you will take immediate action in this regard."

The demands include, Police cases lodged against innocent farmers lodged in jails should be dismissed and they should be released unconditionally immediately. False police cases filed against farmers and individuals and organizations supporting their struggle should be dismissed.

25-02-2021 03:32:07

'A mature response alone can help the government to resolve the crisis'

"The government has tried to discredit the farmers’ protests by bringing in the narrative of anti-national elements, threatened and filed cases against the activists and leaders, attempted to repress them via force and doesn’t seem to be interested in resolving the issue. Yet, the farmers have been resolute in their demand for repealing the laws. A mature response alone can help the government to resolve the crisis. In a year like this, the Essential Commodities Act can be dropped altogether (where there is a genuine fear of hoarding by corporate, for example, in pulses where there is only a marginal surplus or deficit) and when the situation is right next year the government can think of changing the laws in consultation with the farmers. India’s diversity should prompt the central government to adopt a federal approach to agriculture and allow state governments to decide the course of action in their regions," writes Divya Mangla, a student at IIM Indore, in an opinion piece published by The Indian Express.

In the article, she talks to few farmers from various regions to understand the impact of government policies in recent years and suggests that India's diversity needs to be considered in policymaking. Read the full article here.

24-02-2021 09:00:00

Republic Day violence: 19 people arrested, 25 FIRs lodged, HC told

As many as 19 people have been arrested and 25 FIRs lodged in connection with the Republic Day violence in the national capital during the farmers' tractor rally in protest against the three new agri laws, the Centre informed the Delhi High Court on Wednesday.

Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma and central government standing counsel Ajay Digpaul further told the high court that as many as 50 people have been detained and the investigation was going on into the incident.

24-02-2021 05:31:33

Nodeep Kaur's bail plea alleges she was severely beaten up at police station

Labour rights activist Nodeep Kaur in her bail plea before the Punjab and Haryana High Court has claimed that she was severely beaten up at a police station after her arrest by the Sonipat police last month.

The 23-year-old activist, hailing from Punjab's Muktsar district, has also claimed that her medical examination was not conducted in violation of section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Kaur is currently lodged in Karnal jail in Haryana.

24-02-2021 05:05:40

Delhi police gives clarification on posters at Tikri border

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After agitating farmer unions objected to posters that allegedly warned off protesters at the Tikri border site, Delhi police clarified on Wednesday that these posters were not new and that no action is being taken against the farmers.

24-02-2021 03:37:58

'Government must think hard about how to steal a victory in defeat'

"If the stalemate continues, there is a grave risk of the saner talking heads losing control to potentially militant elements. The farmers must not return defeated to their villages. For a bumper crop of peace, a way has to be found to make them look the winners. The government must think hard about how to steal a victory in defeat, for that’ll be statesmanship," writes Vinod Sharma in an opinion piece published by Hindustan Times. In the article, Sharma tries to explain why the impasse between farmer unions and the government has lingered for so long and suggests ways to resolve it. Read the full article here.

23-02-2021 13:20:26

Toolkit case: Delhi Court says evidence 'sketchy, scanty' on Disha Ravi's arrest

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A Delhi Sessions Court on Tuesday granted bail to climate activist Disha Ravi, who was arrested for being involved in sharing a 'toolkit' on social media in connection with the ongoing farmers' protest, ANI reported. While granting bail to her subject to two sureties of Rs 1 lakh each, the Session Court of Patiala House Court observed, that there is no palpable reason to not grant bail to Disha who has no criminal background.

"Considering the scanty and sketchy investigation, I do not find any palpable reason to breach the rule of bail for a 22-year-old girl who has absolutely no criminal antecedents," Additional Session Judge Dharmender Rana said in his bail order. Advocate Abhinav Sekhri, the lawyer for Disha, sought a reduction of the bail amount and sureties, but the court refused to modify the order.

Delhi Police had produced her before the Magistrate Court seeking extended custody of four days for Disha citing that her presence is necessary to confront her with co-accused in the matter. Yesterday, the same court had granted one-day police remand to the 22-year-old climate, who was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police on February 13 from Bengaluru in connection with the 'toolkit' case as part of the police probe into violence on January 26 in the national capital during the tractor march called by farmers protesting against three new farm laws.

23-02-2021 12:07:08

Farmer unions object to Delhi Police posters at Tikri border protest site

Agitating farmer union on Tuesday objected to Delhi Police putting posters that allegedly warned off protesters at the Tikri border site, even as the force claimed these were not new and only informed the protesters that they would not be allowed to enter the national capital.

In a statement, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farmer unions that is spearheading the ongoing agitation against the three agri laws, said that it is opposed to the police's move as the protesters were exercising their constitutional right and appealed to the farmers to continue their sit-in peacefully.

''The Delhi Police has placed some posters at the Tikri border protest site where farmers have been warned that they will have to vacate the area. Such posters are irrelevant as farmers have been staging a peaceful protest by exercising their constitutional rights ... We will oppose the conspiracy to end the protest with these kinds of threats and warnings,'' the SKM said in the statement.

In the posters, the police have not given any deadline to the protesting farmers to vacate the area.

On its part, the Delhi Police said it is a ''routine'' process.

23-02-2021 10:52:47

Toolkit case: Delhi Court grants bail to climate activist Disha Ravi

A Delhi court on Tuesday granted bail to 21-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi, arrested in connection with allegedly being involved in sharing a ''toolkit'' on social media related to the farmers' protest.

Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana granted relief to Ravi on a personal bond of Rs one lakh and two sureties of like amount.

Ravi was arrested by a Cyber Cell team of the Delhi Police from Bengaluru and brought to Delhi. She was currently in police custody.

23-02-2021 06:53:40

'What we need is not market fundamentalism, but a market that functions freely'

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"What we need is not market fundamentalism, but a market that functions freely, within the broad parameters set by well-crafted laws. The Indian government should repeal its new farm laws, and, through a careful deliberative process, craft legislation that stands the test of reason and can benefit poor farmers and consumers most of all," writes Kaushik Basu, a former chief economist of the World Bank, in an opinion piece published by Mint. In the article, he asks if providing more choice is always desirable and discusses how it can impact people. Read the full article here.

23-02-2021 05:31:41

Social media posts claim protesters have been asked to vacate Tikri border in a flex board notice

Few social media users have posted pictures of a flex board notice, supposedly from Delhi Police, that says that the gathering at the Tikri border has been declared unlawful and asked the protesters to vacate the site.

Devdiscourse couldn't independently verify the authenticity of these posts.

23-02-2021 04:34:23

Republic Day violence: Delhi police arrests prominent farmer leader from Jammu

The Delhi Police has arrested two people, including a prominent farmer leader, from Jammu for their alleged involvement in the violence at the Red Fort during the farmers’ tractor parade on January 26, officials said on Tuesday.

Jammu and Kashmir United Kisan Front Chairman Mohinder Singh (45), a resident of Chatha area of Jammu city, and Mandeep Singh (23), a resident of Gole Gujral, Jammu, were ''active participants'' and ''key conspirators'' in the violence at the historic fort, the Delhi Police said.

The duo was taken into custody by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police on Monday night and immediately shifted to the national capital for questioning, they said.

23-02-2021 03:30:30

'Committee's bigger headache is that the government has stopped responding to farmers' demands'

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"The committee's bigger headache is that the government has stopped responding to farmers' demands and the number of farmers at the borders is diminishing, especially at the Ghazipur border. The last meeting that the farmers had with the government was on January 22. A month has passed and except for the Prime Minister saying that he is one call away, no other communication is being established for any fresh talks or negotiations. There is no back channel contact either. The Prime Minister has meanwhile ridiculed the movement's leaders by calling them 'Andolanjeevi', a clear indicator that the government has made up its mind to let the movement tire itself out," writes Ashutosh, author and editor at satyahindi, in an opinion piece published by NDTV. In the article, he suggests that farmers need to get the government to restart talks while arguing that "the old enthusiasm and energy are missing" from the protests. Read the full article here.

22-02-2021 13:14:43

Tikait hits back at Tomar over remark that crowds don't lead to revocation of laws

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Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait on Monday took a dig at Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar's remark that mere gathering of crowd does not lead to revocation of laws, saying when people gather governments get changed.

On Sunday, Union agriculture minister Tomar had in Gwalior said the Centre was ready to talk to the farmers protesting against the new laws, and that mere gathering of crowd does not lead to revocation of legislations. He had urged the agitating farm unions to tell the government which provisions in these new laws they find anti-farmer. Hitting back at Tomar for his remark, Tikait said, ''The minister says that mere gathering of crowd does not lead to revocation of legislations ... They have lost their mind. When crowds gather governments get changed,'' he told the farmers' gathering.

22-02-2021 10:47:12

Proposals invited for 'Archi-Tractors': Low-cost summer 'houses' for protesting farmers

An Instagram post by Trolley Times, which claims to be a "newsletter dedicated to farmers protest", has called for proposals for so-called 'Archi-Tractors'. These are supposed to be eco-friendly, low-cost accommodations for farmers sitting at protest sites on the borders of New Delhi as they prepare for the summer season.

Farmers have been protesting at the different borders of the national capital since November last year, against the three newly enacted farm laws - Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. Farmer unions have said that protests will not end until the laws are repealed.

Some farmer leaders have already said that arrangements are being made for the upcoming summer season while assuring that "the movement get affected due to heat in summers."

22-02-2021 09:16:27

Barnala rally: Farmers reiterate support for protests in massive rally

More than 100,000 farmers and farm workers gathered in India's northern Punjab state on Sunday in a show of strength against new farm laws, where union leaders called on supporters to amass outside the capital New Delhi on Feb. 27.

At Sunday's rally at a grain market in Barnala, a town in Punjab, union leaders outlined plans to mobilize farmers and farmworkers from across the northern state and move to a protest site outside Delhi later this month.

"We came here to make Punjab's farmers aware of the movement in Delhi. We came to tell them what's happening there and what will happen next," prominent farmer leader Joginder Ugrahan said.

A sea of supporters, including tens of thousands of women, began gathering in Barnala early in the day, riding in on buses, tractors, trailers, and cars. Local police estimated a crowd of between 120,000 and 130,000 eventually gathered, comprising one of the largest rallies against the laws.

22-02-2021 07:33:37

'Negotiations cannot take place in an atmosphere of distrust, intimidation, and violence'

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"The central government must understand that the negotiations cannot take place in an atmosphere of distrust, intimidation, and violence towards the protestors; only with an open heart will the matter be resolved. In the spirit of responsibility and accountability to its people, the government needs to shed its stubborn and arrogant attitude and take a lead in rebuilding trust with the farmers in order to have a constructive dialogue," writes Javed Iqbal Wani, Assistant Professor at Ambedkar University Delhi. In the article, he tries to highlight why farmers have lost trust in the government and calls on the Centre to rebuild that trust in order to have productive talks. Read the full article here.

22-02-2021 05:54:37

150 protesters booked in Ambala for blocking railway tracks: Report

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A case has been registered by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) against 150 individuals for blocking the Delhi-Ambala railway track near Shahpur village in the district, The Times of India reported. Many protesters had blocked railway tracks as part of the 'Rail Roko' call given by Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of farmer unions spearheading the protests. The names of those booked in the case haven't been made public yet, the report added.

22-02-2021 05:42:52

Unions should make it clear which provisions are creating problems to them: Tomar

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Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday reiterated that the Centre was ready to talk to the farmers protesting against the new agriculture laws, and said that mere gathering of the crowd does not lead to revocation of legislations.

''Considering the issue with sensitivity, the government has held 12 rounds of talks with the farmer unions. But decisions on the basis of talks could be taken when objections (over the new farm laws) are pointed out,'' the Agriculture Minister told reporters when asked about the protest.

''You flatly say revoke the laws...It doesn't happen that the crowd gathers and the laws get revoked,'' he said.

22-02-2021 05:27:24

Farmer unions plan to intensify agitation with a series of events

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From 'Pagadi Sambhal Diwas' to 'Daman Virodhi Diwas', protesting farmers Sunday announced a series of events from February 23-27 to further intensify their agitation against the three new agricultural laws as they accused the government of adopting ''repressive'' measures against them. They also said they will soon devise a strategy to keep the protest going for long and will make their plans public on February 28.

The Morcha said February 26 will be observed as 'Yuva Kisan Diwas' (youth farmers day) and February 27 as 'Mazdoor Kisan Ekta Divws' (farmer-laborer unity day).

22-02-2021 04:36:34

Gherao Delhi cops if they come to arrest you: BKU leader to farmers

Alleging that notices are being served on people backing the agitation against the farm laws, BKU leader Balbir Singh Rajewal on Sunday asked farmers to gherao Delhi Police personnel if they come to their villages to make an arrest.

The BKU (Rajewal) leader also asked the Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government that the state police should not cooperate with the Delhi cops. “If the Delhi Police personnel come to arrest you, gather the entire village and oppose them,'' Rajewal told farmers at a ''Kisan-Mazdoor Ekta Maha Rally” in Punjab's Barnala on Sunday.

22-02-2021 04:00:23

'Farm laws are illustrative of an uncomfortable reality'

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"The farm laws are illustrative of an uncomfortable reality. There are many important issues that states are fully empowered to handle. But they don’t. Problems arise. Then there is a clamour that 'the government' should do more. But, inevitably, that means the central government. Of course, the Centre loves this, because it then exercises more power. And that has slowly, but surely, tilted the already imbalanced Union-state relationship even more in favour of the former," writes Devesh Kapur, Starr Foundation South Asia Studies Professor and Asia Programs Director at the Paul H Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC, in an opinion piece published by The Hindustan Times.

In the article, he calls for better embracing India's federalism and giving more say to the states in reforming the agriculture sector, which is believed to be a state subject. "The best bulwark against a hegemonic Centre is stronger federalism. But, for that to occur, states will have to up their game. Fundamentally, unless they bite the bullet and move to develop their non-farm sectors, most farmers will have increasingly precarious livelihoods. And the Centre can best help farmers by assisting states make that transition," he adds. Read the full article here.

20-02-2021 13:00:51

Disha Ravi's case: Delhi court reserves order for Feb 23 on bail application

A Delhi court on Saturday reserved its order for February 23 on the bail application of Disha Ravi, who was sent on Friday to judicial custody for three days in relation to the 'toolkit' case.

She was taken into custody on February 13 from Bengaluru in connection with the 'toolkit' case as part of the police probe into violence on January 26 in the national capital during the tractor march called by farmers protesting against three new farm laws.

20-02-2021 11:56:48

Job cuts in APMCs in Karnataka as trade shifts out of mandis

The Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) across Northern Karnataka are reportedly facing huge revenue losses as a major portion of trade shifted outside mandis after dilution of APMC Act in the state to facilitate free market, according to a report by Times of India. As much as 50 percent of the staff is sacked in some mandis in Karnataka due to a sharp dip in revenue.

The report also quotes a trader from Yadgir who said that doing business in the free market is being preferred by many farmers as there is no market fee on trades outside APMCs, which increases profit margins.

20-02-2021 09:00:34

School for seniors at Singhu, coloring books being used for therapy: Social Media post

A "school" for senior citizens has purportedly been set up near the Singhu border protest site where coloring books are being as a type of therapy, an Instagram post by Sikhexpo showed.

Earlier, a mental health counseling camp was also set up at the Singhu border for farmers, who have been protesting against the farm laws at the borders of New Delhi since late November.

20-02-2021 08:11:48

Kejriwal to meet farmer unions to discuss agri laws and other issues: Report

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will reportedly meet with the leaders of protesting farmer unions on Sunday, news agency ANI reported. He is expected to discuss new pieces of legislation, among other issues, with the unions.

20-02-2021 07:13:38

'We must recognise that the farm sector is beset with multiple problems'

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"We must recognise that the farm sector is beset with multiple problems. If we continue in the ‘business-as-usual’ manner, sustainability of farming would be seriously compromised. Although welcome, the recently enacted agri-market reform laws are nothing but bits and pieces legislation that ignore the real big picture and the multiple dangers associated with farming in the country. Land constraints, looming water stress and climate change are challenges that will have to be tackled head-on. Merely tinkering with some aspects of agri-markets may deliver very limited outcomes; ignoring the big picture for short-term gains would compromise the country’s food and nutrition security," writes G Chandrashekhar, a policy commentator and agribusiness specialist in an opinion piece published by The Hindu Business Line.

In the article, he tries to highlight various problems strangling the agriculture sector and stresses that consultations with stakeholders are critical to finding comprehensive solutions. Read the full article here.

20-02-2021 05:34:19

Govt assures online MSP payment won't affect 'arthiyas'

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"I don't think there was any intelligence failure. There were apprehensions that is why barricades were put up and they were stopped," ANI quoted Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava as saying when he was asked about possibilities of intelligence failure regarding January 26 violence.

19-02-2021 09:56:00

Tikait reiterates that protests will not weaken as harvest season approaches

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Rakesh Tikait, a prominent farmer leader, reiterated on Friday that protests against the new farm laws would continue and farmers will take the help of workers to harvest crops as harvest season approaches, news agency ANI reported.

19-02-2021 09:01:33

'Prolonging the protest, in my view, makes the administration appear ineffective'

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"The current administration, thus far, has indicated that it will not roll back the laws. Prolonging the protest, in my view, makes the administration appear ineffective, a risk it can scarcely take with major state elections looming ahead. The protest is costly to farmers as well," writes Surupa Gupta, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, University of Mary Washington, in an article published by The Conversation. In the article, she details why farmers are protesting and also highlights their political significance. Read the full article here.

19-02-2021 07:43:36

'Do not think that the protests are over,' says farmer leader

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“Do not think that the protests are over, we’re reaching out to people through several Mahapanchayats,” Outlook quoted Hannan Mollah, general secretary, All India Kisan Sabha, as saying when asked about the depleting strength at protest sites. Local media reports in recent days have claimed that the number of protesters is declining at the protest sites on the borders of New Delhi. Farmer unions have, however, refuted these reports.

The report by Outlook also claims that Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella organization of protesting farmer unions, is reportedly preparing to re-assemble its supporters on Delhi's border on February 26 for a "mega rally".

19-02-2021 06:33:09

'Fair and effective adjudicative mechanism in constitutional matters can meaningfully sublimate the agitation'

"A fair and effective adjudicative mechanism in constitutional matters can meaningfully sublimate the agitation on the street. Studies have shown that social movements could be less radical and less oppositional when the issues could be effectively sorted out by way of fair litigative means. Sociologist Luke Martell was of the opinion that the radical green movement in Britain has been at a slower pace when compared with other parts of western Europe, because the “public enquiry system” in the United Kingdom could "process ecological demands, integrate them into the political system and minimise radicalisation of the movement arising out of exclusion and marginalisation". The principle can have application across the constitutional democracies," writes Kaleeswaram Raj, a lawyer at the Supreme Court of India in an opinion piece published by The Hindu.

In the article, Raj discusses a recent Supreme Court decision to dismiss a review petition filed on the anti-citizenship law protests held in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh in 2019. A three-judge bench of Justices SK Kaul, Aniruddha Bose, and Krishna Murari said, "the right to protest cannot be anytime and everywhere" while dismissing the petition. Raj says that this pronunciation raises questions and acknowledges that it comes amid another major agitation against the farm laws.

"When fear is the new normal for the average Indian, the Court's only role is to act as the guardian of the right to dissent," he adds. Read the full article here.

19-02-2021 04:47:06

SKM says anger 'intensifying' among farmers; calls rail roko 'successful'

Calling its four-hour nationwide rail blockade a ''peaceful and successful event'', the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of the farm unions protesting against three new agriculture laws, on Thursday said the Centre will have to repeal the legislation as ''anger among farmers is intensifying'' in the country.

In a statement, the SKM claimed that trains were stopped from 12 noon to 4 pm at hundreds of locations across the country on Thursday.

''It was a peaceful and successful event... The citizens of India have opposed the attitude of the Centre towards the farmers' movement in large numbers,'' the SKM said.

''Anger among the farmers is intensifying and the Centre will have to repeal the laws,'' it stated.

19-02-2021 03:30:15

Yavatmal 'mahapanchayat' denied permission due to fresh COVID-19 restrictions

The Yavatmal district administration has reportedly denied permission to Samyukt Kisan Morcha to hold a "mahapanchayat" as a fresh lockdown has been announced in the town amid a rise in COVID-19 cases. The planned public meeting was scheduled to be addressed by prominent farmer leader Rakesh Tikait and was the first major 'mahapanchayat' in Maharashtra.

Organizers later said that they would follow all guidelines and a fresh application has been put up with the district administration.

18-02-2021 11:36:52

No untoward incident during 'rail roko'; train movement back to normal: Railways

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Indian Railways said on Thursday that the 'rail roko' protest by farmers passed without any untoward incident, news agency ANI reported. It added that there was "negligible or minimal impact" on the movement of trains and operations are now back to normal.

18-02-2021 10:10:08

'Label of terrorism should not be seen as a play of strength to build domestic rapport'

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"The label of terrorism should not be seen as a play of strength to build domestic rapport. As scholar C Raja Mohan recently noted, 'Without a visible and sincere political effort to promote unity at home, internal divisions will get worse and make India more vulnerable to external meddling.' Trivialising India’s posture on terrorism in the international community can undo years of steady gains, for the short-term and myopic benefits of political support, ideological one-upmanship and electoral victories in the country’s never-ending election cycles," writes Kabir Taneja, fellow, Strategic Studies Programme, Observer Research Foundation in an opinion piece published by The Hindustan Times.

In the article, Taneja argues that linking domestic challenges with terrorism could have broad implications for India at the global level. Read the full article here.

18-02-2021 09:31:43

Protests will not end; we'll harvest as well as protest: BKU's Rakesh Tikait

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Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said that the government should not be under the misconception that protests will end as agitating farmers will leave protest sites to harvest their crops, news agency ANI reported. "If they insisted, then we will burn our crops. They shouldn't think that protest will end in 2 months. We'll harvest as well as protest," he said.

18-02-2021 08:17:50

Social media posts show huge crowds assembling near rail tracks for 'rail roko'

Social media posts being shared by supporters of the farmers' protest purportedly show huge crowds gathering near railway tracks supposedly in different parts of the country.

A Twitter user Saahil Murli Menghani, who is a reporter and has a verified account, has also shared pictures reportedly from Rajasthan's Ajaraka. In a separate tweet, Menghani shared a list of railway tracks from different parts of India that he says are blocked by protesters.

18-02-2021 07:05:02

Farmers assemble near rail tracks in Punjab, Haryana for 'Rail Roko' protest

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Farmers on Thursday gathered near railway tracks at many places in Punjab and Haryana for the 'rail roko' protest against the Centre's new agri laws, with officials stopping trains at stations as a precautionary measure.

Security has been tightened in both Haryana and Punjab with personnel of the government railway police and the state police forces being deployed, officials said.

The Ferozepur division of the Northern Railways has decided to halt trains at stations so that passengers face less inconvenience during the 'rail roko' protest.

The officials said that the movement of trains is likely to be delayed because of the farmers' rail blockade. Train services will be resumed after following due security protocols once the agitation is over, they said.

18-02-2021 06:01:41

#GoGreenForFarmers: Supporters start new hashtag to show solidarity with farmers

Several social media users supportive of protesting farmers have asked their followers to wear a piece of green clothing and share their pictures with the hashtag #GoGreenForFarmers from February 18th leading up to February 20th, which is the United Nations World Day of Social Justice.

The hashtag has gained some traction on the photosharing platform Instagram and several users have shared their pictures with the hashtag. Click here to view pictures posted along with the hashtag.

18-02-2021 05:46:39

Tikait appeals to farmers to maintain peace during 'Rail Roko': Tweet

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Rakesh Tikait, a prominent leader of Bharatiya Kisan Union, appealed to protesters in a tweet on Thursday to conduct the 'Rail Roko' protest in a peaceful manner. Tikait reiterated that the protest will be held from 12 pm to 4 pm.

He also called on farmers to provide water, milk, and fruits to passengers stranded due to rail blockades.

18-02-2021 05:36:46

People who stormed Singhu border weren't locals: Report

A local news platform The Wire claims to have uncovered that many people in the "mob" that stormed the farmers' protest at the Singhu border weren't actually locals. The report also said that these people were "impersonating" locals and many of them belonged to far-right organizations.

Some of the people have also been named with their affiliations in the report. It says one of the protesters was a man named Vishnu Gupta who is supposedly the chief of 'Hindu Sena'. Similarly, it also names several other people including Sanjeev Bhati, Deepak Singh, and Vinod Azad among others with their supposed affiliations. Devdiscourse could not independently verify the claims made in the report by The Wire. Read the full report here.

18-02-2021 04:45:45

New strategy of farmers to 'tell the truth' via social media

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"We are not angry with the media but with a section of the media which is constantly spreading fake news," news agency IANS quoted Farmer leader Jagtar Singh Bajwa as saying.

"We have asked the sons of the farmers to train the farmers to use social media platforms. After that, we will post the things related to agriculture and tell the truth about the protest site to everyone," Singh said.

"We have made this strategy after the recent news about the borders being vacated. Our fight is not only about the farm laws now, we also have to fight against those who are trying to weaken the movement," he added.

18-02-2021 03:18:42

Will welcome trains and passengers will flower garlands: Kisan Andolan Committee

Kisan Andolan Committee spokesperson Jagtar Singh Bajwa said there will be arrangements for refreshment for rail passengers to avoid inconvenience to them during the 'Rail Roko' protest on February 18. "We will carry out a peaceful protest in the nationwide Rail Roko program on February 18, from 12 pm to 4 pm. We'll offer refreshments to passengers to avoid inconvenience," said Bajwa.

"We will welcome trains and passengers will flower garlands. We have intensified the campaign to keep farmers active on social media. We instructed dozens of farmers today and also created their profiles on social media," he added.

The farmer unions have called for a nationwide 'Rail Roko' protest on February 18 from 12 pm to 4 pm in protest of the three contentious farm laws.

17-02-2021 11:13:11

Railways deploy RPSF ahead of proposed 'Rail Roko'

The Railways has deployed 20 additional companies of the RPSF across the country, with a focus on Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, in the wake of the ''rail roko'' called on Thursday by farmer groups protesting against the Centre's new agri laws.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of protesting farmer unions that is spearheading the protest, last week had announced the rail blockade to press for its demand to repeal the legislation.

Director-General, Railway Protection Force, Arun Kumar on Wednesday said, ''I appeal to everyone to maintain peace. We will be liaisoning with district administrations and will have a control room in place.''

''We will gather intelligence. States such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, and some other areas will be our focus. We have deployed 20 companies (around 20,000 personnel) of the Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) in these areas,'' he said.

17-02-2021 10:34:53

'Changing how the entirety of Indian agriculture is organized must be done thoughtfully and democratically'

Image Credit: Pxhere

"The government wants farmers to trust in its benevolence when it designs laws without their input to supposedly benefit them, but it undermines this trust by repressing their dissent to those laws with indifferent cruelty. There's no doubt that improving farmers' economic fortunes requires liberalizing the agricultural sector and allowing the free market to play more of a central role. But changing how the entirety of Indian agriculture is organized must be done thoughtfully and democratically — and in a way that recognizes that the supply side of the market is made up of human beings," writes Supreet Kaur, an assistant professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley in an opinion piece published by NBC News. In the article, she tries to explain why the new farm laws could hurt farmers. Read the full article here.

17-02-2021 10:02:06

Punjab 'mahapanchayats' postponed in wake of 'Rail Roko': Report

Image Credit: ANI

All the 'Mahapanchayats' scheduled in Punjab have reportedly been postponed by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) in the wake of the proposed 'Rail Roko' on Thursday, Republic TV said in a report. The report said that the decision was announced during a press conference at the Singhu border on Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, the Railways has also reportedly either canceled or diverted some trains in Punjab, Hindustan Times said in a report.

17-02-2021 09:21:02

'Flourishing private initiative in agriculture needs more, not less, State support'

"Rural India is a land of opportunities, and key to our national future. This resolve, an article of faith if you will, can open the path for new policy architecture. This will have to be led by the government and backed by a substantially bigger budget. Some of this State support must take the form of higher and more efficient subsidies to the farmers, as our net subsidy so far has been low, if not negative. Some of these resources must be spent on a truly universal and comprehensive crop insurance as well as debt relief and reconstruction. But much of State support must go towards building agricultural and rural infrastructure that facilitates private entrepreneurship, agro-processing, farmers’ cooperatives, animal husbandry, forestry, and so on. Flourishing private initiative in agriculture needs more, not less, State support and initiative," writes Yogendra Yadav, national president of Swaraj India, in an opinion piece published by The Print. In the article, he proposes a more comprehensive "New Deal" for farmers, which will need a lot more government support. Read the full article here.

17-02-2021 07:19:23

'Toolkit' case: Bombay High Court grants 3 weeks transit bail to Nikita Jacob

Image Credit: ANI

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted a transit bail for 3 weeks to one of the accused in the 'toolkit' case Nikita Jacob, according to news agency ANI.

Earlier, a Delhi court had issued a non-bailable warrant against Jacob for her alleged involvement in the toolkit case.

17-02-2021 07:06:48

Indian High Commission writes to UK MP Webbe regarding concerns on farmers' protest

Image Credit: Twitter(@HCI_London)

The Indian High Commission in London issued an open letter to a British member of Parliament, Claudia Webbe, on Monday over the issue of farmer protests in India and related arrests of activists.

Claudia Webbe, a member of Parliament from the Opposition Labour Party for Leicester East, a significant British Indian constituency in eastern England has been vocal on the ongoing farmers' protest in India.

She had endorsed an e-petition calling for a UK government statement over the protests in India, after it crossed the 100,000 signatures threshold to be considered for a debate in the Westminster Hall of the House of Commons.

Most recently, she used her social media to demand the release of activists arrested in India in the "toolkit" case.

The Indian mission responded with an open letter on Monday evening, inviting her to convey any apprehensions on behalf of the British citizens of her constituency to the High Commission directly.

"We would have been able to comprehensively and in detail provide clarifications to assuage the concerns of your constituents with regard to the recent path-breaking Indian Farm Laws against which a small section of India's farming community has been protesting," reads the letter.

17-02-2021 06:23:17

Farmers organizations pitch MSP legal guarantee to SC-appointed committee: Report

A legal guarantee for procurement at the minimum support price (MSP) is one of the demands reportedly presented by many farmer organizations to the Supreme Court-appointed committee, The Times of India has reported. It also added that most organizations, however, are supportive of the new farm laws.

The committee has held talks with different stakeholders including 81 farmer organizations from different parts of the country. However, it hasn't met the unions agitating for the repeal of farm laws as they have taken a joint stand not to appear before it.

17-02-2021 05:35:03

Ghaziabad district admin reminds people of fundamental rights and duties with hoardings

Image Credit: ANI

The Ghaziabad district administration on Tuesday put up hoardings at the designated protest site on the collectorate premises, mentioning the fundamental rights and duties of the citizens of the country, PTI reported on Tuesday.

Political parties, non-governmental organizations, and social and religious outfits often hold sit-ins at the spot to draw the administration's attention towards their problems and hand over memorandums.

A pamphlet of fundamental rights and duties will now be given to every person handing over memoranda to officials of the administration, District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey said to PTI.

The pamphlets and the hoardings will serve the purpose of making people aware of their rights and reminding them of their duties towards law and order, he added.

17-02-2021 05:15:13

Delhi Police arrests 'most wanted' accused Maninder Singh in Red Fort violence case

Image Credit: ANI

Maninder Singh, one of the "most wanted" people in the Red Fort violence case, has been arrested by a Delhi Police Special Cell, ANI reported on Wednesday.

The Delhi Police informed that two 4.3 feet swords were recovered from his house in Swaroop Nagar. Besides, a long video showing him swinging swords at Red Fort on January 26 has been found on his mobile phone.

Here is a video tweeted by ANI which purportedly shows Singh at Red Fort on January 26.

Other photos of his presence at the protest site of the Singhu border are also on his phone. The 30-year-old, also known as 'Moni' works as a car AC mechanic. Maninder was arrested under 41.1 Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) at about 7.45 pm on Tuesday near bus stop CD block Pitampura.

17-02-2021 05:00:54

Sedition law 'cannot be invoked to quieten the disquiet', says Delhi Court

A Delhi court has said the law of sedition "cannot be invoked to quieten the disquiet" under the pretence of muzzling miscreants. Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana made the observation while granting bail to two persons - Devi Lal Burdak and Swaroop Ram arrested by Delhi police earlier this month for allegedly committing sedition and spreading rumours by posting a fake video on Facebook during ongoing farmers' protest, PTI reported on Tuesday.

The court said that the law of sedition was a powerful tool in the hands of the state to maintain peace and order in society. “However, it cannot be invoked to quieten the disquiet under the pretence of muzzling the miscreants. Evidently, law proscribes any act which has a tendency to create disorder or disturbance of public peace by resort to violence,'' the judge said in an order passed on February 15. “In the absence of any exhortation, call, incitement or instigation to create disorder or disturbance of public peace by resort to violence or any allusion or oblique remark or even any hint towards this objective, attributable to the accused, I suspect that Section 124 A (sedition) IPC can be validly invoked against the applicant,” the order said.

17-02-2021 03:10:25

'In a continental country, a one-size-fits-all prescription will not work'

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"To begin with, it has to be understood that in a continental country, a one-size-fits-all prescription will not work. In Punjab, Haryana and western UP, minimum support price (MSP)-based agriculture has a logic. It was surprising to read a well-known agricultural economist say that the region must get out of the rice/wheat rotation. Not all regions must diversify. If you have great alluvial soil, good irrigation and almost a century-long tradition of the application of science to agriculture, then there is nothing that says don’t grow the highest-yielding paddy and wheat in the world. This is the wrong advice on diversification. It’s like telling Gujarat and Maharashtra to get out of dairy or cotton. In south Punjab, with less irrigation, and parts of Haryana not covered by the Indira Gandhi Canal, some diversification to pulses, cotton etc. could work but the solid specialisation in this region remains," writes Yoginder K. Alagh, a noted Indian economist and former Union Minister, in an opinion piece published by The Indian Express.

In the article, he tries to highlight how the agricultural sector varies in different parts of India. He supports the proposal to suspend the laws for 18 months and calls for using this time to discuss the details with stakeholders to come out with a modified version of the laws. Read the full article here.

16-02-2021 13:16:31

Farmers build gym at Singhu border, shows social media post

A social media post by Sikhexpo on Instagram shows a makeshift gym purportedly set up by protesting farmers at the Kundli-Singhu Border. The video shared in the post shows a glimpse of the gym with a number of trainees and equipment.

16-02-2021 11:57:36

CCTV, portable toilets installed for protesting farmers at Ghazipur border

Image Credit: ANI

Portable toilets and CCTV cameras are being installed for farmers at the Ghazipur border protest site, ANI reported on Tuesday. The leaders of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, leading the protest, have reiterated to continue the agitation indefinitely till the Modi government scraps the three contentious farm laws and extends a legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

16-02-2021 09:56:32

Delhi Commission for Women sends notice to Delhi Police on Disha Ravi's arrest

Image Credit: ANI

The Delhi Commission for Women sent a notice to Deputy Police Commissioner, Cyber Crime Cell, Delhi Police on Tuesday seeking a copy of the FIR against Disha Ravi along with reasons for allegedly not producing her before local court for transit remand and detailed action taken report, ANI reported.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Delhi Police Commissioner SN Srivastava said that all procedures were followed in the arrest of activist Disha Ravi for her alleged involvement in preparing a toolkit that details support for farmers protesting against the Central Government's agricultural laws. "As far as Disha's arrest is concerned, it was done as per the procedures," Srivastava told the media.

"Law does not differentiate between a 22-year-old and a 50-year-old. She was produced before a court which sent her to 5-day Police custody," Srivastava added.

16-02-2021 09:05:02

Farmers conduct 'hawan' at Ghazipur, Singhu border

On the occasion of 'Basant Panchmi', farmers on the protesting site of Ghazipur border conducted a 'hawan' on Tuesday, ANI reported.

'Hawan' was also reportedly organized at the Singhu border to mark Basant Panchami.

16-02-2021 07:24:34

'Nothing in the toolkit on anything with regard to violence,' says former SC judge

"Every citizen of this country has a right to oppose the government so long as the opposition is peaceful," said a former Supreme Court judge Deepak Gupta in an interview with NDTV on Monday. Gupta also commented on the 'toolkit' that led to the arrest of Disha Ravi, a 21-year-old climate activist.

"I see that there is nothing in the toolkit on anything with regard to violence or anything with regard to inciting people…I don't see what is seditious about this document. One may or may not agree with the protestors, that is a different matter. But to say that this is sedition is totally not understanding the law," he added in regard to the toolkit available in the public domain.

16-02-2021 07:00:11

'Out of the box thinking is needed to break this regressive cycle'

Image Credit: Wikipedia

"Out of the box thinking is needed to break this regressive cycle for a brighter future for Punjab and our children. It is a hard nut to crack, but it is very much possible provided our policymakers have a 5-7 year vision to transform this belt into a belt of high-value fruits, vegetables, dairy, poultry, fishery, and even pulses and oilseeds, in line with the emerging demand pattern. Can the Centre and Punjab government join hands to deliver a better future for our children?" writes Ashok Gulati, Infosys Chair Professor for Agriculture at ICRIER in an article published by The Indian Express. In the article, Gulati highlights the urgent need for reforms in the agricultural sector by giving examples of policies adopted by China and Israel. Read the full article here.

16-02-2021 06:47:06

Social media posts show farmers celebrating Sir Chhotu Ram's birth anniversary

A Twitter user Saahil Murli Menghani shared images purportedly from Singhu Border that show farmers paying tribute to Sir Chhotu Ram, a prominent farmer leader, on his birth anniversary.

Another Twitter user Jaskaran Singh also shared images of farmers recalling Sir Chhotu Ram on Basant Panchami.

16-02-2021 06:00:54

Crowds reduce at Ghazipur, Singhu border as part of 'new strategy': Report

Image Credit: ANI

Entering the 83rd day of farmers' protest against centers' farm laws, the crowd of farmers has reportedly been thinning around at Ghazipur and Singhu border, NDTV reported on Tuesday. Many farmers are said to be leaving for villages and the number of protesters has been reduced to half, the report said.

However, the report quoted farmer leaders saying that this is a part of their new strategy and agitation is not fizzling out. The focus has reportedly shifted to massive rallies in different states including Haryana, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra in the upcoming days.

"What if 10 lakh people gather here? Will the government take back these laws? We will protest in the entire country, in all the districts our people are spreading. Meetings are taking place," the report quoted Tikait.

While from the Ghazipur border, a spokesperson from the protest committee, Jagtar Singh Bajwa said, "at first, the agitation was centralized at the borders, keeping in mind the stubbornness of the government". "The farmer leaders are changing their strategy as well, so that the protest can reach every house in every village. We are holding Mahapanchayats at different locations," he added.

16-02-2021 04:48:53

'What is the use of liquor here,' Tikait condemns Vidya Rani's remark

Image Credit: ANI

15-02-2021 10:33:19

'Accelerated transition on the scale of India’s population risks a major humanitarian crisis'

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"86 percent of India’s farmers cultivate plots of about 2 hectares (5 acres) or less, while the other 14 percent own more than half the cultivated land. In an unfettered market, large landowners with lower costs per acre and better access to funds could end up dominating markets, forcing smallholders to sell their land. That’s a shift that took decades in many developed nations as rural residents migrated to cities to work in factories. But an accelerated transition on the scale of India’s population risks a major humanitarian crisis," writes Pratik Parija for Bloomberg. In the article, he tries to explain why farmers' aren't convinced that new farm laws would benefit them. However, he also highlights that there is an urgent need to reform the agriculture sector of India.

Parija finishes the article by saying that it's an issue India must resolve while acknowledging it might be Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "hardest task to date." Read the full article here.

15-02-2021 09:30:22

'Love Conquers Hate': Unique campaign launched to support protesting farmers

A group of Indian diaspora organizations launched a rose campaign on the occasion of Valentine's Day on Sunday in support of the farmers protesting against the new farm laws in India.

The Global Indian Progressive Diaspora (GIPD) launched the social media campaign on Valentine's Day, which was observed globally on February 14.

Several personalities including Shashi Tharoor and Salman Anees Soz also supported the campaigning by tweeting.

The organization also released a letter addressed to Indian Consulates as part of its “Love Conquers Hate” Campaign.

The international community of progressive Indians, from over 12 diaspora organizations spread across the globe, extend their support to the farmers and their rightful demand to be heard and call for the repeal of farm laws and ask for shared governance in reformulating such laws, a media statement said.

“In pursuit of that goal, a broad coalition of partner organizations invites our media partners and fellow human rights organizations to help us amplify voices of support to the farmers and a universal call for peace, unity, and harmony in India,” it said.

15-02-2021 08:59:27

CRPF withdraws nodal officers from Delhi considering 'improved' law and order situation

Image Credit: ANI

After considering the law and order situation in New Delhi, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has withdrawn all its nodal officers deployed in Delhi.

The CRPF, which has contributed the majority of additional troops sent to Delhi, has asked officers to join back to their respective posts. These officers who were deployed after January 26 violence, were performing duty as nodal officers to maintain the law and order situation. They were deployed after Delhi Police requested for paramilitary forces to control on ground mob situation.

According to a recent letter, CRPF has said the decision has been taken after law and order has been improved in Delhi. "Since law and order situation in Delhi has been improved, hence as desired by a competent authority, DIGs, Commandants and other officers deployed by the headquarters as nodal officer for law and order deployment dated 26/1/2021 and 29/1/2021 are now withdrawn," CRPF said in a letter.

This aside, CRPF has clarified that other unit heads will continue to supervise and coordinate in their respective units.

15-02-2021 08:30:51

'Farmers and consumers cannot be left to the free will of competitive markets'

"Farmers and consumers cannot be left to the free will of competitive markets due to skewed income and asset distribution. A national body, national agricultural marketing board similar to TRAI and SEBI, linking all the State level bodies needs to be created to enhance the bargaining power of farmers and protect them, along with purchasers, sellers, and consumers from possibilities of exploitation," writes Prof MG Chandrakanth, a former Head of the Dept of Agricultural Economics at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, in an opinion piece published by The Times of India. In the article, he favors the new farm laws by highlighting their potential benefits to farmers but also calls for a national body to protect the interests of farmers. Read the full article here.

15-02-2021 08:17:08

Republic Day violence: Two elderly protesters get bail

A city court granted bail to the two elderly protesters Gurukmukh Singh, 80 and Jeet Singh, 70, on Friday, who were accused of assaulting Delhi Police security personnel during the January 26 violence, Hindustan Times reported.

The duo was reportedly the eldest among the 146 people arrested for violence on Republic Day. Keeping the age of the duo in the account, the court also considered the fact that both of them had no criminal past and had served in the defence forces.

15-02-2021 06:53:05

First 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' in Madhya Pradesh today

National president of Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh (RKMM) Shiv Kumar Sharma on Sunday announced that the first 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone will be held on Monday. "The first Kisan Mahapanchayat in the Madhya will be organized on February 15 in Khargone district at 12 noon. The Mahapanchayat aims to explain the new farm laws to farmers in detail as most of them are unaware of them. I will attend the Mahapanchayat," the RKMM chief said in a press conference in Indore, according to ANI.

Shiv Kumar also said that after Khargone, 'mahapanchayats' will also be organized in Gwalior, Ashoknagar, and other districts.

15-02-2021 06:29:05

'Toolkit' case: Non-bailable warrants against Nikita Jacob and Shantanu

The Delhi Police has issued non-bailable warrants against two individuals Nikita Jacob and Shantanu, for alleged involvement in the 'toolkit' case, ANI reported on Monday.

However, Jacob has filed a transit bail application in the Bombay High Court against the non-bailable warrant issued against her and the matter would be heard tomorrow.

15-02-2021 06:03:56

Tweets show multiple candle marches at protest sites for Pulwama martyrs

Several pictures and videos shared on microblogging site Twitter purportedly showed protesting farmers paying homage to soldiers martyred in the Pulwama terror attack by holding candle marches.

A user Satnam Singh shared images purportedly from the protest site with people carrying candles.

While another user Gagandeep Singh shared images of a candle march from the Ghazipur border.

Pictures supposedly from the Singhu border were also shared on Twitter by a user Sandeep Singh.

15-02-2021 05:30:52

'Stood in support of farmers': SKM condemns Disha Ravi's arrest

Image Credit: ANI

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers' unions, on Sunday condemned the arrest of 22-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi by the Delhi Police during their probe into toolkit document case and demanded her immediate release, PTI reported on Sunday.

Condemning Ravi's arrest, the SKM said she ''stood in support of the farmers''. ''We demand her immediate unconditional release,'' SKM said in the statement.

Ravi was arrested from Bengaluru by a Cyber Cell team of the Delhi Police on Saturday for allegedly sharing with Swedish teen climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg the ''toolkit'' related to the farmer's protest against the Centre's three agri laws.

The police claimed Ravi was an editor of the ''toolkit Google doc'' and a ''key conspirator'' in the document's formulation and dissemination. She and others ''collaborated with pro-Khalistani Poetic Justice Foundation to spread disaffection against the Indian State'', police alleged.

15-02-2021 05:23:08

'Toolkit' case: Delhi Police arrests activist for alleged role in drafting document

A 22-year-old climate activist has been arrested from Bengaluru for allegedly sharing with Greta Thunberg the ''toolkit'' related to the farmer's protest against the Centre's three agri laws, police said on Sunday.

The Delhi Police claimed that Disha Ravi, who was arrested by a Cyber Cell team of the force on Saturday, was an editor of the ''toolkit Google doc'' and ''key conspirator'' in the document's formulation and dissemination.

Police alleged that Ravi and others ''collaborated with pro-khalistani Poetic Justice Foundation to spread disaffection against the Indian State.''

''She was the one who shared the toolkit doc with Greta Thunberg,'' the Delhi Police claimed in a tweet.

Thunberg a teen climate activist, had shared the ''toolkit'' to lend her support to the farmers' agitation against the three farm reform laws. In the document, various urgent actions, including creating a Twitter storm and protesting outside Indian embassies, were listed which were needed to be taken to support the farmers' protest.

15-02-2021 05:16:57

'Among the rare instances that Twitter has accorded parity to its Indian audience'

Image Credit: Pixabay

"If anything, the present episode is arguably among the rare instances that Twitter has accorded parity to its Indian audience with that of its U.S.’s — choosing to take an independent view of the matter and not mechanically complying with the wishes of the national government. Social media platforms enjoy better immunity and warmer first amendment protection under U.S. law that help them better guard their users’ interests against government action. The attempt to extend similar safeguards to Indian users, who also in theory are guaranteed the same protection under a universal human rights regime, is welcome. That would also be consistent with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights endorsed by the UNHRC," writes Prasanna S., a Delhi-based lawyer and a founding member of the Article 21 Trust which works on issues at the intersection of digital rights and welfare.

In the opinion piece published by The Hindu, Prasanna S. supports actions taken by Twitter but also raises concern about the increasing power and impunity of Big Tech. Read the full article here.

15-02-2021 05:11:30

Farmer leaders will tour entire country; won't let govt sit in peace: Tikait

Image Credit: ANI

Upping the ante against the government, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Sunday said the farmers won't let it sit in peace till their demands are met, PTI reported on Sunday.

Addressing a farmers' ''mahapanchayat' at Indri grain market in the district, Tikait said the 40 leaders spearheading the agitation against the Centre's farm laws will tour the entire country to drum up support for the stir.

''Till the time the government does not decide in our favor, talks to the committee (spearheading the agitation) and does not agree to the demands, we won't let it sit in peace,'' Tikait said, demanding the repeal of the laws.

He reiterated that the Centre's farm laws ''will finish the public distribution system.'' The laws will not only impact farmers but also small traders, daily wagers, and other sections, he said.

Questioning the government's intention behind bringing the laws, Tikait said, ''Godowns were built first and the laws came later. Don't farmers know these laws are in favor of big corporates? Business on hunger will not be allowed in this country.'' He reiterated that the ''panch'' (leaders spearheading the stir) and the ''manch'' (stage) will remain the same.

15-02-2021 04:59:30

SKM condemns JP Dalal's statement about farmers' deaths during ongoing protests

Image Credit: ANI

Calling Haryana agriculture minister JP Dalal's statement about farmers who died during the ongoing protest against three farm laws as 'inhuman', Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Sunday warned the ruling BJP government that people would teach 'a suitable lesson for such arrogance'. During a press conference in Haryana's Bhiwani on Saturday, Dalal said that farmers would have died even if they had stayed back home, ANI reported on Sunday.

In the release signed by farmer leader Dr. Darshan Pal, SKM said that unlike the 'pseudo nationalism' of Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, farmers of the country are truly dedicated to protecting India's sovereignty, unity, and dignity. "Today, in the Kisan Mahapanchayat at Indri of Karnal, the sacrifice of India's jawans and kisans in the current movement was remembered respectfully. SKM said that unlike the pseudo nationalism of BJP - RSS, farmers of this country are truly dedicated to protecting the country's sovereignty, unity and dignity," it stated.

SKM also condemned the Central government for 'unashamedly admitting in the parliament' that it has no data of the farmers who died during the ongoing movement. "SKM is maintaining a blog site where such data is readily available if the government cares. It is the same callousness which resulted in the loss of lives so far," it said

SKM said that in a mahapanchayat at Indri, farmer leaders warned that "BJP's days are numbered as more and more farmers are getting awakened." "Farmers resolve to fight unitedly, cutting across states and religions is getting stronger with each mahapanchayat despite the govt's divisive efforts. Rural India and agriculture is the main agenda for us," said SKM.

15-02-2021 04:47:53

January 26 violence: Farmer unions demand high-level judicial inquiry

Image Credit: ANI

Protesting farmer unions on Saturday demanded a high-level judicial inquiry into the violence during the tractor rally in Delhi on January 26 and the alleged 'false'' cases.

Addressing a press conference at the Singhu border, Samyukta Kisan Morcha leaders asked farmers who are getting police notices not to appear before the force directly and instead approach the legal cell constituted by the unions for any assistance.

Kuldeep Singh, a member of SKM's legal cell, said that a retired judge of the Supreme Court or high court should probe the incidents to unravel the ''conspiracy'' behind the January 26 violence and the alleged ''false cases'' against the farmers.

According to SKM leaders, 16 farmers who had participated in the tractor parade are still untraceable. In the Republic Day violence, over 500 police personnel had been injured, while a protestor had died.

15-02-2021 03:51:42

'Government shouldn’t ignore the farmers’ fears'

Image Credit:

"The government shouldn’t ignore the farmers’ fears. It ought to add provisions that guard against exploitation by unscrupulous buyers, and amend the law to let farmers take disputes to court. It also needs to devise a safety net that will protect farmers against sudden shortfalls in income," writes Bloomberg Opinion editorial board. The article argues that the government should have first built support for the bills and also says that actions like "tarring" some protest leaders, sharp reaction to international criticism and actions against journalists have compounded the problem. It calls for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to himself lead the peace talks to make a truce. Read the full article here.

15-02-2021 03:14:54

A dissenting mind belongs to a thinking person: P Chidambaram

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"A dissenting mind belongs to a thinking person. Great judges have been great dissenters: Justice Frankfurter, Justice Subba Rao, Justice H R Khanna, and others. The dissenting judge, sometimes joined by other judges on the Bench, writes a minority judgment that was described as 'an appeal to the brooding spirit of the law, to the intelligence of a future day'," writes P Chidambaram, a former Finance Minister, in an opinion piece published by The Indian Express. In the article, he describes how 'andolanjeevis' have historically brought about change by giving the example of Mahatma Gandhi. Read the full article here.

12-02-2021 11:29:51

'This conversation is public, chaotic but also democratic'

Image Credit: Pixabay

"Each day on Twitter, a new hashtag trends for and against the farm laws, or farm leaders, or the promoters of leading Indian conglomerates, leaders of Opposition and even the Prime Minister. This conversation is public, chaotic but also democratic," writes Apar Gupta, the executive director of Internet Freedom Foundation, in an opinion piece published by The Indian Express. In the article, Gupta writes about the powers to the government under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which the government has sought to use to block Twitter accounts, and he also discusses the issues with such orders. Read the full article here.

12-02-2021 10:01:26

'The gap between promises and execution has eroded trust in reform pledges'

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"Time and again the gap between promises and execution has eroded trust in reform pledges. To win it back, the Modi government has to show actual progress in monetising assets, exiting non-strategic sectors. It also has to answer opposition charges of benefitting only select business houses, dispassionately and institutionally. Build the independent regulatory apparatus that will ensure competition. People’s doubts shouldn’t be vilified. The painstaking work of countering them with logic and hard evidence is absolutely necessary," reads Friday's TOI Edit.

The write-up also argues that the private sector has a crucial role to play in strengthening the Indian economy and discusses the hiccups in implementing economic reforms in the country. Read the full article here.

12-02-2021 09:03:18

How protesters coped with water supply cut? The Wire explores

"These draconian measures strengthened our resolve to fight the three black laws and save our farmers and the country," The Wire quotes Arvinder Kaur Kakra, a protestor who was at the Singhu border when the water and power supplies were cut off in a report which interviews various protestors to describe how disruptions in water supply and other basic necessities impacted those at protest sites.

Navdeep Kaur Brar, another protestor at Singhu border said, “throughout the day, there were long queues of men and women outside the mobile toilets. Somehow the men managed, but for the women there was no way out until volunteers, including many sportspeople, arranged water for us from nearby houses in Kundli village with hosepipes and buckets. Every day they ran back and forth between Kundli village and our camp, bringing water to us".

Protestors have been arranging water from villages near the protest sites, which they say are "generous". They also dug borewells and laid the water pipes and taps. The report also details how these disruptions haven't impacted the resolve of protestors. Read the article here.

12-02-2021 08:25:50

Indian govt reiterates stance on operations of social media firms amid Twitter row

Image Credit: ANI

Indian technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad warned U.S. social media firms on Thursday to abide by the country's laws, a day after a face-off between Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration and Twitter over content regulation. Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad mentioned Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp by name and said they were welcome to operate in India, but only if they play by India's rules.

"You will have to follow the Constitution of India, you will have to abide by the laws of India," Prasad said India rebuked Twitter on Wednesday after the U.S. social media giant did not fully comply with a government order to take down over 1,100 accounts and posts that New Delhi says spread misinformation about current farmer protests against new agriculture reforms.

Twitter said it had not blocked all of the content because it believed the directives were not in line with Indian laws. It permanently suspended some accounts and geo-blocked access to many others in India, though their posts could be read outside the country, the company said. That prompted censure from India's tech ministry and calls from politicians to urge their followers to join Twitter's home-grown local rival, Koo.

Twitter has since blocked access to the bulk of accounts it was ordered to take down, an IT ministry source told Reuters, declining to be named as he was not authorized to speak to media. Twitter declined to comment.

It was not immediately clear whether those accounts had been suspended or geo-blocked. Twitter and the Indian government have not made public the complete list of accounts and posts that were ordered blocked.

12-02-2021 07:41:26

'Mahapanchayats' to be organized across India in coming days

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The Samkyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of protesting farmer unions, on Thursday announced that 'kisan mahapanchayats' will be organized across the country in the coming days against the Centre's three agri laws.

The morcha made it clear that it will not call off the ongoing protest until its demands to repeal the laws and bring legal guarantee for minimum support price on their crops are met.

Protesting farmer leader Darshan Pal said a mahapanchayat will be held in Moadabad (Uttar Pradesh) on Friday, followed by Bahadurgarh bypass (Haryana) on February 13, Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan) on February 18, Hanumangarh (Rajasthan) on Februrary 19 and Silkar (Rajasthan) on February 23.

Rakesh Tikait will also address 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' and a public rally in the Yavatmal district of Maharashtra on February 20.

12-02-2021 06:17:24

'Mahapanchayat' in Maharashtra: Rakesh Tikait to go to Yavatmal district on Feb 20

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Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait will address 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' and a public rally in the Yavatmal district of Maharashtra on February 20, an office-bearer of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha said.

Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) is an umbrella body of 40 farmer unions protesting at various Delhi border points against three farm laws.

Its Maharashtra co-ordinator Sandip Gidde told PTI on Thursday that Tikait, Yudveer Singh, and several other leaders of the SKM will hold the Kisan Mahapanchayat and the public meeting at Azad Maidan in Yavatmal city on February 20.

''Tikaitwants to start the Kisan Mahapanchayat in Maharashtra from Yavatmal, which has earned the dubious distinction of being the hotspot of farmers' suicides,'' he said.

12-02-2021 06:12:11

'Let’s uphold the dignity and honour of our farmers and soldiers'

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"Let’s uphold the dignity and honour of our farmers and soldiers. And find an honourable exit from the issue. Let India in unison say, ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’. A phrase identified with Lal Bahadur Shastri, widely respected for his leadership during the 1965 war," writes Maj Gen Yash Mor (retd) in an opinion piece published by The Print.

In the article, Yash Mor, who belongs to a farmer-soldier family, expresses disappointment about protests being linked to "Khalistan" and being labeled "anti-national". "Those indulging in the slander campaign against farmers gave little thought to the fact that it’s the same stock who are defending India, the same families whose sons and daughters proudly serve the Army for generations," he writes. Read the full article here.

12-02-2021 06:07:35

Makeshift 'pathshala' at Ghazipur border helps children learn alphabets, counting

Image Credit: ANI

Around 12 noon, a little far from the sound of speeches and patriotic songs at the Ghazipur border, one can hear the voice of young children learning alphabets, poems, or counting inside a makeshift "pathshala" in the middle of the protest site. Seven years old Sadhna is coming here to study for the last eight days from nearby Khora village. Now, she is fluent in counting to 50 in English.

Another child, Mantisha who used to study in a government school in Ghazipur is continuing to learn English alphabets and several Hindi and English poems here. She said, "The class begins at 10 am but I come here as early as possible and wait for the class to start. I have made a few friends here. I like it very much"

Their parents work as laborers in nearby places. Since January 22 till date, this "Pathshala" has seen an increase in the number of students. It now has about 70-80 students.

Although education at protest sites be it Singhu or Ghazipur continues with various initiatives such as free books, library but this Pathshala is the first of its kind that has arranged classes and lunch breaks periodically.

Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 last year against the three newly enacted farm laws: Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

12-02-2021 05:01:08

Twitter withholds more accounts flagged by govt; almost 1400 accounts blocked: Report

Twitter has reportedly taken down over 97 percent of the handles that were flagged by the IT ministry for carrying “inflammatory content” related to farmers protests such as ‘farmers’ genocide’ hashtag and also included accounts allegedly backed by Pakistan and Khalistan sympathizers, the Times of India reported on Friday quoting a top government source.

Commenting on the development, a government source told TOI, "we view this as a positive step that Twitter has taken. It does culminate from the meaningful and healthy conversations that we had with the global executives of the company."

The report said that 1,398 Twitter accounts have been taken down or withheld out of the 1,435 accounts flagged by the government.

12-02-2021 04:23:46

CCTVs, WiFi and large screens at Singhu as farmers prepare for prolonged protest

Image Credit: ANI

Installation of CCTV cameras for enhanced security, electric fans to beat the heat in the coming months and even a separate optical fiber line for wifi facility in case there is another internet shutdown at the protest site. These are some of the measures taken by the agitating farmers at the Singhu border to prepare for a long haul as a resolution of the stalemate over the new farm legislation seems unlikely anytime soon, PTI reported recently.

The leaders of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, leading the protest, have reiterated to continue the agitation indefinitely till the Modi government scraps the three contentious farm laws and extends a legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

''We are strengthening our communication and other infrastructure to continue the agitation for a long period,'' said Deep Khatri associated with managing logistics at the Singhu Border protest site.

12-02-2021 03:22:33

'Both the internet companies and governments deserve blame'

Image Credit: Pixabay

In an interview with The New York Times, David Kaye, a law professor and former U.N. special rapporteur on free expression, raised a fundamental question - "Who decides what is legitimate speech on these (social media) platforms?"

He goes on to say, "both the internet companies and governments deserve blame. The companies haven’t provided transparency into their operations, their rules and their enforcement. Instead, we have perpetual cycles of what look like seat-of-the-pants decisions in response to public pressure. And governments have largely not done the hard work to create smart regulation."

But Kaye supports Twitter's decisions in the standoff with the Indian government and thinks it should have taken a stand two or three years ago. However, he also asks, "What about all the other countries? Will Twitter also be more forceful in standing up to governments in Turkey, Egypt or Saudi Arabia?" Read the full interview here.

11-02-2021 13:01:49

'Without social media, I have no voice': Exploring how account suspensions impact those raising awareness

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"Without social media, I have no voice, and I can't do as much to help them," Reuters quotes Hansraj Meena in a report published on February 2, a day after Twitter first suspended some accounts linked to the farmers' protest on request of the Indian government. The microblogging platform had soon reinstated many of the suspended accounts, triggering a furious response from the government.

But Twitter withheld more than 500 accounts again on Wednesday on orders of the government. However, it did not take action against accounts of news media entities, journalists, activists, and politicians. "To do so, we believe, would violate their fundamental right to free expression under Indian law," it said in a blog post.

India is among the top markets for both social media platforms, with a user base of more than 30 million on Twitter.

Meena, who hails from the northwestern state of Rajasthan, says social media helps amplify his voice. "Marginalised communities like indigenous people, lower-caste Dalits, and farmers - their voices are not heard ... I have a platform on social media, so I use it to raise awareness of their problems, and put pressure to bring about change" he had said to Reuters.

"Without social media, I have no voice, and I can't do as much to help them," Meena added.

Although Meena's account wasn't blocked by Twitter on Wednesday, hundreds of others could have been impacted in a similar manner. Meanwhile, the microblogging platform is facing increasing pressure as the government said after a meeting with Twitter officials on Wednesday that Indian laws "must be followed".

11-02-2021 12:46:08

Aerial view of farmers' protest goes viral on Reddit

Image Credit: Reddit

A 49-second long video of an aerial view purportedly of farmers' tractor rally has enthralled Reddit, garnering more than 18,000 points and more than 700 comments on a single subreddit called 'woahdude'. The video has been shared on other subreddits as well by several users.

The video is originally by 'Harp Farmer Pictures' and a 10-minute version of it has been uploaded on their YouTube channel. The video was uploaded on January 28 and it is not clear when it was shot.

11-02-2021 11:27:40

Social media posts show massive turnout at 'mahapanchayats' in Rajasthan and Punjab

Farmer groups continued to organize 'mahapanchayats' on Thursday to gather support for the agitation against new farm laws with events in Rajasthan's Alwar and Punjab's Jagraon. Bharatiya Kisan Union’s (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait also attended the 'kisan panchayat' in Alwar.

From Punjab, an Instagram user Sikhexpo has shared visuals of a 'massive' gathering of farmers from the first Mahapanchayat at Jagraon.

Another Twitter user BKU EKTA UGRAHAN has shared a series of pictures purportedly from Grain Market, Jagraon, Ludhiyana.

11-02-2021 09:51:43

Aligarh 'mahapanchayat': Thousands booked for violating COVID-19 protocols

Image Credit: Twitter (@jayantrld)

The Uttar Pradesh Police has booked RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary and over 5000 others who attended a major farmers' meeting in Aligarh district two days ago under the Epidemic Diseases Act for allegedly violating COVID-19 protocols. The FIR, lodged around 9:30 pm on Tuesday, names only 22 individuals, including Chaudhary, while the others are unnamed.

"Around five to six thousand people were attending the farmers' mahapanchayat in protest against three new central farm laws where RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary also came and support raised for (BKU leader) Rakesh Tikait in the event presided by Chaudhary Raj Singh," the FIR stated.

"The event was held amid COVID-19 pandemic with participants in attendance without face masks, not adhering to social distancing rules and in violation of CrPC 144 orders," it added.

11-02-2021 09:37:03

'Kisan park' near barricades at Ghazipur border: Tweet

A Twitter user Amann shared a picture from the area near barricades at the Ghazipur border where protesters have supposedly planted saplings and have turned it into "Kisan Park".

An Instagram account 'youthkisaan' also shared visuals of the "park".

Authorities had strengthened barricades near the protest sites on the Ghazipur border by putting in place concrete blocks and barbed wire fences in early February.

11-02-2021 09:01:20

Did you know? Farmers' protest has its own newspaper to fight 'misinformation'

Trolley Times is a tabloid-sized newspaper distributed at protest sites of farmers' protest and is available as a hard copy as well as on digital platforms in Hindi and Punjabi.

Dedicated to the farmers' protesting against the new farm laws, the newspaper is "reporting from the protest and for the protest". However, it is not an official voice of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of unions spearheading the protests.

11-02-2021 08:25:34

Koo app's popularity surges in India as Twitter faces increasing pressure

Image Credit: Koo

With over 3 million downloads till Wednesday, the ten-months old Indian social-media app Koo is witnessing a surge in popularity among Indian users amid a standoff between its rival Twitter and the Indian government. Several central government ministers and ministries have joined the app in recent days.

Koo said downloads had surged 10-fold in the past two days to over 3 million. Meanwhile, #kooapp was the top Twitter trend in India on Wednesday with nearly 21,000 posts, followed by #BanTwitter.

Koo is a Twitter-like microblogging platform that allows users to post multimedia content, including audio clips. A text post is restricted to 400 characters and the service supports six Indian languages, including English. Like Twitter, Koo's logo is a bird, though yellow in color. It allows users to use hashtags (#) or the "@" symbol for mentions. The app also allows users to 're-koo', Koo's version of a retweet and chat instead of a direct message.

11-02-2021 06:42:06

NGOs install water purifiers at protest sites

Image Credit: Twitter (Hemkunt Foundation)

Several non-government organizations including Hemkunt, United Sikhs, and Khalsa Aid have installed huge water purifiers at protest sites including the Tikri border and Shahjahanpur.

A non-profit organization Hemkunt Foundation installed water plants at Shahjahanpur.

Another organization United Sikhs has installed water purifiers at the Tikri border on Wednesday.

Earlier on Monday, Khalsa Aid India also supplied water bottles to the protesting site.

11-02-2021 05:59:59

Comedian Trevor Noah draws attention to farmers' protest in 'The Daily Show'

Image Credit: YouTube (The Daily Show with Trevor Noah)

The ongoing farmers' protest in India has made it to the Emmy Award-winning program, The Daily Show, hosted by comedian Trevor Noah. In a segment titled "If You Don’t Know, Now You Know," Noah tried to explain the protests happening in and around New Delhi to his followers.

'The Daily Show with Trevor Noah' channel on YouTube has more than 9 million subscribers and the video on farmers' protests has been viewed over 500,000 times in less than a day.

11-02-2021 05:43:40

Govt says Twitter must follow Indian laws after meeting with company officials

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Information Technology Secretary Ajay Prakash Sawhney held a virtual meeting with Twitter’s vice president-global public policy, Monique Meche, and deputy general counsel and vice president-legal, Jim Baker, on Wednesday in which he emphasized that the microblogging platform must follow Indian laws. The meeting comes as Twitter has been in a standoff with the Indian government over the order to remove more than 1,100 accounts and posts which the government says are spreading misinformation about farmer protests against new agricultural laws.

"Twitter is free to formulate its own rules and guidelines, like any other business entity does, but Indian laws which are enacted by the Parliament of India must be followed irrespective of Twitter’s own rules and guidelines," the press statement issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology read.

According to the statement, the Secretary also expressed "deep" disappointment over the delay by Twitter in complying with government orders. "Lawfully passed orders are binding on any business entity. They must be obeyed immediately," the statement adds.

11-02-2021 05:03:25

Delhi Police told to upload FIRs online to enable the accused to seek legal help

A Delhi court has directed the Delhi police to upload on its website all the FIRs that were registered at the Nangloi police station in connection to the violence on Republic Day during farmers' tractor parade against the Centre's three new agri laws. Metropolitan Magistrate Abhinav Pandey said except where reasons have been communicated to the court, all the FIRs should be uploaded so that the representatives of the accused persons do not have to run from pillar to post.

Regarding the FIRs, it said in order to plead effectively for bail before the court, the accused needs to know the substance of allegations against him, along with the prima facie basis for such allegations, and therefore, the supply of a copy of FIR to such an accused was a necessary element of natural justice and fair trial.

11-02-2021 04:54:41

Farmer groups say no 'solid alternative' to farm laws has been suggested; to continue protest

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Farmers are still agitating because ministers of the Modi government have failed to present any ''alternative'' to the three new agri laws, the Samuykta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of 41 farmer unions, said.

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address in Lok Sabha, SKM leader Darshan Pal said that union leaders have only been raising the ''genuine'' issues of the farmers. ''The agitation has been continuing because the ministers of the Modi government have not been able to come up with any solid alternative to the new laws or the MSP (minimum support price), despite 11 rounds of talks,'' Pal said in a video message.

11-02-2021 04:25:43

Farmers to escalate agitation; announce nationwide rail-blockade on Feb 18

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Protesting farmers Wednesday announced a four-hour nationwide rail blockade on February 18 from 12 pm to 4 pm as they renewed their strategy to intensify their agitation, which also included a candle march on February 14 in memory of those killed in the 2019 Pulwama terrorist attack.

In a statement, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which is spearheading the protest, also said toll collection will not be allowed in Rajasthan from February 12 as part of their week-long protest strategy.

11-02-2021 03:33:16

'They need to be talked to, and more important, listened to'

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"Panwar (a farmer who cultivates his land with minimal engagement of outside labor) is representative of the descent that a once-proud peasant-proprietor class is experiencing. These khudkasht kisan have been the change agents of Indian agriculture. Being serious full-time farmers who have (to) produce to sell, unlike marginal subsistence cultivators, they know what agriculture is. They aren’t impressed with contract farming, which has failed in sugarcane for lack of enforcement, and view deregulation of produce markets as a further step by the government to escape responsibility. Their anger and insecurity is genuine. They need to be talked to, and more important[sic], listened to. Not doing that would be the greatest injustice to Charan Singh — and also Lal Bahadur Shastri and C Subramaniam," writes Harish Damodaran in an opinion piece published by The Indian Express.

In the article, Damodaran explains why the peasant-proprietor class or rural middle-class is at the forefront of the farmers protest as they have seen their incomes diminish over the years. He details how rising costs of inputs from diesel to electricity and delayed payments have hurt the income levels of Surinder Kumar Panwar, a farmer from Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district. Damodaran argues that the anger and insecurity of these farmers are genuine. Read the full article here.

10-02-2021 12:27:50

PM Modi calls on protesting farmers to resume talks

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday sought to dispel concerns on the new farm laws in a speech in the country's lower house of parliament Lok Sabha and invited protesting farmers for talks. Tens of thousands of farmers have been camping out on main highways on the outskirts of New Delhi for more than two months in a bid to force the government to withdraw the new laws they say benefit private buyers at the expense of growers.

In his speech, Modi argued that reforms are important to bring in investment and modernize the agricultural sector while saying that his government is open to making changes "if there is any shortcoming." He also stressed that new provisions are optional for farmers while reiterating that minimum support price (MSP) will not be discontinued.

10-02-2021 11:09:54

Farmers seek opinions about protests at Singhu border: Report

Farmer groups agitating at the Singhu border protest site are reportedly seeking opinions and suggestions about the protests from visitors through a small desk near the main stage at Singhu Border, the Times of India reported recently. The initiative was started a week ago.

"After coming to the border last week, I see people from many states joining the protest but returning home without getting an opportunity to give a speech. That is why I thought of requesting people to give us suggestions or express their opinions would be of help to us," the report quotes Manjot Singh, a farmer from Punjab.

Organizers have received dozens of opinions and reactions. Some visitors from Jharkhand wrote on Tuesday, "The demand for law on MSP should emphasise on punishment to those who purchase crops at lower prices.” The report says that a few respondents also suggested farmer leaders, particularly orators, should be careful when expressing their views.

A compilation of these opinions is expected to be published by the organizers when the campaign against the new farm laws ends.

10-02-2021 09:44:05

Amnesty International calls on Indian govt to stop 'escalating crackdown'

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The non-governmental organization Amnesty International has called on the Indian government to stop "escalating crackdown” on protesting farmers and journalists in the country. The human rights body in the attached statement also advocated the release of allegedly detained protestors and journalists.

10-02-2021 09:10:15

Indian govt calls Twitter blog post 'unusual'; to share response soon

The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) said on Wednesday that Twitter's blog post on actions taken in response to the ministry's request was "unusual". It added that Secretary IT was supposed to engage with the senior management of the company as requested.

10-02-2021 07:24:14

Some Twitter users demand special emoji for #FarmersProtest

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Some Twitter users are demanding a special emoji for the farmers' protests hashtag after the platform's founder Jack Dorsey reportedly liked a similar tweet by Karen Attiah, a Global Opinions editor at The Washington Post. Those demanding the emoji include prominent personalities like poet Rupi Kaur.

The microblogging platform has in the past added special emojis for movements including 'Black Lives Matter' and 'End SARS'.

Few other users have also put weight behind the demand with a series of tweets.

10-02-2021 06:12:52

Twitter withholds accounts flagged by govt; reduces visibility of some hashtags

Image Credit: ANI

09-02-2021 13:07:35

'Necessary to go beyond reductionist expediency in considering agricultural reforms'

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"It is important to recognise that it is not a given that demand and supply will meet on their own to create a common, acceptable (efficient, market-clearing) price. This is shaped by various actors in the system — the more powerful the actor, the more the ability to determine the price and other terms of exchange between the two entities. Under an unregulated situation outside the mandis, Indian farmers who are mostly marginal and small will find it hard to overcome the grip of large agribusinesses. Considering the critical importance of agriculture for livelihoods, health, food security, and also keeping in mind the vulnerability of Indian farmers, it is necessary to go beyond reductionist expediency in considering agricultural reforms," write Richa Kumar, associate professor at the department of humanities and social sciences, IIT, Delhi, and Nikhit Kumar Agarwal, a PhD student in the department of anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles in an opinion piece published by Indian Express.

The article highlights five notable points, from the concerns in moving away from regulated markets to trying to make sense of the liberalization of the Indian agriculture sector. Read the full article here.

09-02-2021 12:10:41

People’s Archive of Rural India captures narratives of farmers in Bengaluru

"We don’t want corporate mandis. The government should instead make APMCs stronger and eliminate middlemen. They should introduce efficient ways of purchasing crops directly from the farmers," People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI) quotes A. Mamata, a 36-year-old farmer from Shiggaon taluk in Haveri district who had come to Bengaluru to support the farmers' protest. The report is an attempt to showcase what farmers feel about the new reforms. "Oppodilla! Oppodila!," (We won’t accept it) PARI says that the farmers chorused in Bengaluru.

"These laws are not for the people, the farmers or workers. They are only for the companies," says Ganga Dhanwarkar, a farmer from Ballari.

PARI also quotes organizations participating in the protests, which claim that more than 50,000 protesters have gathered "from all over Karnataka." P. Gopal, state secretary of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) says, "nearly 25 to 30 organizations in the state are participating in these protests. More than 50,000 farmers and workers are coming from all over Karnataka. The central government’s claim that only Punjab and Haryana farmers are protesting is completely wrong." Read the full report here.

09-02-2021 11:35:32

'Fake' Twitter account of Naseeruddin Shah shares misinformation on farmers' protest

A purportedly fake Twitter account of Bollywood veteran Naseeruddin Shah has been sharing "misinformation" on the micro-blogging site, The Quint said in a fact-check report on Tuesday. The account has gained almost 60,000 followers and has posted over 8,400 times at the time of writing this update.

The "fake" account has been consistently tweeting about the ongoing farmers' protest in the country and has also posted original videos of Naseeruddin Shah commenting on the topic.

The user operating the account has also asked his followers to subscribe to a YouTube channel called "Team Kisan".

09-02-2021 10:15:08

Rakesh Tikait shows huge crowd at Kurukshetra 'mahapanchayat' through tweet

Image Credit: Twitter (@RakeshTikaitBKU)

A huge crowd gathered at a 'mahapanchayat' in Gumthala Gadhu village of Haryana's Kurukshetra district on Tuesday, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait showed through pictures posted from his official Twitter account. The 'mahapanchayat' in Kurukshetra follows a series of similar events hosted in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

A Twitter user Saahil Murli Menghani also shared a video from the event which showed similar scenes and a huge turnout.

09-02-2021 09:26:40

220 deaths in 76 days of farmers' protests: Report

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220 farmers have died protesting against the new farm laws and as many as 13 of them committed suicide, NDTV reported on Tuesday. The report also said that at least 25 farmers died due to heart attack while more than 10 succumbed to freezing temperatures.

09-02-2021 06:25:33

Twitter seeking talks with govt amid increasing pressure to remove accounts

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Twitter said on Monday it was seeking talks with India's technology minister, days after the country asked the U.S. social media giant to take down 1,178 accounts it says, are spreading misinformation about ongoing farmers' protests. "We continue to be engaged with the government of India from a position of respect and have reached out to the Honourable Minister for a formal dialogue," a spokeswoman for Twitter in India said, adding that the safety of its local staff was a top company priority.

09-02-2021 06:20:11

Amanda Cerny calls on global influencers, celebs to read up on farmers protest

Image Credit: Instagram (Amanda Cerny)

American influencer Amanda Cerny called on influencers and celebrities across the world to read on farmers' protest in India through a tweet on Tuesday. Cerny first tweeted in the support of protesting farmers on February 3, followed by international pop star Rihanna.

Cerny has over 1 million followers on Twitter and 25.3 million on Instagram.

09-02-2021 05:17:18

Rakesh Tikait to address Mahapanchayat in Haryana's Kurukshetra: Tweet

Image Credit: ANI

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said in a tweet that he will address a 'mahapanchayat' in Gumthala Gadhu village of Haryana's Kurukshetra district on Tuesday.

09-02-2021 04:17:22

Deep Sidhu arrested by Delhi Police

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Tikait reiterates demand for law on MSP after PM Modi's speech

Image Credit: ANI

Bharatiya Kisan Union's spokesperson Rakesh Tikait reiterated the demand that a law be formed on Minimum Support Price (MSP) after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in Rajya Sabha. Tikait added that such a law would benefit all farmers of the country.

08-02-2021 07:40:46

PM Modi reassures farmers on MSP; calls for ending agitation

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"MSP (Minimum Support Price) tha, MSP hai aur MSP rahega," (MSP was there, MSP is there, MSP will remain in the future) said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rajya Sabha on Monday as he tried to reassure concerns of farmers protesting against the new laws. He added that the government's intention is to remove "handicaps" to enable farmers "vast potential at one large common market."

PM Modi's statement comes amid the protest staged by farmers at different borders of the national capital since November 26 last year against the three newly enacted farm laws: Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

On Friday, the marathon debate in the Rajya Sabha on the motion of thanks to the President's address concluded with 50 speakers from 25 political parties taking part in the discussion, which was spread over three days. The discussion was one of the longest such debates with high participation of members, said officials.

08-02-2021 06:56:40

'Peripheral issues are what is taking up our time and attention'

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"The inability to show any flexibility has made what was a perfectly manageable problem turn into a seemingly intractable one. The net result is that the peripheral issues are what is taking up our time and attention- the right of ‘outsiders’ to speak about India, the role played by celebrities, international and local, the spectre of terrorism, the revival of the Khalistani movement- everything but the question of the farmers demands and the state’s response or lack of it," writes Santosh Desai in an opinion piece published by The Times of India. The article talks in detail about the government's handling of the protests and discusses how recent events - from international support to the protests to the government's opposition to the international support - have derailed the discussions. Read the full article here.

08-02-2021 05:38:12

Haven't received a 'concrete suggestion' from farmers: Goyal

Image Credit: ANI

Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday said the government is ready to resume talks with the farmers protesting the new farm laws but asserted that despite repeated proposals, the protesters have not come up with any ''concrete suggestion'' so far.

"We keep reading in news 'tareekh par tareekh' (date after date) but it should be 'prastav par prastav' (proposal after proposal). But we are yet to hear a concrete suggestion from the farmers,'' said Goyal.

08-02-2021 05:16:53

Farmers' protest advertisement aired during Super Bowl: Report

An advertisement on farmers' protest aired in California during Super Bowl, the American National Football League, India Times reported on Monday. The report said that the advertisement was 30-second long and started with a quote by Martin Luther King Jr.

The event showcases some of the world's most famous advertisements every year and slots are outrageously expensive, with a 30-second commercial for this year's Super Bowl reportedly costing $5.5 million. It was not immediately clear who paid for the advertisement slot and whether it was aired in states too.

Punjabi singer Jazzy B also tweeted the purported video being played during Super Bowl.

08-02-2021 05:14:51

Dorsey's 'like' on farmers' protest tweets sparks concerns among govt: Report

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Twitter's founder Jack Dorsey 'liking' some tweets in favor of farmers' protest might not have appeased the Indian government, Times of India reported on Monday quoting a "top source" in the government who expressed concern about the "neutrality" of the micro-blogging site.

“If the founder of Twitter is openly taking sides, it does raise questions over the neutrality of the platform and how it deals with India’s requests related to the subject,” the source quoted by TOI said.

Dorsey had earlier liked some of the 'pro-stir tweets,' including one by Karen Attiah, a journalist at The Washington Post, which said “Rihanna has the Indian government shook”.

08-02-2021 05:07:33

Govt asks Twitter to remove 1178 accounts: Report

Image Credit: Pexels

The Indian government has reportedly asked micro-blogging site Twitter to remove 1178 "Pakistani-Khalistani accounts spreading misinformation and provocative content around farmers' protests," news agency ANI reported on Monday citing sources. The report also added that Twitter has not yet complied with orders.

08-02-2021 04:03:08

'Twitter is becoming both the battle arena and a potent weapon'

Image Credit: Pixabay

"Both India and Nigeria have engaged, politically active diasporas. The #EndSars and #FarmersProtests movements benefited from celebrities and cultural influencers of Indian and Nigerian descent putting a spotlight on the abuses back home and sending resources to organizers and activists on the ground. And in both cases, Twitter is becoming both the battle arena and a potent weapon in struggles between governments and their people," writes Karen Attiah, a Global Opinions editor at The Washington Post, emphasizing the role of social media, Twitter in particular, in empowering protests and movements. In the article, Attiah talks about the role of Twitter in protests across the world including 'End SARS' in Nigeria and the 'Black Lives Matter' movement. She also talks about the increasing pressure that Twitter is facing from authorities. Read the full article here.

06-02-2021 11:55:45

Internet to remain suspended at protest sites till Saturday night: Report

Internet services will remain suspended at Singhu, Ghazipur, and Tikri borders till Saturday night in wake of a three-hour 'chakka jam' that happened in different parts of India on Saturday.

06-02-2021 11:00:37

Won't hold discussions with the government under pressure: Rakesh Tikait

Image Credit: ANI

Bharatiya Kisan Union's National Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said that farmers will not hold discussions with the government under pressure. Farmer unions organized a three-hour-long 'chakka jam' in different parts of India on Saturday.

'WiFi langar' at Singhu border as internet continues to remain suspended

Image Credit: Instagram (hemkunt_foundation)

Gurugram-based Hemkunt Foundation has installed three wifi hotspots at the Singhu border as the internet continues to remain suspended near protest sites. Terming it "WiFi langar", the organization's Community Development Director Harteerath Singh said to Devdiscourse that one of the wifi hotspots at the site would be reserved for journalists to help them in on-the-ground reporting.

05-02-2021 08:53:22

Delhi Police makes 'adequate' arrangements for 'chakka jam'; monitoring social media

Image Credit: ANI

Delhi Police PRO Chinmoy Biswal said that "adequate security arrangments" have been made in view of the proposed 'chakka jam' on Saturday, news agency ANI reported.

Biswal added that Delhi Police would also monitor social media.

05-02-2021 08:42:30

Farmers being misled; efforts are to double their incomes: Tomar

Image Credit: ANI

“Farmers are being misled that others would occupy their land if these laws are implemented. Let me know if there is a single provision in Contract Farming law which allows any trader to snatch away the land of any farmer,” said Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar in Rajya Sabha on Friday.

Tomar also said that the new laws will benefit farmers and help them double their incomes while adding that even if the government is ready to make amendments, "it doesn't mean there is any problem in farm laws."

05-02-2021 07:54:31

People gather for 'Mahapanchayat' in UP's Shamli even as event denied permission: Tweet

A Twitter user Sandeep Singh shared a video purportedly from 'Mahapanchayat' in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district on Friday, which shows a gathering of people attending the 'Mahapanchayat' even as Shamli's district administration denied permission for the event.

05-02-2021 07:22:26

Haryana ADGP issues directives to SPs and commissioners ahead of 'chakka jam'

Haryana ADGP on Friday issued directives to police commissioners regarding the farmers' proposed 'chakka jam' on February 6, news agency ANI reported.

05-02-2021 06:44:26

'Chakka Jam' will be peaceful; not to be held in Delhi: Tikait

Bharatiya Kisan Union’s (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait has reiterated that 'Chakka Jam' planned on Saturday to protest against the new farm laws would be peaceful and will not be held in New Delhi, ANI reported on Friday. The report also quoted him saying that the supporters who can't come to the borders of New Delhi will observe it in their respective areas.

05-02-2021 06:43:00

Farmers from Bulandsahar march to Ghazipur border carrying water and essential commodities

A large number of farmers have started a foot march ‘Padyatra’ from Bulandshahar to the Ghazipur border carrying water, essential commodities, and food, The Statesman reported on Friday. Farmers from different villages joined the 'Padayatra' lead by Mangeram Tyagi, the NCR general secretary of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU).

The march is reportedly in response to the blocked water supply at protest sites. Tyagi was quoted in the report as saying, ”we will take water from our villages to the protesting farmers if the government will stop water supply.”

05-02-2021 04:54:01

'Mahapanchayat' denied permission in Shamli; organizers undettered

A 'mahapanchayat' in the Bhainswal village has been denied permission by the Shamli district administration, citing “unruly behavior by farmers” at the tractor rally in New Delhi on January 26 and “violation of Covid guidelines,” local media reported.

Shamli DM Jasjit Kaur also issued orders to strictly implement Section 144 of the CrPC, which prohibits the public gathering of four or more than four persons, from February 4 till April 3.

However, the organizer of the mahapanchayat Rashtriya Lok Dal has reportedly said that they will not call-off the program.

05-02-2021 04:46:44

Samyukta Kisan Morcha demands 'reinstatement of internet'; says will remain 'apolitical'

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is an umbrella body of 40 farmers' unions, demanded the immediate reinstatement of internet services near protest sites in a press note released on Thursday. The note highlighted that residents of the area, especially students, are facing problems due to the suspension of internet services.

The umbrella body also reiterated in the note that the movement will remain "apolitical", saying that while the support of political parties and leaders is welcome, political leaders will not be allowed on SKM's stage.

05-02-2021 04:32:09

Farmers' protest enters 70th day at Ghazipur border: See photos

05-02-2021 03:59:04

'What the situation really demands is for the ‘walls’ between the citizens to come down'

Image Credit: ANI

"Denialist ‘walls’ have an inherent tendency to isolate, irate and infuriate further, and what the situation really demands is for the ‘walls’ between the citizens to come down, and not come up. History is usually kinder, gentler and more appreciative of the side in an internal conflict that ultimately shows largeness of spirit in accommodation and rapprochement, as opposed to intransigence," writes Lt Gen Bhopinder Singh, former Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands & Puducherry in an opinion piece for The Quint.

Singh emphasizes in the article that direct participation of the highest executive office is needed and says that, "the schizophrenic approach of simultaneous engagement, intimidation, assurances, accusations and fortifications cannot possibly resolve issues permanently." Read the full article here.

04-02-2021 15:07:27

'No reason why the states should not have the freedom to choose'

"There is no reason why the states should not have the freedom to choose to follow the farm laws or not, depending on the requirements and circumstances of each state. Since MSP for wheat and paddy is mostly relevant to Punjab, Haryana and a few other states, the existing system should continue. To deal with the surpluses, the central government should enhance the public distribution system and subsidise exports of foodgrains. This will bring stability in agriculture production and allow the poor segment of society to a little better access to subsidised foodgrains," writes BR Bajaj, a retired Punjab-cadre IAS officer, in an opinion piece published by Hindustan Times. In the article, Bajaj also explained that the APMC Act, combined with MSP, not only reduced shortages but also created surpluses, especially of wheat and paddy. Read the full article here.

04-02-2021 13:16:26

Internet suspension extended in Sonipat, Jhajjar: Report

The Haryana government on Thursday further extended the suspension of mobile internet services till 5 pm on Friday in Sonipat and Jhajjar, news agency ANI reported. Internet services were restored in Panipat and Charkhi Dadri on Wednesday but official information on the restoration of internet services in Kaithal, Jind, Rohtak is awaited.

04-02-2021 12:18:58

People stuck in 'chakka jaam' will be given food and water: Rakesh Tikait

Image Credit: ANI

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said on Thursday that the "chakka jam" organized to protest against the new farm laws would take place "everywhere outside Delhi", news agency ANI reported. Tikait added that people stuck due to the protest will be given food and water.

04-02-2021 11:13:12

Delhi Police files FIR against creators of toolkit shared by Greta Thunberg

Image Credit: Wikimedia

The Delhi Police has filed an FIR against the creators of the controversial toolkit shared by climate activist Greta Thunberg on Thursday. The FIR has reportedly been filed for "promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language... and acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony."

Meanwhile, Thunberg reiterated support to farmers' protest just minutes after reports about the FIR surfaced.

04-02-2021 09:40:05

'Reforms are required but both social and economic factors must be taken into account'

Image Credit: Wikipedia

"Reforms are required but both social and economic factors must be taken into account. The stakeholders — farmers — must be engaged and the reforms should be consensual and not made only by theoretical experts and parliamentarians without farming background. Adequate safeguards of law must be made to prevent exploitation. The current laws have no obligation for businessmen/corporates to ensure welfare of farmers beyond engaging in commerce," writes Lt Gen H S Panag, former General Officer Commanding in Chief (GOC in C) of Army's Northern Command and Central Command in an opinion piece for The Print.

In the article, he argues that "affluent Punjab farmer is a mirage" giving the example of his own village in the state and says that government support is important for survival for farmers. He also talks about how the protest has derailed in recent days. Read the full article here.

04-02-2021 08:43:42

Twitter removes several tweets of Kangana Ranaut

Microblogging site Twitter removed several tweets from the account of Indian actress Kangana Ranaut on Thursday as they were "in violation of the Twitter Rules", journalist Aditya Raj Kaul reported. In recent days, some controversial tweets by the actress against the ongoing farmers' protest and its supporters have stirred concerns.

04-02-2021 08:05:49

Barkha Dutt captures the mood at Singhu

Award-winning journalist Barkha Dutt shared a series of tweets on Thursday capturing the mood at the Sindhu border where thousands of farmers are protesting against new farm laws.

Dutt also talked to locals who are urging both government and farmers to find a solution.

Entering the Singhu border, Dutt showed the scenes at the protest site.

04-02-2021 07:21:50

Wire mesh on CRPF buses ahead of 'chakka jam'

Image Credit: ANI

While Delhi Police started repositioning nails installed on the roads at various borders of the national capital, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has asked all units deployed in Delhi to fit their buses with wire mesh.

CRPF in its letter has said that the work should be done on 'war footing' and should be completed before Saturday. The deployment of CRPF's 31 companies have been extended for two more weeks in Delhi-NCR.

The communication accessed by ANI which has subject saying 'fitting of wire mesh on buses', says "In the wake of "Chakka Jam" call given by the farmers on February 6, 2021, competent authority has desired that all buses available with Units, splinter companies should be fitted with wire mesh."

04-02-2021 06:59:28

Dilip Mandal shares bird's eye view picture of barricades

Author and former Managing Editor, India Today Hindi, Dilip Mandal, has shared a picture on Twitter that appears to be a bird's eye view of barricades put in place by authorities near protest sites at borders of New Delhi. He captioned the picture, "Aesthetically oppressive! Beautiful! Isn’t it?"

04-02-2021 05:35:45

Corporate sector has a long history of exploiting the farmer: Yoginder K Alagh

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"The announcement in the Budget to increase procurement prices is correct. But the increase in the number of farmers claimed to have benefitted would depend on the mechanisms used. The argument in the Economic Survey for again relying on the corporate sector is chimerical. The section on this in the Budget and earlier in the Economic Survey is particularly weak. The corporate sector has a long history of exploiting the farmer and landless laborer in plantations -- the Pepsi disaster in Punjab is a case in point," writes Yoginder K Alagh, former Union Minister of Government of India and a noted Indian economist in an opinion piece published by Outlook India. In the article, Alagh evaluates various aspects of the recently announced Union Budget and stresses that India needs a "long-term agricultural plan." Read the full article here.

04-02-2021 05:31:49

Tweets by international personalities, Indian celebs spark fresh storm

American basketball player Kyle Kuzma, US Politician Jerry Dyer, Footballer JuJu Smith-Schuster joined the growing list of international personalities that have expressed support to the ongoing farmers' protest in India. The buzz notably started after international pop icon Rihanna tweeted a news article about the suspension of the internet at sites where farmers are protesting and captioned it "Why aren't we talking about this?!"

However, the criticism has drawn mixed reaction in India with several influential Indian personalities, including top government officials, actors, and athletes, showing support to hashtags "#IndiaTogether" and "#IndiaAgainstPropaganda" that were tweeted by India's Ministry of External Affairs along with an unusual statement calling on "foreign individuals and entities" to ascertain facts and "a proper understanding of the issues at hand".

The series of events has started a storm on Twitter with related hashtags now being trending in different parts of the world.

04-02-2021 05:09:33

Nails being repositioned at Ghazipur border: Report

Image Credit: ANI

Authorities are reportedly removing nails that were fixed near barricades at the Ghazipur border where farmers are protesting against the new farm laws, ANI reported on Thursday. In recent days, authorities have strengthened barricades near the protest sites by putting in place barbed wire fences, concrete 'walls', and digging up stretches of NH-44 to restrict movement to and from these sites. These measures have drawn sharp criticism from those supporting the protests and key opposition leaders.

Update: Delhi Police's Joint Commissioner Alok Kumar later clarified that nails have only been repositioned and not removed, contrary to the earlier report.

04-02-2021 05:02:44

'Further this reform agenda by also focusing on increasing efficiency in PSUs'

Image Credit: ANI

"To ensure that farmers are not exploited and receive competitive prices under contract farming, it is also important to aggregate smallholder farmers through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). Through economies of scale, FPOs increase the bargaining power of farmers, and improve production efficiency by allowing timely access to credit, inputs, and technology. Estimates suggest that there are around 7,000 FPOs and there has been a steady growth in their numbers in recent years. Although promising, government support through financial and regulatory incentives is necessary to sustain this growth," writes Somya Singhvi, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Global Development, Washington DC, and Lt Karan Javaji, a former officer of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in an opinion piece published by The Wire.

The article suggests that while unifying agri-markets can be beneficial, farmers may not be able to participate in cross-market trade due to a lack of robust warehousing and transportation facilities. And thus, the writers argue that, "the need of the hour is to further this reform agenda by also focusing on increasing efficiency in the public sector undertakings in the agri-domain." Read the full article here.

04-02-2021 04:35:36

Delhi govt suspends direct issuance of DTC buses to police deployed at protest sites

Image Credit: ANI

The Delhi government has ordered the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to seek prior approval before allowing any of its buses to be taken on ‘special hire’ by the Delhi Police or any other entity for that matter, media reports said quoting senior transport officials said. The directive comes after several buses were damaged during Republic Day violence.

Meanwhile, Delhi police personnel continue to be deployed near protest sites at the borders of New Delhi.

04-02-2021 03:46:43

Unhindered access to internet fundamental to freedom of expression: US State Dept

Image Credit: ANI

Commenting on internet shutdown in areas around the farmers' protest sites in India, a US State Department spokesperson said, "We recognize that unhindered access to information, including the internet, is fundamental to the freedom of expression and a hallmark of a thriving democracy," according to a report by India Today.

The comments come after numerous international personalities have expressed concerns about the internet shutdown in parts of Northern India that are affected by the ongoing agitation of farmers against new farm laws by the country's central government.

The spokesperson also added, “in general, the United States welcomes steps that would improve the efficiency of India's markets and attract greater private sector investment” while stressing the differences should be resolved through "dialogue".

03-02-2021 13:24:35

Greta Thunberg shares 'toolkit' to help protesting farmers in India

Image Credit: ANI

The Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg shared a "toolkit" in a tweet on Wednesday for people to help support the farmers' protest, which comes almost a day after her first tweet in support of the agitation on the borders of New Delhi. The toolkit is a document that suggests ways for people from all parts of the world to support the agitation.

Update: The tweet has since been deleted from Thunberg's account and she has attached an "updated toolkit" in a new tweet. The document previously shared by Thunberg has started a storm on social media with several people and local media claiming it was linked to an international conspiracy.

03-02-2021 12:03:44

Farmers from Hisar leave for Delhi after 'mahapanchayat': Tweet

A news anchor and reporter Saahil Murli Menghani has posted a video on Twitter that shows a caravan of bullock carts that are purportedly moving towards New Delhi after a "mahapanchayat" in the Jind district.

The "mahapanchayat" at Kandela village in Jind district attended by Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday renewed the call to repeal the new farm laws.

03-02-2021 11:19:26

Jind 'mahapanchayat' renews call for repeal of farm laws and release of arrested farmers

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A ''mahapanchayat'' at Kandela village in Jind district attended by Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday renewed the call to repeal the new farm laws. Other resolutions passed at the mahapanchayat include a legal guarantee of the minimum support price for crops, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report, and the release of farmers arrested after the Republic Day violence.

03-02-2021 11:15:21

Activists protest at Delhi's Mandi House in support of farmers

Several activists from students, youth and women organizations are leading a protest march from the Mandi House to Jantar Mantar on Wednesday to support farmers staging protests on borders of New Delhi.

However, activists haven't been allowed to march till Jantar Mantar. Media reports have quoted a senior police officer saying that activists have been stopped as prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 were in force in the area.

03-02-2021 09:36:17

Govt sends notice to Twitter over unblocking accounts; says it is 'violation of Indian law'

Image Credit: Pixabay

The Indian government has sent a notice to Twitter for reinstating a number of accounts that the IT Ministry had asked the social media platform to withhold, The Indian Express reported on Wednesday. The report said that the 18-page notice stated that the “impracticability or the disproportionality of the said measure cannot be decided (by) Twitter which is an intermediary bound by the orders of the Central Government.”

A Hindustan Times report also quoted an official saying, "this is a clear violation of Indian law that Twitter is supposed to follow."

03-02-2021 09:15:29

Social media posts show massive crowds at 'mahapanchayat' in Jind

03-02-2021 08:49:14

International celebrities extend support to farmers' protest; MEA issues statement

Image Credit: Twitter (@miakhalifa)

US Congressman Jim Costa, Mia Khalifa, Vanessa Nakate, and Russ have become the latest international personalities to support Indian farmers protesting against the controversial farm laws at borders of the Indian capital New Delhi.

Calling the events "troubling", US Congressman Jim Costa took it to Twitter saying that, "the right to peaceful protest must always be respected."

The adult film star Mia Khalifa also shared her support as she tweeted, "I stand with the farmers"

The Lebanese-American model also raised concerns over the internet shutdown and human rights violations in the capital city of India.

'No indication of risk mitigation policies, especially for poor farmers'

Image Credit: Pxhere

Ready to discuss farmers issues inside and outside Parliament, says Minister Tomar

Image Credit: ANI

The government on Tuesday asserted in Lok Sabha that it was ready to discuss issues related to farmers both inside and outside Parliament amid vociferous protests by the Opposition which forced the House to adjourn twice, first for almost an hour and then for nearly two hours.

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said during Zero Hour, which began at 5 pm, that the Modi government is always committed to discussing the farmer's issues.

''Government is ready to discuss issues related to farmers inside and outside Parliament,'' he said amid sloganeering by opposition members.

Tomar's reply came after Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury claimed that 170 farmers have died during the ongoing agitation against the three contentious farm laws.

02-02-2021 12:33:50

A Twitter user Sandeep Singh has posted a video on the social media platform which purportedly shows a protestor saying that the water supply to the protest site at the Singhu border has been stopped. He also claims that protestors aren't able to access toilets due to barricades placed by authorities.

02-02-2021 08:17:39

'Never met a farmer who complains about not being allowed to sell outside the mandi'

Image Credit: ANI

"The first assumption is that farmers lack choice when selling their crops because they are forced to sell it to the sarkari mandi, the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC). This is a false picture, because only one-quarter of all agricultural produce is sold through these mandis. Three-fourth of Indian farmers already enjoy the freedom that the government promises them. What this overwhelming majority of farmers actually needs is not freedom from mandis, but more and better-operated mandis. In all these years of traveling and meeting farmers, I hear them complain about the absence of mandis or about its poor functioning, but I have never met a farmer who complains about not being allowed to sell outside the mandi," writes Yogendra Yadav, national president of Swaraj India in an opinion piece published at The Print. In the article, Yadav argues that assumptions made from the laws differ from ground reality. Read the full article here.

02-02-2021 06:41:54

'Will see the gradual shifting of trade from the APMC mandis'

"Since the said markets/private yards will not be charged any market fee/levy; the agricultural sector will see the gradual shifting of the trade from the APMC mandis to these private yards. It is necessary to indicate that the market fee collected by the APMC mandis is used for the development of rural infrastructure, link roads, and storage facilities. The shifting of trade to avoid payment of any levy/market fee by private players and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) will eventually witness the redundancy of the APMC mandis, leaving the farmers at the mercy of the corporate sharks," writes Salman Khurshid, former minister, Government of India and Aadil Boparai, spokesperson for Indian National Congress in an opinion piece for The Indian Express.

They further point out that, "the asymmetric negotiating matrix between the famers and corporates will invariably lead to negation of their rights. The present laws alter the bargaining landscape in favor of the corporate players to the detriment of the farmers." Read the full article here.

02-02-2021 06:12:42

Encouraging group contracts can give farmers bargaining power: Sukhpal Singh

Image Credit: ANI

"Contract farming—can it be promoted by policies saying, we will encourage group contracts, so the farmers have larger volumes, and our buying or sponsoring company has lower transaction costs over a group rather than 1,000 farmers. The farmers can also have some bargaining power when they have larger volumes. We need to have that kind of an incentivized system through policy," says Sukhpal Singh, professor at IIM Ahmedabad in an interview with BloombergQuint. In the interview, Singh also pointed out that various safeguards needed to protect the interest of farmers as well as the APMC markets.

He also pointed out that the dispute resolution mechanism might be complicated for farmers as they won't have their representatives in the executive driven structure. "The APMC committee has 50-60% members who are farmers. When an election takes place, you have representatives of farmers, commission agents, traders, and government and co-operatives. So that is a kind of multi-stakeholder, elected body. So, they said the farmers’ interests could have been better protected in the earlier system. Here you have an administrative structure, which may not be able to give farmers a resolution for their disputes," he said. Read the full interview here.

02-02-2021 05:28:36

'Government’s presence helps in keeping check on rates of the crop'

Image Credit: Wikipedia

“Making MSP legal does not mean that government has to procure everything as government’s presence in the market will help stabilize the market price if farmers get too low prices for their crop in the open market against the declared MSP, which is calculated only to decide a benchmark for a crop,” The Indian Express had reported quoting a senior professor from Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), Ludhiana, who was countering the argument that making Minimum Support Price (MSP) legal for all crops will put a burden of Rs 17 lakh crore on the government exchequer annually.

“In Punjab where wheat and paddy is procured on MSP, private players also give good prices for both crops to farmers, even a little more than the government because they know that only if they offer a little extra will farmers sell to them. Otherwise, farmers have the option to sell to the government. However, this is not the case in Bihar where farmers are at the mercy of only private players and the government’s intervention is negligible due to repeal of APMC Act there in 2006. The point I want to make here is that the government’s presence always helps in keeping a check on the rates of the crop,” the professor adds further. Read the full article here.

01-02-2021 13:50:03

Budget is 'silent on agricultural unrest,' says Punjab FM Badal

Image Credit: ANI

“The Budget is silent on agricultural unrest. It buries its head in the sand, and rather than help solve the crisis that the NDA created. What about MSP,'' Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal asked in a tweet, commenting on the Union Budget 2021-22 presented by India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday. Read the full article here.

01-02-2021 05:14:25

Reforms will sound the death knell for rural development: Ramesh Inder Singh

"The way the reforms were structured and thereafter hurriedly notified, has created a toxic shroud regarding the motives and turned the entire process into corporates vs peasants, putting private participation in jeopardy even for future," writes Ramesh Inder Singh, former Punjab chief secretary, and chief information commissioner, in an opinion piece published by Hindustan Times. He further adds that the core ills of the agriculture sector remain unattended in the new farm laws and writes that a false narrative has been created that the new reforms create one nation one market as "virtually no state bans its farmers from selling anywhere in India." Read the full article here.

01-02-2021 04:49:27

Parliament and its systems alone can produce a satisfactory solution: PDT Achary

Image Credit: ANI

"The issue that needs to be settled by the top court is only the constitutional validity of the laws. In resolving a problem like the agitation by farmers against the laws, the centrality of Parliament in the legislative process in all its dimensions should not be lost sight of. Once the Court decides the legality or constitutionality of a law, the political and legislative aspects of the issue will have to be dealt with only by Parliament," writes PDT Achary, former Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha, in an opinion piece published by The Hindu. Achary highlights that although the Supreme Court has set up a committee of experts, farmers' unions have not reacted favorably to it amid concerns about the impartiality of these farmers. He adds that even if the top court ultimately invalidates the proceedings of Rajya Sabha, the onus will fall back on the Parliament to produce a satisfactory solution. Read the full article here.

01-02-2021 04:05:51

Post-reform agriculture scenario in Bihar highlight downsides: Dr Sukhpal Singh

"The prevailing worrisome scenario of Bihar’s agricultural sector offers a lesson in the aftermath of the market reforms in the country. Bihar’s reforms have only enhanced market inefficiency that has led to lower and unstable prices of agricultural produce," writes Dr Sukhpal Singh, principal economist at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana in an opinion piece published by Hindustan Times. Singh highlights that the Bihar Agriculture Produce Market (Repealing) Act was believed to enable massive investment to set up and run agri-markets, leading to the state becoming an agricultural hub. Instead, he writes that these reforms worsened the scenario and market efficiency deteriorated. Read the full article here.

31-01-2021 00:39:52

Let govt tell farmers why can’t it repeal farm laws, we will not let it bow its head: Tikait

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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.

30-01-2021 18:00:01

Don't implicate innocent farmers: Azad

Image Credit: Twitter(@ghulamazad)

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad Saturday asked the government to not implicate innocent farmers in the Red Fort incident otherwise their agitation would spread further, even as he condemned the January 26 violence and vandalism at the monument.

30-01-2021 17:52:36

Delhi police not allowing water tankers to reach protest sites: Satyendra Jain

Delhi cabinet minister Satyendra Jain on Saturday claimed the Delhi police were preventing water tankers from reaching farmers protesting at Singhu border.

30-01-2021 12:50:42

Withdraw the laws and send them to standing committee on agriculture: Yashwant Sinha

Image Credit: ANI

"Governments make mistakes, and at times, even commit blunders. The government has already eaten crow. My recommendation is that it should withdraw the laws entirely, redraft them if necessary and send them to the standing committee on agriculture," writes former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha in an opinion piece for The Indian Express. In the article, Sinha highlighted that bills are "referred to the concerned standing committee for examination and report" and said that they are passed directly by the two Houses "only in rare cases." He expressed concern about the manner in which they were passed by the two Houses, especially Rajya Sabha. Read the full article here.