Farmers' Protest LIVE: SKM To Take Out Tractor Marches Across Countries' Highways On Feb 26, Says Rakesh Tikait
Farmers Protest News LIVE Updates: Follow this space for the latest updates on Farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' March.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha on Thursday demanded Haryana Chief Minister and the Haryana Home Minister be booked for the "murder" of a protesting farmer on the Punjab-Haryana border and announced a tractor march next week.
The SKM announced that the farmers will observe a 'black day' on Friday in the country to mourn the death and will burn effigies of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, and state home minister Anil Vij.
It said farmers will take out tractor marches on highways on February 26 and hold an All India All Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on March 14. (PTI Input)
Amid farmers' protest on the borders between Punjab and Haryana, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said his government was giving priority to every aspect linked to villages and also focusing on improving the lives of small farmers through various schemes and initiatives.
He said strengthening the rural economy was necessary to achieve the goal of a 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India).
The PM was addressing a gathering of nearly one lakh people, mostly cattle-rearers and farmers, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera area of Ahmedabad on the golden jubilee celebration of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which owns the 'Amul' dairy brand.
Referring to the BJP government's ambitious plan of creating 10,000 FPOs or Farmer Producer Organisations, PM Modi said his government was on a mission to turn small farmers into "agri entrepreneurs and exporters".
In his address, he listed many schemes meant for farmers and village-dwellers, such as Micro ATMs, GOBARdhan scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras. (PTI Input)
The government is hopeful of finding a resolution to the concerns of farmers before the start of wheat procurement season from March, Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said on Thursday.
His comments also come against the backdrop of farmers' protest raising various demands, including guaranteed minimum support price for crops.
At a briefing here, he also said that wheat crop is in good condition and procurement may commence early depending on arrivals in growing states.
Barring rice, prices of wheat, wheat flour, sugar and edible oils are stable, he said. According to him, there is no proposal to allow further diversion of sugar for ethanol production. (PTI Inputs)
Farmer mahapanchayat by SKM at Ram Leela ground Delhi to be oragnised on March 14, tractor marches in own areas on Feb 26, said Rakesh Tikait.
The Delhi Assembly on Thursday condoled the death of 21-year-old Shubhkaran Singh during farmers' protest at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border.
Reading the condolence message of the House, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel said that the incident at the Khanauri border on Wednesday was "very painful".
"The peacefully protesting farmers should be treated calmly and their demands should be seriously considered," he said.
Singh was a native of Bhatinda and the lone bread winner of his family. His family owns just two acres of land, said the Speaker, expressing the House's condolences to the family of the deceased farmer.
The House also condoled the deaths of eminent jurist Fali S Nariman and famous radio presenter Amin Sayani and observed a two-minute silence. (PTI Input)
The Congress alleged on Thursday that democracy is being "murdered" in the country after microblogging platform X voiced disagreement with the BJP-led Centre's order to block accounts and posts related to ongoing farmers' protests. X also called for extending freedom of expression to the affected posts.
Guramneet Mangat, General Secretary of Progressive Farmers Front while addressing a press conference at Shambhu Border said, "Punjab government should answer how Haryana Police and paramilitary forces crossed the border and entered Punjab. They attacked farmers' camp, tractors and 6 of our people are missing after the action..."
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which spearheaded an agitation in 2020-21 against three farm laws that have since been repealed, will hold a meeting here on Thursday to discuss the situation at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana where thousands of farmers are camping as part of the "Delhi Chalo" call given by their organisations, as reported by news agency PTI.
Ranchi, Jharkhand | On a two-day stay on farmers' march towards Delhi, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda says, "I would like to say that meaningful talks have been held in the several rounds of discussions with farmers. But more hard work will have to be put in by both sides for agreement over a few issues. Govt of India is committed to working for the interest of farmers and it is doing that."
Due to the deployment of picket/checking at various borders of Delhi, traffic is affected.
Farmer leaders have put the 'Delhi Chalo' march on hold for two days after a protester was killed and about 12 police personnel were injured in clashes at Khanauri, one of the two protest sites on the Punjab-Haryana border.
Early morning visuals from Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border where agitating farmers continue to stay put. Farmer leaders have put the 'Delhi Chalo' march on hold for two days after a protester was killed and about 12 police personnel were injured in clashes at Khanauri, one of the two protest sites on the Punjab-Haryana border.
Hundreds of farmers gathered in Indore on Wednesday with their tractors to protest against the acquisition of agricultural land for development projects.
The protesters, who had assembled at the Laxmibai Nagar agricultural produce market in the city on a call by the RSS-backed Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), claimed that they were being given low compensation compared to the market price for acquiring fertile agricultural land.
The farmers protested against the land acquisition for Indore’s Western Ring Road, Indore-Budhni rail line and other projects. (PTI Input)
The Punjab and Haryana High Court, on Wednesday, denies urgent consideration of an application aiming to halt the purported movement of farmers using modified vehicles and tractor-trailers.
Commuters taking the expressway witnessed huge traffic jams at Delhi-Gurugram border Wednesday morning due to barricading by the Delhi Police to stop farmers from marching to the national capital.
The Delhi Police became alert again in view of the farmers' protest in Manesar on Tuesday and their proposed march to Delhi.
Police checked the ID cards of the drivers and then only allowed them to go further. That, and closing of the service lanes near Rajokri, caused a glut of vehicles on the expressway.
The barricades were later removed by the Gurugram and Delhi Police and the normal run of the traffic restored. .
"The entire team of traffic police managed the traffic within time. After some time the traffic was smooth there," Traffic Inspector Satish Kumar said.
The Gurugram Traffic Police had earlier alerted travellers about the impending jam in a post on X. (PTI Input)
BKU leader Rakesh Tikait asserts the perseverance of the farmers' movement, highlighting the need for dialogue while announcing the Samyukt Kisan Morcha's upcoming decision-making meeting in Meerut, UP.
On the PIL filed in Punjab Haryana High Court for farmers' right to protest, Advocate Uday Pratap Singh said, "I have filed a PIL in favour of the farmers. The state is stopping the farmers from exercising their fundamental right to protest and they have installed barriers. As the citizens of India, they (farmers) have the right to move to any part of the country... Haryana government put barriers and suspended internet services... The PIL says that the internet must be reinstated and action should be taken against concerned police officials... The injured farmers should get compensation... The Punjab government is in its favour, but Haryana and UT (Chandigarh) are against it... Any order from the High Court does not stop the farmers from using tractors and heavy machinery during the protest... We will fight this in the Supreme Court if needed."
Farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march: Tear gas shells fired at Khanauri border. More details are awaited.
According to ABP News sources, there is a crowd of about 10 thousand people at the Shambhu border with 1200 tractors and trolleys. The protesting farmers are also carrying two proclaim machines and a JCB machine to break the police barricade. The protestors also have sticks, stones, iron shields, and face masks.
Kalaburgi, Karnataka: On farmers' protest, Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge says, "We are supporting them (farmers). We are saying openly that their reasonable demands should be fulfilled. We are going to say this in our election manifesto also that a legal guarantee will be given. All crops cannot be covered but the essential crops should be done (providing MSP)."
Farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march: Security forces fire tear gas shells as agitating farmers try to proceed to Delhi from Punjab-Haryana's Shambhu Border.
On the 'Delhi Chalo' march today, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher says, "We've decided that no farmer, youth will march forward. Leaders will march ahead. We will go peacefully... All this can be ended if they (central govt) make a law on MSP."
On farmer leaders rejecting the Government's proposal over MSP, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda says, "We want to do good and several opinions can be given for doing so, as we always welcome good opinions... But to find a way on how that opinion will be fruitful, the only way is conversation. Through conversation, a solution will surely come out..."
Shambhu Border: Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal says, "Our intention is not to create any chaos... We have made a programme to reach Delhi since November 7. If the government says that they didn't get enough time this means the government is trying to neglect us... This is not right that such huge barricades are placed to stop us. We want to go to Delhi peacefully. The government should remove the barricades and let us come in... Otherwise, they should fulfil our demands... We are peaceful... If they extend one hand, we will also cooperate... We have to handle the situation with patience... I appeal to the youngsters to not lose control..."
Shambhu Border: Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal says, "Our intention is not to create any chaos... We have made a programme to reach Delhi since November 7. If the government says that they didn't get enough time this means the government is trying to neglect us... This is not right that such huge barricades are placed to stop us. We want to go to Delhi peacefully. The government should remove the barricades and let us come in... Otherwise, they should fulfil our demands... We are peaceful... If they extend one hand, we will also cooperate... We have to handle the situation with patience... I appeal to the youngsters to not lose control..."
On farmer leaders rejecting the Government's proposal over MSP, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda says, "We want to do good and several opinions can be given for doing so, as we always welcome good opinions... But to find a way on how that opinion will be fruitful, the only way is conversation. Through conversation, a solution will surely come out."
Gurugram, Haryana: Farmers marching to Delhi were detained in Manesar yesterday.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher says, "...We have told the govt that you can kill us but please don't oppress the farmers. We request the Prime Minister to come forward and put an end to this protest by announcing a law on the MSP guarantee for the farmers...The country will not forgive such a govt...There are paramilitary forces deployed in the villages of Haryana...What crime have we committed?...We have made you the Prime Minister. We never thought that the forces would oppress us this way...Please protect the Constitution and let us peacefully head towards Delhi. This is our right..."
Background
Farmers Protest LIVE: Hello and welcome to this space brought to you by ABP Live. Follow this space for the latest updates on Farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' March.
Following the death of a farmer hailing from Punjab, the farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Wednesday announced that the 'Delhi Chalo' protest march will be suspended for two days. The farmer who died in the clashes was identified as Subhkaran Singh (21), who succumbed to injuries at Khanauri on the Sangrur-Jind border.
Farmer leaders rejected a government proposal after the recent round of talks and announced the revival of their agitation, prompting thousands of Punjab farmers to resume protests on Wednesday.
A 21-year-old protester died as a result of his injuries sustained during a clash with Haryana Police near the Khanauri border. A medical superintendent at Patiala-based Rajindra Hospital, H S Rekhi, confirmed the death and mentioned that three individuals, one deceased and two stable, were brought to the hospital from Khanauri, PTI reported.
Amid reports of the farmer's death, Haryana Police refuted the claim, stating that, as of now, no farmer had died during the ongoing protest. In an X post, the police termed it a rumour, adding that two policemen and one protester were injured at the Data Singh-Khanori inter-State border.
Police used tear gas shells to disperse the advancing farmers, with drones employed to drop tear gas at Shambhu near Ambala. The protesters, wearing masks and glasses for protection, faced repeated rounds of tear gas shelling.
In view of the proposed 'Delhi Chalo' march by protesting farmers on Wednesday, the Delhi Police has stepped up security measures deployed at the city's Tikri, Singhu, and Ghazipur border points and conducted mock drills on Tuesday. The officials of the Delhi Police said that security personnel deployed on Tuesday at the city's three border points to remain on high alert. They also stated that the commuters might face traffic congestion, news agency PTI reported.
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