Farmers' protest LIVE: Unions say ready for talks, ask govt to choose date

Farmers' protest LIVE: Farmer unions agitating against the three agri laws on Monday asked the govt to fix a date for the next round of talks

Farmer protest LIVE updates: Farmer unions agitating against the three agri laws on Monday asked the government to fix a date for the next round of talks, soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged them to end their stir and invited them to resume the dialogue.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said the Central Government's conspiracy against farmers has strengthened their protest against the newly-enacted farm laws. Farmer unions held a mahapanchayat in Charkhi Dadri on Sunday where thousands of farmers gathered. 

The Delhi Police on Sunday arrested a 60-year-old man from Chandigarh in connection with the violence that took place at Red Fort during the farmers' tractor parade on Republic Day, officials said. With his arrest, the total number of people nabbed by Delhi Police in connection with the violence that took place across the national capital on January 26 has gone up to 127.

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at three Delhi border points -- Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur - for over 70 days, demanding a repeal of the three farm laws.

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4:18 AM

Bihar farmers being held back because of lack of organisations: Tariq Anwar

A dearth of potent farmers' organisations in Bihar has held its peasants back from agitating against the farm laws like their counterparts in states like Punjab and Haryana, senior Congress leader Tariq Anwar asserted on Monday.
 

Addressing a press conference here, the AICC general secretary debunked the claims made by the ruling NDA that the state has remained placid by virtue of the "success" of Nitish Kumar government's experimentation with abolition of APMCs.
 

"It is not that the farmers of Bihar are better off than those in Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
 

Unlike those states, we do not have organisations which could effectively take up their cause.
 

"It is a pity since this is the land where Mahatma Gandhi had launched his Satyagraha in protest against exploitation of indigo cultivators in Champaran," said the former state Congress chief.
 

He expressed dismay over the Narendra Modi government's "baal hath" (childish obstinacy) in refusing to agree to the farmers demand for repeal of the three contentious laws, and urged the Centre to give up its "ahankaar" (arrogance).
 

Pointing towards Modi's much-touted move of abolishing many redundant laws which was taken up soon after he rose to power in 2014, Anwar wondered "why is the government so adamant to not do so now when it is being demanded by farmers and attempts to obstruct their agitations are being condemned world over". PTI
 

11:12 PM

Insult to farmers, says Samyukta Kisan Morcha on PM's 'Andolan-jivi' remark

Samyukta Kisan Morcha, protesting the Centre's new agri laws, on Monday took umbrage at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Andolan-jivi' remark and said it was an insult to the farmers.
 

The umbrella body of farmers unions said it was the 'andolans' (movement) that liberated India from colonial rule and asserted that they were proud to be 'Andolan-jivi'.
 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday slammed those abusing agitating Sikh farmers, saying it will not do the country any good as he went on to appeal to the protesting farmers to call off their over two-month-long stir, assuring them of continuing with the purchase of crops at an administered price or MSP.
 

In the same vein, he also hit out at deleterious influences from abroad, referring to them as 'foreign destructive ideology', as well as a new "breed" of agitators -- 'Andolan-jivi' -- in the country who cannot live without a tumult.
 

The SKM "condemns the insult" of farmers by the prime minister, a statement from the organisation issued by its leader Darshan Pal, said.
 

"Farmers would like to remind the PM that it is 'andolans' that have liberated India from colonial rulers and that is why we are proud to be 'Andolan-jivi'." Hitting out at the BJP, the SKM said, "It is the BJP and it's predecessors who never did any 'andolan' against Britishers and they were always against the 'andolans'. They are still scared of public movements." PTI
 

11:11 PM

Commercial on farmers' protest played in California during Super Bowl

A 40-second commercial on the farmers' protest in India was played in California during this year's Super Bowl, an annual football championship watched by millions of people across America.
 

The commercial begins with a quote of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr - "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." It also features City of Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer who says in the commercial that “we want you to know - our brothers and sisters in India - that we stand with you." The commercial, which was aired only in the Fresno county area and not nationally, was posted on social media with several users on Twitter tweeting the commercial. It also mentions that singer Rihanna had tweeted about the farmers' protest in India.
 

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at several Delhi border points since November last year, demanding the government to repeal the three farm laws and legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for their crops. PTI
 

11:10 PM

Sena MP Raut takes dig at PM, says "we all are andolan jeevi"

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Monday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the latters useof the term "andolan jeevi", or those who survive on protests, during his address inthe Rajya Sabha and sought to associate himself with the expression.
 

The Rajya Sabha MP shared a photograph of him and farmers leader Rakesh Tikait on Twitter and said in Hindi on the micro-blogging site, Say with pride..we are all andolanjeevi...jai jawan, jai kisaan.
 

The photograph was taken when Raut met Tikait at the Ghazipur protest site outside Delhi on February 2 to express solidarity with farmers agitating against the Centre's new agri-marketing laws.
 

Earlier in the day, Modi hit out at those behind the protests, saying a new crop of agitators has emerged in India who cannot live without agitation and the country should be beware of them.
 

"There is a new crop of 'andolan jeevi'. They live for protests. They look for ways to start a new movement.
 

"The country needs to be aware of these andolan jeevi," the PM said in the Upper House of Parliament while replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address. PTI

 

11:08 PM

Additional police force withdrawn from Delhi borders

Police withdrew on Monday its additional force who were deployed across the borders in Delhi during the farmers' tractor parade.
 

According to an order issued by Special Commissioner of Police (Operation and Licensing) Muktesh Chander, as desired by the police commissioner, the entire staff will go back to their respective districts or units with effect from Tuesday.
 

All districts where the additional force is deployed are directed to relieve the force by 6 pm on Monday with the direction to report to their respective district or unit for further duties, it said.
 

The districts may mobilise additional force from their own resources to augment police arrangements, it added.
 

To maintain law and order during the farmers' tractor parade, thousands of security personnel had been deployed at several border points.
 

In a circular, Police Commissioner S N Srivastava had directed all officers and personnel, as well as the paramilitary forces, posted for the Republic Day Parade security arrangements to be prepared for an extended deployment to maintain law and order in the wake of the tractor parade.
 

Thousands of protesting farmers had clashed with police during the tractor parade called by farmer unions on Republic Day to highlight their demand for repeal of the Centre's three farm laws. PTI
 

9:35 PM

Cong's Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleges 'forces within govt' behind Red Fort incident

The Congress on Monday alleged in Lok Sabha that the government had sent "vandals" to Red Fort to "desecrate" the monument and defame the ongoing farmers' agitation, and demanded that a JPC probe be held to uncover the "big conspiracy".
 

Participating in the debate on the motion thanking the President for his address to Parliament, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also demanded a similar investigation by a Joint Parliamentary Committee into the alleged TRP scam and purported chats of a television anchor that have allegedly been linked to Balakot airstrikes.
 

Chowdhury asked the government as to why it was "so much afraid" of a teenaged climate-activist, Greta Thunberg, that it engaged the whole machinery to counter her tweets supporting the farmers' agitation against the three agricultural laws.
 

"With such a strong Home Minister like Amit Shah, how can some people reach the Red Fort, that too on January 26 when the highest level of security was in place in Delhi.
 

"Why isn't there a proper investigation into it. It is actually a big, well-planned conspiracy to defame the farmers. The fact is that you have sent some vandals to the Red Fort to create vandalism. Forces within the government are behind it," he alleged.
 

He was referring to the Republic Day incident during the farmers' tractor rally when hundreds of protesters had stormed the Red Fort, hoisted a religious flag on the ramparts and clashed with the police. PTI
 

9:34 PM

There would have been no independence without 'andolankaris': NGO

Human rights NGO ANHAD on Monday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'andolan jivi' remarks, saying there would have been no independence if there were no andolankaris.
 

Speaking in Rajya Sabha earlier in the day, the prime minister had hit out at those behind the farmers' protests, saying a new "breed" of agitators called "andolan jeevi" has emerged in the country who cannot live without an agitation and the nation should guard against them.
 

In a statement, Act Now for Harmony and Democracy (ANHAD) said, "We want to remind the nation that there would have been no independence if there were no andolankaris (not andolanjivis, parjeevi)," the NGO said.
 

"The andolankaris of India have fought for a society which is just, equal, plural and diverse unlike their brand of andolan which has spread hatred and mayhem in this country," it said. PTI
 

9:33 PM

PM's speech full of untruths: Yechury

CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury Monday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his speech in Parliament and alleged it was full of "untruths".
 

"PM's speech is full of untruths. We have all along sought agri reforms for strengthening Indian agri, ensuring food security with healthy remuneration to farmers.

NOT for destroying Indian agri & annihilation of farmers, all to benefit crony corporates. Repeal three black laws," he said in a tweet.
 

He also objected to the prime minister's remarks in Rajya Sabha that a new "breed" of agitators called "andolan jivi" has emerged in the country.
 

"Aandolan jeevi"? Yechury said in his second tweet. "People protest for saving their lives & for security, for greater opportunities & ensuring better livelihood.

Protesters are patriots not parasites. Those who grab power on the strength of protests are." The prime minister in his address had hit out at those behind the protests, saying a new "breed" of agitators called "andolan jeevi" has emerged in the country who cannot live without an agitation and the nation should guard against them. PTI
 

8:47 PM

Rajasthan Congress to hold public meetings in support of farmers protesting agri laws

The Congress in Rajasthan will hold public meetings in all the blocks of the state on February 10 in support of the farmers' agitation against the three new agri laws, PTI reported.

 

Through the meetings, the party will make people aware about the "damaging effects" of the laws and motivate them to support the farmers' movement, a Congress spokesperson said in a statement.

 

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at Delhi's borders since November 28 last year against the legislations and demanding these be withdrawn. The farmers and their families participating in the protest will be honoured and tribute will be paid to the farmers who lost their lives during the movement, according to the statement.

8:25 PM

Farmer stir: Misleading narrative created by group of ex-civil servants, say retd judges, diplomats

To end the farmer's stir, the government has suggested a middle path of giving legal assurance about MSP and suspending the agri laws for 18 months, but a "motley" group of former civil servants is still trying to set a misleading narrative, claimed a group of retired bureaucrats and judges on Monday.

 

The statement from 180 people, including former RAW chief Sanjeev Tripathi, ex-CBI director Nageshwar Rao, and former DG of SSB and ex-police chief of Tripura B L Vohra, came days after 75 retired civil servants, in an open letter, alleged that the Centre's approach towards the farmers' protest has been an adversarial and a confrontationist one.

 

According to the statement on Monday, the government has at no stage declared that the genuine and real farmers are anti-nationals. "Even those indulging in criminality using farmers agitation as an opportunity have been handled with utmost restraint on Republic Day," it said.

8:15 PM

After PM's invite, farm leaders say ready for talks, ask govt to fix a date

Farmer unions agitating against the three agri laws on Monday asked the government to fix a date for the next round of talks, soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged them to end their stir and invited them to resume the dialogue.

 

They, however, objected to Prime Minister Modi's remarks in Rajya Sabha that a new "breed" of agitators called "andolan jivi" has emerged in the country, and said that agitation has an important role in a democracy.

 

Farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakka, who is a senior member of the Samkyukta Kisan Morcha which is spearheading the ongoing stir, said they are ready for the next round of talks and the government should tell them the date and time of the meeting. READ ON...

7:44 PM

PM betrayed farmers by saying nothing about their problems: Congress

The Congress on Monday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in Parliament was without any substance and he betrayed farmers by saying nothing to resolve their problems, said a PTI report. Congress members in Rajya Sabha also walked out of the House after the prime minister's reply to a discussion on a motion thanking the President for his address to the joint sitting of Parliament at the start of the Budget session.

 

Farmers had expected the prime minister to address their grievances and all eyes were on him, but he let them down by not giving a solution to their over 75-day agitation against the new farm laws, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters. He said the prime minister should have announced repeal of the farm laws and bringing fresh ones after wider consultations with all stakeholders.

7:17 PM

New agri laws are in farmers' interests, misgivings should be dispelled: Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday observed that the new agriculture laws was in the "interests of the farmers", and expressed hope that misgivings over the legislations that have arisen in some states would be addressed squarely by the Centre, PTI reports.

 

He asserted that the controversy around the new laws will have no impact in Bihar where Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) were done away with more than a decade ago and a viable alternative system put in place.

 

He also welcomed the assurance given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the floor of the Rajya Sabha earlier in the day, that the system of MSPs (minimum support price) will not be tinkered with while bringing in the agriculture reforms.

6:50 PM

PM Modi didn't say that a law will be formed on MSP: Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait

6:34 PM

Punjab civic body polls: 'Farmer on tractor' most sought-after symbol

A "farmer riding a tractor" remained the most in-demand symbol among independent candidates for the February 14 civic body polls in Punjab, according to a PTI report. Some contestants opting for the symbol said it will help them get votes of those who expressed solidarity with the farmers camping at the Delhi borders against the Centre's new farm laws.

 

According to former Mohali mayor Kulwant Singh, 26 of 43-member Azad Group led by him opted for the symbol. The rest are contesting on the "bucket" symbol.

 

For 19 wards of the Nawanshahr municipal committee, at least seven independent candidates are contesting on the symbol, said an official. Kuldeep Singh Sidhu, whose wife is contesting as an independent from Ward No. 13 in Mohali's Kharar, said the the symbol of a "farmer driving a tractor" will help them get votes in the elections.