LIVE: Will march on foot towards Parliament on Feb 1, say farmer leaders

Farmers' protest LIVE updates: Farmer leaders said the tractor parade will remain peaceful and will not affect the official Republic Day parade in any way

Farmers' protest LIVE updates Day 60: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday termed the government's proposal to suspend new farm laws for 1-1.5 years as the "best offer" and hoped that the protesting farmers' unions will soon reconsider it and convey their decision.

The talks between the government and 41 protesting farm unions have remained inconclusive even after 11 rounds of discussions. During the 10th round of talks, the government had climbed down and offered a proposal to keep the new laws in abeyance for 1-1.5 years, but it was rejected by the unions.

Delhi police has decided to allow thousands of protesting farmers to drive through the city after this week's Republic Day military parade, despite security concerns.
 

Farmers have been camping on the outskirts of national capital for over two months in protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's controversial farm laws, which they say will hurt their livelihoods and help big companies. To up the ante, farmers wanted to drive tractors to the centre of New Delhi on Republic Day.

Farmer leaders have appealed to those participating in the Republic Day tractor march to carry enough ration for 24 hours and ensure that the rally remains peaceful.

No one should carry any weapon or drink alcohol. Banners carrying inciting messages are not allowed, a farmer leader said. Farmer leaders said the tractor parade will remain peaceful and will not affect the official Republic Day parade in any way.

Enacted in September last year, the three farm laws have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.

However, the protesting farmers have expressed their apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of minimum support price and do away with the 'mandi' (wholesale market) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

10:22 PM

SAD chief says tractor parade will be 'harbinger of huge victory for farmers'

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday said a peaceful conduct of the proposed tractor parade in Delhi will be the "harbinger of a huge victory for our farmers". He said he was confident that the tractor parade by farmers in the national capital on Tuesday will be a totally peaceful event.

"Peace is the top priority for everyone and the participants in the farmers' struggle so far have demonstrated an unprecedented and commendable discipline. This has made this movement one of the most unique democratic events in recent history," Badal said in a statement issued here. He urged the Centre "to ensure that the police and other law-enforcing agencies deal with the tractor march with utmost sensitivity and patience". The SAD chief directed the party workers to take part in the tractor parade to act as "vigilantes for peace".

8:57 PM

Farmers tractor rally: Delhi Police issues traffic advisory; asks commuters to avoid affected routes

The Delhi Traffic Police on Monday asked commuters to avoid routes where protesting farmers will conduct their tractor parade on Republic Day. The farmers' tractor rally will be taken out on Tuesday from three borders of the national capital, and the traffic will remain affected on these routes, police said.

 

The first rally will start from Singhu Border to Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar, DTU, Shahabad Dairy, Barwala Village, Pooth Khurd Village, Kanjhawala T-Point, Kanjhawala Chowk, Kutubgarh, Auchandi Border and Kharkhoda Toll Plaza.

 

The traffic going towards NH-44 and GT Karnal Road will be diverted from Singhu Shani Mandir, Ashok Farm/Janti Tall, Hamidpur, Sunderpur Majra, Zindopur Mukhmelpur, Kadipur, Kushak Colony, Mukarba Chowk and GTK Depot, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Meenu Chowdhary said.

 

The traffic going towards Bawana Road will be diverted from Jail Road, KNK Marg, G3S Mall, Madhuban Chowk, Rohini East Metro Station, Rithala Chowk, Pansali Chowk, Helipad T-Point, Utsav Road, DSIIDC Road Sector-4, Narela Bawana Road, Chitra Dharam Kanta, DSIIDC roundabout and Jhanda Chowk, police said, adding that the traffic going towards Kanjhawala Road will be diverted from Karala, Kanjhawala Village, Jaunti Toll and Qutubgarh- Garhi Road.

7:48 PM

Congress to welcome farmers' tractor rally in Delhi

The Congress in Delhi will welcome the farmers' tractor rally on January 26 on the rally route to pledge solidarity with the farmers demanding the repeal of the three farm laws. The Congress workers have been asked by the party to welcome the rally on various points in the capital.

 

The Congress said the farm laws, if implemented in the present form, will be a total sell-out of the farm sector to a few chosen corporates supporting the BJP, therefore the farmers demand repeal of the laws.

 

Chowdhry Anil Kumar, President of the Delhi Congress unit said, "The farmers have been protesting on the borders of Delhi for over the past 60 days, braving the bone-chilling cold weather, demanding the repeal of the anti-farmer laws, and over 100 farmers have already become martyrs to the cause, and I will personally welcome the tractor rally."

7:18 PM

Delhi under heavy security cover for Republic Day, farmers' tractor parade

Thousands of armed personnel have been deployed at the Rajpath and several border points of the national capital which has been brought under a multi-layered security cover in view of Republic Day celebrations as well as the proposed tractor parade by farmers on Tuesday.

 

Protesting farmer unions opposing the three contentious farm laws said their parade will not enter central Delhi and it will start only after the official Republic Day parade concludes.

 

The unions claimed that around two lakh tractors are expected to participate in their parade which will move into the city from three border points --- Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur (UP Gate). For Republic Day celebrations, an official said around 6,000 security personnel have been deployed to maintain vigil. Facial recognition system of Delhi Police has also been set up at vantage points for suspect identification, the official said.

6:41 PM

Farmers tractor rally: Hundreds of women to drive tractors, make their presence count

In a show of strength, hundreds of women are expected to drive tractors at 'Kisan Gantantra Parade' on Republic Day, as a large number of farmers opposing the new agriculture laws will enter the national capital under a high security cover. Social activist Zeba Khan said women will be participating in the tractor rally shoulder to shoulder with their fellow male farmers.

 

Khan, who is among the women participating in the rally, claimed that at least 500 women will be in attendance on Tuesday.

 

"Women's contribution was invaluable during India's freedom struggle. On Tuesday also, we will be there to make our contribution to this movement," she said.

 

The activist, who hails from a family of farmers in Jharkhand, added that the rally was a crucial moment in their agitation which was "no less than a freedom struggle".

5:59 PM

Will march on foot towards Parliament in Delhi on Feb 1: Krantikari Kisan Union

5:24 PM

Govt's offer best for farmers; hopeful unions will reconsider it: Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday termed the government's proposal to suspend new farm laws for 1-1.5 years as the "best offer" and hoped that the protesting farmers' unions will soon reconsider it and convey their decision. The talks between the government and 41 protesting farm unions have remained inconclusive even after 11 rounds of discussions. During the 10th round of talks, the government had climbed down and offered a proposal to keep the new laws in abeyance for 1-1.5 years, but it was rejected by the unions.

 

In the 11th round of discussion, the government asked unions to reconsider the proposal and convey their final decision.

 

"The government has given the best offer to farmers' unions. I am hopeful that they will convey their decision to us after discussing it among themselves. Once they communicate, we will take it forward," Tomar told PTI.

4:45 PM

The protest will end soon: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar

4:27 PM

Group of people gathers at Connaught Place in solidarity with protesting farmers

A group of people gathered in central Delhi's Connaught Place in support of farmers agitating against the Centre's new farm laws, police said on Monday. According to police, 20 to 25 people gathered near Block A and Block B of Connaught Place at around 3.15 pm on Sunday.

 

They were not allowed to protest at the venue and asked to leave. The group, however, wanted to go towards Bangla Sahab Gurudwara via Baba Kharag Singh Marg, carrying pamphlets in support of the farmers, a senior police officer said.

 

The protesters were stopped near Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, BKS Road, Connaught Place. They were briefed about law and order situation and imposition of section 144 CrPC in the area, he said. The group later dispersed peacefully, he added.

3:54 PM

Police stops agitating protesting moving towards Governor's House in Mumbai

3:52 PM

Authorities pull up socks ahead of farmers' R-Day parade

In a bid to ensure no disturbance to the law and order situation, thousands of police personnel have been deployed ahead of the farmers' Republic Day tractor parade. Taking no chance, the Ghaziabad Police have deployed 1,000 constables, 500 head constables, 300 Sub Inspectors, 50 inspectors, 12 Circle Officers and six additional Superintendent Police (SP) on duty for the farmers' January 26 parade.

 

Also, to take care of the vehicular movement, the traffic police has also enhanced its deployment with 400 constables, 50 head constables, among other officials.

 

The Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel will also be deployed, officials said. Thousands of tractors have arrived at the Ghazipur border (along Delhi and Uttar Pradesh).

3:16 PM

Will hold tractor parade at routes decided earlier: Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee

2:51 PM

Those distributing pamphlets, seeking support for protesting farmers in Delhi metro asked to deboard

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) asked people to deboard the metro train on Sunday after they tried to hand out pamphlets and address passengers regarding farmers' protest. The incidents were reported at Rajiv Chowk and Saket metro stations.

 

"There have been some instances at Rajiv Chowk and Saket metro stations where few people have tried to hand over pamphlets and address passengers regarding farmers' protest inside the trains. CISF asked them to deboard the metro train. Delhi Police has been informed," CISF sources said.

 

CISF is responsible for providing security cover to Delhi Metro.

 

2:23 PM

Punjab CM appeals to farmers to maintain peace during Republic Day tractor rally

2:07 PM

Farmers gear up for Republic Day tractor rally in Delhi

Farmers on Monday began gathering at Gazipur border between Delhi-Uttar Pradesh for the proposed Kisan Tractor Rally on the eve of Republic Day. Tractors from Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan have also reached on Tikri border between Delhi-Haryana as the farmers sit in for protest for nearly two months. The move comes as Delhi Police formally granted permission for the rally on January 26, assigning them routes for the same.

 

Expressing dismay at the routes assigned for the rally, Sukhwinder Singh Sabhra of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee told ANI, "We feel that the kind of permission granted to us for tractor rally is not right. We wanted to go to the old Ring Road but we were given conditional permission and assigned the portion that comes largely under Haryana."

 

"All we're saying we just want to go to Ring Road. We'll have a meeting with the police today over this. Routes will be decided after that," the farmer leader further added.

 

Farmers had proposed to hold the Republic Day tractor rally on Delhi's Outer Ring Road. However, three routes other than the proposed one were allotted for the rally from three border points of Delhi, informed Special Commissioner of Police (CP), Intelligence in Delhi Police, Dependra Pathak on Sunday.