Farmers' protest highlights: CrPC 144 in Noida on Feb 16 for Bharat Bandh

Farmers' protest march updates: Catch all the latest updates on the farmers' protest here

The Gautam Buddh Nagar Police on Thursday said restrictions under CrPC section 144, including a ban on unauthorised public assemblies, would be enforced across the district on February 16. The decision has been taken in view of proposed protest marches called by the farmers' body Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and other unions. The Bharatiya Kisan Union, part of SKM, had earlier called for a 'Bharat Bandh' on February 16, citing a host of unmet demands of farmers. "Various programs like protest demonstrations, etc are proposed by SKM and various organisations for Friday. Hence, Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) is implemented on February 16," the police said in a statement. According to the order, unlawful assembly of five or more people, unauthorised processions or demonstrations, including those political or religious, are prohibited.The order also bars the use of private drones in a radius of 1 km of government establishments and also bans people from carrying sticks, rods, tridents, swords, firearms etc in public places.

On the ongoing farmers' protest, farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni  on Thursday said , "Three decisions were taken today, first one is, we will keep Haryana toll free for 3 hours tomorrow, from 12pm-3pm...day after tomorrow, there will be a tractor parade in every Tehsil, from 12 pm...on 18th February, there will be a joint meeting of all farmers' and labour organisations...further decisions will be taken in that meeting."

Ahead of a meeting with a committee of the central government, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher today said the prime minister should speak to the three visiting Union ministers to resolve the farmers' issues.

The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and Samyukat Kisna have jointly called for a 'Bharat bandh' tomorrow.

"We want Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a dialogue with farmers or else we should be allowed to protest peacefully", the general secretary of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee Sarvan Singh Pandher told news agency ANI today. 

Amid the ongoing standoff between the protestors and security personnel at the Punjab-Haryana border, a committee of three Union ministers is set to hold discussions with protesting farmer leaders in Chandigarh today. This is going to be the third round of talks between the two sides: the previous two rounds of dialogue on February 8 and 12 remained inconclusive. Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai will hold talks with  the farmer leaders at 5 pm here over their various demands

Protetsting farmers from Punjab are camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders of Punjab and Haryana seeking to march towards Delhi to press the Centre to accept their demands.Stating that their next course of action will be decided on the basis of the govt's proposals,  farmer leaders have stated they will not make any new attempt to move towards Delhi till the meeting is held,  Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) and BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner) have said that they will hold a  'rail roko' bandh in the state on Thursday. Farmers will squat on rail tracks at seven locations from 12 noon to 4 pm.

The decision was taken in protest against the hurling of tear gas shells and water cannons used against the protesting farmers by the Haryana security personnel at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders.

On Wednesday, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said that  a 'mahapanchayat' will be organised on Saturday at Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh to discuss the "atrocities" being committed on the protesting farmers in the country. Farmers and activists of BKU from UP, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Haryana have been exhorted to attend the congregation to be held at the 'Kisan Bhawan' in Sisauli.

9:22 PM

Noida Police to invoke CrPC 144 on Friday due to 'Bharat Bandh'

The Gautam Buddh Nagar Police on Thursday said restrictions under CrPC section 144, including a ban on unauthorised public assemblies, would be enforced across the district on February 16.

 

The decision has been taken in view of proposed protest marches called by the farmers' body Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and other unions.

 

The Bharatiya Kisan Union, part of SKM, had earlier called for a 'Bharat Bandh' on February 16, citing a host of unmet demands of farmers.

 

"Various programs like protest demonstrations, etc are proposed by SKM and various organisations for Friday. Hence, Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) is implemented on February 16," the police said in a statement.

 

According to the order, unlawful assembly of five or more people, unauthorised processions or demonstrations, including those political or religious, are prohibited.

 

The order also bars the use of private drones in a radius of 1 km of government establishments and also bans people from carrying sticks, rods, tridents, swords, firearms etc in public places.

9:15 PM

Farmers' protest politically motivated, claims MoS for Farmers' Welfare Shobha Karandlaje

Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shobha Karandlaje on Thursday characterised the ongoing farmers' protest in Delhi as politically motivated.

 

Addressing reporters in Udupi, she said the M S Swaminathan committee had given 207 recommendations in its report, which was kept in "deep cold storage" by the UPA government. She claimed that all the recommendations were addressed by the Narendra Modi government alone, and minimum support price (MSP) was one among them.

 

"The government is now providing MSP for 22 crops. The ongoing agitation when elections are drawing near is a political protest in the name of farmers," she alleged.

 

"This is part of a conspiracy by a few organisations and international movements," she further claimed, adding that the government is prepared to hold talks with the farmers.

8:19 PM

PUCL condemns govt's measures against protesting farmers

The People's Union for Civil Liberties on Thursday condemned the government's measures against the protesting farmers, saying they have a right to resume their agitation after the Centre reneged on its promises it made in 2020-21.
 

In a statement, the PUCL said the 2020-21 protest saw participation of thousands of farmers and workers unions, even in adverse weather conditions, which resulted in the death of more than 700 farmers.
 

"The Modi-government has failed to comply with the public assurances given to the farmers based on which they had called off the struggle in 2021," it said.

The PUCL said the farmers are exercising their fundamental rights in demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), full waiver of farmers' debts, pension, and withdrawal of cases filed in 2020-21 against the protesting farmers.

8:18 PM

'Delhi Chalo' march: Farmers 'hell bent' on stopping lifeline of northern states, says Haryana govt

Farmers' unions are "hell bent" on stopping the lifeline of northern states and their movement has instilled a "sense of fear" among the people of the state, the Haryana government submitted before the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday.
 

The submission was filed in an affidavit before a division bench of Acting Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Vikas Suri.

7:41 PM

Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni announces three key decisions amid unrest

 Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni on Thursday announced three key decisions of the protesting farmers. He further said, "Three decisions were taken today, first one is, we will keep Haryana toll free for 3 hours tomorrow, from 12pm-3pm...day after tomorrow, there will be a tractor parade in every Tehsil, from 12 pm...on 18th February, there will be a joint meeting of all farmers' and labour organisations...further decisions will be taken in that meeting."

Farmers commenced their 'rail roko' andolan on Thursday. The farmers blocked the railway tracks as a part of their protest. A trio of Union ministers is scheduled to convene once more with protesting farmers and farmer leaders to address their array of concerns on Thursday evening in Chandigarh, according to farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal.

7:40 PM

Farmers marching to Delhi like Army on offensive, we have objection to their method: Haryana CM

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday criticised the "method" adopted by Punjab farmers to press their demands, suggesting that they were attempting to march to Delhi like an army on the offensive.

 

"The Punjab government could have stopped farmers. If they did not stop, then there must be some understanding there and 'Delhi wale' say they are with the farmers' movement," Khattar said, in an apparent reference to the Aam Aadmi Party.

 

"It is not right to comment but their (farmers') behaviour suggests that they have some kind of support," he added while responding to a question on AAP's involvement in the farmer's 'Delhi Chalo' call.

 

Supporting farmers' demand is one thing but favouring this kind of agitation "sends the wrong message", the chief minister said.

7:03 PM

Farmers' protest: Commuters inconvenienced as Singhu border remains closed for traffic

Carrying luggage, while accompanying their little children, several commuters faced difficulties as the Singhu border remained closed for traffic for the third consecutive day on Thursday in view of the farmers' protest.

 

Some people also had to cross the Delhi-Haryana border on foot while carrying their little children in arms.

 

Sagar Singh, who was coming from Panipat and going towards Bawana, said, "I am going to see my ailing mother-in-law in Bawana. I am planning to stay back so that I can be available for help if she needs me. The current situation is not conducive to travelling at night or even otherwise."

5:03 PM

Protesting farmers fighting for nation: Rahul Gandhi

Protesting farmers fighting for nation, just like soldiers do on borders, said Rahul Gandhi in Bihar's Aurangabad.

 

4:57 PM

Farmers' protest news updates: Board exams held hassle-free despite high security measures at Tikri border

Board exams were held hassle-free and no delay was reported in the conduct of examination, despite enhanced security norms at the Tikri border in view of the farmers' protest. Vehicles were arranged by the police and paramilitary officials to help students reach their respective centres near the Tikri border.

4:55 PM

BJP running a "government of Ravan" at Centre: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on farmers' protest

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday criticised the BJP over the ongoing farmers' protest, claiming that the party is running a "government of Ravan" at the Centre, which has crossed all limits of civility.

 

"Farmers are protesting and the country is burning. But the BJP is not bothered. It is the government of Ravan, which has crossed all Lakshman Rekhas. The day farmers reach Delhi, the BJP leaders will understand the reality," she said.

4:53 PM

Farmers' protest news: Trains diverted as farmers squat on tracks in Punjab

Some trains on the Delhi-Amritsar route were diverted today as  protesting farmers squatted on tracks at many places in Punjab over the Haryana Police's action against 'Delhi Chalo' protesters. As farmers are sitting on the railway tracks at several places on the main Delhi- Amritsar route, railway officals diverted the routes of the trains via Chandigarh (for Delhi side) and Lohian Khas (for Amritsar and Jalandhar side). A spokesperson of Indian Railways said Shatabdi and Shan-e-Punjab Express trains coming from Delhi were terminated at the Ludhiana railway station.

4:50 PM

Farmers' protest news updates: Internet services suspended in parts of Punjab till Feb 16

In the wake of the farmer's protest, internet services have been suspended in certain areas of Punjab's Patiala, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib districts till February 16 on the orders of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Internet services will remain suspended in areas falling under police stations Shatrana, Samana, Ghanaour, Devigarh and Balbhera in Patiala, areas under police stations Khanauri, Moonak, Lehra, Sunam, Chajli in Sangrur and area under Fatehgarh Sahib police station.

 

 

4:32 PM

Party stands firm with the peaceful protest of farmers: Congress leader on farmers' protest

Rajasthan Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra, on farmers' protest, said, "Our leader Rahul Gandhi and also the national President Mallikarjun Kharge have very clearly and categorically said that if Congress will come to power we'll give legal status to guarantee the MSP... Congress stands firm with the peaceful protest of farmers."

4:17 PM

'Delhi chalo' march LIVE news: Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni announces three key decisions

On farmers' protest march, farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni said, "Three decisions were taken today, first one is, we will keep Haryana toll free for 3 hours tomorrow, from 12pm-3pm...day after tomorrow, there will be a tractor parade in every Tehsil, from 12 pm...on 18th February, there will be a joint meeting of all farmers' and labour organisations...further decisions will be taken in that meeting."

3:47 PM

Farmers' protest LIVE updates: Protesting farmers block railway tracks, toll plazas in Punjab

Protesting farmers began their 'rail roko' andolan on Thursday. The protestors blocked the railway tracks and toll plazas as a part of their protest.