LIVE: Three-hour-long 'chakka jaam' on Feb 6, says BKU leader Rakesh Tikait

Farmers' protest LIVE updates: Farmer leaders alleged that the protest sites resemble 'international border' now with authorities building makeshift walls

2:17 AM

Iron nails studded on roads at Ghazipur border repositioned: Police

Iron nails studded on roads at the Ghazipur border to restrict the movement of farmers agitating against the new agriculture laws have been "repositioned" but the security arrangements at the site remain the same, a senior police officer said on Thursday.
 

The police's statement comes after videos and photos of workers removing the nails from roads near Ghazipur border surfaced on social media.
 

The iron nails studded on roads have been "repositioned" behind the barricades, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Deepak Yadav.
 

"Videos and photos are getting circulated in which it is shown that nails are being taken off at Ghazipur. These are just repositioned behind the barricades. Security arrangement at the border remains the same," he said.
 

2:16 AM

Inclement weather at Ghazipur; Tikait says chakka jam to be pan-India except Delhi

Going firm on their demand for repeal of the new agri laws, hundreds of farmers spent another night in the cold and withstood spells of drizzle on Thursday at Ghazipur, their heavily-secured protest site at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border.
 

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait, leading the stir here since November with his supporters, said the movement at Delhi's outskirts could continue till October this year and would be supported by villagers.
 

He also took a veiled jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the fortification of the protest sites at Ghazipur, Tikri and Singhu as he shared with the press the details of the proposed February 6 'chakka jaam' (blockading of roads as a form of protest).
 

He said the blockade will not be done in Delhi but will take place in other parts of the National Capital Region, which comprises parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, and the rest of country including the southern states.
 

“Dilli mein hum nahi kar rahe, wahan to raja ne khud qile-bandi kar li hai humare jaam karne ki zaroorat hi nahi hai (We are not going to do anything in Delhi, the king there has already fortified it, there is no need for us to do a blockade now),” he told reporters here.
 

2:15 AM

BKU official complains against fake Facebook profile of Rakesh Tikait

A Bharatiya Kisan Union official here lodged a complaint on Thursday alleging that some miscreants had opened a fake Facebook page of farmer leader Rakesh Tikait and posted obnoxious photos on it.
 

A complaint along with screenshots of the page were sent to Kaushambi police station officials, BKU press cell in-charge Shamsher Rana told PTI adding that an acquaintance had informed him about the fake ID.
 

Superintendent of Police (City 2) Gyanendra Singh said action would be initiated as and when police would receive the complaint in writing.
 

Rana had received a friend request from the fake ID and got alerted as he was already connected with Tikait on the social networking site, the complaint stated.

Going through the fake ID, Rana saw that the BKU leader's photo was affixed as the profile picture and some images of adult film actors were also seen on the page.
 

The IP address mentioned on the ID originates from Ludhiana district in Punjab, Rana alleged in the complaint.
 

12:03 AM

Farmers' agitation will remain apolitical: Samyukta Kisan Morcha

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha leading farmers protests at Delhi borders on Thursday said the ongoing agitation has been and will remain apolitical and no political leader is allowed to speak from its stage, according to PTI. The assertion comes in the backdrop of politicians of different parties visiting protest sites at Singhu, Ghazipur, Tikri and other border points to extend their support to the farmers protesting against the Centre's farm laws.

"This movement has been completely apolitical from the beginning and will remain apolitical. The support of political parties and leaders to this movement is welcomed, but in no case the Samyukta Kisan Morcha's stage will be allowed for political leaders," said a Morcha statement issued by one of its leaders Darshan Pal. The outfit has also demanded the immediate reinstatement of internet services disrupted at the protest sites.

10:33 PM

Opposition wants separate discussion on farm laws in Parliament

The Opposition wants a separate discussion on Farm Laws and farmers agitation and doesn't want it clubbed with the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, according to ANI. Senior leaders of Congress say that if the govt agrees to this demand, they would participate in the discussion.

8:55 PM

Farmers' protest toolkit: Delhi Police files FIR, suspects Khalistan link

The Delhi Police on Thursday said it has registered an FIR against unnamed persons in connection with the "toolkit", which was shared by teen climate activist Greta Thunberg and others on Twitter, with a top official saying that the initial probe has suggested the document's link with a pro-Khalistan group. Asked whether the FIR has been registered against Thunberg, a top official of the Delhi Police said nobody has been named in the case, PTI reported.

 

Delhi Police's remarks come in the backdrop of global celebrities such as singer Rihanna and Thunberg supporting the farmers' protests against the three farm laws. Lending her support to the farmers' agitation, the teen activist had shared "a toolkit for those who want to help".

 

"Here's a toolkit if you want to help," tweeted Thunberg, which takes the user to a document containing details on ways to support the protest.

 

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.

8:32 PM

Farm laws deadlock: Lok Sabha adjourned for fourth time, till 8:30 pm

Lok Sabha proceedings were disrupted for the third consecutive day on Thursday as protests by Opposition members demanding a separate discussion on the three contentious farm laws created uproar, leading to repeated adjournments of the House. As the House assembled after the third adjournment at 7 PM, the opposition members shouted slogans against the agri laws. Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the chair, appealed to the members to go back to their seats so that the House can function normally.

 

However, the House was adjourned for the fourth time till 8:30 PM as members did not yield to the request of the chair. Earlier in the day, when Lok Sabha assembled at 4 PM, members of the Opposition started shouting slogans against the government and the agri laws. Few questions related to the ministry of roads and highways were replied by Union minister Nitin Gadkari. But as sloganeering continued, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asked members to return to their seats.

 

"Question Hour is the right of MPs...This behaviour is not good and I again request you all to return to your seats so that the House proceedings run properly," he said.

8:07 PM

US reaction to farmer protests must be seen in its entirety: Govt

Hours after the Biden Administration reacted to the farmer protests, India on Thursday said the comments must be seen in their entirety, and appeared to compare the reactions and sentiments in the country after incidents of violence and vandalism at the Red Fort on January 26 to those following the recent clashes at the US' Capitol Hill.

 

At a media briefing, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said any protests must be seen in the context of India's democratic ethos and polity, and the ongoing efforts of the government and the concerned farmer groups to resolve the impasse. READ MORE...

7:31 PM

Initial probe reveals that 'toolkit' appears to have been created by pro-Khalistani organisation: Delhi Police

Initial probe reveals that 'toolkit' appears to have been created by pro-Khalistani organisation: Delhi Police (PTI)

7:26 PM

Foreign elements conspiring to defame India: Prakash Javadekar on farm laws

The 'Toolkit' matter is a serious one. It clearly shows that some foreign elements are conspiring to defame India: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar

7:07 PM

Logjam in Lok Sabha over three farm laws continues; proceedings adjourned thrice

Lok Sabha proceedings were disrupted for the third consecutive day on Thursday as protests by Opposition members demanding a separate discussion on the three contentious farm laws created uproar, leading to repeated adjournments of the House. As soon as the House assembled at 4 PM, members of the Opposition started shouting slogans against the government and the three agri laws. Few questions related to the ministry of roads and highways were replied by Union minister Nitin Gadkari.

 

But as sloganeering continued, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asked members to return to their seats.

 

"Question Hour is the right of MPs...This behaviour is not good and I again request you all to return to your seats so that the House proceedings run properly," he said.

 

Shouting slogans and showing placards are against parliamentary tradition, he added. But the Opposition members refused to relent forcing Birla to adjourn the House till 5 PM after about 20 minutes of proceedings.

7:03 PM

US acknowledged steps been taken by India towards agricultural reforms: MEA

6:33 PM

Delhi Police addresses media over ongoing investigation in Jan 26 violence

6:31 PM

US calls for dialogue to resolve farmers' protests

In its first reaction to the ongoing farmers' agitation, the new US administration on Thursday said it encourages that any differences between the parties be resolved through dialogue even as it backed steps that can improve the efficiency of India's markets and attract greater investment. The US also said peaceful protests and unhindered access to the internet are "hallmark" of a "thriving democracy".

 

The remarks were made by the State Department in Washington and the US embassy in Delhi in response to questions on the over two-month-long protests by farmers at the national capital's borders.

 

"We recognise that peaceful protests are a hallmark of any thriving democracy, and note that the Indian Supreme Court has stated the same. We encourage that any differences between the parties be resolved through dialogue," a spokesperson of the US embassy said. The talks between the farmer unions and the Centre have remained deadlocked.

6:03 PM

Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned till 6 pm amid protest over farm laws

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the second time on Thursday till 6 pm amid uproar by opposition members over the three new farm laws. As soon as the House re-convened at 5 pm, members of the Opposition started raising slogans against the government and the agri laws.

 

Some ministers and members laid papers on the table of the House, and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad introduced the Arbitration and Conciliation Amendment Bill, 2021. Meenakshi Lekhi, who was in the Chair, asked the members to return to their seats, but they continued with their protest. She adjourned the House till 6 pm. Earlier in the day, Speaker Om Birla had adjourned the House for about 40 minutes till 5 pm due to protest by the opposition members.