The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha on Saturday announced that they will intensify their agitation in support of various demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP, by observing fast unto death from November 26. Addressing the media here, SKM (non-political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal accused the Centre of not taking any steps to accept their demands. Dallewal said he will begin the fast unto death from November 26 at the Khanauri border point. "From November 26, we will start fast unto death." The farmer leader said the Centre has not held talks with the protesting farmers regarding their demands since February 18. The SKM and the KMM are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march by farmers to press the government to accept their demands. The protesting farmers have been staying put at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, when their march was stopped by the security forces. They are also demanding
The Congress on Sunday hit out at the ruling Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra, saying it has been formed on "betrayal" and that the people of the state will not forgive them for their "failed" promises. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that farmers were the most neglected in the state as the grand promises made to them have yielded nothing. He also highlighted how the promise of building a water grid from Marathwada to provide piped drinking water to every village was never fulfilled. "The Mahayuti is a Government formed on betrayal - of loyalty, of ideology, and of Maharashtra people themselves. Farmers have been among the most neglected, strung along by the Government with grand promises that have yielded nothing," Ramesh alleged in a post on X. "Those who promised Jalyukt Shivar have only delivered on Jalmukt Shivar. Maharashtra will not forgive them," the Congress leader said. In 2019, he claimed, then Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis promised a Rs
Farmers, millers, and arhtiyas in Punjab will hold a statewide 'chakka jam' on Sunday between 12PM to 3 pm, protesting delays in paddy procurement and lifting, causing traffic disruptions
Rahul Gandhi met wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, hinting they might contest on Congress tickets as the party seeks to boost its chances against the BJP
Notably, farmers are protesting at the Shambhu border near Ambala and have been camping there since February 13
Aam Aadmi Party's Haryana unit on Tuesday staged protests in the state against BJP MP Kangana Ranaut's remarks on farmers protest, with a party leader saying her statement indicates the BJP's "mindset" towards farmers. AAP leaders and workers held protests at various places including Jind, Yamunanagar, and Panchkula. The BJP's Mandi MP had posted a clip of her recent interview with Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar in which she suggested that a "Bangladesh-like situation" could have erupted in India but for the country's strong leadership. She then alleged that "bodies were hanging and rapes were taking place" during the farmers protest against the now-repealed three farm laws. With Haryana going to polls on October 1, the opposition has targeted the ruling BJP over the issue. AAP's Haryana unit senior vice president Anurag Dhanda led a protest in the Yamunanagar district. The protesters carrying placards raised slogans against the BJP government. Meanwhile, Haryana AAP president Sushil
Kangana Ranaut is neither permitted nor authorised to make statements on the party's policy - BJP issues a statement in response to the Mandi MP's controversial comments.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have also decided to renew their 'Delhi Chalo' march demanding a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP)
Farmer activist Navdeep Singh walked out of Ambala Central Jail after the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted him bail in a case registered in connection with farmers' February 13 'Delhi Chalo' march. He was arrested by Haryana Police from Mohali on March 28 on various charges, including rioting and attempt to murder. Singh was welcomed by farmer leaders as he walked out of jail late on Tuesday night. Earlier, farmer leaders had said that they would gherao the office of the Ambala superintendent of police on Wednesday and Thursday to protest against Singh's arrest. However, they changed the plan after his release. Singh, a native of Jalbera village near Ambala, became famous as the "water cannon man" for climbing atop a police water cannon in November 2020 during the farmers' agitation against the now-repealed farm laws. On February 13, farmers from Punjab led by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha began a march to Delhi to press their demands,
These two states were at the centre of the farmers' agitation in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second term
Few farmers from Tamil Nadu, including a woman, on Wednesday tried to climb onto a mobile tower as they protested at Delhi's Jantar Mantar over demands of better prices for their crops and the river interlinking issue, officials said. Scores of Tamil Nadu farmers gathered at Jantar Mantar, some of who tried to climb nearby trees and a mobile tower, police said. Police used a fire brigade crane to bring one of the protesting farmers back to the ground from the mobile tower, they said. "Around 50 people have come for interlinking of rivers. Two of them tried climbing a mobile tower but they returned back to the ground," Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahla said, adding that some of them tried climbing trees at the site. Protesting farmers said around 100 farmers from Tamil Nadu participated in the demonstration. The farmers said they are demanding a doubling of their income from farm produce, a pension of Rs 5,000, individual insurance, and interlinking of all
A total of 54 trains on the Ambala-Amritsar route were cancelled on Saturday as farmers squatted on tracks at the Shambhu railway station in Punjab's Patiala district for the fourth day, officials said. The protestors have been demanding the release of three farmers arrested by the Haryana Police during the ongoing stir. As many as 54 trains were cancelled on Saturday because of the farmers' protest, railway officials said. The protest has affected the movement of 380 trains in the last three days, causing inconvenience to passengers, they added. The farmers have been protesting under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) in Patiala district's Shambhu. They began their protest for the release of arrested farmers on Wednesday by squatting on the tracks on the Ambala-Ludhiana-Amritsar route in Shambhu near the Punjab-Haryana border. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said the protest will continue until the three farmers are released
Farmers under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha continued to sit on a rail track in Patiala district near the Punjab-Haryana border on Thursday, demanding release of three farmers arrested by the Haryana Police. With their protest continuing, the railway authorities, under the Ambala railway division, on Thursday said 53 more trains were cancelled, 12 were short-terminated and 23 were diverted. The disruption in rail movement was causing inconvenience to rail passengers. Farmers are demanding the release of three fellow farmers, including Navdeep Singh, who were arrested by the Haryana Police during the ongoing stir. They have said they will not end their protest until their fellow protesters are released. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said their protest was going on. Ambala railway division, senior divisional commercial manager, Naveen Kumar said the movement of many trains have been affected because of the farmers' protest at
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has alleged that ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, attempts "to spread anarchy under the pretext of farmers' agitation have been restarted", and said "separatist terrorism" has raised its "ugly head" through it in Punjab. It also said the "atrocities committed against hundreds of mothers and sisters" at Sandeshkhali in West Bengal has shaken the conscience of the entire society. The Sangh also raised concerns over the ethnic conflict in Manipur, saying it created "mistrust" between the two sections of the society- Meitei and Kuki that caused "deep wounds". The RSS, the ideological fountainhead of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), made these remarks in its annual report 2023-24 presented by its general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale at the Sangh's annual 'Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha' conclave that started in Nagpur on Friday. The report's concluding part titled 'National Scene' talked about various incidents and developments in the ..
The Central government has held multiple rounds of discussions with those who are holding forth in the state borders
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the opposition INDIA alliance, if voted to power, will be the "voice of farmers" and frame policies to protect them. He was addressing a farmers' rally at Chandwad in Maharashtra's Nashik district along with NCP (SP) head Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, as part of the Congress' ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra'. "The INDIA alliance government will be the voice of farmers and work to protect their interests," Gandhi said. He promised loan waiver for farmers, restructuring of crop insurance scheme to benefit cultivators, to protect crop prices in formulation of export import policies and to make efforts to exclude agriculture from GST and work on only one tax. The Lok Sabha member from Wayanad also reiterated the Congress' promise of a legal guarantee to minimum support price (MSP) as per the Swaminathan committee report. The former Congress president claimed 20 to 25 people in the country have wealth equivalent to 70 cro
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The government is planning to undertake guaranteed procurement of pulses -- tur, urad and masoor -- and maize at MSP from farmers if they opt for diversification from paddy crop, sources said. The Centre also mulling procuring cotton at minimum support price (MSP) without any condition of diversification, they said. The government agencies like NAFED and NCCF may enter into contracts with farmers for five years, official sources said. According to sources, the government could consider procurement of pulses, maize and cotton at MSP without any quantative restrictions, in case the farmers opt to move away from the water-guzzling paddy crop. A portal is being created by the Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry where farmers can register by providing details like their Aadhaar Card number. In the portal, farmers will have to self-certify and mention diversification into these pulses and maize crops. Last month, a panel of three Union ministers proposed buying of these five crops by ...
Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said that the Modi government is committed to the welfare of farmers and exuded confidence that the farmer leaders will see reason and call off their protest. Food Minister Goyal, along with Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai have held four rounds of talks with the farmers' group who are seeking a legal guarantee on MSP (minimum support price). He said that the government always support farmers and it stands by them. "Please don't get misled by the propaganda of some people. This government is committed to the interest of farmers and we are totally committed to a bright future for every farmer." The minister said that he along with the agriculture minister and the Minister of State for Home Affairs had suggested to the farmer leaders on how the government can work with them for a better future for the farming community and to help the country become self-reliant. "I am confident that th
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