Farmers' strike LIVE updates: Protesters enter Delhi through Tikri border

Farmers protest LIVE updates: Farmers have been allowed to hold peaceful protest at the Nirankari Ground in north Delhi

12:14 AM

Left parties condemn police action on protesting farmers; ask Centre to roll back laws

11:25 PM

Many farmer groups heading to national capital holding sit-ins on way

Amid the Delhi Chalo call to protest against the three Central farm laws, Uttar Pradesh farmers on Friday staged demonstrations at many places in the state, including Lucknow, while heading to the national capital.

 

Other places where farmers held protests, blocking roads and disrupting traffics, included Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar in western UP and Jhansi and Jalaun in Bundelkhand region.

 

The key roads affected by the stir included Delhi-Dehradun National Highway, whose whole stretch from Hardwar to Delhi had to shut down, besides the Jhansi-Mirzapur and Meerut-Karnal road.

 

In Lucknow, farmers staged a demonstration at Naubasta Kala under Chinhat police station area, while hundreds of them belonging to Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat and Gautam Buddh Nagar in western UP reached the Eastern Peripheral Expressway in Greater Noida on their way to Delhi.

 

As the group headed to Delhi from the Expressway after being stopped their briefly, many other groups of Bharatiya Kisan Union expressed their intentions to reach the national capital on Saturday from various parts of the western UP.

9:10 PM

Use of tear gas aggravated misery of farmers already in tears over farm laws: Bhupinder Singh Hooda

Congress leader and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday condemned the use of force against the farmers by Haryana police and said that tear gas and water cannon "aggravated the misery of farmers" who are already in tears against the three recently-enacted farm laws.

 

"Farmers were marching peacefully. They are already in tears and tear gas was fired on them. Water cannons are dangerous in this weather, yet they were used. There is only one solution and that is to talk with the farmers and sort out their issues. Their demands are valid and we are also supporting them," Hooda told ANI.

 

Hooda also requested people of Haryana help the farmers coming towards Delhi by providing them food, shelter, and any kind of medical help.

 

"I would request the people of Haryana that marching farmers should not face any shortage of food. If they require medical help, people should provide it along with shelter," he added. Hooda also urged the state and central governments to listen to the grievances of the farmers and find a solution.

9:00 PM

More Punjab farmers enter Haryana for 'Delhi Chalo' protest, state police lift all barriers

More Punjab farmers crossed the state's border with Haryana on Friday, some of them after facing water cannons and teargas as they headed towards Delhi to join thousands who had already reached the national capital's borders. But by evening, all Haryana Police barricades at the border with Punjab and along the highway to Delhi were lifted, allowing traffic to run as before.

 

Traffic on the highway to Delhi's and other roads was restored, with the Haryana Police removing barricades meant to thwart the Delhi Chalo protest against the Centre's new farm laws.

 

The barriers which had been put up earlier have been lifted. Vehicular traffic is plying normally, Karnal Range Inspector General of Police Bharti Arora told PTI.

8:50 PM

Farmers Protests LIVE: Police make arrangements at Burari ground

Delhi Police on Friday made the necessary arrangements at the Nirankari ground in Burari after they gave permission to the protesting farmers to enter Delhi and stage a protest at the designated ground.

 

Some representatives of the farmers also inspected the site along with senior police officers. The development came after the Delhi Police and the protesting farmers had a confrontation at Delhi-Haryana borders in Singhu and Tikri since Friday morning. Tear gas shells and water cannons were used to disperse the protesters who had gathered in large numbers to press the Central government to repeal the recently enacted farm laws.

 

Policemen were deployed at the Nirankari ground and senior police officers inspected the site to supervise the necessary arrangements.

8:24 PM

LIVE: Farmers from Punjab settle down at Singhu border, planning for further action

8:23 PM

Huge traffic snarls on National Highway 48 amid farmer protests

Amid demonstrations against the farm bills passed by the central government, commuters on the National Highway-48 also known as Delhi-Jaipur Expressway faced huge traffic snarls throughout Friday. According to senior police officers, none of the farmer groups crossed or entered Delhi amid the protests from this route.

 

But the commuters on the National Highway-48 were stuck again on Friday in a huge traffic jam. During the rush hours two-kilometre long traffic jams were witnessed on the expressway as the Delhi police had erected barricades to stop farmers from entering the national capital.

 

Due to this, many people could not reach their destinations on time. However, the situation was much better on Friday than on Thursday. Due to congestion on the stretch the Gurugram police had removed barricades during the peak hours, bringing relief to commuters travelling between Gurugram and Delhi.

7:56 PM

Delhi govt to provide essential amenities to farmers at Nirankari Maidan

Farmers from Punjab have been allowed to demonstrate at the Nirankari grounds in Delhi's Burari to protest against the Centre's agricultural laws. At the same time, the Delhi government has decided to provide basic facilities to the farmers at Nirankari grounds, beginning with drinking water. The Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi has asked its MLA and Delhi Jal Board vice-chairman Raghav Chadha to take stock of the situation by reaching Burari.

 

The Delhi government said in a press briefing, "Raghav Chadha, Vice Chairman, Delhi Jal Board, will visit the Nirankari grounds, Burari on Friday evening. Proper arrangements for drinking water will be made for farmers who are protesting at the approved protest site. Water tankers are being deployed here. To oversee the preparations, DJB vice-president Raghav Chadha is going to the dharna site."

 

Chadha told IANS, "Farmers have a right to speak and cannot be treated like criminals. Our farmer brothers and sisters are reaching Delhi from all corners of the country. They have come here to protest the black farm laws passed by the Modi government. Now they have got permission to come to the Nirankari grounds. Whatever they need here, whether it is water, food, toilets, the Arvind Kejriwal government will provide it. All the officers and MLAs are keeping an eye on the arrangements."

7:38 PM

LIVE: More Punjab farmers enter Haryana for 'Delhi Chalo' protest

More Punjab farmers forced their way across the state's border with Haryana on Friday, some of them facing water cannons and teargas as they hoped to join thousands who had already reached Delhi to protest against the Centre's farm laws. As on Thursday, the Haryana Police initially tried to stop them from entering the state from the Shambhu border in Ambala district. They lobbed teargas shells and deployed water cannons as protesters tried to push past barriers.

 

Some youths threw metal barricades into the Ghaggar river from the bridge where they were stopped, repeating what an earlier group of farmers had done on Thursday.

 

In the evening, the Haryana Police removed the barricades, allowing the farmers to pass through on their tractor-trolleys and continue their "Delhi Chalo" march. Farmers linked to the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) also broke through police barricades at Khanauri and Dabwali border points between Punjab and Haryana. Their union leaders had earlier said they will stay put at Khanauri and Dabwali, holding their protest there. But the organisation changed its stand under pressure from supporters.

7:19 PM

Braving tear gas shells, water canons, farmers continue their fight against farms laws

Braving tear gas shells and water canons they camped at the Delhi borders for several hours, making multiple attempts to break barricades and resorting to stone pelting, but agitating farmers continued with their fight against the new farm laws. Carrying flags and shouting slogans, thousands of farmers gathered at various entry points into the national capital in a determined bid to push their way through as part of their 'Delhi Chalo' march while police blocked them with barricades, teargas shells and batons.

 

Police resorted to lathicharge for a brief time to control protesters who broke barricades. Hours later, they were granted permission to enter Delhi and stage a peaceful protest at Nirankari ground in Burari.

 

"We will not go back till our demands are met. We will stage a peaceful protest now at the designated place. We had to cross several barricades to reach the place but we are ready to face anything," one of the protesting farmers said.

6:55 PM

Farmer dies, two injured in Haryana's Bhiwani district as truck hits tractor-trolley

6:55 PM

Farmers refuse to leave Sindhu border as agitation 'could weaken'

Even as the Delhi Police on Friday allowed farmers from Punjab, Haryana and elsewhere to hold a peaceful protest against the controversial Agriculture Bills at the Sant Nirankari ground in the capital's Burari area, the farmers refused to leave Delhi-Haryana Sindhu border fearing that their protest would be "weakened".

 

Delhi Police made the announcement after using tear gas shells and water cannons on the protesting farmers, and undertaking a baton charge to disperse them as they tried to enter Delhi.

 

Gurpreet Singh, a farmer associated with Bhartiya Kisan Union Ekta in Punjab, told IANS, "We are holding talks with our representatives as of now to decide whether we will got to Burari ground or not." Singh said that most of the farmers don't want to go at Burari ground and that is the reason why they are all are sitting.

 

"Till the time the government does not accept our three demands, we will sit here," he asserted.

6:41 PM

Delhi govt officials reach Nirankari Samagam Ground in Burari to review arrangements for farmers' ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest

6:30 PM

Farmers enter Delhi from Tikri border after braving water canons, clashing with police

After braving water cannons and clashing with security personnel, thousands of farmers started entering the national capital on Friday from the Tikri border after the Delhi Police granted them permission to hold peaceful protest at the city's Burari ground. The farmers, who were part of the 'Delhi Chalo' march against the Centre's new farm laws, were escorted by police personnel amid tight security as they started entering the city from Tikri Border around 3 pm.

 

Delhi Police on Friday allowed protestors to hold their protest at Nirankari Ground - one of the biggest grounds in the national capital.

 

However, farmers gathered at the Singhu Border have not entered the city so far. Earlier in the day, the Delhi Police used tear gas at the Singhu Border to disperse protesting farmers who were trying to head towards the national capital. Farmers also pelted stones at police and broke barricades in an attempt to enter Delhi. Heavy police deployment had been made at the city borders to prevent their entry.

6:02 PM

Former Haryana CM appeals to people to extend all possible help to farmers marching towards Delhi

Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday appealed to the people of the state to extend all possible help like food and accommodation to farmers marching towards the national capital as part of a 'Delhi Chalo' march against the Centre's new farm laws. Carrying flags and shouting slogans, thousands of farmers have gathered at various entry points into the national capital in a determined bid to push their way through while police blocked them with barricades, teargas shells and batons.

 

"All arrangements for accommodation and food should be made. All possible help should also be extended to the farmers who may need medical help or treatment," said Hooda.

 

Clashes broke out at multiple places and Delhi's borders resembled a virtual battle zone with restless crowds of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, milling around and a sea of police personnel keeping them at bay. Drones circled the air and plumes of smoke from teargas shells could be seen from far. Referring to use of water cannons and tear gas against the protesting farmers, Hooda said the BJP-JJP government in Haryana has tried to "suppress a peaceful movement of farmers in a dictatorial manner".

5:53 PM

LIVE: Police remove barricades at Shambhu border between Haryana and Punjab

5:52 PM

Train services normal at all corridors from 5:35 pm onwards: Delhi Metro

5:49 PM

Farmers allowed to enter Delhi for peaceful protest, chaos at borders but tension defused

Thousands of farmers gathered at various entry points into the national capital were allowed in on Thursday to hold a peaceful protest at a north Delhi ground, defusing some of the tension building up since morning around the city's edges and beyond. The concession came after hours of a standoff that saw police using teargas shells, water cannons and multi-layer barriers to block the protesters and the farmers pelting stones and breaking barricades in some places in their determination to push through as part of their Delhi Chalo' march against the Centre's new farm laws.

 

"After holding discussion with farmer leaders, the protesting farmers have been permitted inside Delhi to hold peaceful protest at Nirankari Ground in Burari. We appeal to all farmers to maintain peace," said Delhi Police PRO Eish Singhal.

 

At the Tikri border, farmers were escorted by police personnel amid tight security around 3 pm and taken towards the Nirankari Ground, one of the biggest in the city. But those gathered at the Singhu border, one of the main routes used to access the city from Punjab, had not entered the city till evening.

 

As the issue snowballed, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said no government in the world can stop farmers fighting the "battle of truth".

5:22 PM

Delhi Police permits peaceful protest by farmers at Nirankari Samagam Ground in Burari

The Delhi Police on Friday allowed permission to farmers to peacefully protest at Nirankari Samagam Ground in Burari amid the Dilli Chalo march initiated against the farm laws.

 

"After discussion with farmer leaders, Delhi Police has allowed farmers to protest peacefully at Nirankari Samagam Ground in Burari. We appeal to them to maintain peace in order to avoid any inconvenience to others," said Delhi Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) Eish Singhal.

 

This comes as farmers groups, including women, continued their march towards Delhi while protesting and raising slogans near the border areas of the national capital. Scores of farmers at the Tikri border near the Delhi-Bahadurgarh highway and the Singhu border were seen agitating amid heavy security deployment. While the government said the three laws will do away with middlemen, enabling farmers to sell their produce in the commercial markets, protestors fear that this could lead to the government not buying produce at guaranteed prices, thereby disrupting their timely payments.

 

Farmers are protesting against the three laws -- the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Service Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

5:04 PM

Farmer on way to Delhi killed as truck hits his tractor-trolley in Bhiwani

A farmer was killed and two others were injured on Friday as the tractor-trolley in which they were travelling to the national capital in response to the Delhi Chalo call was hit by a truck in Haryana's Bhiwani district, said police. The incident occurred at Mundhal in Bhiwani district on early Friday when the truck hit the tractor at a police barricade, they said.

 

A case was registered against the truck driver who hit the tractor, killing a protesting farmer and injuring two others, a Haryana Police spokesperson said.

 

In this accident, Tanna Singh, a farmer from Mansa in Punjab, died on the spot while two others were injured. The police immediately rushed the injured to the Bhiwani Civil Hospital for treatment, the spokesperson added. After getting a complaint in this regard, a case has been registered against the truck driver under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code. Further investigation is underway.

4:52 PM

AAP Burari MLA meets police, asks them to ensure farmers face no problems during protest

Aam Aadmi Party's Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha on Friday met Delhi Police officials and asked them to ensure farmers, who are protesting against the Centre's farm laws, do not face any hardships during their demonstration at the Nirankari ground in his constituency.

 

The farmers from Punjab, who pelted stones at police and broke barricades at the Delhi-Haryana Singhu border in an attempt to enter the national capital as part of their 'Delhi Chalo' march, were allowed by the police to enter the city later in the day.

 

Police have said that the farmers have been allowed to enter and hold peaceful protest at the ground in Burari. Jha said that he also met farmers' representatives and assured them that he will try his best to ensure farmers do not face any kind of problem or hardships while holding their protest.

4:40 PM

No govt in world can stop farmers fighting battle of truth: Rahul Gandhi

4:32 PM

Two trains cancelled, five trains short terminated and five others diverted: Northern Railway

4:31 PM

Farmers Protests LIVE: Traffic at Delhi-Gurugram border due to checking of vehicles

4:24 PM

LIVE: Farmers allowed to enter Delhi, protest at Burari

After hours of confrontation and talks with the farmers the Delhi Police finally on Friday afternoon allowed the farmers to enter Delhi. They will be escorted to Nirankari ground in Burari for carrying on their protests against the Centre's Farm Laws.

 

"After discussion with farmer leaders, the protesting farmers have been permitted inside Delhi to hold peaceful protest at Nirankari ground in Burari. Delhi Police appeals to them to maintain peace," said Eish Singhal PRO Delhi police.

 

The agitating farmers earlier entered into a confrontation with the Delhi Police and there was mild lathi-charge and some rounds of tear gas shells used besides water cannons to push the farmers from Singhu and Tikri borders along Delhi-Haryana. Massive traffic jams were also reported from Singhu border, Tikri border and Delhi-Gurugram border because of the protest.

 

The Delhi Police would make proper arrangements for the systematic movement of farmers from borders of Haryana to lead them to the designated place of protest in North Delhi's Burari area. Some 500 farmers' organisations from six states -- Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Kerala -- had planned the November 26-27 march for two months to press the central government to repeal the recently enacted farm laws.

4:12 PM

Haryana CM appeals farmers to talk to Centre over their issues

As farmers continue their march to Delhi against new farm laws, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday said they should directly talk to the Central government for all their "legitimate" issues.

 

"The central government is always ready for talks. I appeal to all the farming brothers to directly talk to the Centre for all their legitimate issues. The movement is not its way - the solution will come out of the conversation," read Khattar's tweet translated from Hindi.

 

Farmers from Haryana and Punjab are heading to the national capital as part of the protest march. Police deployed on the Delhi border in view of the farmers' movement and all vehicles heading towards the national capital are being checked. Meanwhile, Delhi Police has allowed farmers to protest peacefully at Nirankari Samagam Ground in Burari.

 

"After discussion with farmer leaders, Delhi Police has allowed farmers to protest peacefully at Nirankari Samagam Ground in Burari. We appeal to them to maintain peace in order to avoid any inconvenience to others," Delhi Police PRO Eish Singhal told ANI.

3:48 PM

LIVE: Farmers allowed entry into Delhi; Punjab CM welcomes move

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday welcomed the Union government's decision allowing farmers to enter the national capital and hold peaceful agitation. Earlier in the day, agitating farmers at the Delhi-Haryana Singhu border had pelted stones and broke barricades as they clashed with Delhi Police which used tear gas shells to disperse them. Police said farmers have been allowed to hold peaceful protest at the Nirankari Ground in north Delhi.

 

"I welcome the Centre's decision to allow farmers to enter Delhi to exercise their democratic right to protest. They should also now initiate immediate talks to address farmers' concerns on the #FarmLaws and resolve the simmering issue," Amarinder Singh said in a tweet.

 

Punjab farmers' bodies said that officials of the Union home ministry had allowed them a place in Delhi to hold the agitation.

 

"We have been allowed safe passage to Delhi," claimed Krantikari Kisan Union president Darshan Pal. Farmers had demanded that they be allowed to hold their protest at the Ramlila ground but the Delhi Police had denied the request. The Punjab chief minister slammed the ML Khattar-led government in Haryana for its continued use of brute force to stop farmers even after the Union government's conciliatory move.

3:37 PM

LIVE: We appeal to agitating farmers to maintain peace, says Delhi Police

3:35 PM

Centre always ready for talks, dialogue would fetch solution: Haryana CM to farmers

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday sought to assure agitating farmers that the central government is always ready for talks with them and a solution can come out through the dialogue. Khattar extended the assurance amid farmers from Punjab and Haryana striving to reach the national capital as part of their Delhi Chalo call to protest against the three central farm laws.

 

Khattar appealed to farmers to directly talk to the Centre regarding their legitimate issues.

 

The central government is always ready for talks, Khattar said in a tweet. I appeal to farmer brothers to directly talk to the Centre for all their legitimate issues, he added. Khattar told farmers that the path of stir cannot be a medium for the resolution of problems and asserted that a solution will emerge from talks.

3:30 PM

LIVE: Farmers enter the national capital through the Tikri border