LIVE: Protesting farm unions announce 3-hour nationwide chakka jam on Feb 6

Farmers' protest LIVE updates: 'Will block the roads between 12 pm to 3 pm on February 6', said Union farm leaders

10:36 PM

Delhi Police fixes nails on ground near barricades at Ghazipur (Delhi-Uttar Pradesh) border: ANI

10:30 PM

Bring bill in budget session to repeal farm laws: CPI to Centre

The CPI on Monday pledged its continued support to the ongoing farmers agitation in Delhi against the three contentious farm laws and demanded that the Narendra Modi government bring a bill to repeal them, PTI reported. The NDA government talked about agrarian reforms, but it should not mean corporatisation of agriculture and depriving the farmers rights and food security of the country, CPI General Secretary D Raja said here.

 

He also said the party would mobilise "all sections of our society... secular, democratic and Left parties" to defeat the RSS-BJP combine and save the country, its Constitution and democracy.

 

"We have decided to continue to support this farmers agitation. We demand the repealof all these three agricultural laws," Raja told reporters here, a day after the two-day National Council meeting of the CPI concluded here.

10:04 PM

Rise of a farmer leader: Who is Rakesh Tikait?

Farmers' agitation: The Bharatiya Kisan Union-led protest against the Centre's new farm laws in Delhi looked like it was going slim on Thursday but more protestors have joined the stir, following a mahapanchayat of farmers on Saturday in Muzaffarnagar, while supporters also poured in from Haryana and Rajasthan districts. This all happened after Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait 'complained' of police excesses and conspiracy against the farmers with tears in eyes two days ago. But who is Rakesh Tikait? Watch the video to know more about him.

 

9:56 PM

Suspension of mobile internet services in some Haryana districts extended till 5 pm tomorrow

Suspension of mobile internet services, bulk SMS services and all dongle services provided on mobile networks except voice calls in Kaithal, Panipat, Jind, Rohtak, Charkhi Dadri, Sonipat & Jhajjar districts extended till 5 pm tomorrow: Haryana government.

9:52 PM

January 26 violence: Total 44 FIRs registered and 128 people arrested so far, says Delhi Police

Total 44 FIRs have been registered and 128 people arrested so far in connection with January 26 violence: Delhi Police

9:43 PM

Govt uses IT Act to get Twitter to block accounts tweeting on farmers' stir

Twitter India on Monday blocked a few hundred accounts on its platform, most of whom were tweeting about the ongoing farmer agitation, after it received a legal request from the government to do so.

 

The accounts, it is learnt, were taken down after a request to take them down under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.

 

“Many countries have laws that may apply to Tweets and/or Twitter account content. In our continuing effort to make our services available to people everywhere, if we receive a properly scoped request from an authorized entity, it may be necessary to withhold access to certain content in a particular country from time to time,” a Twitter spokesperson said in a statement. READ ON...

9:14 PM

Protesting farmers announce 3-hour nationwide 'chakka jam' on Feb 6

Farmer unions Monday announced a countrywide 'chakka jam' on February 6 when they would block national and state highways for three hours in protest against the internet ban in areas near their agitation sites, harassment allegedly meted out to them by authorities, and other issues, PTI reported. Union leaders told a press conference at the Singhu Border here that they will block the roads between 12 pm to 3 pm on February 6.

 

They also alleged that farmers have been "ignored" in the Union Budget 2021-22, and water and power supply have been curtailed at their protest venues. The Samkyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of protesting unions, also alleged that the Twitter accounts of Kisan Ekta Morcha and a user named 'Tractor2Twitter' have been restricted.

 

Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav alleged the action against the Twitter account was taken on the "request of government authorities". He also claimed that the Union government has "reduced the allocation to agriculture sector" in this budget.

9:01 PM

Country-wide agitation on February 6; will block roads: Bhartiya Kisan Union

There will be a country-wide agitation on February 6; we will block roads between 12 pm and 3 pm, says Balbir Singh Rajewal, Bhartiya Kisan Union: ANI

8:59 PM

Farmers' protest: Court to pass order on journalist's bail plea on Feb 2

A Delhi court will pass order on Tuesday on the bail application of freelance journalist Mandeep Punia who was arrested by Delhi Police from Singhu border protest site.

 

Punia was arrested by police in an FIR registered under various sections including 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 332 (Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) of IPC.

 

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Satvir Singh Lamba reserved the order for Tuesday after hearing arguments from the accused as well the public prosecutor. READ MORE...

8:42 PM

Agriculture Minister hails budget; says priority given to doubling farmers' income

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday welcomed the Union Budget for 2021-22, saying priority has been given to doubling farmers' income by focusing on making available higher farm credit and post-harvest infrastructure in rural areas, Press Trust of India reported.

 

"I welcome the budget. It is a good budget that focuses on all sections of the society. Better fund allocation has been made for each sector which will benefit farmers and rural India," Tomar told reporters.

 

For instance, the farm loan target has been increased to Rs 16.5 lakh crore for the 2021-22 fiscal from Rs 15 lakh crore this financial year while the Rs 1 lakh crore agriculture infrastructure fund would be made available for strengthening APMCs, he said.

 

Stating that the government is committed to farmers' welfare, Tomar said, "The government is making efforts towards achieving the target of doubling farmers' income by 2022. The priority has been given for this in the budget."

8:40 PM

Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava today visited Ghazipur border

8:37 PM

National and state highways will be blocked from 12 noon to 3 pm on Feb 6: Swaraj India

National and state highways will be blocked from 12 noon to 3 pm on February 6, says Yogendra Yadav of Swaraj India: ANI

8:32 PM

Ghazipur turns fortress, nails cemented on roads leading to farmers' protest site

The Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border at Ghazipur turned into a fortress Monday with multi-layer barricades and a heavy security deployment at the site where farmers are protesting against the new central laws, PTI reported. Protesters are pouring in as Bharatiya Kisan Union members and its leader Rakesh Tikait stay pitched at UP Gate, occupying a stretch of the Delhi-Meerut highway since November.

 

Hundreds of security personnel, including the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and Rapid Action Force (RAF), kept vigil.

 

Drones were being used to monitor the situation and vehicles checked as more support continued to flow in for the BKU from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. Apart from the barricades, barbed wire has been installed to stop people moving on foot.

8:31 PM

Protesting unions announce 3-hour nationwide chakka jam on Feb 6

Protesting unions announce 3-hour nationwide chakka jam on Feb 6 against internet ban, farmers being "ignored" in Budget and other issues: Press Trust of India

8:27 PM

No amount allocated to FCI for procurement at MSP this year: Farmer Union

Last year, budget allocation for financial support extended through loans to Food Corporation of India (FCI) for procurement at MSP was Rs 1,36,600 cr. Less than Rs 85,000 was spent. No amount is allocated this year. Such things make farmers think that it's a conspiracy to shut FCI: Yogendra Yadav, Swaraj India: ANI

7:58 PM

Only concerned about having farm laws repealed, not budget: Farmers

Farmers protesting at various sites on the borders of Delhi on Monday unequivocally said they are only concerned about their common goal of having the three farm laws repealed, and what has been offered to the agriculture sector in the Union Budget does not matter.

 

At the Singhu Border, most farmers were rather clueless about the budget, saying they were "unable to access the internet" at the protest site so couldn't get to know the details.

 

Randhir Singh, 48, from Kaithal district of Haryana, who has been camping there since December, said, "Our only goal right now is to see the three laws repealed. Union budget is not of immediate concern to us." READ ON...

7:33 PM

Govt open for discussions, FM Nirmala Sitharaman on farmer agitation

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the government is ready for talks with the protesting farmers on the three farm laws as discussion is the only way forward. Thousands of farmers are protesting on key entry points to the national capital for over two months, demanding the repeal of the three farm laws and legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) on crops, PTI reported.

 

"We can understand why farmers are sitting at the border. If any farmer has any question, Agriculture Minister (Narendra Singh Tomar) has never denied opportunities for talk," Sitharaman said in reply to a query during her post Budget briefing.

 

The minister said Tomar has had several rounds of discussions with farmers and also asked to them to come up with clause by clause suggestion on all the three legislations.

 

"Therefore, I think, discussion is the only solution. The government is open for discussion. The Prime Minister before the commencement of Parliament session said that the offer is still on the table," she said.

7:04 PM

Delhi Police appeals to public not to believe in rumours about illegal detention of farmers

The Delhi Police on Monday appealed to people not to believe in rumours about illegal detention of farmers protesting against three new agri laws and asserted that the investigation is being carried out in a fair and transparent manner. Delhi Police PRO Eish Singhal said 44 FIRs have been registered and 122 people arrested till now, PTI reported.

 

The information about the cases concerned has been updated on the official website of the Delhi Police as per guidelines of the Supreme Court to facilitate the public, he said. The kin of those arrested can also seek information from the police stations concerned.

 

"We appeal to the public to not believe in rumours. Investigation carried out by the Delhi Police is transparent and fair," Singhal said.

 

According to the police, 394 police personnel were injured while 30 police vehicles were damaged in the violence during the farmers' tractor parade on Republic Day.

6:56 PM

Twitter 'withholds' multiple accounts linked to farmers' protest

Twitter on Monday withheld multiple accounts on its social media platform including those linked with the ongoing farmers' protest at Delhi borders against the new contentious central farm laws.

 

Among the accounts withheld are Kisan Ekta Morcha (@Kisanektamorcha) and BKU Ekta Urgahan (@Bkuektaugrahan), both having followers in thousands.

 

Besides these, several other individual and organisational accounts, including one of a media outlet, were also withheld, even as debates started on social media over the development. READ MORE...

6:49 PM

Want farmers to specifically highlight what aspects of farm laws are problematic: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Want farmers to specifically highlight what aspects of farm laws are problematic: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tells CNBC TV18 in an interview.

6:30 PM

HC seeks Centre stand on PILs claiming misreporting of farmers protest on Republic Day

The Delhi High Court on Monday soughtresponse of the Centre on two PILs which have alleged that a certain media house has indulged in a "concocted", "offensive and potentially fatal" attack on the Sikh community by circulating unverified videos regarding the Republic Day protest by farmers on their news platforms.

 

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh issued notice to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Press Council of India (PCI), News Broadcaster Association (NBA) and a media house, seeking their stand on the two pleas by February 26, PTI reported.

 

One petition has been moved by Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and the other by Delhi resident Manjit Singh G K, both claiming that the "vicious campaign directed against a particular community at a time when public sentiments are flared up could result in disastrous consequences, including endangering the lives, property and liberty of members of that community". 

6:05 PM

Modi govt committed to working for the interest of farmers: Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar

Government of India under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi is committed to working for the interest of farmers. Every year the focus is not only on increased budget allocation, but also the implementation of schemes: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar

6:02 PM

Farmers' stir impacted levy of agricultural cess in Budget: Tax expert

The ongoing farmers' protest had an impact on the Union Budget as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a cess for agriculture infrastructure and development, instead of a Covid cess, said Ved Jain, a specialist in direct taxes and former president, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

 

Speaking to IANS on the Union Budget, Jain said an agricultural cess instead of a Covid cess is a matter of political compulsion. "In a democratic set up, I believe economy cannot be absolutely divested from political compulsions. Definitely, this farmers' issue was one of the top agenda and the farmers' agitation is one of the challenges before the country," said Jain.

 

He said that the farmers' agitation introduced the agriculture cess, but there are indirect taxes and the common man will be paying for it.

5:44 PM

Gates of Brigadier Hoshiar Singh, Bahadurgarh City, Pandit Shree Ram Sharma and Tikri Border are open: DMRC

Entry/exit gates of Brigadier Hoshiar Singh, Bahadurgarh City, Pandit Shree Ram Sharma and Tikri Border are open: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)

5:31 PM

Budget focuses on wealth and wellness; has villages, farmers at its heart: PM Modi

Asserting that villages and farmers are at the heart of the Union Budget presented on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it has put a lot of emphasis on strengthening the farming sector and increasing farmers' income while making an allocation to further empower agriculture mandis.

 

In televised remarks after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget, Modi said it has many provisions for the agriculture sector, including for making loans easier for farmers.

 

His comments came amid long-running protests by a section of farmers against three agri laws, with protesting farmer unions demanding their repeal and the government insisting that they are for the good of farmers but offering to put them for 18 months.

5:17 PM

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath hails Budget 2021 as farmer friendly

Welcoming the Union Budget 2021-22, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that it will work to speed up the economy and empower every citizen of the country financially.

 

"The present general budget is in accordance with the intention of public welfare and self-reliant India. The budget has taken care of every class including farmers, middle class, poor and women. It will work to speed up the economy and empower every citizen of the country financially," the Chief Minister said in a tweet.

In Part A of the budget, the Finance Minister laid out a vision for 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' to strengthen the vision of Nation First, doubling farmers' income, strong infrastructure, women's empowerment, healthy India, good governance, education for all and inclusive development.

5:02 PM

Why can't PM meet protesting farmers and resolve the issue asks SAD President

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers can't meet the farmers protesting for days in the cold and resolve the issue, according to an ANI report.

 

Talking to ANI during the Shiromani Akali Dal's protest in Parliament against the newly enacted farm laws Badal said, "Farmers are out on the streets putting their lives at stake. Lakhs of farmers have lost their lives and the Centre is not talking about it, not doing justice. If farmers can sit for days in the open and protest in this bitter cold, can the Prime Minister not go there and meet them. Can his ministers not visit the farmers, talk to them and make a decision?

 

"Be it a digital budget or a paper budget, the common people remain unaffected by it. What matters is whatever is tabled in the budget. Whatever is being presented is anti-farmer, anti-poor. Then what is the benefit of this digital budget 'drama'," Badal said while talking about the first-ever paperless budget.

 

Commenting about talks between the Centre and the farmers, Badal stated, "We can only talk to the PM when he meets us in person. Nine meetings have already taken place. The main aim of the Centre was to pretend that we want to talk but they never wished to talk about the issue. This is a public posture. If their hearts are clean, the matter will be solved within a minute."

4:41 PM

Punjab Mail diverted, another train short-terminated amid charges farmers denied reaching Delhi

The Punjab Mail was diverted while another train was short-terminated Monday, prompting charges that it was done to prevent farmers from reaching Delhi to join the ongoing protests against the three new farm laws, even as the Railways said the move was an operational necessity. PTI report said that a group of farmers had boarded the Punjab Mail last night at Ferozepur (in Punjab) and they were to join others who have been protesting against the Central laws at the Delhi borders.

 

The train, which travels via Delhi, was diverted from Rohtak (in Haryana) to Rewari, and further towards its Mumbai route.

 

"The train was diverted because of operational reasons," a Northern Railways spokesperson said.

 

Another train travelling from Ganganagar in Rajasthan to Old Delhi, via places in Punjab and Haryana, was short-terminated at Bahadurgarh (Haryana).

4:31 PM

It's an anti-farmer, anti-people and anti-country budget: Mamata Banerjee

4:30 PM

Farmers' mahapanchayat held in western UP's Bijnor district

Farmers' mahapanchayat held in western UP's Bijnor district, fourth such congregation in the region in as many days: Press Trust of India (PTI).