Farmers' protest highlights: Noida farmers call off Feb 23 Delhi march

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

9:10 PM

Protesting Noida farmers call off Feb 23 Delhi march

The Friday's proposed "Delhi march" of protesting farmers in Noida and Greater Noida has been called off after their meeting with the local administration and the police, a protesting group said.

 

The Thursday's announcement comes a day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered formation of a three-member committee to look into the issue and resolve the woes of the farmers, who are demanding higher compensation and developed plots in lieu of their land acquired by the government in the past.

 

Thousands of farmers from around 200 villages, who are protesting against the local authorities in Noida and Greater Noida, and the National Thermal Power Corporation (Dadri), had on February 8 made an unsuccessful attempt to go to Parliament to press for their demands but were stopped at the Delhi border here by the police.

 

Representatives of Bharatiya Kisan Parishad, All India Kisan Sabha and Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Morcha on Thursday afternoon held a meeting with the local police officers and the administration, including District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma, in Greater Noida.

9:07 PM

Amid protests by cultivators, PM says his govt focusing on improving lives of small farmers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said his government was focusing on improving the lives of small farmers through various schemes and initiatives, comments coming in the backdrop of protests by Punjab and Haryana cultivators in support of their demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP for crops and a farm loan waiver.

 

During his day-long visit to Gujarat which was packed with multiple programmes, Modi travelled to Ahmedabad, Navsari, Mehsana and Surat and attended several events, including golden jubilee celebrations of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets daily products under the Amul brand, and inaugurated or laid foundation stones of a slew of projects.

 

He also dedicated to the nation two new Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) with a cumulative capacity of 1,400 megawatt at Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) in Surat district.

8:41 PM

Farmers to hold demonstrations every day from Feb 23

"From tomorrow, there will be demonstrations every day. On February 26, tractors will stand on the national highway and state highway leading to Delhi," said Rakesh Tikait.

8:39 PM

Farmer leader announces 'Mahapanchayat' of farmers at Ramlila Maidan on March 14

Farmers Protest Live News: "Haryana Police entered Punjab, fired at us and also broke our tractors. A case under section 302 IPC should be registered against Haryana CM and Haryana's home minister. Judicial inquiry should be conducted (into the death of a farmer). On 14th March, a 'mahapanchayat' of farmers will be held at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi," said Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Balbir Singh Rajewal.

8:39 PM

X complies with Indian government's order to suspend accounts but says "We disagree..."

Farmers Protest Live News: Elon Musk-led social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has confirmed that it has taken down accounts and posts related to the ongoing farmers' protest in parts of northern India, purely in compliance with the executive orders issued by the Narendra Modi government.

5:50 PM

SKM will take out tractor marches across countries' highways on Feb 26, says farmer leader Rakesh Tikait

SKM will take out tractor marches across countries' highways on Feb 26, says farmer leader Rakesh Tikait.

5:49 PM

Farm community gives mixed response to increase in sugarcane FRP

The farm community in western Uttar Pradesh has given a mixed response to the government's decision to increase Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane to Rs 340 per quintal.

 

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday decided to hike the minimum price that mills have to pay to sugarcane growers by Rs 25 to Rs 340 per quintal for the 2024-25 season starting October.

 

This is the highest FRP for sugarcane announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government since coming to power in 2014.

 

Dismayed over the decision, Baghpat District President of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu) Pratap Singh Gurjar said the government has forgotten its own promise.

 

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi had himself promised to give MSP of Rs 450 per quintal to cane during a public rally in Meerut in 2014 elections," he claimed.

5:22 PM

Govt hopeful of resolution of farmers' protest before start of wheat procurement season from March: Food Secy

Govt hopeful of resolution of farmers' protest before start of wheat procurement season from March, said Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra, reports PTI. He further said, "Wheat crop in good condition, procurement may commence early depending on arrivals in growing states. No proposal to allow further diversion of sugar for ethanol production."

5:00 PM

Farmers' protest news updates: AAP holds talks with Shiromani Akali Dal on farmers' issues

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi minister Atishi met SAD leader Daljeet Singh Cheema in Chandigarh to hold talks on the farmer's protest earlier today.

4:57 PM

LIVE news: Whenever it is required, we are ready to hold talks, says Anurag Thakur on farmers' protest

"Some Ministers of Central govt went to Chandigarh and met them and there were discussions happened for hours. There were positive discussions. In the future also whenever it is required, we are ready to hold talks. We need to try and make sure that there is no violence and loss of money and lives. We increased the MSP of sugar cane from Rs 315 to Rs 340 per quintal...not just this, we are taking every step to double the income of farmers. We implemented the report of scientist MS Swaminathan...during the Congress regime in 2013-14, farmers got Rs 7,30,000 crore from banks, but last year we gave more than Rs 20 lakh crore, which is 3 times more...Modi govt has taken every decision in the favour of farmers, and we will keep doing so...those people who ruled the nation for over 60 years and did nothing, we shouldn't be compared with them," Union minister Anurag Thakur said today. 

4:54 PM

Farmers' protest LIVE: National Highway 44 blocked in Kurukshetra

Members of Gurnam Singh Charuni group blocked National Highway 44 in Kurukshetra, Haryana, in support of the ongoing farmers' protest, news agency PTI reported today.

4:15 PM

Traders' association asks govt to include small industries, other stakeholders in talks with farmers

CAIT said that any proposed measures would have far-reaching implications, affecting every stakeholder involved in the agricultural supply chain. The association has asked the government to include include various stakeholders, including traders, transporters, consumers, and small industries in a letter addressed to Union Minister for Commerce Piyush Goyal, Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda and Union Minister Nityanand Rai.

2:33 PM

Democracy is being "murdered": Congress slams Centre over X's statement

The Congress claimed today that democracy is being "murdered" in the country, after social media platform X voiced disagreement with the BJP-led central government's order to block accounts and posts related to the ongoing farmers' protests. X also called for extending freedom of expression to the affected posts.

 

2:33 PM

Govt should hold talks with protesting farmers, says Ex-Haryana CM Hooda

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said the Centre should immediately hold talks with the protesting farmers to resolve their issues, calling the prevailing situation arising out of the stir as "worrisome".

2:27 PM

Govt ensured farmers get the right price of crops at the right time in the last 10 yrs: CCEA

99.5 per cent of the cane dues of the previous sugar season 2022-23 and 99.9 per cent of all other sugar seasons are already paid to farmers leading to the lowest cane arrears pending in the history of the sugar sector, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs said today. With timely policy interventions by the government, sugar mills have become self-sustainable and no financial assistance has been given to them by the government since 2021-22. Still, the central government has ensured 'Assured FRP and Assured Procurement' of sugarcane to farmers, the CCEA said.

 

1:45 PM

Govt committed to fulfil resolutions for farmer welfare, says PM Modi

 PM Narendra Modi said that his government is committed to fulfil resolutions aimed at the welfare of farmers across the country

 

"Our government is committed to fulfil every resolution related to the welfare of our farmers across the country. In this context, a historic increase in the price of sugarcane purchase has been approved. This step will benefit crores of our sugarcane-producing farmers," PM Modi said on X.

12:52 PM

Farmers' protest LIVE news: Centre should fulfill promises made to farmers two years back, says Gopal Rai

"It's unfortunate and I again appeal to the central govt that all those promises that were made to the farmers two years back should be implemented. Farmers should be given space in Delhi for a peaceful protest," says Delhi minister Gopal Rai on farmers' protest.

11:43 AM

LIVE news: AAP compares Modi govt to General Dyer regime; accuses it of "torturing" farmers

11:35 AM

More efforts needed for consensus: Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda on farmers' protest

Affirming the Centre's commitment to working for the interest of farmers, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda said on Thursday that though several rounds of discussions with the farmers were held, more efforts have to be made from both sides to reach a consensus.

"I would like to say that meaningful talks have been held in the several rounds of discussions with farmers. But more hard work will have to be put in by both sides for agreement over a few issues. Government of India is committed to working for the interest of farmers and it is doing that," Munda said

10:32 AM

'Committed to farmers' welfare': PM Modi hails sugarcane support price hike

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated today that he is committed to farmers' welfare after the Centre decided to hike the minimum price that mills have to pay to sugarcane growers.

 

"Our government is committed to fulfilling every resolution related to the welfare of our farmer brothers and sisters across the country. In this context, a historic increase in the price of sugarcane purchase has been approved. This step will benefit crores of our sugarcane-producing farmers," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today.

10:31 AM

X says it disagrees with govt's suggestions to block accounts linked to farmers' protest

X on Thursday expressed disagreement with the Indian government's order to block accounts and posts related to the ongoing farmers' protests. The Ministry of Electronics and IT has ordered social media platforms to temporarily block 177 accounts that were linked to farmers' protests on request of the Ministry of Home Affairs, according to sources.

"The Indian government has issued executive orders requiring X to act on specific accounts and posts, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment. In compliance with the orders, we will withhold these accounts and posts in India alone; however, we disagree with these actions and maintain that freedom of expression should extend to these posts," X said in a post.

9:00 AM

Haryana extends internet suspension in districts till Friday

The ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts has been extened by the Haryana government till February 23.  The Haryana administration notified that  bulk SMS and all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except voice calls, will remain suspended in the jurisdiction of districts Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa.