LIVE: Punjab CM calls all-party meet on Feb 2 to discuss farmers' agitation

Farmers' protest LIVE updates: Prime Minister Modi tells political parties that his government is trying to resolve the issues raised by farmers.

1:04 AM

Thousands converge for third 'mahapanchayat' in western UP, resolve to support stir over farm laws

The ripples of farmers' protest against the new agri laws on Delhi's borders spread further in western Uttar Pradesh with thousands of people converging for a 'mahapanchayat' on Sunday in Baghpat, the third such congregation in the region in as many days which resolved to lend support to the ongoing peasants' stir.
 

The 'sarv khap mahapanchayat'  took place at the Tehsil ground here with farmers pouring in from nearby districts as well in tractor-trollies, many of which are decked up with music systems, the tricolour and farmer unions' flags.
 

This is the third 'mahapanchayat' of farmers in the region after a massive congregation in Muzaffarnagar on Friday and in Mathura on Saturday, both resolving to support the ongoing BKU-led protest at the Ghazipur border against the three new farm laws.
 

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rajendra Chaudhary told the crowd the movement has to be continued with full strength.
 

The 'mahapanchayat' is also deliberating on the January 26 police action against farmers protesting in Baghpat district against the new central farm laws, a local Baraut resident, who attended the event, told PTI.
 

1:03 AM

Took political support for farmers' movement only after democracy was mocked: Rakesh Tikait

The Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) had not allowed political parties in the movement against new central farm laws but took political support "only after democracy was mocked" at protest sites, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said Sunday.
 

Tikait made the remark as hundreds of farmers reached a key protest site on the Delhi-Meerut highway in Ghazipur on the national capital's border with Uttar Pradesh where they danced to upbeat tunes, creating a festive atmosphere as more supporters continued to pour in.

Security measures were strengthened with multi-layer barricading that included iron and concrete structures, while barbed wires also came up on both sides of the highway stretch that has become the BKU's camping site since November 28 last year in a major farmers' stir over three new farm laws of the Centre.

 

Farmers reached the Ghazipur border from western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand as a turban-clad Rakesh Tikait led the charge for the BKU, the appeal of which coupled with a clarion call from a January 29 "mahapanchayat" of farmers in Muzaffarnagar has re-energised the stir, which was fast losing its sheen and momentum after the Republic Day violence in Delhi.
 

In response to a question, Tikait said, “the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) had not allowed political parties to enter the movement because our movement is apolitical. Support from political parties was taken only after democracy was mocked over the protests. But still, politicians are kept away from the stage of farmers' protest.”    

1:02 AM

UP police issues notice to 220 tractor owners; Opposition says move to threaten farmers

Around 200 tractor owners have been issued notices by the Uttar Pradesh police, prompting senior SP leader Ram Govind Chaudhary to allege that the move was meant to threaten the farmers.
 

The police, however, stated that the notices have nothing to do with the farmers' protest against the Centre's new agriculture laws.
 

"Notices have been served to 220 owners of tractors in the Sikandarpur police station area. In the notice, it has been mentioned that the tractors were used on public roads for commercial work, and minors were driving them. As a result of this, there were road accidents. The tractors were also used in illegal mining,” Bal Mukund Mishra, SHO, Sikandarpur police station told PTI.
 

Asked if the police can issue such a notice, Regional Transport Officer Rajeshwar Yadav said he was not aware of any such thing.
 

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Ram Govind Chaudhary said police are trying to threaten the farmers.
 

8:50 PM

AAP's demand for police protection for farmers nothing more than 'dramebaazi': Amarinder Singh

Aam Aadmi Party's demand for deployment of the state police to protect the agitating farmers from Punjab at Delhi borders is "nothing more than dramebaazi", said Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday.

Trashing the AAP's demand as "arbitrary, absurd and irrational," Singh in a press release said, "Arvind Kejriwal's party has clearly lost all sense of Constitutional and legal propriety, and was completely ignorant even on the law laid down by the highest court of the land."

This demand is not only completely illogical and frivolous but against all principles and rules of the law, said the Chief Minister, reacting to a letter received by his office from AAP.

Mocking AAP's senseless demand, Singh pointed out that, as per a Union Home Ministry directive and a Supreme Court order, the Punjab Police cannot stay in another state for more than 72 hours even for a protectee, which the farmers are in any case not, the release reads.

8:09 PM

Farmers protest: Despite increasing number of barricades thousands converge at Ghazipur

Despite an increasing number of barricades, thousands of farmers have been converging at Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border following a tearful Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait's impassioned appeal to protesters to bolster the stir.

The tide of the over two-month protest against the farm laws, which had lost its sheen after the violence in Delhi during the tractors parade on Republic day, appears to have regained momentum as is evident from the increased number of tents set up at the protest site.

Many protesters waited for hours to talk to Tikait or take a selfie with him as the farmer leader remained busy meeting his supporters and talking to the media.

A Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) member said Tikait has been sleeping only for around three hours a day for the last three days. "He had complained of blood pressure issues, but is doing fine now," the member said.

7:36 PM

Will hold talks with govt after our people are released: Rakesh Tikait

There will not be any agreement under pressure. We will hold discussions on the farm law issue only after our people to be released from the jail, said Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Sunday.

 

While speaking to ANI, he said that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the initiative for a result, we will keep his respect.

 

"There won't be any agreement under pressure. We will hold discussions on the issue. Prime Minister is ours also, we are thankful for his initiative, we will respect it. We want our people to be released," Tikait said.

 

Talking about the Red Fort violence on Republic Day, Tikait said that the matter has to be investigated fairly.

6:23 PM

Singhu locals divided over farmers' agitation

It has been more than two months since the ongoing farmer protests began at the Delhi borders over the contentious farm laws. However, there has been a major turnaround in the situation at the borders since the January 26 violence.

The views of the people of Singhu village adjacent to the border may be divided over the farmers' movement but they are bearing the brunt and have been inconvenienced due to the closure of roads across the village.

Nearly 20,000 people live in Singhu village, some of whom have their own houses while most people in this village live on rent.

Due to the farmers' agitation at the border, the Delhi-Karnal road is closed and the main road connecting the highway to the village has also been closed due to security reasons. Due to this the people of the village are very upset.

5:26 PM

AAP asks Punjab CM to deploy state police for security of farmers protesting on Delhi borders

The Aam Aadmi Party Sunday asked Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to deploy the state police for the security of farmers protesting at Delhi borders against the three new Central laws.

In a letter to Singh on Sunday, AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadhasaid thePunjab Police must provide protection to farmers so that no harm is done to them and they can continue to protest against the "black farm laws" in a peaceful manner.

"The Aam Aadmi Party demands that you deploy Punjab Police in sufficient numbers to surround the camps where the peaceful protests are being held from all sides," Chadha said.

5:25 PM

AAP asks Punjab CM to deploy state police for security of farmers protesting on Delhi borders

The Aam Aadmi Party Sunday asked Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to deploy the state police for the security of farmers protesting at Delhi borders against the three new Central laws.

In a letter to Singh on Sunday, AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadhasaid thePunjab Police must provide protection to farmers so that no harm is done to them and they can continue to protest against the "black farm laws" in a peaceful manner.

"The Aam Aadmi Party demands that you deploy Punjab Police in sufficient numbers to surround the camps where the peaceful protests are being held from all sides," Chadha said.

4:59 PM

Farmers deeply hurt by BJP's moves to defame them: Akhilesh

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said the farmers were deeply hurt by the moves made by the BJP to defame them. He also alleged that the BJP has tortured common people.

"The farmers are feeling deeply hurt because of the moves made by the BJP to defame them. The BJP has enacted demonetisation, GST, labour laws and farm laws to give benefits only to the billionaires. The BJP has tortured the common people," the Samajwadi Party chief said in a tweet in Hindi.