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12:54 AM

Damage to India's image by govt's 'obduracy' can't be remedied by cricketer's tweets: Tharoor

As several Bollywood and cricketing stars rallied around the government in its pushback to the global celebrities expressing support for farmers' movement, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday said the damage done to India's global image by the government's "obduracy and undemocratic behaviour" can't be remedied by a cricketer's tweets.
 

India hit out at global celebrities such as singer Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg for their support of the farmers' protests. Several Bollywood and cricket stars as well as top ministers also rallied around the government in its pushback.
 

"For GoI (government of India) to get Indian celebrities to react to Western ones is embarrassing. The damage done to India's global image by GoI's obduracy & undemocratic behaviour can't be remedied by a cricketer's tweets," tweeted Tharoor, who served as the minister of state for external affairs from May 2009-April 2010 during the UPA II government.
 

Tharoor's tweet came after cricketing stars Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and Ravi Shastri used the twin hashtags -- #IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda -- to amplify the pushback to the global celebrities.
 

"Withdraw the farm laws & discuss solutions with farmers & you'll get #IndiaTogether," tweeted the former UN under secretary general.
 

Another senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said it is good that Rihanna and Greta Thunberg can wake up the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
 

12:43 AM

Student, youth activists gather at Mandi House for march in support of protesting farmers

Activists of several student, youth and women organisations assembled at Mandi House here on Wednesday for a march in support of the farmers staging protests at the national capital borders demanding repeal of the Centre's new farm laws.
 

The activists of AISA, SFI, AISF, DSF, NSUI, CYSS, AIPWA and AICCTU, carrying posters, banners and placards, gathered at Mandi House for the "citizens' march for farmers" till Jantar Mantar.
 

According to police, a call was made by some student organisations, including AISA and SFI, to carry out the march from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar at around 12 noon in support of the farmers movement and for release of those arrested in connection with the agitation.
 

Some trade unions and Congress Mahila Morcha also claimed to have joined the march, they said.
 

Their request for permission to carry out the march was rejected as per Supreme Court directions and prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144, police said.

 

12:41 AM

Motivated campaigns targeting India will never succeed: EAM S Jaishankar

Motivated campaigns targeting India will never succeed, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday, in comments that came on a day his ministry hit out singer Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg for their support to farmers agitating against the new agricultural laws.
 

A tweet by Rihanna extending support to protesting farmers triggered a wave of support for them by a number of global celebrities, activists and politicians.
 

"Motivated campaigns targeting India will never succeed. We have the self confidence today to hold our own. This India will push back," Jaishankar said on Twitter with hastags #IndiaTogether and #IndiaAgainstPropaganda.
 

In a strong response to the remarks made by Rihanna and other celebrities and activists, the Ministry of External Affairs earlier said the "temptation" of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments is "neither accurate, nor responsible".
 

12:40 AM

Delhi Cong moves NHRC over 'denial' of basic amenities to farmers protesting at city's borders

A delegation of the Delhi Congress on Wednesday filed a petition with the National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) over alleged denial of water and other basic amenities to the farmers protesting against new agri laws at the city's borders.
 

The legal and human rights department of the Delhi Congress met NHRC officials and filed a petition against putting up of barricades and denial of water, medical and other facilities to the farmers "peacefully" protesting at the Delhi borders, said Sunil Kumar, the chairman of the department.
 

"We appealed to the NHRC officials to immediately constitute a team to visit the Delhi borders to assess for themselves the plight of the farmers," Kumar said.
 

The delegation has also requested the NHRC to issue necessary directions to the Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments and the Delhi Police to provide farmers all the basic facilities, Kumar said.

11:35 PM

Security cover at farmers' protest sites maybe affected as DTC buses to be withdrawn

The security cover at and near the farmers' protest locations might be affected as the Delhi government has decided to withdraw DTC buses on special hire to various departments, according to PTI.The low-floor DTC buses are extensively used for movement of police and paramilitary personnel for deployment in various parts of the city. The departments concerned have been asked to relieve the buses, officials said.

"All the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses on special hire have been decided to be withdrawn with immediate effect. It has also been decided by the authorities that approval of the government will be required now before requisition of buses under special hire," a government official said. Currently, there are over 3,700 DTC buses, out of which nearly 10 per cent are under special hire, the officials said. The development has come amid massive deployment of police and paramilitary personnel on borders of the city where farmers are sitting in protest for over two months against the Centre's agri laws.

Some DTC buses that were used by police and security personnel to block the roads during tractor rally by protesting farmers on January 26, were vandalised by a section of protesters who had entered the city.

10:20 PM

Farm protests: Delhi Police register 4 FIRs against social media accounts

In a bid to check the spread of misinformation in the aftermath of the violence that broke out in Delhi on Republic Day, the Delhi Police has registered 4 FIRs against several social media accounts and also sent requests for removal of offensive posts, said an official on Wednesday, according to PTI.

According to the police, one person has been arrested and another one is apprehended for posting fake information on social media.

10:18 PM

No foreign govt has given support farmers' protest in India: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday said no foreign government has given support to the agitation of Indian farmers against three farm laws, according to PTI. Replying to the questions by Members of Parliament Syed Imtiaz Jaleel and Asaduddin Owaisi in the Lok Sabha, on naming the countries where such protest took place, V Muraleedharan, Minister of State (MoS) in MEA, said that in Canada, UK, USA, and in few European countries, protests by a few motivated Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) on issues related to the Indian farm laws have been reported.

"No foreign government has given support to the agitation of Indian farmers against three bills passed by the Indian Parliament. In Canada, UK, USA, and in few European countries, protests by a few motivated PIO on issues related to the Indian farm laws have been reported," read Muraleedharan's reply. While highlighting, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau's comment on issues related to farmers in India, MoS said," Government of Canada has welcomed the Government of India'scommitment to ongoing dialogue with the farmers to discuss issues of concern."

9:19 PM

Lok Sabha adjourned till tomorrow

Lok Sabha adjourned till tomorrow as uproar over farm laws continue in both the Houses of the parliament, according to ANI.

8:51 PM

No foreign government supported farmers' agitation: MEA

No foreign government has given support to the farmers' agitation against the three farm laws, but protests related to these laws by a "few motivated" persons of Indian origins (PIOs) were reported in Canada, the UK, the US and in some European countries, Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had made a comment on issues related to the farmers, and it was conveyed to Canada that such remarks pertaining to the internal affairs of India are "unwarranted" and "unacceptable". The minister was replying to questions on the farmers' protests, according to PTI.

 

"No foreign government has given support to agitation of Indian farmers against three bills passed by Indian Parliament. In Canada, UK, USA, and in few European countries, protests by a few motivated PIOs on issues related to the Indian farm bill have been reported," he said.

8:31 PM

Farm laws: Tikait holds show of strength, warns govt of 'gaddi wapsi' ask

In a show of strength here by protesting farmers, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday warned the government that it could find it difficult to stay on in power if the new agri-marketing laws are not repealed.

 

Just before Tikait was to begin his speech at the 'mahapanchayat' in Kandela village, the stage on which the farmer leaders had gathered collapsed under their weight.

 

Nobody was reported hurt and the BKU leader went on to address the large gathering. Calling for a wapsi (withdrawal) of the three new central laws, the BKU leader indirectly warned the Narendra Modi government that it could lose its gaddi (power) if the agitation continues. READ ON...