Farmers' protests LIVE: Centre ready to resolve differences, says minister

Delhi Metro services from neighbouring cities to the national capital will remain suspended, said DMRC. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

12:44 AM

Delhi Chalo march gets overwhelming response from women

Farmers' Delhi Chalo protest on Thursday saw an overwhelming response from women as they joined elderly farmers and youth to press the Centre to scrap three farm laws.
 

Stating that they were ready for a "do or die" battle against the union government, women owing allegiance to various farmers' outfits braved cold weather to set out for Delhi.
 

A number of them travelled on tractor trolleys carrying ration and other essentials to participate in the protest.
 

"We have brought with us enough stocks of ration, quilts, mattresses and other essentials. We are prepared for this 'do or die' battle and will rest only when the Modi government rolls back the farm laws," a 68-year-old woman, who was travelling in a tractor with her family, said.
 

Near the Bathinda-Dabwali border, women under the banner of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugarhan) participated in a sit-in and shouted slogans against the BJP-led government at the Centre.   Ahead of the Delhi Chalo protest, women had led several campaigns in rural areas to seek support of people and create awareness among them about the so-called "black laws".
 

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugarhan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan has said around 25,000 women would participate in the protest march.

12:08 AM

Farmers' protest march LIVE: Medha Patkar stopped at Rajasthan-UP border

On her way to Delhi from Maharashtra to protest against the Centre's farm laws there, Social activist Medha Patkar was on Thursday prevented from entering Uttar Pradesh at its border with Rajasthan, officials said. Patkar was stopped by the Agra district administration officials at Baraitha chowk on Mumbai-Agra National Highway near Dholpur-Agra border where the social activist sat on a dharna with over her 400 supporters, leading to heavy traffic disruption.

Patkar had been sitting on dharna with her supporters till late on Thursday evening, Dholpur District Collector R K Jaiswal said. The Dholpur district collector and superintendent of police also reached the spot to hold talks with Patkar to dissuade her from prolonging the dharna but she refused to withdraw it.

11:14 PM

Why Haryana farmers marching, if I am inciting them: Amarinder to Haryana CM

If you think I'm inciting farmers, then why are Haryana farmers also marching to Delhi: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh to his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar. 

10:28 PM

BJP govt hell-bent on suppressing farmers: Congress

The Congress on Thursday slammed the government for using excessive force to stop the farmers from marching towards Delhi to protest against the recently enacted farm laws, saying the present BJP government is hell-bent on suppressing the genuine demands and concerns of the farmers. "On the eve of Constitution day, farmers have been stopped from entering Delhi, even by using force at some places. Does the Constitution not guarantee rights for our farmers? Has the BJP government reserved the rights only for its privileged friends," asked Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh.

 

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Vallabh said the BJP government is mortgaging the farmers' rights to its corporate friends. The Congress posed three questions -- Whom has this government sworn in to protect? Does it only value its rich corporate friends? Why does it choose to so conveniently ignore the sweat and tears of our farmers? The spokesperson further said which Constitution does the BJP government follow? "When the farmers reach out for their rights, they are suppressed. Why is the government so scared of the farmers? Why is the government not willing to hold discussions with the farmers," Vallabh asked.

10:17 PM

Farmers' protest LIVE: 70 people detained for staging protest at Jantar Mantar

Over 70 people were detained on Thursday when they were staging a protest at the Jantar Mantar here in support of Punjab farmers, who are agitating against the Centre's farm laws. The protestors included members from Left-backed trade unions, the Students' Federation of India. Students from the Jawaharlal Nehru University also participated in the protest. Over 70 people, including women, were detained and later released, a senior police officer said.

 

When they gathered at the Jantar Mantar for the protest, they were warned and it was conveyed to them that they did not have the permission to organise the protest, the officer said. But when they refused to abide, they were detained and taken to a nearby police station from where they were released later, the officer said. Delhi Police personnel have been deployed in large numbers in border areas of the national capital and all incoming vehicles are being checked in view of the 'Delhi Chalo' march by Punjab farmers against the Centre's farm laws. Five sand-laden trucks have been stationed at the Singhu border to stop tractors being driven by the protesters, police said.

9:34 PM

Haryana Police urges people to avoid travelling on NH 10, NH 44 amid farmers' protest

Haryana Police have appealed to the citizens to avoid travelling on National Highway 10 (Hisar-Rohtak-Delhi) and National Highway 44 (Ambala-Panipat-Delhi), in view of  'Delhi Chalo' protest march by the farmers' organizations: Haryana CM's Office

9:24 PM

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee condemns police action on farmers in Haryana, says Centre cannot curb democratic rights of farmers.

9:12 PM

Farmers, heading towards Delhi as part of 'Delhi Chalo' protest march, halt at Panipat toll plaza

8:50 PM

You should have tried to speak to farmers before their Dilli Chalo protest: Punjab CM to Haryana CM

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has suggested to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar that he should have tried to speak to farmers before their 'Dilli Chalo' march.

 

Raveen Thukral, Media Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister in a series of tweets said, "Shocked at your response @mlkhattar ji. It's the farmers who've to be convinced on MSP, not me. You should've tried to talk to them before their #DilliChalo. And if you think I'm inciting farmers then why are Haryana farmers also marching to Delhi?: @capt_amarinder"

 

"It seems your govt has been so busy creating the bogey of the non-existent 'love jihad' that you couldn't see the real problems of the farmers on the ground @mlkhattar ji. Do I need to spell out where the cheap politics and deception is actually happening? :@capt_amarinder," another tweet from Thukral read.

 

In another tweet, he said, "As for endangering lives during #COVID19, have you forgotten that it was @BJP4India led central govt that pushed through those #FarmLaws amid the pandemic, uncaring about the impact they'd have on our farmers? Why didn't you speak out then @mlkhattar ji?:@capt_amarinder."

 

Earlier in the day, Punjab Chief Minister on Thursday condemned the Haryana government's "forcible" attempts to stop farmers from marching to Delhi in protest against the Central farm laws.Urging the ML Khattar government to allow the agitated farmers to pass through the national highway to take their voice to Delhi peacefully, Singh questioned the need to stop them from proceeding, according to an official release by Punjab Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

8:39 PM

Use of water cannons, tear gas on farmers shows true anti-farmer face of BJP: CPI general secretary D Raja