farmers protest

SC constitutes committee to resolve protesting farmers' grievances

Observing that farmers' protest should not be politicised, the Supreme Court on Monday constituted a high-powered committee headed by former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice Nawab Singh to amicably resolve the grievances of farmers agitating at the Shambhu border. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan directed the five-member committee to convene its first meeting within a week and reach out to the agitating farmers to persuade them to immediately remove their tractors, trolleys etc. from the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana to provide relief to commuters. Both the Punjab and Haryana governments will be free to give suggestions to the committee, it added. The farmers are agitating over a plethora of demands including legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for their produce. "We hope and trust that one of the major demands of the agitating farmers regarding constitution of a neutral high-powered committee having been accepted with the consent of

Olympian Vinesh Phogat joins farmers' protest as MSP demand hits 200 days

'The country won't progress if people sit on the streets like this,' said Olympian Vinesh Phogat

Haryana AAP protests against Kangana Ranaut's remarks on farmers movement

Aam Aadmi Party's Haryana unit on Tuesday staged protests in the state against BJP MP Kangana Ranaut's remarks on farmers protest, with a party leader saying her statement indicates the BJP's "mindset" towards farmers. AAP leaders and workers held protests at various places including Jind, Yamunanagar, and Panchkula. The BJP's Mandi MP had posted a clip of her recent interview with Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar in which she suggested that a "Bangladesh-like situation" could have erupted in India but for the country's strong leadership. She then alleged that "bodies were hanging and rapes were taking place" during the farmers protest against the now-repealed three farm laws. With Haryana going to polls on October 1, the opposition has targeted the ruling BJP over the issue. AAP's Haryana unit senior vice president Anurag Dhanda led a protest in the Yamunanagar district. The protesters carrying placards raised slogans against the BJP government. Meanwhile, Haryana AAP president Sushil

BJP distances itself from Kangana Ranaut's remarks on farmers' protest

Apart from western Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, poll-bound Haryana has been one of the centres of the farmers' protests. Polling in Haryana is scheduled for October 1

SC directs DGP of Punjab for partial reopening of highway at Shambhu border

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the police chiefs of both Punjab and Haryana to hold a meeting along with the SPs of adjoining Patiala and Ambala districts within one week for partial reopening of the highway at the Shambhu border, where protesting farmers have been camping since February 13. The court asked the Punjab government to persuade protesting farmers at the Shambhu border to remove tractors from the road, saying highways are not parking space. A bench of justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan also appreciated the Punjab and Haryana government for suggesting apolitical names for constituting a committee, which will hold meetings with the protesting farmers. The bench said partial opening of the road at Shambhu order is needed to facilitate movement of ambulances, essential services, senior citizens, women, girl students and the local commuters of adjoining areas. "We will pass a brief order on the terms of the panel to be constituted for talking to protesting farmers at

Rahul meets SKM delegation, discuss pressing govt for MSP guarantee

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday met a delegation of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and discussed several issues, including pressing the government for legal guarantee for MSP and freedom from indebtedness, sources said. The 11-member delegation met Gandhi at his office in the Paliament House complex here. Sources said the delegation briefed him about the issues the farmers were facing in the country and stressed the demand for legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) and pressing the government for it. Congress general secretaries K C Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh were also present during the meeting. A delegation of NGO Sarv Seva Sangh also met Gandhi. The meeting with Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) delegation comes a couple of weeks after Gandhi had met another farmer delegation in the Parliament House complex. Gandhi has repeatedly asserted both inside and outside Parliament that the INDIA bloc is committed to ensuring legal guarantee for MSP. The INDIA

MP Kangana Ranaut asks if CISF jawans on duty are monitored; govt responds

Kangana Ranaut assault case: Web-based personal information system is maintained for each CISF personnel, Union minister Murlidhar Mohol told the Lok Sabha

'Trust deficit between govt, farmers': SC proposes panel for talks

Observing that there is a trust deficit between farmers and the central government, the Supreme Court on Wednesday proposed the constitution of an independent committee comprising eminent persons to reach out to the protesters at Shambhu border and address their demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP. The top court directed the Punjab and Haryana governments to suggest the names of suitable individuals for the committee and submit a proposal for removal of barricades on the national highway while ordering a status quo on the border for a week. A three-judge bench headed by Justice Surya Kant said there is a need for a "neutral umpire" who can inspire confidence between farmers and the government. "You have to take some steps to reach out to farmers. Why would they otherwise want to come to Delhi? You are sending Ministers from here and despite their best intentions there is trust deficit," the bench also comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan said. "Let appropriat

Farmers to burn BJP's effigies on Aug 1, hold tractor marches on Aug 15

A joint statement issued by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and KMM said farmers will march to district headquarters across the country and burn effigies of the ruling BJP on August 1

Farmer activist Navdeep Singh walks out of Ambala jail after getting bail

Farmer activist Navdeep Singh walked out of Ambala Central Jail after the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted him bail in a case registered in connection with farmers' February 13 'Delhi Chalo' march. He was arrested by Haryana Police from Mohali on March 28 on various charges, including rioting and attempt to murder. Singh was welcomed by farmer leaders as he walked out of jail late on Tuesday night. Earlier, farmer leaders had said that they would gherao the office of the Ambala superintendent of police on Wednesday and Thursday to protest against Singh's arrest. However, they changed the plan after his release. Singh, a native of Jalbera village near Ambala, became famous as the "water cannon man" for climbing atop a police water cannon in November 2020 during the farmers' agitation against the now-repealed farm laws. On February 13, farmers from Punjab led by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha began a march to Delhi to press their demands,

Farmers' association SKM to resume protest over MSP, loan waiver

Farm Min Chouhan reviews the sowing of Kharif crops

TMC MPs to meet agitating farmers in Haryana, to convey Didi's message

A five-member delegation of Trinamool Congress MPs will visit Haryana on Monday to meet farmers who have been demonstrating to press for their demands that include a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops. "Will convey Didi's (TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee's) message to them that we are with you and the NDA govt led by Modi at the Centre must meet the demands," the party said in a statement. The five-member team comprising TMC national spokesperson Derek O'Brien, Mohammed Nadimul Haque, Dola Sen, Sagarika Ghose and Saket Gokhale is likely to meet the agitating peasants near Khanauri on the border of Haryana and Punjab. Security forces had stopped the farmers at Khanauri from marching to Delhi as part of their agitation on February 13.

Who is Kulwinder Kaur, a CISF constable, who slapped Kangana Ranaut?

Kulwinder Kaur, who slapped Kangana Ranaut, is the sister of Sher Singh Mahiwal, the organisational secretary of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee that was part of farmers protest

Farmers suspend 'rail roko' protest at Shambhu railway station in Patiala

Announcing the suspension of their month-long 'rail roko' at Shambhu railway station in Patiala, farmers said they will now 'gherao' the residences of BJP leaders in Punjab and Haryana to continue their protest. Farmers under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been squatting on a rail track at Shambhu railway station since April 17, demanding the release of three farmers who had been arrested by Haryana Police during the 'Delhi Chalo' protests at Shambu border. The SKM (Non-Political) and the KMM are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march by farmers to press the central government over their demands on a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, among other demands. The protesting farmers are still at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces on February 13. On Monday, farmer leader Surjit Singh Phool said they are suspending the 'rail roko' agitation in ...

NewsClick founder infused funds from China to stoke Delhi riots: Police

The Delhi Police has told a court here that NewsClick founder and editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha infused funds from China into India to stoke and sustain the 2020 Delhi riots, carry out disinformation campaign on Covid-19, stoke the farmer's protest and indulge in outright terror funding in Kashmir. Police made the allegations in its charge sheet filed before Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur, who took cognisance of it on Tuesday. The charge sheet alleged that Purkayastha used to give salaries to many employees of activist Teesta Setalvad. It said the role of another activist Gautam Navlakha's role in the present case was under probe. The final report alleged that Navlakha has been a shareholder of the NewsClick and his role has also emerged in the testimonies of the protected witnesses as being one of the conduits for the finance and supplies of arms and ammunition for a banned Naxal outfit. The charge sheet cited the statement made by NewsClick human resource (HR) head a

73 trains on Ambala-Amritsar route cancelled as farmers block tracks

As many as 73 trains on the Ambala-Amritsar route were cancelled on Sunday as farmers continued to squat on tracks at the Shambhu railway station in Punjab's Patiala district for the fifth day, officials said. The protestors have been demanding the release of three farmers arrested by the Haryana Police during the ongoing stir. A total of 73 trains were cancelled on Sunday, the railway officials said. The cancellation of trains over the last five days was causing financial losses, besides inconveniencing passengers, they said. Many trains were also being diverted due to the farmers' protest, they added. The farmers have been protesting under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) in Patiala district's Shambhu. They began their protest for the release of arrested farmers on Wednesday by squatting on the tracks on the Ambala Ludhiana-Amritsar route in Shambhu near the Punjab-Haryana border. Farmer leaders have said the protest will .

40 trains on Ambala-Amritsar route cancelled as farmers' stir continues

Rail traffic on the Ambala-Amritsar route was hit as farmers squatted on rail tracks in Shambhu near the Punjab-Haryana border for the third day on Friday, demanding the release of three farmers arrested by the Haryana Police, officials said. About 40 trains have been cancelled, while the routes of 54 trains have been diverted, they said. The farmers have been protesting under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) in Patiala district's Shambhu. They squatted on the tracks on the Ambala-Ludhiana-Amritsar route on Wednesday, demanding the release of three fellow farmers who were arrested by the Haryana Police during the ongoing stir. With their protest continuing fir the third day, the railway authorities on Friday said has been hit on the Ambala-Amritsar route, on which some goods trains also run, according to the officials. The disruption in rail movement was causing inconvenience to passengers, they said. Farmer leader Sarwan Sing

Birender, Brijendra's BJP exit puts spotlight back on farmers' agitation

Birender believes the farmers' issues have not been resolved to this day, says wife Prem Lata

Haryana Police arrest farmer activist Jalbera over FIR lodged during stir

The Haryana Police has arrested farmer activist Navdeep Singh Jalbera in connection with an FIR lodged during the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' stir in February. The arrest comes ahead of a gathering by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mukti Morcha on March 31 to pay homage to Shubhkaran Singh, a 21-year-old farmer from Bathinda, who was killed in a clash at Punjab-Haryana border on February 21. The Ambala Police Thursday arrested Jalbera from Mohali. He was later produced in court for a two-day remand by the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of the Haryana Police. Police said Jalbera was arrested in connection with a case registered here on February 13 under various IPC Sections, including 307 (attempt to murder) and assault on policemen. Jalbera, a native of the eponymous village near Ambala, became famous as the "water cannon man" for climbing on top of a police water cannon in November 2020 during the farmers' movement against the now-repealed farm laws.

Farmers protest: Delhi Police starts removing barricades on Ghazipur border

Commuters used to face major traffic congestion owing to the barricades. The Delhi Police is removing them so that the road can be accessible for commuters