Farmers Protest highlights: Delhi Police order 30,000 teargas shells from BSF

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates:

1. Guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP): Enact a law to guarantee MSP for all crops, in line with the Swaminathan Commission report.

2. Debt Waiver: Demand a complete waiver of farmers' debts.

3. Pension Scheme: Implement a pension scheme for both farmers and farm labourers.

4. Rejection of Electricity Amendment Bill 2020: Urge to scrap the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020.

5. Reintroduction of Land Acquisition Act 2013: Bring back the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, ensuring farmer consent and compensation at 4 times the collector rate.

6. Justice for Lakhimpur Kheri Killings: Demand punishment for those involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.

7. Employment and Wage under MGNREGA: Appeal for 200 days of employment per year and a daily wage of ₹700 under MGNREGA, linked with farming.

8. Compensation for Deceased Farmers: Seek compensation for the families of farmers who died during the protests in 2021, along with providing a job for any family member.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Union ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal, and Nityanand Rai are slated to participate meeting with leaders of the protesting farmer groups. The agenda includes discussions on addressing their demands, notably the assurance of a minimum support price on crops.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: On Thursday, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah formally urged his Madhya Pradesh counterpart, Mohan Yadav, to secure the release of farmers from Karnataka who were apprehended in Bhopal.

The farmers, en route from Bengaluru to Delhi for a protest against what they perceive as "anti-farmer policies" of the central government, have been held in detention in Bhopal without evident cause, said Siddaramaiah in a letter to Yadav.

Expressing concern, Siddaramaiah emphasised that it has been four days since the farmers were detained, and their release has not yet been facilitated.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Due to the call ‘Delhi Chalo’ from farmers, Section 144 is imposed in 15 districts of Haryana, 64 companies of paramilitary force and 50 companies the state police are deployed.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Protesters moving like an army marching to attack, taking along JCBs, ration for a year, tractor-trolleys: Haryana chief minister Manohar Khattar

Saying that tear gas shelling should not be a political matter, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar said, "Law and order agencies, intelligence agencies constantly coordinate with each other. It’s the responsibility of security agencies on how to maintain law and order; it is not a political subject…,

Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar says "...Raising demands and going to Delhi is everyone's right but the motive has to be seen. We have seen all of this last year, how a scene was created and they occupied various borders which created problems for everyone...We have an objection to the way they are protesting...Tractor is not a mode of transport, they can come on buses or trains. Discussions should be done democratically so that a solution can be reached..."

Naveen Kumar, senior divisional commercial manager, Ambala railway division, said that two train have been cancelled in the division, six trains have been diverted to run via Ludhiana-Sahnewal-Chandigarh route and two have been short terminated in view of Rail Roko in Punjab.

No Shatabdi or Vande Bharat trains are among those affected, he added.

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates: Sitaram Yechury, the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), criticized the government on Thursday for disregarding the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission.

He emphasized that merely awarding the Bharat Ratna to the agricultural scientist was inadequate and urged the government to honor those who sustain the nation.

"The demand (of farmers) is for a minimum support price at 50 per cent of the cost of comprehensive production costs...That is exactly what the Swaminathan Commission has recommended and Swaminathan was conferred the Bharat Ratna by PM Modi himself recently. Conferring awards is not sufficient. Respecting the farmers and respecting the people who feed all of us is what is required of this government," Yechury said.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: The farmers associated with Bharatiya Kisan Union Ugrahan and Samyukta Kisan Morcha hold protests at Dhareri Jattan toll plaza in Patiala on Bathinda Chandigarh national highway to make toll plaza free in support of ‘Delhi chalo’ call.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher showed a bullet shell during a press conference at Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border Thursday

According to an official, the Delhi Police has procured over 30,000 tear gas shells in anticipation of preventing Punjab farmers from entering the national capital during their 'Dilli Chalo' protest, PTI reported.

The farmers, halted at the Punjab-Haryana border near Ambala, approximately 200 kilometres from Delhi, faced tear gas from Haryana security forces in efforts to scatter them.

A Delhi Police insider emphasised their resolve to block the protesters from advancing into the capital.

During a press conference, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “As far as the agitation is concerned, it has now reached across the country. A dharna has been organised in Haryana, reports about it are not coming at the internet service have been stopped. This agitation will get bigger in the coming days.”

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: "We are protesting peacefully. The Modi government had ensured a law on MSP, however, the government has betrayed us. We will definitely take MSP. We will move towards Delhi in groups and break these barricades. God willing the government will agree to make MSP law during today's meeting," says a farmer Gurjan Singh tells PTI at Shambhu border.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: “Our demands aren’t 'repetition' but a matter of life and death for us. We will put forward our point in front of the ministers,” said farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher.

A panel comprising three Union ministers is scheduled to convene a meeting with protesting farmer leaders in Chandigarh on Thursday, aiming to resume discussions amidst the ongoing standoff at the Punjab-Haryana border.

Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai will engage with the farmers at 5 pm to address their grievances, notably their demand for legislation ensuring Minimum Support Price for crops.

This marks the third round of talks following inconclusive dialogues on February 8 and 12. Farmers from Punjab continue their protest at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, advocating for their demands and planning a march towards Delhi.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) issued guidance on Wednesday for students appearing in the Class 10 and 12 board examinations, scheduled from February 15 to March 13. In light of traffic restrictions due to the farmers' march towards Delhi, CBSE advised students to utilize Delhi Metro services to reach examination centers and to depart early to avoid potential delays.

The advisory emphasized the likelihood of traffic-related challenges and encouraged students to plan their commute accordingly to ensure punctual arrival at examination centers. It further recommended the use of metro services, which are operating smoothly.

Read More.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Multiple major farmers' unions have thrown their weight behind the ongoing protests at Shambhu and Khanauri borders in Punjab. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) and BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner faction) have declared plans for a 'rail roko' (train stoppage) in the state on Thursday from 12 noon to 4 pm on February 15.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, representing 37 farm unions, has also endorsed the protests, which demand a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. These unions, pivotal in the 2021 protests on Delhi's outskirts, have joined the current agitation decrying the "unacceptable use of violence" against farmers. BKU (Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan has strongly criticized the police's actions.

Read More

On the meeting with ministers today, General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Sarvan Singh Pandher says, "...We are going to attend the meeting in a completely positive mood today and we have full confidence that a positive solution will emerge from this meeting."

"We have a meeting with the ministers today, and we want PM Modi to have a conversation with them so that we can reach a solution for our demands. Or else, we should be allowed to protest peacefully in Delhi."

On Wednesday, Shashi Tharoor, a senior leader of the Congress party, expressed his opinion that the border with China is not fortified to the same extent as the national capital. He emphasized that farmers have a democratic right to protest and to have their voices heard in the national capital.

“It's a democratic right of the farmers to protest and come and be heard in the National capital. I don't think the border with China is fortified the way this city is fortified. The government should have learnt a lesson from the previous farmers' agitation- consult the stakeholders. Last time it took a year-long agitation before the government surrendered and withdrew,” he said as per ANI.