Farmers Protest highlights: ‘Respond more aggressively if they come aggressively,’ says senior officer

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke with injured farmers receiving treatment at the hospital in Rajpura town, located within Patiala district, over the phone on Tuesday night.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Amarinder Raja Warring, the President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, arrives at AP Jain Government Hospital in Rajpura town within Patiala district to visit farmers who have been injured.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: People had to cross the Singhu border between Delhi and Haryana on foot on Tuesday as police blocked the movement of vehicles in view of a farmers' march towards the national capital.

Police have put up barricades and placed concrete slabs on the road to prevent the protesting farmers from entering Delhi.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: "If they are coming aggressively, we have to show more aggression. Then only we can stop them. If they are aggressive, we need not be defensive," Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Ravindra Yadav told police personnel at the Singhu border using a microphone and loudspeaker.

"We have to fire tear gas shells, use lathis (baton) and save ourselves," the senior officer said. "This process may keep running for a day."

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher at Shambhu border told reporters, "In the history of India, today is a black day. It is shameful the way the Modi government attacked farmers and farm labourers."

"Even today, we say we are farmers and labourers of the country and we do not want any fight," Pandher said, as he reiterated farmers' demands of a legal guarantee to the minimum support price and debt waiver.

"It is evening now. We will ask our youth that there should be a ceasefire from both sides. Tomorrow we will see again," he said.

Mobile internet services in seven districts of Haryana shut down for another 48 hours till February 15 midnight.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Amid the 'Delhi Chalo' protest by farmers, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said on Tuesday that while the Centre conferred the Bharat Ratna on agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan, it fails to implement his recommendations.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Heavy traffic snarl seen on Delhi-Noida-Delhi (DND) flyway, as vehicles commute from Delhi to Noida amid heavily guarded Delhi borders in view of farmers' protest.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: "Today Farmers are protesting against this government in Delhi for their Crops. They want Swaminathan's report and MSP. Our farmers want to meet home minister Amit Shah but he doesn't have time and is not serious. PM Narendra Modi visit their villages, eat in their house but today farmers want to come in Delhi they are not allowed," Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said.

Chief justice of India DY Chandrachud said on Tuesday that the bench is willing to accommodate lawyers facing difficulties due to road congestion caused by the ongoing farmers' protests in Delhi. The assurance was provided by a bench led by CJI Chandrachud in the morning when the proceedings began.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: BKU (Sidhupur) president Jagjit Singh Dalewal says Centre has not extended any invitation for the fresh round of talks.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: The Punjab and Haryana High Court issued notices on Tuesday to Centre and the states of Haryana and Punjab in response to two petitions related to the ongoing farmers' Delhi Chalo march.

In one petition, the petitioner seeks court directions to halt any actions by the governments of Haryana and Punjab, along with the Union government, that impede the farmers' protest. The other petitioner requests the court to ensure that protesters do not block highways and urges punishment for those who engage in such activities.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: "How can our country progress when the farmers are attacked with tear gas shells for fighting for their basic rights? I strongly condemn the brutal assault on our farmers by the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)," West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said in a post on X.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced on Tuesday that if his party regains power, the government would ensure a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) on crops. He said that this assurance is the party's first commitment ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Haryana home minister Anil Vij urged the farmer unions to call back their “Dilli Chalo” march and instead resort to a dialogue.

“When the union ministers came here twice for a meeting and even then they want to head to Delhi for a conversation, this is not understandable. It appears they have some other intentions,” Vij said.

“We have arrangements and won’t let them enter the state. They should come on a table for a dialogue. Munda ji (union agri minister) is still urging them for a meeting. There could be a solution only through a dialogue, not by attacking Haryana or Delhi,” he added.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Haryana police resorted to lathi charge on Punjab farmers at Khanauri border in Jind. A couple of farmers sustained injuries.

Union agriculture minister Arjun Munda says that enacting a law ensuring Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops cannot be rushed and must involve consultations with all stakeholders. He urged the protesting farmer groups to engage in a structured discussion with the government on the matter.

PTI

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: The traffic jam at the Ghazipur border spans up to two kilometres, compounded by obstructed service lanes due to barbed wires and trucks, resulting in a significant blockade.

However, there is an alternative route available through the road heading towards Uttar Pradesh.

The impacted roads link Delhi with various destinations, including Bareilly, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Mussoorie, Moradabad, and Nainital.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: “I wasn't aware of the situation. I have to catch a flight for Bengaluru and now I'm stuck in traffic which is moving at a snail's pace,” Kanika, another commuter, complained.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: Arun Singh, a resident of Uttarakhand en route to visit his ailing father at a local hospital, found himself in a state of helplessness as he got stuck for hours in heavy traffic at the Ghazipur border.

"I'm travelling from Uttarakhand to meet my 78-year-old father who has been admitted in the Lok Nayak Hospital... My family and I have been struck here since 11 am. It is an extremely frustrating situation for us and we feel angry and helpless," Singh told PTI.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates:

• The following metro stations have closed one or more gates: Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Udyog Bhawan, Janpath, Barakhamba Road and Lok Kalyan Marg.

• Specifically at Khan Market station, one gate has been closed.

• At Central Secretariat Metro Station, gates no. 1, 2, and 5 are closed for "security reasons," while gates no. 3 and 4 remain functional.

• Additionally, a notice near the Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) kiosks guides passengers toward exit gates leading to the Rail Bhawan roundabout.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: "MSP guarantee law and Swaminathan Committee report, Electricity amendment bill and debt waiver are the issues of the farmers across the country. There are several farmer unions and they have different issues. If the government creates a problem for these farmers who are marching towards Delhi, we are not far from them. We are in support of them," Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait told ANI.

Farmers Protest LIVE Updates: The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) urged chief justice of India D Y Chandrachud to take action against "erring farmers" for attempting to forcibly enter Delhi, aiming to create a "nuisance" and disrupt the daily life of citizens.

"I request your lordship to take suo motu (on its own) action against the erring farmers for forcibly trying to enter Delhi in a bid to create nuisance and disturb the daily life of citizens," SCBA president Adish C Aggarwala said.