Farmers to Celebrate 30 Jan as ‘Sadbhavna Diwas,’ Observe Fast
Catch all live updates of the farmers’ agitation here.
Farmer unions have called for a fast on 30 January, saying they will mark the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as 'Sadbhavna Diwas'.
Meanwhile, Social activist Anna Hazare on Friday said he would be calling off his indefinite fast against the new farm laws and claimed that the Central government has agreed to some of his demands.
Earlier on Friday, tensions rose at the Singhu border protest site – days after the tractor rally violence – as a group of people claiming to be locals purportedly threw stones and vandalised tents of protesting farmers. The police resorted to lathi-charge and used tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.
According to reports, a group of people claiming to be locals have been protesting at the site demanding that the area be vacated.
A day earlier, there were tensions at the Ghazipur protest site, as the UP Police gave an ultimatum to vacate the area. However, the protesters refused to end the agitation, and more farmers joined in after an emotional speech by Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait.
- Several farmers at Ghazipur border told The Quint that they immediately left their villages to join the protest as they “could not see Tikait saab in tears.”
- Several AAP leaders on Friday, including Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, cabinet minister Satyendra Jain and MLA Raghav Chadha, reached different protest sites to inspect water and electricity arrangements
- BKU leader Rakesh Tikait’s emotional outburst on the evening of 28 January proved to be a major turning point in the farmers’ protests
- Twitter has so far suspended over 500 accounts promoting hate and violence, in the backdrop of the 26 January violence
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Several Delhi Borders Closed
Singhu, Auchandi, Mangesh, Sabol and Piau Maniyari borders have been closed.
Ghazipur Border Closed for Traffic
The Ghazipur border has been closed for traffic. The traffic has been diverted from NH 24, NH 9, Road no 56, 57 A, Kondli, Paper market, Telco T point, EDM Mall, Akshardham and Nizammudin Khatta, according to an advisory by the Delhi Traffic Police.
Heavy Security Deployment at Tikri Border
Heavy security deployment continues at Tikri Border.
Police Presence Increased at Singhu Border
Police presence continues at Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana border) as the farmers' agitation against the three farm laws continues.
RLD Leader Jayant Chaudhary Arrives at Ghazipur Border
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Chaudhary arrives at Ghazipur border where farmers' agitation is underway.
Delhi Police Arrests Accused Who Snatched Wireless From Cop at Nangloi
Delhi Police arrested an accused who snatched a wireless set from a Constable called Sonu on 26 January during the farmers' protest in Nangloi. The set has been recovered from accused. He was previously involved in three different cases registered in 2019 in different police stations of Delhi.
'Won't Vacate Protest Site,' Says Rakesh Tikait
Rakesh Tikait, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson said that the protesters will not vacate the protest site.
“We will not vacate the spot. We will talk to the Government of India about our issues. I urge the people to remain peaceful,” he told ANI.
Manish Sisodia, Satyendra Jain, Raghav Chadha Reach Singhu
Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, cabinet minister Satyendra Jain and MLA Raghav Chadha reached different protest sites to inspect water and electricity arrangements for protesters.
While Sisodia visited the Ghazipur border, Jain and Chadha visited the Singhu border.
“Arrangement for water and toilets were made last night. I am here inspect if arrangements are In place,” Sisodia said.
“We're here to inspect arrangement of water and toilets done by us. Police stopped movement of water tankers so that they can't reach here,” Jain told ANI.
RLP MP Raises Placard Against Farm Laws During President's Address
Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) MP Hanuman Beniwal showed a placard and raised slogans, demanding the repeal of the three farm laws, during the President's Address in the Parliament.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh Demands Repeal of Farm Laws Outside Parliament
AAP MP Sanjay Singh protested against the President’s address and demanded that the farm laws must be repealed.
“The Farm laws should be repealed. We protested against the President's Address and raised slogans in support of farmers. We were not allowed inside the Central Hall, so we raised slogans at its gate. Farmers are being called traitors. So, we boycotted the Address,” he said.
Police Personnel Not Allowing Movement of Water Tankers: AAP
Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain, who visited the Singhu border along with Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and MLA Raghav Chadha said that the police is not allowing water tankers to move towards the protest site.
“Police personnel are not allowing movement of water tankers, we are being told that they have been ordered by higher authorities to do so. There is no direction from any authority, it is BJP's order. We will not let anyone die of hunger and thirst,” he said.
Security tightened to Prevent Disturbance by Rowdy Elements: UP Police
UP ADG (Law & Order) said that the security has been beefed up at protest sites to prevent rowdy elements from disturbing atmosphere.
“The UP government had said from the beginning that we will find a solution by talking to farmers. Everything so far has been done in accordance with it. Tightening of security yesterday or today was done to see that no rowdy element enters into protest to disturb atmosphere:,” he said.
“Some people expressed baseless doubts and spread it among others. We have been saying from beginning that we will seek a solution only through talks. There is peace in UP even today. Our officers are conducting marches and talking to farmers. There is no lack of communication,” he added.
He further said that the next steps will be decided only after speaking to farmers and that no illegal action will be taken against anybody.
'Couldn't Stop Ourselves After We Saw Tears in Tikait Saab's Eyes': Farmers Pour in at Ghazipur
As more farmers reach the Ghazipur border from rural areas, several of them told The Quint that they immediately left their villages to join the protest after they say BKU leader Rakesh Tikait get emotional on camera.
“We saw Tikait getting emotional. We hadn't been to our farms in a few days. When the farmers saw that the administration and a few leaders came here last night to crush the movement, they could not resist and came here to join Tikait sahab,” a farmer Pankaj Sharma told The Quint.
“There were some administration people who started misbehaving with the farmers along with 100-200 other people. When we saw tears in the eyes of Tikait saab, panchayats were held immediately in the villages and we came here. They have to repeal the black laws, only then will farmers vacate the place,” another farmer Bobby said.
Unrest at Singhu Border as Protesting farmers Clash With Police
Tensions rose at the Singhu border protest site on Friday, as a group of people claiming to be locals purportedly threw stones and vandalised tents of protesting farmers. The police resorted to lathi-charge and used tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.
According to reports, a group of people claiming to be locals have been protesting at the site demanding that the area be vacated.
Alipur SHO Injured in Unrest at Singhu
Alipur SHO Pradeep Paliwal was injured in a clash that broke out at Singhu border, ANI reported.
Rahul Gandhi, Other Congress Leaders Protest Against Farm laws
Several Congress leaders along with Rahul Gandhi protested against the farm laws near the Gandhi statue in the Parliament premises.
Mahapanchayat Held in Muzaffarnagar After Rakesh Tikait's Emotional Appeal
Delhi Police Request Mediapersons To Come Forward with Video/Photographic Evidence
The Delhi police requested citizens and media persons who are witnesses to the incidents of 26 January and have captured any activity on their mobile phones/ pictures to come forward with the details.
Delhi Police Issues Statement on Alipur SHO's Injuries
The Delhi police on Friday said that Alipur SHO Pradeep Paliwal was injured after he intervened between protesting farmers and locals protesting at the site.
“SHO Alipur,Delhi intervened between rioting protestors (MKSC faction) and ocal Singhu villagers, who had gone to register their protest against happenings on Republic Day and continued loss of ordinary livelihoods for over two months. SHO suffered grievous injuries on his hand,” the statement by Delhi police said.
Rahul Gandhi Slams Centre Over republic Day Violence, Farm Laws
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed the media to slam the Centre over violence on Republic day and farm laws.
“Why were people allowed in the Red Fort? Why weren't they stopped? Ask the Home Minister what the objective was of letting those people inside the premises,” Gandhi said.
“The government must talk to farmers and arrive at a solution. The only solution is to repeal laws and put them in a wastebasket. The government must not think farmers will go home. My concern is that this situation will spread. But, we don't need that, we need a solution,” he added.
They Were RSS Men, Police Didn't Stop Them: Farmers at Singhu Border Allege After Unrest
Speaking to The Quint, several farmers at the Singhu border narrated theclashthat took place with the people claiming to be locals and allged that the police did not stop them immediately.
“What happened today happened in the presence of police. They were about 150 people. We did nothing. We did no lathi charge or violence. But the police still pelted stones at us,” Gurashish Singh, a farmer told The Quint
“These are RSS people. There were close to 100-150 of them. There is so much police presence here. How did they even manage to get in? The police that can easily lathi-charge farmers, could not stop those people? The police themselves got those men with them. There is police deployment up to the parking lot. 50-100 people came from there and started pelting stones at us. The farmers maintained peace. The police fired the tear gas shells at us rather than stopping them. Only after the farmers pleaded to the cops is when they stopped those men,” another farmer said.
9 Farmers' Leaders Who Were Summoned By Cops Today
Following are the nine farmer’s leaders that were summoned by the Delhi police on Friday:
- Rakesh Tikait
- Pawan Kumar
- Raj Kishore Singh
- Tajender Singh Virk
- Jitender Singh
- Trilochan Singh
- Gurmukh Singh
- Harpreet Singh
- Jagtar Singh Bajwa
'Won't Back Out Humiliated': Yogendra Yadav
Activist Yogendra Yadav, while addressing farmers at Ghazipur said that the protesters will not back out ‘humiliated’.
“Modi ji and Yogi ji and all others must listen carefully, farmers will not go back from this movement, humiliated and defamed,” he said, as quoted by ANI.
People Claiming To Be Locals Chant 'Goli Maaro' Slogans At Singhu Border
People claiming to be locals chanted ‘goli maaro’ slogans against farmers protesting at the Singhu border.
What Happened at Singhu Border: A Timeline
BJP-RSS Sending Goons to Derail Protests: Yogendra Yadav on Singhu Unrest
Activist Yogendra Yadav, speaking to The Quint at the protest site in Ghazipur slammed the unrest at the Singhu border that took place on Friday and said that the BJP-RSS are sending their goons to derail the movement.
“They are playing the same games they played during the JNU violence and the NTCA protests. The goons are ahead and the police is always behind them. Hundreds of goons entered a 2km restricted area on foot. There are no vehicles allowed in the area but they all travelled in their vehicles. Then they started pelting stones. The question is, what is the Delhi police doing? What happened at Singhu is not a tussle between locals and the farmers. It is an attack on the movement by the goons who the police has provided protection to,” he said.
Speaking about the influx of people at protest sites, specifically at Ghazipur, Yadav said that farmers have understood that they are being insulted and they cannot tolerate it anymore.
“The farmers who hoisted hundreds of national flags in the national capital were called traitors. They could not tolerate it. They have come out of self-respect. Nobody can stop them now," he said.
'Why Were the Talks Prolonged for So Much Time?': Punjab CM
Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh said that he was saddened by the events at the Red Fort but believes that the farmers were not responsible for the unrest.
“This is something of which no Indian can be proud. The Red Fort is a symbol of our Independence & democracy. It was a sad day when I saw that (violence) happen,” he told ANI.
“I don't believe that the farmers were involved in the violence. It is for the investigative authorities to probe into the matter and see who is responsible for it,” he added.
Singh further said that the violence did not discredit the farmers’ movement but the Red Fort violation is when it lost steam.
Singh further asked what the reason was for pronging talks with the farmers.
“Why was the police needed in the first place? They've had twelve meetings. Had I been chairing the meeting, I would have finished it on the first day. What is the reason for it being prolonged for so much time,” he asked.
9 Farmers Arrested for Attacking Cop in Burari
The Delhi Police has arrested nine farmers for attacking one of its personnel at the Burari protest site, officials said on Friday, according to PTI.
At around 7.30 pm on Thursday, some protesters came out and tried to move towards Red Fort, however, they were stopped by assistant sub-inspector Harbans Lal deployed at the main entry gate. The farmers then assaulted the policeman and tore his uniform, a senior police officer said.
A case was registered under relevant sections of the IPC at the Mukherjee Nagar Police Station against nine people, police said.
Farmers to Celebrate 30 Jan as ‘Sadbhavna Diwas’, Observe Fast
Farmer unions have called for a fast on 30 January, saying they will celebrate the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as 'Sadbhavna Diwas'.
"We appeal to everyone in the country to join us in observing fast on January 30," PTI reported, quoting a Kisan Ekta Morcha leader.
"Don't need lecture on respecting tricolour from BJP. Majority of farmers have children fighting at borders," farmer leader Yudhvir Singh reportedly said.
Social Activist Anna Hazare Calls Off Fast
Social activist Anna Hazare on Friday said he would be calling off his indefinite fast against the new farm laws and claimed that the Central government has agreed to some of his demands.
“The Union government has agreed to some of my demands and also announced setting up a committee to improve the lives of farmers. I have decided to suspend my proposed indefinite fast starting from Saturday, Hazare said.
In a statement earlier in the day, Hazare had announced that he will be starting the hunger strike from his village Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra on Saturday.
Supporting Anarchic Elements: Smriti Irani Lashes Out at Rahul Gandhi
BJP MP Smriti Irani Friday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of supporting anarchic elements to disturb the law and order in the country and “daring to insult tricolour”.
In response to Gandhi’s remarks criticising the Centre’s controversial farm laws and raising concerns about their consequences, Irani said in a presser: “Instead of calling for peace, he called for anarchic elements to spread fire in country.”
She claimed that the Congress MP “not only wants law-order breakdown but also supports anarchic elements daring to insult tricolour, break nation”. “Rahul Gandhi declared war on Indian people; said cities will burn if PM does not support his stand,” she alleged.
44 People Arrested In Connection With Violence at Singhu Today
44 persons including one person who reportedly attacked the SHO Alipur have been arrested in connection with violence at Singhu border on Friday, the Delhi Police said.
The Delhi police had earlier said that Alipur SHO Pradeep Paliwal was injured after he intervened between protesting farmers and locals protesting at the site.
“SHO Alipur, Delhi intervened between rioting protestors (MKSC faction) and ocal Singhu villagers, who had gone to register their protest against happenings on Republic Day and continued loss of ordinary livelihoods for over two months. SHO suffered grievous injuries on his hand,” the statement by Delhi police said.
Shiromani Akali Dal Appeals To Workers To Join Farmers' Protests At Delhi Borders
The Shiromani Akali Dal on Friday appealed to its workers to reach the three main farmers' protest sites near Delhi - Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur - to support the agitation against the central agriculture laws, and alleged the centre has been trying to "crush" the protests by unfair means, NDTV reports.
IJU Expresses Concern Over UP’s Misuse of Sedition Law
The Indian Journalists Union has issued a statement, expressing concern over the “undue haste” shown by the UP government and its police while ‘targeting’ journalists and booking them under sedition laws.
The IJU President and former member of Press Council of India, Geetartha Pathak and Secretary General and IFJ Vice President Sabina Inderjit stated that “the UP government’s record of intimidation of journalists and misusing the sedition law is getting worse, revealing contempt for press freedom and freedom of expression.”
Traffic Movement Open on NH-9 & NH-24
Traffic movement is now open on NH-9 and NH-24 on carriageway going towards Ghaziabad, Delhi Traffic Police says.