Farmers Protest in Delhi LIVE Updates: Crop insurance policy floated by Centre is fraudulent, says Arvind Kejriwal

Rahul says no one person or party runs the country

"India is made and run by farmers, youth and labourers and we stand by them," Rahul says amid cheers from protesting farmers. Several other leaders such as Sharad Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal and Sitaram Yechury are also in attendance at the rally to show their support for the farmers.

Narendra Modi only speaks for industrialists: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi repeats his Rafale attack at the government, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi only speaks for the industrialists. He says a government that disrespects the youth and farmers will be removed by the country.

Anti-BJP parties should stand with farmers: Rahul Gandhi

Anti-BJP parties should stand with farmers, said Rahul. The Congress chief said that Modi has duped the nation in the name of NPAs; adds that farmers and youth have been ignored by the government.

Rahul Gandhi says Congress will waive off farm loans

Addressing the farmers' protest rally in New Delhi, Rahul Gandhi said that the farmers are not asking for any favours or gifts. They seek what is their right.

The Congress chief claimed that the Congress governments have waived off farm loans in the states it rules. 

 Congress president Rahul Gandhi joins march, will address farmers shortly

Congress president Rahul Gandhi joined the farmers' protest march in Delhi. He is expected to address the gathering shortly.

'Narendra Modi, Kisan virodhi': Swaraj India's slogan for farmer's march

Psephologist and political activist Yogendra Yadav's political outfit Swaraj India has been backing the farmers' massive protests in New Delhi. While addressing the farmers Yadav said that the ruling government was anti-farmer and its policies were flawed at a fundamental level. 

Will bring alternative government at Centre, says Sitaram Yechury

Speaking at the farmers' protest march, Sitaram Yechury told the farmers, "We will unseat the BJP and bring an alternative government which will raise your issues in the Parliament. The BJP's brahmastra is the Ram mandir. They rake it up every five years, but we will have to tell them that today the marginalised, the workers, the farmers are all united. They misuse the name of Ram for votes," he said.

Will pressure government to pass pro-farmer bills

“We will continue to support the farmers. We support both the bills. We will keep pressuring the government to pass the bills and make laws. We want to tell the government of the day that if you do not listen to the demands, we will use the power to dethrone you,” said Sitaram Yechury at farmers’ rally.

The farmers are demanding that the government pass legislation guaranteeing loan waivers and remunerative prices for their crops. 

Agriculture is still the backbone of Indian economy: HD Deve Gowda reminds Modi

Supporting the farmers' march in New Delhi, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda Friday said, along with "ease of doing business", India should also better itself  in "ease of doing agriculture". Referring to the Karnataka government's farm loan waiver initiative, the JD(S) supremo urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi issue proper direction to banks who are issuing notices to farmers and creating uncertainties. "Modi Government and BJP are boasting about betterment of India's position in the 'Ease of Doing Business' index. But, with 'Ease of Doing Business', India should also better itself in 'Ease of Doing Agriculture'.

Noting that agriculture is still the backbone of Indian economy, the former prime minister, in another tweet, said, "Eradication of poverty, employment generation, rural development are all possible if India betters itself in 'Ease of Doing Agriculture' too."

Kejriwal to join Kisan Mukti March in the evening

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will also join the farmers' protest this evening. Senior JDU leader KC Tyagi, CPI national secretary D Raja and some Samajwadi party leaders are also likely to join the agitation.

Rahul Gandhi to attend Kisan Kranti March at 3.30 pm today

According to latest news, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi will visit the farmers at 3.30 pm and will likely address the Kisan Kranti March which is currently converged at the Parliament street. Apart from Congress, JD(U), Samajwadi Party and other Opposition leaders and activists are at the Jantar Mantar to support the protesting farmers.

Tamil Nadu farmers do it again: Remove clothes and hang skulls and bones to protest in Delhi

As the kisan rally arrived at the Parliament Street, Tamil Nadu farmers took off their clothes and used the skulls and bones of their "dead crop growers" to cover their private parts. According to a News18, about 1,200 members of the National South Indian River Interlinking Agriculturalists Association reached the national capital on Thursday carrying skulls of two of their colleagues who they claimed had committed suicide. Some were also spotted wearing a garland of dairy products.

Image: News18

Farmers, who were part of 2017 Mandsaur protest, cast vote first, then join rally in Delhi

Madhya Pradesh farmers cast their vote in the 28 November Assembly election and left to join the farmers protest which was headed towards Delhi. 

Protesters complain that due to faulty policies of the Centre farmers are dying under the burden of debt. Criticising the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government, Kedar Sarohi from Harda district in Madhya Pradesh said that even in the BJP-ruled state which boasts of development and is one of the star states of the saffron party has no empathy towards the cultivators. Kedar, who was part of the Mandsaur farmers' protest, said that the government tried to hide its own short comings. 

Kisan Virodhi Modi, says Yogendra Yadav

While addressing the farmers at Jantar Mantar, former AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said that there are two mantras for farmers liberation — learn to speak up and identify your enemies, which should be easy, Yadav added, "The parties which are not present in the stage today are our enemies." 

"Farmers should speak up in unified voice. No party is as anti-farmer as the present regime," said Yadav terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, kisan virodhi. 

Delhi Police permits farmers to rally from Ramlila Maidan to Jantar Mantar

After traffic came to a halt in Lutyens' Delhi due to large-scale farmers' protest, Deputy commissioner of police Madhur Verma said that multiple rounds of talks with protesting leaders were held, following which they were given permission to move to Jantar Mantar with "conditions". "Proper arrangements have been made for security, traffic and law and order. We hope that farmers will follow the conditions," he said.

Over 35,000 farmers converge at Parliament street

Denied permission by police to march to Parliament, around 35,000 farmers from across the country have converged near Parliament Street Police station in the national capital on Friday, where their leaders addressed the protesters. The national secretary of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), Asish Mittal, said farmers from 24 states have also joined the protest to press for their demands, including debt relief and remunerative prices for their produce.

The farmers, who have been camping at the Ramlila ground here since Thursday, began their march to Parliament Street around 10.30 am amid heavy policy deployment. They were stopped near Parliament Street police station, after which they assembled there.

3,500 police personnel to accompany farmers 

Heavy police security has been deployed on the route of the march. At least, 3,500 police personnel will accompany the protesting farmers. 

According to a senior police officer, special arrangements have been made in Central and New Delhi police districts. Farmers from different parts of the country, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh converged at the Ramlila ground on Thursday. Banded under the AIKSCC, which claims to be an umbrella body of 207 organisations of farmers and agricultural workers, many farmers arrived in the city on Thursday, on trains, buses and other modes of transport.

About 1,200 members of the National South Indian River Interlinking Agriculturalists Association reached the national capital in the early hours of Thursday carrying skulls of two of their colleagues who had committed suicide, their leader P Ayyakannu said. The group from Tamil Nadu had threatened to march naked if they are not allowed to go to Parliament on Friday.They had last year staged protests at Jantar Mantar with the skulls of eight  farmers who killed themselves owing to losses.

Doctors skip day's work to help ailing farmers at rally

A group of doctors, who had taken off from work, were offering medical aid till about 11 pm on Thursday. Rashid, a junior resident at AIIMS was among the doctors volunteering, told PTI, "I took an off today from work, as I had to be here. They feed us, and we are not doing any favour by helping them, we are serving them."

Doctors also came from Aligarh Muslim University and Rohtak and Chandigarh and other Delhi hospitals to assist farmers, many of whom complained of body ache as they had travelled long distance. "One person had fainted, so, after first aid, we sent him to LNJP Hospital," said Mahtab Alam, a doctor at a Delhi government hospital.

TRAFFIC RECAP: 1,000 traffic cops deployed between Ramlila Maidan and Parliament street

Traffic was affected on the Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, on the stretch near Guru Nanak Eye hospital, Maharaja Ranjit Singh flyover, Barakhamba Chowk and Janpath on Friday morning. Commuters were advised to avoid these routes. Around 1,000 traffic police personnel have been deployed between Ramlila maidan and Parliament to ensure that commuters do not face inconvenience. "Due to this march, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Ferozshah Road, Janpath, Mandir Marg, Panchkuian Marg, Ashoka Road, Jai Singh Marg and inner and outer circles of Connaught Place will be effected. Our senior traffic officials, along with other traffic personnel, are managing traffic," a senior traffic police official said. Citizens were advised to follow the Delhi Traffic Police Facebook page, Twitter handle, WhatsApp and the traffic helpline for live updates. Over 3,500 police personnel have also been deployed on the route of the march and special arrangements have been made in Central and New Delhi police districts. As many as 850 police personnel, up to the rank of sub-inspectors, have been deployed in the Central district. They have been augmented by the presence of 12 police companies, including two of women, each comprising 75-80 personnel, a police official said. In New Delhi district, 346 police personnel, up to the rank of sub-inspectors, have been deployed and 600 personnel from other districts will also help them, the official said.

Change in name should reflect in action: Swaminathan

Hope that Kisan Mukti march is a turning point in the history of public policy formation: MS Swaminathan 

Expressing sadness that farmers are the ignored lot, Swaminathan said that the farmers' march should be a turning point in the history of public policy in India.

"It is sad that farmers who are life givers are forced to take their own life due to economic reasons. I sincerely hope that today’s Kisan Mukti March will be a turning point in the history of public policy formulation in the field of agriculture."

Economic viability is as important to farmers as it is to industrialists: MS Swaminathan

In a series of tweets, agriculture scientist MS Swaminathan slammed the current political dispensation and said that economic viability is not just important for industrialists. "The loan waiver demand comes from the non-remunerative nature of farming and is indicative that economic viability is as important to farmers as to industrialists. Unfortunately, the then govt did not take action on the National Policy for Farmers (NCF) report presented in 2007."

Only agitation and not reasoning will lead to action, tweets MS Swaminathan

Tweeting about the ongoing rally in Delhi, agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan, known for his leading role in India’s green revolution, tweeted and said, "Evidence of agrarian unrest has been growing and farmers have come to the conclusion that only agitation and not reasoning will lead to action on their problems."

Hassled farmers say there's no end to our struggle

Hoshiyar Singh Nain from Haryana said that there is no end to farmers' troubles. "It will be evening if I told you about farmers' struggle. Getting loan waivers and MSPs would be a good start."

Sehlab Barik from Odisha who left home on 27 November said, "It's been such a long journey. We took a train and reached early morning. Bahot pareshan hai. All we want is better MSP and fair enforcement of PMFBY."

Traffic now normal

The rally has now reached Parliament Marg (near police station) Ramlila Maidan, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Gurunank Chowk, Ranjeet Singh Flyover, Barakhamba Chowk. Traffic is now normal, says Delhi police. 

Students, volunteer groups, offer help to marching farmers

Five Gurdwaras in the National Capital have extended their help to the farmers, The Hindu reported. Additionally, students from various universities also turned out in large numbers to lend support to the farmers. 

Volunteers, including doctors, lawyers, professors and artists, all came out in large numbers to help the farmers. Around 600-700 volunteers of a solidarity group Nation For Farmers also marched with the protesters, the newspaper reported.

Heavy security across Delhi as farmers protest rallies to Parliament street 

In New Delhi district, 346 police personnel, up to the rank of sub-inspectors, have been deployed and 600 personnel from other districts will also help them, the official said. Nine police companies, along with 71 officers, from the rank of inspectors up to additional DCPs, are also present. Farmers from different parts of the country, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh converged at the Ramlila ground on Thursday. Traffic was disrupted in many parts of the city on Thursday as the farmers marched to the Ramlila ground in the heart of the city on four different routes, starting from Anand Vihar, Nizamuddin and Bijwasan railway stations and Sabzi Mandi.

Traffic Alert 

The farmers march has moved and is on the Tolstoy Road. Traffic is affected here, tweeted the Delhi Traffic Police.

Visuals: Farmers wait near Jantar Mantar

Farmers wait near Jantar Mantar on the second day of protest by farmers, who are demanding debt relief, better MSP for crops, among other demands.

Farmers block both routes on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg

Delhi Traffic prepared for thousand farmers rallying in Delhi

Speaking to reporters, joint commissioner of police for Delhi traffic police said, "Traffic police will give real-time updates on affected traffic routes on Facebook and Twitter. Commuters are advised to stay updated. Around 1,000 traffic personnel have been deployed in all these routes to plan diversions and to keep the traffic smooth."

Welcome to Delhi: Doctor's stall busiest at Ramlila Maidan

One of the busiest stalls at Ramlila Maidan was that of a doctor who was handing out medicines to ailing farmers. He says, "Almost everyone who has come here has visited me. They complain of cough and cold. Kheto ki hava se delhi mein aaye hai."

Farmers attract middle class support; here's how

One of the most significant aspects of the rally, which started on Thursday, was the support of the middle class, just like Mumbai had embraced farmers at the time of Kisan Long March.

Students, activists, artists have all extended help and solidarity. Students from Delhi University, Jawaharlal University, among others created posters and circulated on social media, gathered signatures on a petition in spite of the fact that their exams are on. The Delhi government organised mobile toilets and water tankers. The gurudwara at Nizamuddin station provided a meal to farmers after they arrived in Delhi on the morning of 29 November.

Visuals: Farmers protest at Ramlila

Visuals from near Ramlila Maidan on the second day of the two-day protest by farmers from all across the country, who are asking for debt relief, better MSP for crops, among other demands.

Leaders like Yogendra Yadav and students of Delhi University joined in the farmers protest in Delhi

From Punjab to Nashik, farmers demand special Parliament session

Farmers from across the country have travelled to demand a special session of Parliament to discuss the agrarian crisis in the country. More farmers joined in the protests this morning. Their issues of priority vary from region to region. In the tribal belt of Nashik, lack of enforcement of FRA, in sugarcane belt, the gripe is with slashed rates, in Punjab, farmers complain of low MSP.