Farmers' Protest Updates: Haryana govt suspends internet in 14 districts till 5 pm tomorrow, say reports

Give up adamant attitude, repeal farm laws, says Harish Rawat to Centre

Congress general secretary and Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Rawat on Friday said the only way to end the ongoing farmers' agitation is to repeal the three agri laws. The government must give up it's adamant attitude and repeal these laws, which is the only solution to this ongoing agitation, Rawat, who was the former Uttarakhand chief minister, said.

Rawat said farmer leaders have condemned the violence that broke out in Delhi on Republic Day but what has happened after that is for everyone to see. 

"An attempt is being made to put the entire blame on the farmers... We also saw the reaction of senior farmer leader Rakesh Tikait when Uttar Pradesh authorities had planned to evict farmers from Ghazipur border protest site, he said.

SP, Cong, BSP lend support to protesting farmers, slam BJP over farm laws

As the farmers' protest at Ghazipur border in Ghaziabad got a new lease of life, the Opposition Congress, Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party on Friday rallied support for the movement and slammed the BJP over the contentious farm laws.

The size of Bharatiya Kisan Union protesters camping at the Ghazipur border with Delhi had come down to around 500 Thursday night following an ultimatum given by the local administration to vacate the site, as additional security force personnel were deployed there.

However, the crowd increased manifold overnight and continued during the day as more protesters joined the stir from western UP on the call of BKU leaders.

Nine farmers arrested for attacking cop in Delhi's Burari, says report

The Delhi Police has arrested nine farmers for attacking one of its personnel at the Burari protest site, PTI reported. Several farmers have been camping at DDA ground in Burari on the outskirts of the national capital since November-end against the Centre's three agri laws.

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.

Naresh Tikait says people should join Ghazipur protest 'in staggered manner'

Farmer leader Naresh Tikait was quoted by NDTV as saying that "people should head to Delhi in a staggered manner to support Ghazipur protest since its the long haul and thousands have reached today".

Forensic team reaches Ghazipur border 

A team of Forensic Science Laboratory reached Delhi's Ghazipur border on Friday, three days after the farmers' tractor parade turned violent, leaving 394 security personnel injured and one agitator dead, officials said. The team is collecting the forensic evidences at the Ghazipur border, they said. 

The tractor parade on Tuesday that was to highlight the demands of the farmer unions to repeal the three new agriculture laws turned violent as protesters deviated from routes, attacked police, overturned vehicles and hoisted a religious flag on the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort.

Police on Thursday issued lookout notices against farmer leaders and announced a probe into the "conspiracy" behind the Republic Day violence. Police have so far registered 33 FIRs in connection with the violence, adding that lookout notices have been issued against 44 people, which include most of the farmer leaders.

Delhi border points at Tikri and Singhu remained under heavy police deployment on Friday. The Delhi Police along with the paramilitary force has been deployed at the borders. 

If not resolved, farmers' agitation will spread: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the only solution to the farmers' issue was throwing the new agri laws in the "waste paper basket" and warned that if not resolved, the agitation will spread to other parts of the country.

In a no-holds-barred attack at the Centre, Gandhi accused the government of trying to intimidate and discredit the farmers, using the National Investigation Agency.

"It is very obvious that the farmers are very agitated because the government is destroying their livelihood. It is destroying the livelihood of our labourers and it is going to give the middle class a shock in the coming times because the prices of food are going to skyrocket," the former Congress chief said at a press conference.

Alipur SHO 'grievously injured', says Delhi Police

The Delhi Police on Friday said the SHO, who was attacked by a man with a sword at the Singhu border protest site, has suffered grievous injuries on his hand. Alipur SHO Pradeep Paliwal was intervening in the clash between farmers and a large group of men claiming to be local residents over vacating the Singhu border protest site — one of the hotspots for the ongoing farmers' agitation against the agri laws.

The two sides also hurled stones at each other as police fired tear gas shells and resorted to baton charge to break up the clash, an official said, adding that situation is under control and legal action has been initiated. "SHO Alipur, Delhi intervenes between rioting protestors (MKSC faction) and local Singhu villagers, who had gone to register their protest against the happenings on Republic Day-2021 and continued loss of ordinary livelihoods for over two months," the Delhi Police said in a tweet.

In another tweet, police said, "This is how the SHO was assaulted; he has suffered grievous injuries on his hand..Peace has been restored. Legal action is being initiated."

Haryana govt suspends internet in 14 districts till tomorrow, says report

NDTV quoted the Haryana directorate of information and public relations as saying, "Haryana Government has suspended internet services except voice calls in Ambala, Yamuna Nagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Kaithal, Panipat, Hisar, Jind, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Fatehabad, Rewari and Sirsa till 5 pm on Saturday."

Yogendra Yadav says farmers 'won't return humiliated'

Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav said in a farmers' rally on Friday that the farmers will not return from the protest movement "humiliated".

"Modi ji and Yogi ji and all others must listen carefully, farmers will not go back from this movement, humiliated and defamed," he added.

Rahul Gandhi slams Centre over Republic Day violence

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday slammed the Centre over the Republic Day violence on 26 January.

"Who permitted farmers to enter the Red Fort? Is it not the Home Ministry's duty to stop them from entering the Fort. Instead of doing something for the farmers and help them get the best, the government is threatening them, beating them and sending agencies after them. If left to the farmers, they will not be able to negotiate with big marketing companies and big buyers. Farmers will be at a loss," he said in a press conference.