Farmers' Protest Highlights | Nationwide 'rail roko' program will be held on February 18 across country, says Samkyukta Kisan Morcha

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A court here has directed the Delhi police to upload on its website all the FIRs that were registered at the Nangloi police station in connection to the violence on Republic Day during farmers'' tractor parade against the Centre''s three new agri laws.

Metropolitan Magistrate Abhinav Pandey said except where reasons have been communicated to the court, all the FIRs should be uploaded so that the representatives of the accused persons do not have to run from pillar to post.

The court, however, declined to supply arrest memo, remand order and remand application to the accused, saying no ground was made out to supply the documents to him at the stage of investigation and can only be supplied after cognisance of the charge sheet has been taken.

Amid the ongoing farmers' protest over the new farm laws, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had demanded the "legalisation" of minimum support price (MSP) to the Centre when he was the Chief Ministers of Gujarat.

Defending the farm laws as much needed reforms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 10 underlined that change is essential and cited the case of CCA, a British era post in Tamil Nadu for supplying cigars to then UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill that was not abolished till several decades after independence.
Speaking in Lok Sabha on the motion of thanks to the President for his address, Modi said change and reforms are essential for the progress of every modern society.

He also mentioned social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Jyotiba Phule and B R Ambedkar who had the courage to push for reforms in society against the prevailing norms.

From February 12, all road toll plazas in Rajasthan will be made toll free. On February 14, candle march, 'mashaal juloos' & other programs will be organized across country remembering sacrifice of martyred soldiers in the Pulwama attack.

On February 16, the farmers will show solidarity throughout the country on the birth anniversary of Sir Chhoturam. Rail roko program will be held on February 18 from 12 to 4 pm across the country.

After its members walked out of Lok Sabha during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech, the Congress on Wednesday said its leaders were forced to do so as the PM did not say anything to satisfy its concerns over the farm laws.

"We thought the prime minister will talk about some important steps for the welfare of the farmers. Over 206 farmers have lost their lives, but the prime minister is not willing to say anything about it," Congress'' leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury told reporters outside Parliament.

As the prime minister defended the three farm laws during his reply to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President for his address, the opposition members including Chowdhury repeatedly disrupted his speech.

BKU leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday asserted that the agitating farmers were not aiming at any change in power at the Centre but a solution to their problems as he said many of their leaders will tour different parts of the country to spread the movement.
Addressing the protesting farmers at Singhu border, Tikait said that the agitation against the farm laws will stretch till the Centre addresses their issues.

"We do not aim change in power (at the Centre). The government should do its work. We want it to repeal the farm laws and ensure law on MSP," he said.

Hasimrat Kaur Badal, SAD: I think the need of the hour is to listen to what farmer wants. PM said that in Punjab, ministers went & spoke to farmers. I wish he'd tell which farmer was spoken to because as far as I recall, the only minister who went to Punjab called farmers hooligans.

I consider 'Kisan Andolan' to be holy. But, when 'Andolanjeevis' hijack 'Pavitra Andolans', showcase photos of those jailed for serious offences, does it serve any purpose? Not allowing toll plazas to work, destroying telecom towers-does it serve a Pavitra Andolan.

Iqbal Singh, an accused in 26th January Delhi violence case arrested by Special Cell from Hoshiarpur, Punjab last night. He carried a reward of Rs 50,000 on his arrest.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday said the demands raised by farmers during their ongoing protest near Delhi are not wrong or unreasonable, and asked the Centre to accept the same.

Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi getting emotional on Tuesday while recollecting his association with Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Pawar told reporters here that he will feel satisfied if the same sentiments are visible in the case of farmers also.

Thousands of farmers have been agitating for more two months near the national capital, demanding a repeal of the Centre''s three new farm laws.

"The demand raised by farmers is not wrong, it is not unreasonable. It is the sentiment of a farmer that he gets proper compensation in return of his hard work. It is his right. The Centre should accept that just demand," Pawar said.

Attacking the Centre over the new farm laws, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday told a rally in western Uttar Pradesh that if voted to power her party would scrap them.

At a ''kisan panchayat'' organised by the party in Saharanpur, the Congress general secretary accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders of "insulting" farmers who are protesting against the laws.

"The three laws are demonic. If voted to power, the Congress will scrap these laws," she said.

She said the party''s fight will continue till the laws are scrapped.