Farmers' Protest Highlights: The 'Delhi Chalo' farmers' protest at border points of New Delhi has entered the 105th day today. Thousands of farmers, especially from Punjab and Haryana, are staging a sit-in protest along Delhi borders. The protest started on November 26, 2020.
Why are farmers protesting? The farmers are demanding a complete rollback of the new farm reform laws and a guarantee on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system being retained. Multiple rounds of talks between the Centre and the farmers’ union leaders have ended in a stalemate. Protesting farmers fear that the new laws will dismantle the MSP system and corporatise farming.
Catch the LIVE updates here:
3.57 pm:The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day amid repeated disruptions by opposition MPs over the farm reform laws.
1.19 pm: Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm amid Opposition uproar over farm laws
Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2.00 pm today, for the second time in the pre-lunch period, after the Congress and other opposition party members created an uproar demanding a discussion on farm reform laws.
The proceedings were first adjourned till 12.00 pm and then again till 2.00 pm after the opposition members trooped into the Well of the Hosue raising slogans. The pleas by Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and then by Deputy Chairman Harivansh went unheeded as opposition members continued to create a ruckus in the House. (Input from PTI)
9.36 am:Farmer leaders to visit poll-bound West Bengal, Assam
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions protesting against the Centre's three farm reform laws, said yesterday it would send a team of leaders to the poll-bound West Bengal and Assam in a bid to appeal to voters not to vote for the "anti-farmer" BJP. Farmer leader Darshan Pal said in a statement that the visit will be spread over three days starting from March 12. (Input from PTI)
7.58 am:Government adopting tactics to break farmers protest: RLD's Jayant Chaudhary
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Chaudhary yesterday alleged that the government was adopting tactics to break the ongoing protests over the new agriculture reform laws but has been unable to do so because of farmers' unity.
Addressing a 'panchayat' at Bhatta Parsaul in Greater Noida, Chaudhary also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he talks about Rs 2,000 support to farmers but never mentions how his government was taking back more from the people with inflated price of fuel, fertilisers and LPG. (Input from PTI)
What has happened since early this year?
The Supreme Court had earlier ordered a stay on the implementation of these contentious laws, hoping it will end the protest. The farm union leaders have also rejected the Centre's proposal to suspend implementation of the laws for 18 months.
On January 26, the protest turned violent when some farmers deviated from a pre-decided route for their Republic Day tractor rally and clashed with police. Some protesters scaled the ramparts of the Red Fort. Several protestors and police personnel were injured in the ensuing clashes.
The farmers' unions also held a 'chakka jam' on February 6 where they blocked national and state highways to protest the internet ban in areas near their agitation sites and harassment allegedly meted out to them by authorities, among other issues.
Click here for Moneycontrol's full coverage of the farmers' protest
