Farmers' Protest Highlights: The 'Delhi Chalo' farmers' protest at border points of New Delhi has entered the 100th 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.
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2.25 pm: Farmers plan road blockade outside Delhi to mark 100 days of agitation
Kisan Ekta Morcha has said that the 100th day of the farmers’ protest will be marked by flying black flags as a mark of support to the ongoing movement against the Centre. Additionally, a five-hour blockade on KMP Expressway will be observed tomorrow from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm.
12.00 pm: Time magazine cover showcases women leading farmers’ protest from front
Women members leading the ongoing farmers’ protests have made it to the TIME magazine's new international cover. The magazine’s cover story talks about women farmers mostly from the states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh who are not only participating, but also leading the agitation. The article notes that beyond pushing the Centre to repeal the farm reform laws, the women leaders of the protest are also fighting patriarchy and to change mindsets about femicide, sexual violence and gender discrimination.
07.01 am 'Kisan mahapanchayat' in MP seeks repeal of new farm reform laws
A 'kisan mahapanchayat' organised by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh yesterday extended support to the ongoing farmers' agitation against the Centre's new agricultural reform laws and demanded a rollback of the contentious legislations. The mahapanchayat, held at Delanpur in Ratlam district of Madhya Pradesh, was also attended by Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU Haryana) president Gurnam Singh Chaduni, and Congress leader and Bharat Krishak Samaj president Arun Yadav, among others.
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.
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.
Protesting farmers are planning to block the Kundli–Manesar–Palwal (KMP) Expressway on March 6 to mark over 100 days of their agitation.
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