Farmers On Fast, Internet Suspended For 2 Days At Borders: What's Happening At Protest Sites
As the farmers' agitation against the three controversial farm laws enters day 66, more support pours in. Thousands of villagers have joined the protest on Saturday morning. Here are the latest updates on farmers' protest.
Internet services suspended?
Internet services in the Delhi borders along with adjoining areas near Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri - epicentres of the farmers' weeks-long protest against the centre's agriculture laws - will be suspended from 11 pm for a period of 24 hours, the Union Home Ministry said in a notification issued Saturday afternoon.?
"... it is necessary and expedient to order the temporary suspension of internet services in the areas of Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri, and their adjoining areas in the NCT of Delhi from 11 pm on January 29 to 11 pm on January 31," the ministry notification said.
The Haryana government had on Friday suspended mobile internet services in 17 districts till 5 pm.?
Heavy security deployed?
Heavy security deployment continues at Singhu on Delhi-Haryana border as lakhs of farmers across India have spent the last several weeks demanding the centre repeal laws they say will leave them at the mercy of large corporate firms.
Police shut highway, farmers observe fast
Delhi Police has shut NH-24 highway, all roads leading to Ghazipur border.?
Farmers protesting at the three sites at Delhi¡¯s borders are holding a day-long fast, between 9 am and 5 pm, as they observe ¡®Sadbhavna Divas¡¯ to mark the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. ¡°We appeal to everyone in the country to join us in observing fast on January 30,¡± a Kisan Ekta Morcha leader said.?
Proposal stand still, says PM Narendra Modi
Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi chaired an all party meet over farmers' agitation. PM Modi said, "Centre's proposal to protesting farmers on agri laws still stands," reports PTI quoting sources. Government has been continuously trying to resolve issues of protesting farmers through talks, PM added, reports PTI.?Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, TMC's Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut, and SAD's Balwinder Singh Bhunder spoke at length on the issue.
More support pours in
The grand alliance parties in Bihar, led by RJD, form a human chain in Patna in protest against the three new farm laws. "We will continue to organise such protests until the laws are repealed," ANI quoted RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha as saying.??
Hundreds of farmers stayed put at the Ghazipur border on Saturday morning, as more supporters poured in at the protest site on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway in Ghaziabad.?Farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal has also appealed the people to join the farmers' protest at Delhi borders but not do anything if someone tries to instigate them.
Police crackdown against farmers
Earlier, the UP administration had also temporary cut off power and water supply to the hundreds of farmers at Ghazipur, who have been camping out on the roads.By late Friday three CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) and six Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) companies, as well 1,000 police were deployed, leading to an uneasy overnight stand-off.?
The two other protest sites - Singhu and Tikri (both on the Haryana border) were also placed under heavy security, with police digging up roads at all three sites to stop farmers from going further.At Singhu, access to the main protest site was cut off, with security personnel conducting mock security drills.?
Police sources called it a routine measure and suggested action would only be taken after the farmer leaders respond to notices sent over Tuesday's violence.The farmers have also hit out at police notices sent to leaders of the protest over the Republic Day violence, claiming it a ploy to end their movement by blaming them for the Republic Day violence.?
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha - an umbrella body of farmer unions protesting the farm laws - said, "We will not be intimidated by the notices by Delhi Police and will respond to the same."
