Farmers' Protest Day 2: Tear Gas Fired At Protesting Farmers; Meeting With Centre Tomorrow | All Updates

Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher announced that the meeting with the Centre will be held at 5pm tomorrow. This will be the third meeting between farmers and central ministers. 

“Meeting agenda will remain the same as the letter with 10 demands given earlier. Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai will lead the talks tomorrow," Sarwan Singh said.

"We will go to it with the hope that the Centre accepts our demands.”

Earlier, the three ministers had two rounds of meetings in Chandigarh with the farmer groups' leaders, but the discussions remained inconclusive, and the farmers began their protests on Tuesday.

A key demand of the farmers is a guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP) for various crops.

On farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury told news agency ANI, "We've never heard of drones being used to fire tear gas shells on the farmers and all sorts of barricades that have been erected. They are trying to stop the march of the farmers to Delhi.”

"Respecting the farmers and respecting the people who feed all of us, is required of this government," he said, adding, "We want an immediate end to this repression and meaningful talks have to be conducted."

“On February 16, there is going to be a big nationwide action program, including some sectoral industrial strikes along with the trade unions. This is something that the Modi government cannot ignore. It has to immediately concede," Mr. Yechury added.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), along with central trade unions, have called for a Gramin Bharat Bandh (nationwide strike) on February 16 to press forth their demands before the Centre.

Amid the farmers' protest, the CBSE has released a travel advisory for students appearing in the Class 10 and Class 12 board exams starting on February 15. The education board has asked all students to leave their homes early so that they can arrive on time.

"It is advisable to use metro services to reach the examination centres, which are running smoothly," the advisory said.

Farmers leaders are set to hold a third round of talks with the central government shortly, as per media reports. Union ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal, and Nityanand Rai will be present at the meeting. 

Meanwhile, a delegation of protesting farm leaders is heading to Punjab Bhawan in Chandigarh.

Earlier, the three ministers had two rounds of meetings in Chandigarh with the farmer groups' leaders, but the discussions remained inconclusive, and the farmers began their protests on Tuesday.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot today said that farmers are protesting again due to the stubbornness of the Central government, which has failed to address their concerns.

He said farmers are not getting fair prices for their crops, and the Congress will provide a legal guarantee for the minimum support price if its INDIA alliance forms government after the Lok Sabha elections.

 "Farmers are protesting due to the stubbornness of the central government, which has not been able to solve their issues," Pilot told the media.

The Delhi Metro recorded its largest number of passenger travels to date on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, reaching 71.09 lakh. This surge was due to heavy traffic caused by the ongoing farmers' protest, as per the media reports.

In a post on X, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said, "Delhi Metro broke its highest Passenger journey record set in September 2023 by registering an unmatched 7.109 million passenger ridership on Tuesday (February 13, 2024), the highest ever daily passenger ridership."

In 2020, farmers from the North Indian states, including Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, protested against three new farm laws passed by the government. The farmers feared that the laws aimed to reform the agricultural sector but were viewed by many farmers as unfair and threatening their livelihoods.

The laws weakened the existing system of government-regulated wholesale markets (mandis), lacked legal guarantees for Minimum Support Price (MSP), and allowed for more flexible contract farming agreements.

The protesting farmers demanded the repeal of these laws and the enactment of a law mandating MSP for all crops to ensure fair prices. They also sought exemption from rising electricity bills, which added to their financial strain.

After nearly a year of protests, the government finally agreed to repeal the laws in November 2021 and accepted most of the farmers' demands, in what was celebrated as a huge victory for the farmers.

Two years on, farmer unions argue that the government has failed to deliver on its promise to legally ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP).

The X account of Mandeep Punia, an independent journalist who runs Gaon Savera, has been withheld. Punia, a freelance journalist hailing from Haryana, gained recognition for his coverage of the 2020-2021 Indian farmers' protests.

He was arrested by the Delhi Police and sent to Tihar Jail for 14 days during that period.

On farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' protest, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor told news agency ANI that it is a fundamental democratic right for farmers to protest and have their voices heard in the national capital.

“I don't think the border with China is fortified the way this city is fortified. The government should have learnt a lesson from the previous farmers' agitation- consult the stakeholders,” Tharoor added.

“Last time, it took a year-long agitation before the government surrendered and withdrew."

Today, the Indian National Congress shared a video showing an injured farmer speaking to Rahul Gandhi over the phone.

"We are not terrorists; we are farmers of this country," said Gurmeet Singh, described in the post as a retired army personnel.

"Gurmeet Singh ji is seriously injured due to the harsh actions taken by the Modi government against farmers," the post added.

On the farmers' protest, Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur told news agency ANI that yesterday's stone-pelting resulted in the injuries of two DSPs, some 24 police officers, and a few farmers.  

“I appeal to all to follow the law and order,” he added. “Mainly Ambala-Chandigarh route is affected."

Kites, flown in Punjab on the occasion of Basant Panchami, were flown above the place where farmers were stopped on their 'Dilli Chalo' protest at the Shambhu border. They weren't being flown for the sake of the event, but rather to counter drones used by the Haryana Police to target protesters along the border dividing Punjab and Haryana with tear gas.

As they resumed their march, the protesting farmers were seen carrying kites to the barrier at the Shambhu border and flying them to prevent the police from using the drones. 

One of the guys carrying the kites, Kuldeep Singh told Indian Express, “If we make a maze of ‘dor’ (kite string) in the sky, the drone would not be able to come to this side.” 

As Centre today showed interest in holding a fresh round of talks, SKM (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal today said, "It has come to us through media that Anurag Thakur has said that they are ready for talks and finding resolution to our issues. We do not want to leave any room for them to say that we did not accept their offer. We took permission from our friends, and now we will hold talks (with the government). Our priority is that talks are held in Chandigarh or anywhere near the protest site," says

While addressing the agitating farmers, leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Wednesday said the farmers would consider any invitation for talks from the Centre only if they ensure a positive atmosphere for dialogue.

Urging PM Narendra Modi to enact a law to guarantee the minimum support price (MSP), Pandher said,"It is said that you (Modi) have a big heart. Give us a law to guarantee the MSP."

Pandhr also slammed the Centre for orchestrating the police action against the protesting farmers, saying many cultivators have been injured.

Strongly criticising the Centre's moves to stop the agitating farmers from entering Delhi, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said, "We condemn govt action to stop farmers from entering Delhi to have a peaceful protest... Every day in the BJP, the central govt and the Madhya Pradesh government advertisement we see the 'Modi Ki Guarantee'... Yes, Modi's guarantee was there, they (the central govt) held meetings with farmers in which it was decided that a law over MSP would be made, the cases over farmers would be withdrawn, and action would be taken against the minister in Lakhimpur Kheri incident... But, the irony is that PM Modi has chosen the Corporate Minister (Piyush Goyal) to communicate with the farmers, he represents the corporate world and the corporate's interest lies in the exploitation of the farmers..."

Offering further opportunities to hold discussion with the Centre, Union Minister Arjun Munda on Wednesday said,"I have said this before that we (government) are ready to hold constructive talks with the farmers. We should consider all points and then hold a discussion. Secondly, the farmers should understand that the protest should not create problems for anyone and does not affect the normal life."

Following yesterday's modus operandi to disperse the agitating farmers, police again have fired tear gas shells at the Shambhu border. Yesterday, the same place witnessed a massive clash between the farmers and the police which led to the detention of many of the protesters

In a bid to prevent the farmers from reaching Delhi, roads are being dug up at a village near Singhu border.

Commenting on the ongoing protest by the farmer unions over a list of demands, with MSP for crops being the primary one, Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday said, "I would like to say that the Modi Government has taken several steps in the last 10 years to encourage the agriculture sector and for the welfare of farmers. When they posed their demands, the government sent its senior leaders and continued the dialogue...What is the reason that new demands are being added to the demands?...If new demands are being added, more time is also required. States need time to hold discussions. We are ready to continue the discussions. Most of their demands have been accepted but the new demands require more time. I urge the agitators to not indulge in vandalism, arson or violence. I request farmer leaders to come and have discussions."

After a chaotic day one, the farmers have embarked on the second day of their journey to Delhi with the primary demand for MSP for the crops. The protest march today started amid heightened security measures deployed at the borders to stop the farmers from entering Delhi.

The mobile internet services, bulk SMS and all dongle services etc provided on mobile networks, except the voice calls will remain suspended till February 15, as per an official order issued by the Haryana govt. Earlier the suspension was announced till February 13.

The suspension has been announced for the districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa of Haryana State on Wednesday.

Slamming action on the farmers' 'Dilli Chalo' march and accusing the government of trying to "project" division among farmer bodies, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) has written letter to PM Modi demanding MSP for crops.

Furthermore, they also urged all like-minded farmer organisations to take part in the February 16 Gramin Bharat Bandh called by the central trade unions.

In their letter to the PM, the SKM said, "Your government and that of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh led by the BJP have resorted to repressive measures on peaceful protests of farmers and unleashed lathi-charge, rubber bullets and tear gas shells, injuring many and inflict an atmosphere of terror on common farmers."

Before getting started with the day two of the 'Delhi Chalo' protest march, the farmers this morning were seen busy with preparation of meals at the Shambhu border.

Right ahead of resuming the protest march for the second consecutive day at the Shambhu border, a farmer Gurlal Singh Kakkar said, "Our preparations are complete. Whatever the government is doing...our preparations are also complete."

His comment came a day after the protest march faced massive resistance at the Shambhu border where police detained many protesters and fired tear gas many times to disperse them.

As the farmers' protest march enters day 2, Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel, Police personnel and Riot Control Vehicle have been deployed to man the Singhu Border.

Following a brief overnight easefire, the protesting farmers have gathered at Shambhu border on Wednesday morning as the 'Delhi Chalo' march entered Day 2. Yesterday, massive clashes erupted at the Shambhu border as police fired several rounds of tear gas to disperse the protesting farmers.

Besides Tikri border, heightened security measures were observed at the Ghazipur border as well before the farmers resumed the 'Delhi Chalo' protest march following a brief ceasefire. The heavy barricading has reportedly led to traffic disruptions as well.

Anticipating further clashes, the measures to stop the scores of protesting farmers are further tightened at Tikri border. Several visuals have surfaced on social media where workers were seen adding more concrete between the slabs at the Tikri Border in an attempt to make it stronger on day 2 of the farmers' march towards the National Capital.

• With over 60 people getting injured and several detained by the Haryana police, the first day of the 'Delhi Chalo' protest march ended on a chaotic note. However, the unions claimed that around 100 farmers were injured during the day.

• Furthermore, Haryana Police also detained several protesting farmers during the day at Shambhu along the border with Punjab following the incidents of stone pelting, damaging a bridge and forcibly removing barricades that were erected to halt their march to Delhi.

ALSO READ | 'Delhi Chalo' Updates: Farmer Leaders Announce Temporary Ceasefire After A Day Of Clashes With Police

• Thousands of farmers embarked on their 'Delhi Chalo' march from Punjab on Tuesday, February 13, in an attempt to put pressure on the government to meet their demands. There march started amid heavy barricading at the Haryana-Punjab border and entry points to Delhi.