Farmers oppose BJP event in Narwana | Effigies of MLAs burnt in Karnal, Shahabad

Farmers protest outside the venue for a BJP meeting in Narwana on Sunday.

Tribune News Service

Hisar, March 14

The protest against BJP and JJP leaders continue in the state following the defeat of the no-confidence motion in the Assembly last week. In Jind district’s Narwana town today, farmers staged demonstration and raised anti-government slogans outside the venue for the BJP’s “prashikshan shivir” (training camp).

In view of the protest, BJP workers escorted by the police left the venue midway through the session.

The district administration deployed the paramilitary and police force to maintain law and order as farmers, including women, gathered outside a school, where the camp was organised.

The protesters alleged the BJP was trying to vitiate the social fabric by organising such meetings and inviting selected party workers.

Unwarranted

The ‘prashikshan shivir’ was a district-level training camp for workers, and not a public event. Farmers should not oppose the event meant for party workers. I visited the venue, but returned shortly in view of the protest. —Raj Kumar Mor, Jind BJP President

Farmer leader Satbir Singh said the BJP-JJP government was ignoring the interests of farmers and thus deserved no support from them in particular and the society in general.

Sunil, another farmer, said: “If BJP and JJP leaders have to organise a meeting in the protection of central and state forces, this shows the state of affairs in the state. this means they have lost people’s trust.”

Kurukshetra: Activists of the BKU (Charuni) today protested against Shahabad JJP MLA Ramkaran Kala and Sports Minister and Pehowa MLA Sandeep Singh for not supporting the no-confidence motion in the Assembly.

The farmers also burnt the effigies of BJP and JJP MLAs in Shahabad. The farmers reached outside a Gurukul at Chhapra village of Shahabad where the Sports Minister had attended an event on Saturday.

Farmers protest at the Ghazipur border. Manas Ranjan Bhui

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 14

The BJP-JJP government in Haryana will on Monday introduce a Bill, which will make protesters pay for the damage caused to public property.

The Haryana Recovery of Damages to Property during Disturbance of Public Order Bill, 2021, is in line with a Supreme Court judgment on a similar matter.

No link with farm stir

The law has been in pipeline for quite some time. It has nothing to do with the farm agitation.—Anil Vij, Haryana Home Minister

Sources said the Bill was being brought in view of the ongoing farmers’ agitation against the three farm laws at Singhu and Tikri, state Home Minister Anil Vij claimed otherwise. He said the law had been in the pipeline for quite some time and it had nothing to do with the farmers’ stir.

A recent report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) stated of 14,876 pending cases of damage to public property, nearly 6,300 pertained to Haryana, UP and Tamil Nadu. Except Haryana, the two other states already have such Acts.

Haryana has, in the recent past, witnessed violent protests, resulting in extensive damage to public property. During the 2016 Jat quota agitation, the loss was pegged at Rs 34,000 crore. Similar was the case during a protest by Dera Sachha Sauda followers in 2017.

He was addressing a meeting of the BJP state executive in Lucknow

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh being welcomed by BJP State President Swatantra Dev Singh during the State BJP Executive meeting, in Lucknow, Monday, March 15, 2021. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Aditiyanath looks on. PTI photo

Lucknow, March 15

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called on Monday for a dialogue between the protesting farmers and the union government.

Appealing to the agitating farmers, who have been upset over the new farm laws since they were passed in September last year, Rajnath Singh said any problem can be resolved through talks.

“The BJP’s resolve is to double the farmers’ income, and in no case will the MSP end,” he said, referring to the apprehension among farmers who have been agitating on the Delhi borders since November 26, 2020.https://fcd5f0cfbcbf98d5af2ac820b8014c31.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

Singh, who was addressing a meeting of the BJP state executive in Lucknow, said: “We are all from farmers’ families and we are ready for amendments and solutions, whatever is needed in the interest of agriculture.” He focused on the role of grassroots workers in the Bhartiya Janata Party and said this was the only party which has not seen a split so far.

“This is not a crowd of workers aiming to gain power but a lively party which has a political vision,” he said.

Commenting on the construction of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the minister said: “People used to say that whenever elections come, BJP leaders speak about construction of the Ram temple. It is a coincidence that when the structure fell in Ayodhya, there was a BJP government in the UP, and Kalyan Singh was the chief minister. And when the foundation stone for construction of the Ram temple was laid, there was a BJP government in UP, and Yogi Adityanath was the chief minister.” Referring to the face-off with China in Ladakh last year, the minister said, “Our Army jawans have been displayed courage and valour with patience. We do not wish to attack anyone but will not tolerate the grabbing of our land”. He further said no power on earth can stop India from becoming a global superpower.

Singh claimed that in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the BJP will get more seats than its 2017 tally.https://fcd5f0cfbcbf98d5af2ac820b8014c31.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

Addressing party workers, he said they cannot complain of any injustice to them by the party.

“I never made any demands and just kept working. We are lucky that we got an opportunity to become BJP workers,” he added.

Citing the example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, “Credibility is the biggest capital in politics and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an example of this”. — IANS

Rakesh Tikait. File photo

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Sonepat, March 14

In all, 22 farmer leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of the protesting farmer unions, which are spearheading anti-farm laws’ movement, are campaigning against the BJP in West Bengal. In the absence of the senior farmer leaders, the second-line leadership is maintaining the protest at the Singhu border.

The SKM had decided in the meeting held on March 1 at the Singhu border to campaign against the BJP and its alliance in five poll-bound states and it started the campaign from Kolkata in West Bengal two days ago.

As per the scheduled programme, 22 farmer leaders, including Rakesh Tikait, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Gurnam Singh Charuni and Medha Patkar, are on a tour of poll-bound West Bengal.

These leaders are holding panchayats in in Bengal. The SKM delegation addressed mahapanchayats in Singur and Asansol in the state on Sunday.

Darshan Pal Singh, president, Krantikari Kisan Union, said: “I am at the Singhu border and the second line of some farmer union groups are with me and we are managing all the things well at the dharna site. Some leaders would come back late at night today, while some others will arrive tomorrow.”

22 touring WB

As per the SKM programme, 22 farmer leaders, including Rakesh Tikait, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Gurnam Singh Charuni and Medha Patkar, are touring the poll-bound West Bengal to campaign against the BJP.

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. File photo

Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 15

BJP MP in Rajya Sabha from Haryana Lt General (retd) Dr DP Vats on Monday appealed to the inherent virtues of “benevolence and magnanimity” of a military veteran in Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh in allowing Haryana’s share of rivers’ waters.

Taking part in a discussion on the working of Jal Shakti Ministry in Rajya Sabha, Lt General Vats said that although commissions and the Supreme Court have upheld the cause of Haryana with regard to its share of 3.5 MAF of rivers’ waters through SYL from Punjab, the state was not receiving the same.

A lot many issues between Haryana and Punjab are unsettled, including the state capital.

He said that after Haryana was carved out of Punjab in 1966, it did not have any river allocated to it.

However, bulk of the allocated share of Haryana’s share of waters flow into the seas.

He said that the waters to be drawn vide SYL to Haryana are to cater to the southern region of the state, which is a home of the ex-servicemen.

He referred to iconic Major Shaitan Singh of Kumao Regiment, who led a successful counter to the aggression of the Chinese Army during 1962 Sino-India conflict at Rezang La pass along LAC at the expense of his life, was a native of the Ahirwal belt in south Haryana.

It is often the case that mortal remains of soldiers from the region often return draped in Tricolour.

“The Punjab government is headed by a military veteran. I hope that  in the tradition of benevolence and large-heartedness of a soldier, he would facilitate the flow of Haryana’s share of waters.”

He was critical of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for speaking in forked tongue on the issue of SYL and Haryana’s share of waters from Punjab.

Without naming the Delhi chief minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, he said the former is a native of Haryana.

However, during elections in Punjab he says Haryana has no share.

But in Delhi, he accuses Haryana of not providing water to Delhi, Lt General Vats added.

He further said that AAP indulges in double standards with regard to Haryana’s interest on the water issue even though two of its sitting three Rajya Sabha MPs are natives of the state.

LeT militant too shot | 3 youths, cop hurt in clashes

J&K DGP Dilbag Singh, along with Kashmir IGP Vijay Kumar, reviews a meeting with Police, Army and CRPF officers in Anantnag on Monday. PTI

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 15

Top Jaish-e-Mohammed commander Sajjad Afghani has been killed in an encounter at Rawalpora area of Shopian district in South Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh confirmed that Afghani, who was instrumental in recruiting terrorists, had been killed in the encounter that entered its third day.

Another terrorist killed in the encounter has been identified as Jahangir Ahmad Wani from Rakh Narapora, who was affiliated to Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Kashmir IGP Vijay Kumar congratulated the joint force of J&K Police, Army’s 34 Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPF for eliminating Afghani during the three-day encounter that started on Saturday after inputs regarding presence of terrorists.

A joint cordon and search operation was launched by the forces on Saturday. The police said after the presence of terrorists was ascertained during the search operation, they were given an opportunity to surrender, but the terrorists fired indiscriminately at the joint search party, which retaliated, leading to an encounter.

The J&K Police said even on Sunday morning they made repeated announcements, telling the hiding terrorists to surrender but the terrorists fired at the joint search party, which led to Jahangir Ahmad Wani’s death.

One US-made M4 carbine, three magazines, 36 armor piercing rounds and Rs 9,600 were recovered from the slain militant’s possession at the encounter site, the J&K Police said, adding that three residential houses, from where the militants were firing, were damaged after security forces fired mortars.

Meanwhile, three youths and a police constable were injured in clashes as part of the three-day encounter where security forces initially fired pellets, burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse the stone-pelting demonstrators on Sunday.

Farm labourers under the banner of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union protest in Bathinda on Monday. photo: Pawan Sharma

Bathinda, March 15

Scores of labourers under the banner of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union staged a protest at the Dana mandi area here against the three contentious agricultural laws and recent amendments being made to labour laws.

Also, on a call given by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a separate protest was also organised by different unions, including contractual workers from government departments, farmers and labourers in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Bathinda. Farm labourers, including men and women, held a rally in the local grain market and later carried out a protest march in the city.

Union president Zora Singh Nasrali said, “The government is betraying the country by selling out all natural resources, public and agricultural sectors to corporate houses. The atrocities against the Dalits and caste discrimination have increased manifold and the democratic rights of people have been crushed.” “New land reforms have to be introduced in order to empower landless labourers and Dalits in the country,” he added.

BKU (Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan praised the effort of farm labourers. He appealed to the youth to participate in the rally at the Sunam grain market on March 21 to pay tributes to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. — TNS

Protest outside DC office over fuel hike

Photo for representational purpose only

Fatehgarh Sahib, March 15

The Sarpanch Union and the Bhartiya Kisan Mazdoor Union will hold a kisan mahapanchayat — Maha Kisan Mazdoor Ekta Rally — at the new grain market, Sirhind Mandi, on March 24.

He said farmer leaders Balbir Singh Rajewal, Joginder Singh Ugrahan and Gurnam Singh Chaduni had confirmed their participation and Rakesh Tikait’s secretary had also assured his participation.

He said talks with Ruldu Singh Mansa and Jagjit Singh Dalewal were on and their consent was awaited. He added that besides these farm union leaders, singer Babbu Maan and a few other artistes would also participate. He called upon all farm unions, supporters, traders and others to participate in a large number. Meanwhile, leaders of various farm unions today staged a protest outside the DC office against increase in fuel price and handed over a memorandum to him. — TNS

It said the drop in Indian arms imports seemed to have been the result of the country’s complex procurement processes

File photo for representation.

New Delhi, March 15

India’s import of arms decreased by 33 per cent between 2011–15 and 2016–20 and Russia was the most affected supplier, according to a report released on Monday by Stockholm-based defence think-tank SIPRI.

It said the drop in Indian arms imports seemed to have been the result of the country’s complex procurement processes combined with an attempt to reduce its dependence on Russian arms.

In the last few years, India has taken a series of measures to boost domestic defence industry with an aim to reduce dependence on imported military platforms and hardware.

In reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik said approval (Acceptance of Necessity) was given to 112 proposals between 2018-19 and 2020-21 (till December) worth around Rs 1.99 lakh crore under various categories of capital acquisition to promote the domestic defence manufacturing.

The report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said, “Arms imports by India decreased by 33 per cent between 2011–15 and 2016–20. Russia was the most affected supplier, although India’s imports of US arms also fell, by 46 per cent.”      

“The drop in Indian arms imports seems to have been mainly due to its complex procurement processes, combined with an attempt to reduce its dependence on Russian arms. India is planning large-scale arms imports in the coming years from several suppliers,” it said.

The government has been majorly focusing on boosting domestic defence production and set a target of Rs 1.75 lakh crore (USD 25 billion) turnover in defence manufacturing by 2025.

In May, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman rolled out a number of reform measures for the defence sector including making separate budgetary outlay to procure Indian-made military hardware, increasing FDI limit from 49 per cent to 74 per cent under the automatic route and generating a year-wise negative list of weapons which won’t be imported.

The SIPRI report said Russia and China both saw their arms exports falling. Arms exports by Russia, which accounted for 20 per cent of all exports of major arms in 2016–20, dropped by 22 per cent to roughly the same level as in 2006–10.

“The bulk—around 90 per cent—of this decrease was attributable to a 53 per cent fall in its arms exports to India,” it said.

“Russia substantially increased its arms transfers to China, Algeria and Egypt between 2011–15 and 2016–20, but this did not offset the large drop in its arms exports to India,” said Alexandra Kuimova, a researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme.

The report said exports by China, the world’s fifth largest arms exporter in 2016–20, decreased by 7.8 per cent between 2011–15 and 2016–20. Chinese arms exports accounted for 5.2 per cent of total arms exports in 2016–20. Pakistan, Bangladesh and Algeria were the largest recipients of Chinese arms, it added.

The SIPRI said the US remained the largest arms exporter, increasing its global share of arms exports from 32 to 37 per cent between 2011–15 and 2016–20, adding it supplied major arms to 96 states in 2016–20, far more than any other supplier.

“Almost half (47 per cent) of US arms transfers went to the Middle East. Saudi Arabia alone accounted for 24 per cent of total US arms exports. The 15 per cent increase in US arms exports between 2011–15 and 2016–20 further widened the gap between the US and second largest arms exporter Russia,” the report noted.

It said France increased its exports of major arms by 44 per cent and accounted for 8.2 percent of global arms exports in 2016–20. “India, Egypt and Qatar together received 59 per cent of French arms exports,” it said. PTI

She is also involved in Trolly Talkies, which was started at Tikri border to show movies to the protesting farmers

Women from Punjab and Haryana participate in farmers protest against the Centre’s new farm laws, at Tikri border in Delhi. PTI file

New Delhi, March 15

Farmers protesting at various Delhi borders are garnering support from all sections of society. A lot of people have even left their jobs and work to support the cause.

Twentynine-year-old Navkiran Natt is one of those who’ve left her profession and joined her family at the Tikri border to express her solidarity with farmers in the protest against the farm laws.

Natt, along with her family, has been at the Tikri border for the last three months.

Natt, a dentist by profession, has completed a Master’s in Film Studies. Before joining the protest, she was doing internship in one of the projects related to film studies.

She told IANS, “I completed BDS from Panjab University and practised there for three years but the experience was not good so I joined a film studies course.”

“I have been at Tikri border for the last three months. After a lot of brainstorming on how we could support farmers, we began by making wall paintings. Then we started the Shaheed Bhagat Singh library at the three borders,” Natt added.

Natt is also involved in Trolly Talkies, which was started at Tikri border to show movies to the farmers protesting here.

Every evening, a show is being organised for the farmers. She is also part of the editorial team of Trolly Times—a newspaper distributed here. IANS