SHOW OF STRENGTH Farmers from Ambala leave for the Republic Day tractor march on Saturday. Photo: Pradeep Maini
Tribune News Service
Sonepat, January 23
As many as 2,500 volunteers will maintain discipline during the Republic Day tractor march against the three farm laws.
Tractors line up on national highway
Preparations for the tractor parade are in full swing in Punjab and Haryana villages. Hundreds of tractors are reaching the Delhi borders everyday. Long queues of tractors, tractor-laden trailers and tableaus related to farming were witnessed on NH-44.
Farmer activists will lead the march from their borders and the volunteers from all 40 farmer groups will be in special colour jackets.
A day after the 11th round of inconclusive talks with the Union Government, farmer unions have started preparations for the tractor parade.
During a meeting at the ‘Kisan andolan’ office at Singhu on Saturday, farmer leaders directed all unions to prepare a list of 100-125 youths for volunteer duty. Earlier, the unions had prepared a long list of volunteers, which was cut short today, said Harinder Singh Lakhowal, general secretary, BKU (Lakhowal).
He said a discipline committee had been formed for the purpose. “Once we receive the rally route plan, volunteers will be assigned duty,” Lakhowal added.
He said tractor drivers from Punjab would be given training such as maintaining the speed of
the vehicle and not to overtake other tractors, said Lakhowal.
Artistes from Ladakh perform on their tableau during the rehearsal for the R-Day Parade in New Delhi on Friday. Photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui
New Delhi, January 22
There is a palpable excitement among members of the Ladakh contingent for the Republic Day Parade as the young Union territory is all set to make its debut in the extravaganza on Rajpath with a beautiful tableau depicting the iconic Thikse Monastery and its cultural heritage.
The Union territory of Ladakh was created in 2019 after the Central Government bifurcated the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two UTs.
Happy as an independent UT
Our tableau will be showcased for the first time on Rajpath in the grand parade. We had struggled to get a separate UT status and that aspiration was fulfilled in 2019 and we had celebrated it in Ladakh. And, now as an independent UT, with our own identity, we will be taking part in the ceremonial event. We feel very happy. — Diksit Palmo, tableau artiste from Leh
On Friday, during a media preview of the R-Day tableaux held here, members of the Ladakh contingent were feeling “on top of the world”.
The tableau prominently depicts the historic Thikse Monastery located on top of a hill at Thikse in Leh district, and is one of the most-visited tourist sites in the region.
Artistes dressed in colourful traditional Ladakhi ‘gunchas’ interacted with reporters on Friday during the media preview of the R-Day tableaux held at Delhi Cantonment.
“The Ladakh tableau highlights the vision for Ladakh to be carbon-neutral, and exemplary for the world. It also showcases the Indian Astronomical Observatory, located in Hanle, near Leh, one of the world’s highest sites for optical, infrared and gamma-ray telescopes,” according to the tableaux details shared by the officials. — PTI
BSF detects underground tunnel at IB in JK’s Kathua, second within 10 days The latest tunnel is believed to be 150-metre-long originating from the Pakistan side
The secret tunnel unearthed by the BSF forces in Kathua district, Jammu & Kashmir, on Saturday, January 23, 2020. Photo credits: Twitter/BSF_India
Jammu, January 23
The Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday detected another underground tunnel, constructed by Pakistan at the International Border (IB) to facilitate infiltration of terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir, in Kathua district during the past 10 days, a spokesperson of the border guarding force said.
The secret tunnel was detected on a specific intelligence input in the early hours of the day during an anti-tunnelling operation in the border outpost Pansar area of Hiranagar sector, he said.
This is the second underground tunnel detected by BSF personnel in Hiranagar sector during the past 10 days, fourth in the past six months along the IB in Samba and Kathua districts and 10th in the past decade.
On January 13, a 150-metre-long tunnel was detected in Bobiyaan village in the same sector.
A BSF officer said the latest tunnel is believed to be 150-metre-long originating from the Pakistan side with a depth of about 30 feet and three feet diameter.
The whole area has been cordoned off and further details are awaited, he said.
“The tunnel is about 150 metres long and 30 feet deep with about three feet diameter,” he said, adding that the BSF had shot down a Pakistani Hexacopter carrying loads of weapons and ammunition in June 2020 in the same area besides foiling an infiltration bid by terrorists in November 2019. PTI
Security personnel carry a woman and her newborn baby to their house during snowfall in the Lolab valley in Kupwara district on Saturday. PTI
Srinagar, January 23
Many parts of Kashmir, including Srinagar, received fresh snowfall on Saturday, the third time this month, even as the minimum temperatures across the Valley increased due to an overcast sky, officials said.
Earlier, Kashmir had received heavy snowfall for over four days from January 3 and moderate snowfall on January 9.
The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir received about 10 inches of snow, the officials said.
Kupwara, also in the north, received 3 inches of snow, Qazigund in south Kashmir received about 1 cm and Srinagar 0.2 cm, they said.
There were reports of snowfall in other areas in the higher reaches of the Valley and Jammu region, including on both sides of the Jawahar Tunnel along the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the officials said.
Flight operations at the Srinagar airport were affected this morning due to the accumulation of snow on the runway, the officials said.
The Meteorological Department here has forecast light to moderate snowfall at scattered to widespread places in the plains of Kashmir and hilly areas of Jammu along with rain and thunder in the plains of Jammu till the forenoon on Sunday.
It said there was a possibility of heavy snowfall at isolated places in the Valley, especially in the higher reaches.
After this, the Weather Department said, the weather was likely to remain mainly dry till the end of this month.
Meanwhile, the night temperatures increased across the Valley due to the cloudy sky, bringing some relief to residents from the intense cold wave conditions.
The minimum temperature at most places in the Valley last night was above normal for this time of the season, the officials said.
Srinagar city recorded a low of -2°C, up from -6.1°C the previous night.
The minimum temperature in Gulmarg settled at -4.8°C last night, up from -6°C the night before.
Pahalgam recorded a low of -1.3°C, over five notches up from the previous night’s -7°C. — PTI
Traffic suspended on highway
Traffic on the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway was suspended on Saturday following fresh snowfall in high-altitude areas, including on both sides of Jawahar Tunnel, officials said.
DSP (Traffic) Shamsher Singh said the slippery condition of the road on both sides of Jawahar Tunnel forced the suspension of traffic on the highway around 11 am.
House panel stranded
The entire Parliamentary Standing Committee on transport, tourism and culture was stranded in the Valley due to heavy snowfall and cancellation of all flights.
The committee, headed by Rajya Sabha member TG Venkatesh, was in J&K for a three-day visit to engage stakeholders on the challenges being faced by the sector.
The committee members who were to return from J&K today could not take a flight. TNS
A farmer from the Majitha area, who had been at the Singhu border since January 11, passed away today. Rattan Singh of Kotli Dhole Shah village near Kathunangal was associated with the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee.
Talking to The Tribune over phone, Sarwan Singh Pandher, a leader of the committee, said: “Rattan Singh had fallen ill last night. He had an upset stomach and was vomiting persistently.” He said the farmers helped him get medical aid.
“Rattan Singh told the fellow farmers at 8 am today that he was feeling better and would like to sleep. But when he kept on sleeping and did not wake up, his companions checked on him. By that time he had passed away,” said Pandher.
The body is being transported to his native village where he would be cremated on Sunday. “The farmer leaders are coming to attend the cremation from Delhi. They would again go back because of the scheduled tractor parade,” he said. — TNS
Farmers break through barricades, protest at Kalia’s meeting venue Say won’t let any BJP leader hold event until laws are repealed
police try to stop farmers from reaching the BJP meeting venue in Bathinda. Photo: Pawan Sharma
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, January 23
Farmers under the banner of BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) today broke through the barricades put up by the police near a venue where former minister and BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia was holding a meeting with party leaders.
Upon reaching the hotel where the meeting was underway, protesters, including a large number of women, raised slogans against Kalia and demanded the repeal of the farm laws.
BKU leader Mothu Singh Kotra said: “We have already announced that BJP leaders would face protests across the state until the farm laws are repealed. Today morning, we got the information that BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia was holding a meeting with party workers at a hotel in the city, so we came here to protest.”
Lashing out at the central government, Kotra said: “The Centre has brought these farm laws for the big corporate houses in the garb of agriculture reforms. These laws will hit the agriculture sector and farmers hard, that’s why these laws should be repealed.”
The Bathinda police had made elaborate security arrangements for the BJP meeting at a private hotel in the city. All roads leading to the hotel were cordoned off to keep the protesters at bay.
Even SP (City) Jaspal Singh, DSP (City) Aswant Singh and Tehsildar Sukhbir Singh Brar along with a huge police force were present at the spot. BJP state media co-in charge Sunil Singla said: “Manoranjan Kalia, who has been appointed party in charge for the Bathinda MC elections, today held a meeting with the party district core committee. In the meeting, he held discussion on the prospective candidates for all 50 wards in the city.”
He added that Kalia also held meetings with mandal presidents and BJP district mahila morcha at different venues. On December 26, when state BJP president Ashwani Sharma visited the city and held a meeting with the party workers, at that time also farmers staged a protest.
MP: Congress protests over farm laws; cops use tear gas, water cannons
At least six police personnel and some people were injured in the incident, while 106 protesters were detained and released later, an officer said.
Hundreds of workers of the Congress led by Madhya Pradesh party unit chief Kamal Nath took part in the protest.
The clash occurred at the barricaded GTB area close to Roshanpur square.
TT Nagar area City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Umesh Tiwari said that more than half a dozen people including six policemen were injured.
“A man sustained injury to his head. He wasn’t a protester,” he added.
“Police first used water cannons, then fired tear gas shells. The protesters threw stones, broke down barricades and attacked police personnel, prompting the police to resort to mild lathi charge,” Tiwari said.
The CSP denied that police used force to suppress the protest.
Addressing protesters at Jawahar Chowk before the clash, Nath said the three new farm laws enacted by the Central government were completely anti-farmer.
“The three laws would benefit only capitalists while the farmers would become slaves and bonded labourers of industrialists,” he said.
Alleging that small and marginalised farmers have been ignored while making these laws, Nath said mandis (agri markets) and Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime will come to end if these legislations are implemented.
Farming would become a contractual affair, he added.
“The Central government should immediately repeal the three laws by accepting the farmers’ demand,” the former chief minister said.
He said the Congress will continue to support the agitating farmers till the government accepts their demands.
Later, Nath took to twitter to blast the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government over the police “brutality”.
“I strongly condemn the barbaric cane charge, use of tear gas and water on thousands of farmers and Congressmen protesting peacefully (sic),” Nath tweeted.
“In the lathi charge, farmers, Congressmen, women and mediapersons have been injured. I wish them speedy recovery.
Our support to farmers would continue. We are not going to be bogged down with such suppression,” Nath added.
According to the Madhya Pradesh Congress, the protests launched by the party in the state since January 7 on the issue of farm laws culminated on Saturday with the “massive protest” held at Bhopal.
Enacted in September last year, the three laws have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.
Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at several border points of Delhi since November 28 last year, demanding a repeal of the three farm laws.
Multiple rounds of talks between the government and farmer unions have failed to break the impasse so far, while the Supreme Court has appointed a panel for resolution. — PTI
Why can’t Centre repeal farm laws? asks Capt Amarinder, dubs it ‘inhuman’
Even as he slammed the Akalis and the AAP for spreading lies over the Farm Laws, and dubbed the Centre’s refusal to repeal them as “inhuman”, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday announced jobs for one member of each of the families of the state’s farmers who had lost their lives in the farmers’ agitation, a press release by the state government read.
Questioning “why the Centre is hesitating to repeal the laws?”, the Chief Minister said it should repeal the laws and then sit with the farmers to frame new laws after taking all stakeholders in confidence.
Hitting out at the Central Government for pushing the laws through Parliament without any discussion, the Chief Minister said the entire country was paying the price for this.
“Is there a Constitution in the country? Agriculture is a state subject under Schedule 7, so why has the Centre interfered with a state subject?” he asked.
Asserting that “we are with farmers and will stand by them”, the Chief Minister, during the 20th edition of his Facebook Live #AskCaptain session, said the Punjab government and every person in Punjab stands with farmers.
“The sad part,” said the Chief Minister, “was that we are losing our farmers to the cold every day, with an estimated farmers 76 dying so far.”
In addition to the Rs 5 lakh compensation being given to the families of the deceased farmers, his government would also give a job to a family member, he added.
Stressing that representatives of almost all farm unions from across the country were sitting at the Delhi borders, the Chief Minister said the agitation was of the entire nation’s farmers and not just of Punjab’s farmers.
R-Day parade: Navy tableau to showcase INS Vikrant model, operations conducted during 1971 war
Commandoes of para-military forces guard during a press preview of tableaux participating in Republic Day Parade 2021 at Rashtriya Rangshala Camp in New Delhi. Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui
New Delhi, January 22
The Indian Navy’s tableau at the Republic Day parade this year will showcase models of INS Vikrant and naval operations that were conducted during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, said its spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal on Friday.
“This year’s tableau being paraded is in pursuance of tri-services theme ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ and showcases Indian Navy’s stellar role during the 1971 Indo-Pak war,” he said at a press conference here.
The forward part of the tableau depicts the attack on Karachi harbour by the missile boats undertaken as part of Operation Trident and Python, Madhwal mentioned.
“The rear section shows the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant conducting flying operations. These operations led to a sizable damage to ships and shore installations of East Pakistan and contributed immensely to the victory at sea,” he said.
The tableau commanders would be Lieutenant Commander CS Ruben and Lieutenant Commander Surbhi Sharma, he mentioned.
India is currently celebrating the golden jubilee year (Swarnim Vijay Varsh) of the victory in the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh.
On the sides of the tableau trailer would be murals depicting various ships that participated in the war, commando operations undertaken by the Navy along with Mukti Bahini and the surrender ceremony at Dhaka, Madhwal stated.
The naval contingent being paraded comprises 96 young sailors which will be led by Lieutenant Commander Lalit Kumar as contingent commander and Lieutenant Commander Sune Phogat, Lieutenant Aditya Shukla and Sub Lieutenant Agastya Chaudhary as platoon commanders, he said.
In a video message, Vice Admiral SN Ghormade, Controller of Personnel Services, said that while the Indian Navy has many other operations to its credit during the 1971 war, the paucity of space on the tableau precludes showcasing all those elements.
“The tableau is an attempt to highlight the most significant aspects of Naval operations conducted during 1971 war and pay rich tributes to those who were involved in these,” he said. — PTI
Farmers threaten to intensify agitation as 11th round of talks hits roadblock
The government’s negotiations with protesting farm unions hit a roadblock on Friday as the farmer leaders stuck to their demands for a complete repeal of three farm laws they find pro-corporate and a legal guarantee for MSP, even as the Centre asked them to reconsider its proposal for putting the Acts on hold for 12-18 months.
Unlike the last 10 rounds of talks, the 11th round could not even reach a decision on the next date for the meeting as the government also hardened its position saying it is ready to meet again once the unions agree to discuss the suspension proposal.
Farmer leaders said they will intensify their agitation now and alleged that the government’s approach was not right during the meeting.
They also said their tractor parade will go ahead as per the plans on January 26 and unions have told the police that it is the government’s responsibility to maintain peace.
The 11th round of farmer-government meeting lasted barely for 30 minutes.
Broadly, the government has made it clear that the three controversial laws will not be repealed and that the government has made its best offer.
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar, along with Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, during the 11th round of talks with farmers leaders on new farm laws, at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday. PTI Photo
The Union Government has also urged the farmer leaders to consider building consensus around the proposal.
Ending the meeting, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told unions that “the government is grateful for thier cooperation”.
“There is nothing wrong in the three laws. We gave the proposal but you could not arrive at any decision. If you arrive at any conclusion please let us know, we will discuss again,” Tomar said.
Sources say Union Ministers have told farmer leaders that they had given the “best proposal” and that they should try to build consensus around it.
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar, along with Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, during the 11th round of talks with farmers leaders on new farm laws, at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday. PTI Photo
Meanwhile, farmer leaders said they were firm on their stated stance and have already decided that farmers would not settle for anything less than the repeal of the three laws.
“We will now prepare for the January 26 parade,” they said, adding “the government could not build a consensus and was wrong of them to accuse us of going to the media.
Farmer union leaders come out after talks with government, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Friday. Tribune Photo: Mukesh Aggarwal
Balbir Singh Rajewal has said unions will now concentrate on the January 26 tractor parade.
“It will be a unique event. We have told the government and the Delhi police that we will march peacefully on the Outer Ring Road on January 26. If there is violence, the government will be responsible,” Rajewal added.
Farmers leaders during the 11th round of talks with the Central Government on new farm laws, at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday. PTI Photo
While the morning session lasted for barely 20 minutes, the post lunch was also finished in 10 minutes after Tomar’s brief statement.
The government has not set a date for the next meeting and has told the union leaders to think on its proposal.
Notably, a section among Punjab unions were in the favour of accepting the government’s offer. They included some “small unions from Doaba” and similar jathebandis.
Farmer union leaders come out after talks with government, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Friday. Tribune Photo: Mukesh Aggarwal
Unions have claimed “threats” to union leaders namely Darshan Pal and Rakesh Tikait.
In the last round of meetings held on Wednesday, the government had offered to put on hold the three laws and set up a joint committee to find solutions. However, after internal consultations on Thursday, the farmer unions decided to reject the offer and stick to their two major demands -the repeal of the three laws and a legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP).
Farmers leaders take a lunch break during the 11th round of talks with the Central Government on new farm laws, at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday. PTI Photo
“We told the government that we would not agree to anything other than the repeal of the laws. But the minister asked us to discuss separately again and rethink on the matter and convey the decision,” farmer leader Darshan Pal told PTI during a break after the first session.
BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said: “We conveyed our position clearly to the government that we want a repeal of the laws and not a suspension. The minister (Narendra Singh Tomar) asked us to reconsider our decision.”
The eleventh round of talks between protesting farmer unions and three central ministers began at around 1 pm, but not much headway was visible in the first few hours of the meeting.
Some leaders had apprehensions that the movement would lose its momentum once the farmers went away from Delhi borders.
Harpal Singh, president of Bhartiya Kisan Union – Asli Arajnaitik, said: “Even if we accept the government’s offer, our fellow brothers sitting at Delhi borders will not accept anything other than a repeal of the laws. They will not spare us. What achievement will we show to them?”
Farmers leaders during the 11th round of talks with the Central Government on new farm laws, at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday. PTI Photo
He also questioned the government’s credibility, alleging it was difficult to believe that they would keep their word on putting the laws on hold for 18 months.
“We will die here but we will not return without getting the laws repealed,” Singh said.
Along with Union Agriculture Minister Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash are also participating in the talks with representatives of 41 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan here.
In a full general body meeting on Thursday, Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of the protesting unions, rejected the government’s proposal.
“A full repeal of three central farm Acts and enacting a legislation for remunerative MSP for all farmers were reiterated as the pending demands of the movement,” the Morcha said in a statement.
Farmer union leaders come out after talks with government, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Friday. Tribune Photo: Mukesh Aggarwal
Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at various border points of Delhi for over a month now against the three laws.
Farmer groups have alleged these laws will end the mandi and MSP procurement systems and leave the farmers at the mercy of big corporates, even as the government has rejected these apprehensions as misplaced.
On January 11, the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse.
Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann had recused himself from the committee appointed by the apex court.
Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat and agriculture economists Pramod Kumar Joshi and Ashok Gulati, the other three members on the panel, started the consultation process with stakeholders on Thursday. — with PTI
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Farmer union leaders come out after talks with government, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Friday. Tribune Photo: Mukesh Aggarwal
Farmers leaders take a lunch break during the 11th round of talks with the Central Government on new farm laws, at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday. PTI Photo
