Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Moga, January 22

Gangster-turned-social activist Lakhbir Singh, alias Lakha Sidhana, is mobilising farmers in Punjab, particularly in the Malwa belt, to go to Delhi and participate in the proposed tractor rally of farm organisations.

On Friday, he came to Moga and met local people in the new grain market in a one-to-one interaction, impressing upon them to support the ongoing agitation of farmers. He said, “Once the new farm laws come into force, the corporate sector will lure them to join hands with it for contract farming. After sometime, the farmers will become labourers in their own land and the big corporate houses will capture their lands.”

He was of the view that the profit, which the corporate houses would earn from the hard work of farmers on their land, must retain with the farmers. “The farmers should be given more rates for their produce. The government must explore ways to export agro-products through the Food Corporation of India and other state-owned agencies to earn profits, which will also benefit the state exchequer,” he said.

Lakha Sidhana, who is also spreading his messages in support of the farm agitation through his motivational videos on social media, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must look at the plight of small and marginal farmers instead of ‘selling’ them to corporate houses.

In his early days, Sidhana was better known as a ‘gangster’ as per the police files with at least 25 cases of kidnapping, loot and murder registered against him. Now, only a couple of cases under the Arms Act are pending against him. In most of the cases, he was acquitted by the courts for lack of evidence.

In 2018-2019, he also made headlines when his supporters smudged English language on signboards on highways, demanding that Punjabi be put on top. As a social worker, he has also organised mass marriage of poor girls.

Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 22

Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) (Lakhowal) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal today claimed that lakhs of farmers would peacefully hold a Republic Day parade on their tractors in Delhi on January 26.

He said the parade would set an example of unity among farmers from across the nation and their resolve to fight the ruling dispensation till the acceptance of their demands.

Interacting with other leaders of agitating farmers’ organisations at the Singhu border, he said the Modi government was testing the patience of farmers who were agitating since June 5, 2020, when the three farm-related ordinances were promulgated.

“Even after intense agitations in Punjab, which witnessed chakka jam, rail roko, protests at toll plazas and corporates’ offices, and at the Delhi borders for nearly two months and the death of so many farmers, the government has failed to see reason

and seems reluctant to repeal the farm laws or provide legislative guarantee of MSP,” he said.

Lakhowal said it was most unfortunate that the elected representatives of people, who were duty-bound to solve the problems of people, were dancing at the tunes of corporate houses and big business groups.

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, January 22

Some farming families from Muktsar district are going to the ongoing protest at the Tikri border after locking their houses. For instance, Rupinder Kaur from Malout town, along with her husband, two kids and mother, recently spent two nights at Tikri after locking her house.

Rupinder Kaur said, “We all went to the Tikri border to be a part of this historic protest on January 19 and returned on January 21. Our kids are feeling proud after becoming a part of the protest. My 80-year-old mother, who is suffering from multiple diseases and stays with us, also accompanied us. When we reached there in a bus, a youngster volunteering at the bus stop took us to the Khalsa Aid’s night shelter. We did not face any inconvenience; rather it was a homely experience. Everyone there was asking about each other’s well-being.”

Similarly, Lakhwinder Singh said, “I own six kanals in Gurusar Jodha village, but I went to the Tikri border protest along with my family after locking our house. Our neighbours also accompanied us. The entire experience was no less than a pilgrimage.”

Meanwhile, some farmers are sending their tractors for the parade on January 26. Further, there are some people who are going for the second or even third time to the Tikri border protest.

Meeta Singh, an elderly farmer from Gurusar village, who today left for Tikri for the second time, said, “Even though eight farmers from Muktsar district have attained martyrdom while fighting against the three black laws, we are still determined and going there to support the ongoing agitation against the Centre.”

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 22

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today announced jobs for one member of each of the families of the state’s farmers who had lost their lives in the agitation against the “black” laws.

Hitting out at the Centre, the Chief Minister said it should repeal the laws, sit with farmers and frame new laws after taking all stakeholders into confidence. Pointing out that the Constitution of India had already been amended so many times, he asked why the Government of India was adamant about not taking back the farm laws.

Slamming the central government for pushing the laws through Parliament with brute majority 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 said, adding that “it went ahead and enacted these laws without consulting anyone, because

of which we all have landed in this situation”.

Asserting that “we are with the farmers and will stand by them,” the Chief Minister said during the 20th edition of his Facebook Live #AskCaptain session that the Punjab Government and every person in Punjab stood with farmers.

The sad part, said the Chief Minister, was that “we are losing our farmers to the cold every day, with an estimated 76 farmers 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.

Replying to a question by a Ferozepur resident, the Chief Minister said the Akalis and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were spreading lies on the issue of the high-powered committee on the agricultural reforms, as exposed by an RTI response. Pointing out that Punjab was not even included initially in the committee, he said it was only after he wrote to the Centre that Punjab’s name was added, by which time the first meeting had already taken place without the state’s representation. The second meeting was attended by Manpreet Badal as financial issues were discussed, while in the third and final meeting, no politician was invited.

On the NIA notices to some farmers and supporters of the farmer agitation, the Chief Minister told the news editor of a New Zealand Punjabi weekly that it was a wrong step and he would be writing soon to the Union Home Minister on the issue.

‘Centre interfered in state subject’

Slamming the Centre for pushing the laws through Parliament without any discussion, the Chief Minister said the entire country was paying the price for this. “Agriculture is a state subject under Schedule 7, so why has the Centre interfered with a state subject,” he asked, adding that “it went ahead and enacted the laws without consulting anyone”.

New Delhi, January 22

Protesting farmer leaders on Friday have said their proposed January 26 tractor ‘parade’ will take place on Delhi’s busy Outer Ring Road as decided earlier, after their 11th round of talks with the government ended in a deadlock.

Coming out of the meeting, farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said it was for the government to ensure that the rally was peaceful.

“Tractor march on January 26 will take place as decided by us on Outer Ring Road. We have informed the police that it is for the government to ensure that it should be peaceful,” Rajewal said.

The government’s negotiations with protesting farm unions hit a roadblock on Friday as protesting unions stuck to their demands for a complete repeal of three farm laws, even after the Centre asked them to reconsider its proposal for putting the Acts on hold for 12 to 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.

Union leaders said they would intensify their agitation while keeping it peaceful.

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at several Delhi border points since November 28, demanding a repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee on minimum support price for their crops. PTI

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 22

The 11th round of talks between the Centre and farmers’ unions ended in a deadlock. While the unions rejected the government’s proposal, Narendra Singh Tomar, Agriculture Minister, said suspension of agri laws for a mutually agreed period was the “best offer” he had.

Jobs for deceased farmers’ kin: Capt

CM Capt Amarinder Singh announced jobs for one member each of the state families, who lost their lives in the stir.

Plot to disrupt R-Day rally, youth nabbed: Unions

Sonepat: A youth in police uniform was nabbed by farmers near Kundli late Friday night. Farm leaders said the youth had confessed he was part of a 10-member team that had been ‘instructed by a cop’ to disrupt the tractor parade on January 26. The youth was presented at a press conference by union leaders. TNS

At the end of the over four-hour-long meeting, that saw discussions for barely 30 minutes, Tomar asked the unions to reconsider his offer and to get back by Saturday, if they decide in its favour. Thanking the unions, Tomar said: “Even though there was nothing wrong in the laws, for the benefit of farmers and respect for their agitation, the government came up with several proposals.”

He said: “You (unions) launched agitations even as you were engaged in talks with us. We didn’t object. The vision (at your end) was lacking.” Later speaking to the media, the minister claimed there were forces which did not want the talks to succeed. “The government made several proposals to end the stir, but when the purity of the movement is lost, no solution is possible,” he maintained.

Sources say Tomar is believed to have told the unions that they should not have issued a statement rejecting the proposal ahead of the talks today.

He also hinted at “differences” among the unions regarding the government’s offer. Fifteen Punjab unions are said to have voted in the favour of the Centre’s offer yesterday.

Unions, meanwhile, said they would now concentrate on the agitation and prepare for the tractor parade. Sanyukta Kisan Morcha leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said: “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. If any untoward incident takes place, the government will be responsible.”

While Sanyukta Kisan Morcha leader Yogendra Yadav called it a complete breakdown of talks, Dr Darshan Pal said the talks hit a deadlock as the government refused to offer more than just suspension of the laws.

New Delhi, January 22

The Indian Navy’s Republic Day tableau will showcase the naval strike at Karachi and the role of the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on the eastern seafront during the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

The theme of the parade is “Indian Navy Combat Ready, Credible and Cohesive” and comes at time when the country is commemorating the golden jubilee of the victory in the 1971 war.

The Indian Navy proved its mettle as a credible force to reckon in the 1971 war proving its combat efficiency and hence this year’s tableau aims to showcase that. — TNS

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 21

Indian Army Chief Gen MM Naravane today questioned the slow pace of acquiring new weapons and military platforms terming red-tapism as a “vicious cycle”.

Ripping apart the prevailing bureaucratic system in India acquisition processes, he said, “Self-reliant is a strategic necessity, but to achieve it a revolution is needed in bureaucratic affairs.”

Gen Naravane said this while speaking at the occasion of 25 years of Army-industry partnership at a virtual conference.

Talking about the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP), 2020, he said it had been aligned to empower the domestic industry.

“While all these initiatives are quite appreciable, there is a lot of work that still needs to be done,” he added.

“There are certain inherent procedural lacunae that have crept into the acquisition process which primarily arise due to the overbearing nature of our rules, regulations and guidelines in trying to ensure zero error,” Gen Naravane said, adding, “This is also aggravated by our own interpretation of rules. This results in every acquisition process being tied up in knots.”

The process and procedures, rather than product, become paramount and these were holding hostage defence modernisation, he said.

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 21

Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation on the Line of Control (LoC) in Krishna Ghati Sector in Poonch district on Thursday.

The Indian Army troops responded strongly to the enemy fire. In the incident, Havaldar Nirmal Singh of 10 JAK RIF was critically injured and later succumbed to his injuries.

The Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked firing along the LoC in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch, the officials said.

The Indian Army responded to the enemy fire in a befitting manner, they added.

Havaldar Nirmal Singh of the 10 JAK Rifles unit of the Army was critically injured in the firing and subsequently succumbed to his injuries, the officials said.

Singh was a brave, highly-motivated and sincere soldier, a defence spokesperson said, adding that the nation will always remain indebted to him for his supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty. — With PTI

New Delhi, January 21

Army Chief Gen MM Naravane on Thursday has said India will face increasingly higher security challenges in tune with its rising stature and it must enhance indigenous defence capabilities to maintain strategic influence and freedom of action as external dependence for weapons creates vulnerabilities in times of crisis.

In an address at a seminar on Army-industry partnership, Gen Naravane talked about twin challenges of COVID-19 pandemic and the “belligerence” on the northern borders that his force faced in 2020, and said the government’s focus on self-reliance will boost the country’s overall strategic objectives.

He also said the unresolved borders and wars in the past with “our adversaries” challenged the myth of ‘no conventional war’, adding that proxy war, ‘Left-wing extremism’ and insurgencies were likely to keep the Army occupied.

“India is now a rising regional global power in Asia, more particularly in South Asia. As we rise in our stature and influence, we will face increasingly higher security challenges,” he said at the seminar organised by the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM).

Referring to increasing security challenges along India’s unresolved northern borders, he said a continuous and concerted capability building of the Army through modernisation to address these security challenges was a national imperative.

Indian and Chinese troops have been locked in a tense standoff in eastern Ladakh for over eight months.

The Chief of Army Staff said India was lagging behind slightly, considering the quick pace of defence modernisation being undertaken by its adversaries, and called upon the indigenous industry to invest in research and development to boost the country’s overall military capabilities.

“The continuous and heavy dependence of the armed forces on equipment of foreign origin needs to be addressed in the right earnest through indigenous capability development and towards meeting the modern day defence requirements,” he said.

“The defence industry is a big enabler for self-reliance and capability building and it is a prerequisite to maintain our strategic influence and freedom of action,” Gen Naravane said.

He further said: “We are committed to procuring indigenous equipment and weapon systems as nothing is more motivating for any army then to fight and win its wars with indigenous technologies and weapons.”

Encouraging the private industry to take advantage of the government’s reform measures to boost domestic defence production, he said the Army was strongly committed to support them.

“Our external dependence for weapons and ammunition creates vulnerabilities during times of crisis. However, in the past few years, we have tried to reverse this trend by boosting indigenisation and focusing on dual purpose high-end technology,” he added.

“It may be noted that 75 per cent of our priority one projects in the 13th Army plan, costing over Rs 1,50,000 crore are supporting efforts towards the Make in India programme,” Gen Naravane said.

At the seminar, an MoU was signed between the Indian Army and the SIDM that will provide for further impetus to indigenisation under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. This MoU was signed on the occasion of 25 years of Army-industry partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) officials said. PTI