Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 4

Hitting out at the government over its “failure” on various fronts, including the ongoing farmers’ agitation, Opposition members in Rajya Sabha today asked the ruling NDA leadership to stop “monologue” and instead “initiate dialogue with the protesters”.

Kaun hain ye videshi kalaakar (Who’re these foreign artistes)? — Rakesh Tikait on foreigners backing stir

Greta tweet leads to fir

The Delhi Police have filed an FIR against the “pro-Khalistan” creators of a “toolkit” shared by climate activist Greta Thunberg in a tweet backing the farmers’ stir, alleging it aimed to wage a “social, cultural, economic war against Govt of India”.

Chakka jam on feb 6

Protesting farmer outfits have been mobilising people for their ‘chakka jam’ slated for February 6. During their three-hour protest, the unions plan to block highways.

NBA star backs stir

US National Footbal league (NFL) star Juju Smith Schuster has donated $10,000 to protesting farmers while NBA forward Kyle Kuzma has also extended support to the stir.

Why isn’t PM talking to farmers, why fences?

When the PM says he’s only a phone call away, who is coming between him and farmers… Why have fences been built, toilets removed, Net blocked? — Deepender Hooda, Congress

Opening the second day of discussion on a motion thanking the President for his address to the joint sitting of Parliament at the start of the Budget session, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said the government had “lost the patience to hear and any criticism was painted as anti-national”.

“With folded hands, I request you to please understand the pain of farmers. In harsh winter you stopped water supply and toilet facilities, dug trenches, put barbed wires and installed spikes,” the RJD MP said. “Such aggressive approach wasn’t even heard of towards the neighbouring nations who came inside (the Indian territory),” he added.

On a tweet by pop star Rihanna on the farmers’ protest, Jha said the democracy would not be weakened by a tweet, but by the approach of the government.

In a veiled reference to cold storage chain and godowns built by private corporates, Jha said, “Your backbone is the farmer…. 303 (seats won by the BJP in last General Election) did not come from cold storage or godowns, but from these very people.”

Hitting out at the government, TMC MP Derek O’Brien said, “Today we are very touchy about remarks coming from outside on the farmers’ agitation. But who said this ‘Abki baar Trump sarkar’. And now we are talking about interference?”

As he rose to participate in the discussion earlier, the TMC MP said, “Such are times… we should be thankful for small freedoms. Freedoms like being allowed to speak without the microphones being muted, or the television feeds censored or MPs not being escorted out by marshals.”

Bengaluru, February 3

Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria on Wednesday said the nature of warfare had changed significantly in the last few years. Advent of new technologies and cross linking of ‘physical’, ‘digital’ and ‘cognitive’ domains had complicated war fighting.

He was addressing military delegates of more than 50 countries at the Aero India here at special conclave.

The topic of the conclave was to address technological advances, changing threat matrix and evolution of air power.

The exponential technological progress made in the last few years has made the realm of warfare more complex. “The low cost and easy availability of simple disruptive technology like drones with small state and non-state actors have made them more lethal, agile and capable of generating disproportionate effects,” the IAF Chief said. The IAF was closely observing unmanned, manned-unmanned teaming and anti-drone technologies, he said. — TNS

Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service
Hisar, February 3

The farmers today displayed a massive show of strength with a mahapanchayat at Kandela village in Jind district, further boosting their agitation for repeal of the three laws.

Calling for a “wapsi” (withdrawal) of the laws, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait indirectly warned the Modi government that it could lose its “gaddi” (power) if the agitation continued. “We have so far talked about ‘law wapsi’. What will you do if we call for gaddi wapsi (removal from power)?” he said.

Cops offer Rs1L bounty on Deep Sidhu, others

The Delhi Police have announced a cash reward of Rs1 lakh for anyone who can give information leading to the arrest of Deep Sidhu and three others in connection with the Republic Day violence in the national Capital. TNS

Tikait said there would be no change in the committee of farmer representatives holding talks with the government.

On the government setting up multiple layers of barricades on the Delhi borders, Tikait said: “When the king is scared, he secures the fortress. The fortification is not going to deter us from moving ahead.”