Thousands of farmers are protesting today in Punjab, Haryana and parts of Uttar Pradesh against farm bills that were recently passed in parliament amid massive protests by the opposition, and will soon become law.
Protesting farmers blocked the highway and even parked tractors on roads to block traffic. Security has been tightened at state borders.
The protests, which started in the morning, have led to huge traffic jams on roads leading to Delhi.
Opposition parties like the Congress, DMK, Aam Aadmi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Trinamool Congress are supporting the protests. At least 10 central trade unions have also joined the protesters.
The government says the bills - passed amid what the opposition called "murder of democracy" - will help farmers get better prices for their produce by allowing them to sell directly to markets anywhere in the country, at prices they choose. Farmers, however, fear the loss of Minimum Support Price (MSP) or the assured price for their crop from the government, and the entry of private players.
In Bihar, which will vote in weeks, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav took part in a tractor rally. In visuals shared by news agency ANI, he could be seen driving a tractor down a main road in Patna as a large crowd of farmers, marshalled by armed policemen, marched alongside.
The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill were passed by the Parliament earlier this week.
Here are the live updates on farmers' protest:
Maharashtra BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Friday hit out at the Congress and other opposition parties at the Centre for opposing the farm sector bills that were passed in the Parliament.
He said the Congress's stand on the issue was nothing but "double standards" as it was "out of power".
#WATCH "During World War II, the US shook up Japan with an atomic bomb. Akali Dal's one bomb (resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal) has shaken up Modi. For past two months, there was no word on farmers, but now 5-5 ministers speak on it,": SAD's Sukhbir S Badal in Muktsar, Punjab pic.twitter.com/8ikbh093ii
- ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2020
Bihar: BJP workers beat up workers of Pappu Yadav's Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) as the two groups clash in Patna.
- ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2020
The brawl took place after JAP workers tried to enter BJP office in protest against recent #FarmBills. pic.twitter.com/xDNGFbcp2t
Punjab: Shiromani Akali Dal's Bikram Singh Majithia attends a protest in Amritsar against recent #FarmBills. pic.twitter.com/HOTSCF0Hsd
- ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2020
Noida: Members of Bhartiya Kisan Union block roads, stage protest near Delhi border against recent #FarmBills; police deployed.
- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 25, 2020
Additional DCP Noida says," We have diverted traffic so that people do not face any inconvinience." pic.twitter.com/NnuKFqO7hJ
#WATCH Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav sits atop a tractor while Tejashwi Yadav drives it, during the protest against #AgricultureBills passed in the Parliament. #Bihar pic.twitter.com/kHEyuX9kmy
- ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2020
किसानों से MSP छीन ली जाएगी। उन्हें कांट्रेक्ट फार्मिंग के जरिए खरबपतियों का गुलाम बनने पर मजबूर किया जाएगा।
- Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) September 25, 2020
न दाम मिलेगा, न सम्मान।
किसान अपने ही खेत पर मजदूर बन जाएगा।
भाजपा का कृषि बिल ईस्ट इंडिया कम्पनी राज की याद दिलाता है।
हम ये अन्याय नहीं होने देंगे।#BharatBandh
#WATCH Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav drives a tractor, as he takes part in the protest against #FarmBills passed in the Parliament. #Bihar pic.twitter.com/3CanJjtGo4
- ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2020
Delhi: Police personnel deployed in Chilla area near Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border point, in wake of the nationwide protest called by farmers today against #AgricultureBills passed in the Parliament. pic.twitter.com/wtaaN09mAU
- ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2020
Bihar: RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) workers protest in Darbhanga, against #FarmBills, while riding buffaloes. pic.twitter.com/cKA2wpXa6B
- ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2020
As the protests against farm bills escalate, Ayodhya-Lucknow Highway has been blocked during today's protest.
Punjab: Farmers, under the aegis of Bharatiya Kisan Union and Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI), block Amritsar-Delhi National Highway near Phillaur in Jalandhar, in protest against #FarmBills passed in the Parliament. pic.twitter.com/6zsXZ5VhnW
- ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2020
Punjab: Police personnel being deployed around Ladowal Toll Plaza in Ludhiana, in the wake of nationwide protest by farmers today, over #FarmBills. SHO Ladowal says, "All prepartions made, additional forces deployed. Farmer leaders have assured us that protest will be peaceful." pic.twitter.com/mf70umS576
- ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2020
Punjab: Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee continues their 'rail roko' agitation in Amritsar, in protest against the #FarmBills.
- ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2020
The Committee is holding the 'rail roko' agitation from September 24 to 26 against the Bills. pic.twitter.com/NFfSCcWuO5
