Amid heavy security, a group of 200 farmers protesting the Centre's three controversial farm laws started a 'Kisan Sansad' at central Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Thursday, a few metres away from Parliament where the Monsoon Session is underway.
Farmers said the idea behind organising the 'Kisan Sansad' was to show that their protest is still alive and tell the Centre that they too know how to run the Parliament. Police said the security has been tightened and thousands of personnel have been deployed in the area in view of the protest.
The Delhi government and police on Wednesday agreed to allow farmers to hold the Kisan Sansad at Jantar Mantar from today till August 9 between 11 am and 5 pm.
The protesters have been asked to give an undertaking that all Covid norms would be followed and the protest would be peaceful, PTI reported.
This is the first time since the violence in the national capital during a tractor rally on January 26 that the authorities have given permission to protesting farmer unions to hold a protest in the city.
Here are the LIVE updates on farmers' protest:
The Centre on Thursday said it has been taking up with foreign governments the issue of easing travel restrictions for Indians in view of an improvement in the coronavirus situation in the country.
Indian students studying in institutions in China, Italy and several other countries have been stuck here in view of the travel restrictions.
"With the improvement in the Covid situation in India, we have been taking up with foreign countries the issue of easing travel restrictions for Indians. We believe that this is an important element towards economic recovery," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing.
The COVID-19 patient treated with steroids developed unusually large and multiple liver abscesses after recovery from infection, said the reports of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi today.
A liver abscess (Pus formation in the Liver) is commonly caused by a parasite known as Entamoeba histolytica which is transmitted by contaminated food and water.
"During the second wave of the COVID-19, in April-May 2021, a number of COVID-19 patients presented with some unusual manifestations. We saw for the first time in last two months unusually large and multiple liver abscesses in fourteen patients after recovery from COVID-19 infection," said Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Professor Anil Arora.
China rejected on Thursday a World Health Organization (WHO) plan for a second phase of an investigation into the origin of the coronavirus, which includes the hypothesis it could have escaped from a Chinese laboratory, a top health official said.
The WHO this month proposed a second phase of studies into the origins of the coronavirus in China, including audits of laboratories and markets in the city of Wuhan, calling for transparency from authorities.
"We will not accept such an origins-tracing plan as it, in some aspects, disregards common sense and defies science," Zeng Yixin, vice minister of the National Health Commission (NHC), told reporters.
Zeng said he was taken aback when he first read the WHO plan because it lists the hypothesis that a Chinese violation of laboratory protocols had caused the virus to leak during research.
Farmers are protesting at Delhi border for 8 months. Over 500 farmers have died. Yet the govt did not see their condition at borders. They say that the laws will not be repealed. What's the point in talks?: Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal pic.twitter.com/VXtxn7Dcg7
- ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2021
Over 200 #farmers today protested at Delhi's Jantar Mantar against #FarmLaws amid tight security.
- NDTV (@ndtv) July 22, 2021
NDTV's Sukirti Dwivedi reports pic.twitter.com/j0Uy46VjZe
#FarmersProtests | Farmers hold 'Kisan Sansad' at Delhi's Jantar Mantar while the Parliament is in session. NDTV's Shonakshi Chakravarty reports pic.twitter.com/aDq9Q5lcfT
- NDTV (@ndtv) July 22, 2021
वे असत्य, अन्याय, अहंकार पर अड़े हैं,
- Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 22, 2021
हम सत्याग्रही, निर्भय, एकजुट यहाँ खड़े हैं।
जय किसान!#FarmersParliament pic.twitter.com/y9xGdvgT3T
'Kisan Sansad' begins at Jantar Mantar.
- NDTV (@ndtv) July 22, 2021
The Delhi government and police had yesterday agreed to let farmers hold the Kisan Sansad from today till August 9 between 11am and 5pm.#FarmersProtests pic.twitter.com/lpr6gjnMKB
Angry #Farmers protest near parliament https://t.co/uCi5owgHgi
- NDTV (@ndtv) July 22, 2021
(📸: AFP) pic.twitter.com/VFVvlmtoyj
Farmers Parliament proceedings has begun.
- Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) July 22, 2021
Farmers are paying tribute to Shaheed Farmers.#FarmersProtest #FarmersProtest_AtParliament pic.twitter.com/dIdm7vlB4q
Buses, carrying farmers, arrive at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The protesting farmers will agitate against Central Government's three farm laws here. pic.twitter.com/ru3WfYa63p
- ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2021
Speaking to ANI, DCP, Outer District, Parvinder Singh, said, "We have placed preventive arrangements to avoid the entry of any miscreant at the Tikri border. The arrangement has been put in place as they (farmers) haven't received permission to hold protest here."
While speaking to ANI, Rakesh Tikait said, "Parliament is just 150 metres away from Jantar Mantar. We will hold our own Parliament sessions there."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi along with party MPs staged a protest against #FarmLaws at the parliament premises pic.twitter.com/k1UN5gFGQC
- NDTV (@ndtv) July 22, 2021
Delhi: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MPs protest over the three farm laws and show placards to Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar at the Parliament premises. pic.twitter.com/5E0ILvp0Tb
- ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2021
#FarmersProtest | "Farmers have issued whip to parliamentarians. This has happened for the first time": @_YogendraYadav, President, Swaraj India
- NDTV (@ndtv) July 22, 2021
NDTV's Shonakshi Chakravarty reports pic.twitter.com/bHSUgxo2dH
Delhi: Punjab Congress MPs staged a protest in front of Gandhi Statue in the premises of Parliament, over three farm laws pic.twitter.com/nMgRPNjIjp
- ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2021
After the security checks at the resort, Delhi Police is escorting farmers to Jantar Mantar
Farmers have been taken inside a resort for a head count and identity checking.
