New Delhi: Commission agents known as Arhtiyas in Punjab will keep their shops shut for four days from Tuesday in protest against income tax raids allegedly conducted to intimidate them for supporting the farmers' stir against the centre's agriculture laws, according to a body representing them.
The Federation of Arhtiyas said income tax raids have been conducted on the premises of six commission agents in the past a few days.
"We have decided to shut our shops for four days to protest the action of the Income Tax Department against arhtiyas," said Vijay Kalra, president of the federation.
Mr Kalra is among the six commission agents whose premises were raided by the Income Tax Department.
On Saturday, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh too had accused the centre of indulging in "intimidatory tactics" against commission agents by conducting income tax raids on their premises.
The chief minister had termed the raids as "motivated" and a "pressure tactic" to curb their democratic right and freedom.
Here are the Live Updates on farmer protests:
Dec 22, 2020 23:31 (IST)
Farmer leaders from UP, Delhi meet Narendra Tomar, extend support to farm laws
Members of Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, Noida, and Indian Kisan Union, New Delhi, on Tuesday met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and said that the new farm laws were in the interest of farmers and should not be taken back.
The minister said in tweets that the delegations gave a memorandum in support of the new farm laws and said they will improve the condition of farmers.
"Today, the representatives of Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh and Indian Kisan Union, New Delhi, gave a memorandum in support of the new agrarian reform bills and thanked the Prime Minister Narendra Modiji," he said.
"They said that the new agricultural laws brought by the Modi government are in the interest of the farmers and these laws are going to improve the condition of the farmers and should not be withdrawn," he added.
Dec 22, 2020 21:39 (IST)
Narendra Tomar says farm acts envisaged to benefit farmers
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday said the three farm acts brought by the central government are the biggest agricultural reforms in the country so far which will benefit farmers and strengthen Indian agriculture which is the backbone of the Indian economy.
The Minister made the remarks while interacting with members of the international media from the Foreign Correspondents'' Club of South Asia, a group of more than 500 journalists and photographers covering India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Afghanistan and Tibet.
Mr Tomar said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi the focus will be on doubling farmers'' income by 2022.
Dec 22, 2020 20:53 (IST)
Agitating farmers at Ghazipur border open one way of road for commuters
Farmers agitating at Ghazipur border have cleared one side of the road on Tuesday evening to facilitate the traffic. The road connecting Delhi with Uttar Pradesh was blocked completely by farmers in the morning.
Additional District Magistrate, Ghaziabad Shailendra Kumar Singh said, "We insisted the farmer leaders to open the road which was closed since morning."
Mr Singh further added, "Several trolleys of farmers have been stopped for checking at many places. We have told the farmer leaders that now onwards all the trolleys will be allowed to pass only after checking."
A biker passing by told ANI, "It has been very difficult for me to reach office. I commute from Ghaziabad to Delhi everyday. Now the road is open, it is quite a relief."
A commuter travelling from Delhi to Ghaziabad said, "Reopening of this road is convenient for us as we are able to save some time."
Dec 22, 2020 18:15 (IST)
Hopeful that protesting farmer unions will soon decide and resume dialogue with government to find a solution: Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.
Dec 22, 2020 17:43 (IST)
Chilla, Gazipur borders to remain closed for traffic
As farmer protests continue at the Delhi borders, the Chilla and Gazipur borders will remain closed for traffic on Tuesday, according to the Delhi Traffic Police (DTP).
The DTP stated, "The Chilla border is closed for traffic coming from Noida and Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. People are advised to take an alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Apsara and Bhopra borders."
"Gazipur border is also closed for traffic from Delhi to Gaziabad. It was already closed for traffic from Gaziabad to Delhi. Traffic has been diverted from Nizammudin Khattha, Akshardham and Gazipur chowk. Please take an alternate route via Anand Vihar, Apsara, Bhopra and DND borders", the tweet added.
DTP advised people to wear masks, maintain social distancing and keep the hands sanitized.
Today, protesting farmers blocked Delhi''s Ghazipur border completely.
Dec 22, 2020 16:42 (IST)
Delhi High Court's women legal forum to fast tomorrow in solidarity with protesting farmers
A forum of women lawyers, social Group of Lawyers of Delhi High Court have decided to fast on Wednesday in solidarity with the ongoing "Satyagrah" by farmers demanding to roll back the recently passed farm laws.
Lawyers associated with the forum demanded to repeal the three farm laws on December 23, the day which is observed as Kisan Diwas.
"It is our belief that while the issue of the Constitutionality of the farm laws being enacted by the Center when agriculture is a state subject is subjudice before the Supreme Court and the issue of the legality of the enactment by a voice vote in the Rajya Sabha is also being heard by the Supreme Court, implementation of irreversible and far-reaching farm laws would render these petitions infructuous and could cause irreparable damage to the farm sector in India," the forum said in a press statement on Tuesday.
The forum includes senior advocates Indira Jaising, Mahalakshmi Pawani, Biswajit BhattacharyaMohan Katarki, Anand Grover and advocates Shadan Farasyat, Prashant Padmanabham, Ritu diwan, etc. It also includes members Shweta Kapoor, Zeba Khair and Iram Majid among others.
It said that the forum lawyers are against dismantling the regulatory mechanism of minimum support price (MSP) and permitting big corporates to negotiate with small farmers, who it said lack the means to enforce or negotiate contracts especially due to the absence of effective legal aid and judicial infrastructure in rural India.
Dec 22, 2020 15:59 (IST)
Farmers' protest: Commuters face troubles on Delhi-Meerut Expressway
Commuters on Tuesday faced difficulty due to the closure of both carriageways on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway as protesting farmers blocked the Ghazipur (Delhi-Ghaziabad) border completely.
"This expressway isn't being utilised for the purpose it was constructed. I have been stuck here due to jam," says Gaurav Goyal, a commuter.
Another commuter from Delhi said, "It took me one hour extra to reach office, we are facing problems, I work for a private company, they will not understand I have been marked for half-day."
Traffic from Delhi towards Gazipur and Ghaziabad on Delhi-Meerut expressway affected as both side carriageways closed for traffic said Delhi police.
Dec 22, 2020 15:21 (IST)
Update| Chilla border is closed for traffic coming from Noida and Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests, say Delhi Traffic Police
