There is no democracy in India, said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today while adding that it can be our imagination but democracy does not exist in reality in the country.
The Congress leader said, "Democracy? Which country are you talking about? There is no democracy in India."
"There is no democracy in India. It can be in your imagination, but not in reality," he said on Delhi Police taking party leaders into custody during their march to Rashtrapati Bhavan.
"PM Modi is making money for the crony capitalists. Whoever will try to stand against him will be called terrorist - be it farmers, labourers and even Mohan Bhagwat," he added.
The Congress leader added that the Government should convene a joint session of Parliament and repeal these laws.
"I want to tell the Prime Minister that these farmers are not going back home until these farm laws are repealed. The government should convene a joint session of Parliament and take back these laws. Opposition parties stand with farmers and labourers," he added.
"China is still at the border. It has snatched away thousands of kilometres of the land of India. Why doesn't Prime Minister speak about it, why is he silent?" the Congress leader said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making the country weak and outside forces are seeing it as an opportunity, he said. "I want to tell media, understand this, I know you have salaries to protect, but see what is happening," he added.
Here are the Live Updates on farmer protests:
Farmers will halt toll collection on highways in Haryana from tomorrow till Sunday. Last time, many commuters complained that despite halting the fee collection, money from Fastag account was deduction. So farmers will also try to ensure that fastag machines are shut.
The Haryana government today transferred Ambala Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh Kalia, two days after a group of farmers allegedly blocked Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's convoy and hurled sticks at it, reported news agency PTI. Rajesh Kalia was posted as the Ambala SP over three months ago. According to an official statement, Rajesh Kalia will be replaced by Hamid Akhtar, who till now held the charge of the SP (Security), CID. Now, Mr Kalia has been appointed the CID's SP (Security), it said.
The Centre should repeal the new farm laws as they are making farmers feel insecure about their future, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said on Thursday, reported news agency PTI. The former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan said the Congress is working hard to ensure that the organisation and the state government fulfil the promises made to the people of the state. "The centre should stop being stubborn and withdraw the farm laws with immediate effect. The farmers are feeling insecure about their future. They are very concerned," Pilot told reporters.
As the farmers have decided to continue their protest until the Centre repeals the three new agricultural laws, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Tarkishore Prasad said that if laws were changed by blocking roads, the country would go into a "mode of anarchy", reported news agency ANI. "Some leaders of Punjab are protesting at the borders but they are not leading the entire country, they are only representing two states. If any law is changed this way, the country will go into a mode of anarchy," Mr Prasad told news agency ANI.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary remained hopeful that farmers will come forward for discussions with the government on three farm laws and end their agitation, reported news agency ANI. He, however, indicated that Congress cadres will continue with the protest. While responding to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remark that farmers won't budge and will keep agitating till three farm laws are repealed, the Union Minister said: "Congress cadre won't stop agitating but farmers will. We are interacting with farmers while Congress and other political parties are inciting them."
We're living in democracy & they are elected MPs. They have the right to meet the President & they should be allowed. What is problem with that? Govt is not ready to listen to voices of lakhs of farmers camping at borders: Congress' Priyanka Gandhi after being stopped by police pic.twitter.com/DhUcTiWfLI
- ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2020
Delhi Police take Priyanka Gandhi and other Congress leaders into custody.
- ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2020
They were taking out a march to Rashtrapati Bhavan to submit to the President a memorandum containing 2 crore signatures seeking his intervention in farm laws issue. https://t.co/YHBbXmF8nC pic.twitter.com/SBB8BwyJ1P
Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi meets senior party leaders & MPs at party headquarters.
- ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2020
He is scheduled to lead a march from Vijay Chowk to Rashtrapati Bhavan to submit to the President a memorandum containing 2 crore signatures seeking his intervention in farm laws issue. pic.twitter.com/0JaggZsWdM
Traffic Alert
- Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) December 24, 2020
The chilla, Gazipur borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida & Gaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. People are advised to take alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anad Vihar, DND, Apsara,bhopra& Loni borders.
