New Delhi: A tense situation prevailed at Delhi-Haryana border in Singhu after some people claiming to be "locals" threw stones at farmers protesting there and even tried to uproot their tents. The sudden violence at the protest site this afternoon, which has been tense, prompted the police to use tear gas shells and farmers to appeal for calm.
Delhi's border points at Tikri and Singhu have been under heavy police deployment since morning in the aftermath of the violence that broke out during a tractor parade by farmers in the national capital on Republic Day. Personnel of the Delhi Police, along with those of the paramilitary forces, have been deployed at the borders. Tense standoff was also witnessed at Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border at Ghazipur as farmers refused to budge as police tried to evict them. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait has declared that he is "ready to face bullets" if needed.
The government is trying to tackle misgivings over farm laws at the root of the agitation, President Ram Nath Kovind today told parliament. "Farmers recently carried out a tractor rally. However, there was violence during the protests and there were incidents of insulting that national flag at Red Fort on Republic Day. This was very unfortunate," President Kovind said while addressing a joint sitting of parliament on the opening day of the Budget session.
Here are the live updates on farmers' protest at Delhi border:
Jan 29, 2021 23:48 (IST)
Farmers To Hold "Sadbhavna Diwas" On January 30, Observe Fast
Farmers protesting against the Centre's agricultural laws will observe "Sadbhavna Diwas" on Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary on January 30 and hold a day-long fast, farm union leaders said on Friday.
Addressing a press conference at Delhi's Singhu border, the farmer leaders said the fast will be held from 9 AM to 5 PM and appealed to the people of the country to join them.
The farmer leaders also slammed the ruling BJP at the Centre and accused it of trying to "destroy" the "peaceful" agitation against the laws.
Jan 29, 2021 22:41 (IST)
"PM Weakening India By Attacking Farmers": Rahul Gandhi
The Congress hit out at the Centre on Friday over the farmers' protest against the new farm laws, with former party president Rahul Gandhi alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "weakening" India by "attacking" farmers.
The remarks by Mr Gandhi came a day after the Congress alleged that the government was trying to divide and intimidate the farmers to break their protest against the three laws.
"PM is weakening India by attacking our farmers and workers. Only anti-national forces will benefit," Mr Gandhi tweeted.
Jan 29, 2021 21:48 (IST)
"Rahul Gandhi Declared War": Smriti Irani On Congress' Farmers Warnings
Union Minister Smriti Irani on Friday evening accused Rahul Gandhi of "declaring war on the people of India". This was hours after the Congress MP warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the farmers' protest against the agriculture laws - which has so far been limited to Delhi and nearby regions - could spread to other states if the centre did not repeal the controversial laws.
"Rahul Gandhi today declared war on the people of India. He said that if his political stand is not supported by the PM of our country, then cities will burn! I appeal to every Indian citizen to ensure that Rahul Gandhi's call for violence is met with sustained peace," Ms Irani declared.
Jan 29, 2021 20:04 (IST)
Social activist Anna Hazare cancels fast, backs farm laws
Social activist Anna Hazare has cancelled his fast, he has now come in support of farm laws.
Jan 29, 2021 20:00 (IST)
Coronavirus news: Johnson & Johnson Covid Vaccine Is 66% Effective
Johnson & Johnson said on Friday that its single-dose vaccine was 66 per cent effective in preventing COVID-19 in a large global trial against multiple variants which will give health officials another weapon to tackle the coronavirus.
In the trial of nearly 44,000 volunteers, the level of protection against moderate and severe COVID-19 varied from 72 per cent in the United States, to 66 per cent in Latin America and just 57 per cent in South Africa, from where a worrying variant has spread.
A high bar has been set by two authorized vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, which were around 95 per cent effective in preventing symptomatic illness in pivotal trials when given in two doses.
