The UK House of Lords held a debate on the Human Rights in India yesterday, Thursday 22nd July 2021, to discuss the rights abuses against minority groups, journalists, academics and NGOs committed under prime minister Narendra Modi’s government.
Lord Harries of Pentregarth raised to question to the grand committee. He mentioned that the freedom of those in academia is under threat in India, as well as those in the media; 67 journalists were arrested, detained and interrogated in 2020 alone, he stated. Even NGOs, before Covid, were finding it difficult to obtain visas, he added and “since Covid, they have been harassed by new laws against protesters, and some have had their bank accounts frozen.” He also spoke about the plight of Muslims, Christians and Dalits, noting that they had all suffered under Modi’s regime.
While freedom of speech of other religious minority groups was discussed, the situation affecting Sikhs was only addressed by Lord Indarjit Singh of Wimbledon.
He mentioned the previous human rights abuses of the Indian government, such as former prime minister Indira Gandhi’s regime which led a genocide against Sikhs in 1984, and noted how under Modi’s watch, Hindu nationalist groups attempt to assimilate Sikhi into the Hindu faith.
“Attempts are made by threat and flattery to absorb Sikhs into the Hindu fold,” he added, “despite clear Sikh teachings repudiating the caste system, idol worship and discrimination against women”.
He also explained how farmers from across India have been camped on the outskirts of New Delhi for over a year, in the largest mass protest ever seen, to protest against “the Government’s unconstitutional rigging of the market to enrich their supporters”.
“Water and power are routinely cut off, and demonstrating farmers savagely beaten by the RSS, under the watchful eyes of the police,” he said.
He added that judges who call out this behaviour are routinely replaced, and that University lecturers and students who protest against India’s growing intolerance are subjected to police brutality.
“Such brave people are India’s best hope for the future. They deserve our support,” he said.
The debate was responded to by Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, who made no promises to intervene in India. He said that the UK will continue to engage with India on issues of trade, but that “human rights remain central to our thinking.”
He added that the UK will raise concerns with India in private.
Farmers in Delhi are hosting a “Farmers Parliament” in front of Indian National Parliament.
They started a sit-in outside parliament today, Thursday 22nd July 2021, to renew the push for a repeal of the agricultural laws that threaten to “enslave” them in debt. Tens of thousands of farmers have camped out on major highways leading to New Delhi for more than seven months in protest against PM Modi’s government.
Police in New Delhi escorted 200 farmers earlier today from protest spots on the outskirts to Jantar Mantar, a large Mughal-era observatory in a central area that doubles as a protest site. While the protest has gained support from farmers all over India, Punjab and particularly the Sikh community has been at the forefront of the protest due to the prominent role played in India’s agriculture.
“We are here to remind the government again that the anti-farmer laws need to be rolled back to protect Indian agriculture and millions of poor farmers from a complete takeover by large corporations,” Rakesh Tikait, a leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, one of the largest grouping of farmers, told Reuters.
Farmers said their identity cards were checked by police, who have tightened security, erecting barricades and check posts. Parliament ends early in August, due to Monsoon season, and the farmers have been given permission to protest until 9th August 2021.
“Throughout the monsoon session of parliament, 200 farmers will go to Jantar Mantar every day to hold a farmers’ parliament to remind the government of our long-pending demand,” said farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal.
BBC News also recently reported on the ongoing protest – the largest ever of its kind, and Sikh PA will continue to cover the story as it develops.
Sandeep Kaur Ruprai is a senior employee of NBCUniversal UK that wanted to raise awareness of the #FarmersProtest movement with her colleagues.
With this aim in mind, Sandeep worked to have her employer’s internal comms team cover the topic through their regular newsletters, circulated to thousands of employees. Sandeep did this by writing up articles, such as the one below, and providing the content needed to cover the topic, whilst ensuring the articles remained appropriate for corporate comms. Sandeep’s articles include references to the unlawful arrest and detainment of the likes of Nodeep Kaur, as well as the brutal violence suffered by peaceful protesters at the hands of Indian police forces.
The Sikh Press Association applaud Sandeep for her efforts and will be working to support her continuing this seva (selfless service). We also encourage others that work in similar large corporations that may have a place within internal comms for such articles to replicate her efforts. Sandeep herself will now be working with Sikh PA to provide anyone looking to do this with support and advice in how to go about raising the issue of the #FarmersProtest within a corporate environment.
If you want help in this area, email us at media@sikhpa.com to be put in touch with Sandeep. Meanwhile, see an example of her work below.
Nobel Prize-nominated Sikh aid worker Ravi Singh was suspended
from Facebook as the Indian government continues to apply pressure on social
media platforms to censor Sikh activists.
The CEO for UK-based humanitarian charity Khalsa Aid
announced his Facebook suspension on rival platform Twitter, causing many supporters
to speak out in his defence. He has been assisting in India’s efforts to provide
relief amidst the country’s emergency Covid crisis. India currently is
responsible for nearly half (46 per cent) of the world’s new Covid cases.
Absolutely shocked to see my @Facebook account restricted especially as we are dealing with the #COVID19 relief in #India.
not only are social media giants bending to the indian govts demands & censoring the accounts of indian citizens—they’re also silencing global humanitarians like @ravisinghka. this is dangerous. they must be held accountable for their collusion w/ modi.
Earlier this week, The Sikh Press Association connected Khalsa
Aid with Good Morning Britain, where Singh appeared on national TV in the UK to
millions of viewers to explain how the organisation is providing hundreds of
hospital-grade oxygen concentrators to India.
Ravi Singh has been critical of the Indian government
policies; he regularly speaks up over the lack of justice over the state-sponsored
genocide of Sikhs in 1984 and more recently, over the treatment of farmers on
protest in Delhi.
Singh’s Facebook suspension was eventually lifted, after the
social media site received numerous complaints and much criticism from Sikhs around
the world.
Ravi Singh and his organization, @Khalsa_Aid, are helping to lead the relief efforts as covid plunges India into crisis.
Social media is critical for reaching the masses. By restricting his account, Facebook is putting innocent lives at risk. Please fix this asap, @Facebook. https://t.co/MyKbPyfHVc
In November last year, Facebook mass-censored Sikh posts in remembrance of the 1984 #SikhGenocide. The censorship followed similar restrictions placed on Sikh activism on Facebook and Instagram in June 2020, when the platform blocked searches of the hashtag #Sikh at a time when the Sikh community was commemorating the Operation Blue Star attack, when the Indian government opened fire at the holiest shrine of the Sikhs, Sri Harmandir Sahib, murdering thousands of Sikh worshippers.
The censorship prompted 30 Sikh organisations to come together and pen an open letter to Facebook noting that the recent wave of censorship has come from the Indian state which has long opposed any form of revolutionary Sikh self-expression centred on Sikh sovereignty, adopting policies of genocide to violently annihilate any Sikh resistance
The Indian government has been heavily criticised for its role in the current pandemic. Now, rather than focusing its effort on resolving its disastrous Covid pandemic, the Modi regime has been using its resources to apply pressure to censor voices of Sikhs who are helping alleviate the situation but hold different political viewpoints to the nationalist right-wing Modi regime.
Journalist Amaan Bali has also been suspended from Twitter. The Kashmir-based Sikh activist has been reporting on the ongoing farmers’ protest on the scene in Delhi. However, in recent days as the pandemic escalated to record levels in India, Bali has been using his social media platforms to help emergency patients find hospital beds and oxygen supplies.
.@amaanbali ‘s Twitter account doesn’t exist. According to him, he had quote tweeted about oxygen cylinder being taken away by police in Agra. Twitter told him that his tweet violated the regulations and was directed by law enforcement authorities.
Can't believe @Twitter just suspended account of an authentic person who was working tirelessly to help find ICU beds and oxygen concentrators to those impacted by #COVID19 in India.@jack, why?
the accounts of those reporting on covid relief efforts are also being censored. @TwitterIndia—how does deleting the account of someone reporting on government mismanagement and corruption during covid help anyone? bring back @amaanbali’s account. https://t.co/45s0Ay7rLG
Following comments made by Conservative Mayor of London candidate Shaun Bailey threatening to ban pro-farmer protests outside the Indian High Commission in London, his office has submitted a statement and video to Sikh organisations claiming there has been a “complete misunderstanding”.
Bailey was quoted as saying that the “unruly
demonstrations that have taken place outside the Indian High Commission are
absolutely unacceptable” and that if he is elected as mayor, he will do
“everything in [his] power to offer protection for staff and visitors”.
“If necessary, this would include banning demonstrations that are deemed
to put staff and visitors at risk.”
He made the comments in a Zoom meeting with the High Commissioner of India, Gaitri Issar Kumar, on Thursday 18th March, according to Asian Voice magazine. The Sikh Press Association emailed Bailey’s office asking him to explain his views, but they declined to do so until after we published an article and social media posts reflecting his comments. His office then contacted us, claiming that our email to them had “slipped through the net”.
“I want to underline that this representation of my views is wholly inaccurate,” Bailey said in the statement.
“I fully back the right of peaceful protests anywhere in London and around the world. The right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. I am also committed to protecting people from violent protests without discrimination or prejudice.”
Sikh PA has asked Bailey’s office for further clarification as it is unclear why he felt the need to reference “violent protests” in his statement about the pro-farmer protests in London, or exactly what was “unruly” about them.
He also failed to acknowledge the incident of a Metropolitan police officer punching a peaceful protester in the face while unprovoked, in a pro-farmer protest which took place in December 2020. He also declined to address the pro-Indian government protest in January 2021 that was planned to conclude and stoke tensions outside a place of worship; Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara on Guru Nanak Road in Southall.
Sikh PA has asked Bailey’s office for further clarification of his views and invited him to join us for a live video interview to discuss his comments. We will continue to update the community accordingly.
The Conservative candidate for London Mayor, Shaun Bailey,
has pledged to ban protests from taking place in London in support of the
farmers protest in India.
The mayoral candidate made the comments in a Zoom meeting with the High Commissioner of India, Gaitri Issar Kumar, on Thursday 18th March, according to Asian Voice magazine.
He said that the “unruly demonstrations that have taken
place outside the Indian High Commission are absolutely unacceptable” and that
if he is elected as mayor, he will do “everything in [his] power to offer protection
for staff and visitors”.
“If necessary, this would include banning demonstrations that
are deemed to put staff and visitors at risk.”
The Sikh Press Association asked Bailey to explain his comments, but he declined to do so.
The vast majority of people who attended protests in London in support of farmers in India over the past few months are from the Sikh community, many of whom own ancestral agricultural land in India, so this is a topic very close to the Sikh community in London.
The ongoing protest in Delhi, which is being hailed as the largest protest in the world, has come under fire from other UK politicians and was the topic of a recent heated debate in the UK House of Commons, due to the actions of the Indian government.
Many British politicians have already acknowledged that press freedom is being stifled by India, and journalists and activists are being illegally detained and tortured. Tear gas, water cannons and police batons have been used against peaceful protesters and internet services have been cut off in Delhi. The protests have garnered support from the likes of climate change activist Greta Thunberg, singer Rihanna, UK-based humanitarian charity Khalsa Aid, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and British agricultural union The Landworkers’ Alliance, and many others.
Protests organised by Sikhs in London have been peaceful, with no reported use of violent or intimidation towards any staff at the Indian High Commission, despite Bailey’s comments. In contrast, a Metropolitan Police Officer was caught on camera punching a peaceful protester at a protest in London in December, and a pro-Government car rally by Indian government supporters in London was planned to conclude outside Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Southall, a Sikh place of worship; one of the busiest in Europe. Bailey is not reported to have made any mention of these acts of aggression in his discussion with the Indian High Commissioner.
His comments drew anger from the Sikh community in the UK. Sikh activist group Raids, shared the news on Instagram and called on the community to make the comments from this “India-influenced candidate” aware to those who are eligible to vote in the mayoral election.
Others pointed out Bailey’s hypocrisy for supporting the Black Lives Matter protests which took place under the same COVID restrictions in London and accused him of not being fit for office.
The Sikh Press Association, which is headquartered in London, has been sharing news and notifying national and regional media about these comments and will continue to seek comment on this matter from Bailey’s office.
Several Nihung Singh Jathedars (leaders) have announced that
they will be celebrating Hola Mohalla at the Delhi border this year, with the
farmers on protest.
Nihung Singhs are the traditional armed soldiers of the
Khalsa, who preserve the original Maryada (code of conduct) from the times that
the ten living Gurus spent on Earth. Many people feel that the presence of
Nihung Singhs at the Delhi border has kept protesters safe from attacks by
police and nationalist mobs. Early Sikh military
history is dominated by the Akali Sikh military order that is particularly
noted for the many famous military victories they won, often while they were
heavily outnumbered.
Hola Mohalla is a Sikh military festival that usually takes
place mid-March. It was started by the tenth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh
Ji, to showcase the military prowess and skill of the Khalsa, the Sikh armed
order.
The festival usually takes place at Sri Anandpur Sahib in
Punjab, where the Khalsa was established by the Sikh Guru. However, with hundreds
of thousands of protesters, many of them of the Sikh faith, currently at the
Delhi border protesting against three agricultural bills that were introduced
by the Indian government last year, the Nihung Singhs have decided to hold the
festival at the Delhi border, as well as at the original site at Sri Anandpur
Sahib.
US president Joe Biden’s administration has shown support for
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s agricultural reforms, which have resulted
in the largest protest in history, despite earlier excluding two politicians
with links to Indian nationalist groups RSS and BJP.
The US president’s administration said in reference to the
three agricultural bills that have caused massive protests in India, that the
United States “welcomed steps that would improve the efficiency of India’s
markets and attract greater private sector investment.”
The comments were made by the State Department in Washington
in response to questions relating to the ongoing farmers protest in Delhi.
A spokesperson of the US embassy in Delhi added that the
United States “recognises that peaceful protests are a hallmark of any thriving
democracy”.
“We encourage that any differences between the parties be
resolved through dialogue.”
In January this year, when Biden began his presidency, he
made news in India for excluding two Indian-Americans from his administration for
their ties to right-wing nationalist groups RSS and BJP. Sonal Shah
and Amit Jani were excluded after 19 Indian-American organisations wrote to
the US administration expressing concerns over the pair’s family ties,
according to reports.
Shah has served on Biden’s Unity Task Force but her father was
the president of the Overseas Friends
of BJP-USA and is the founder of RSS-run non-profit Ekal Vidyalaya for which
she has raised funds. Meanwhile, Jani served as the Biden campaign’s Muslim
Outreach Coordinator, and was excluded from the administration after it was
pointed out by Indian-American organisations that his family has ties with PM
Modi and other BJP leaders.
However, Biden did appoint 20 Indian-Americans, including 13
women, to key positions in his administration.
The recent comments in support of India’s agricultural laws put
into question the president’s commitment to opposing the nationalist agenda of PM
Modi’s government. The exclusion of politicians with ties to RSS and BJP
appears to be a performative action to appease Indian-American organisations
that oppose their right-wing ideology. The Sikh community at large is still
waiting to see to what extent the new government will actually oppose India’s
tyranny.
Today, UK Members of Parliament discussed the ongoing Farmers Protest in India, with particular attention paid to press freedoms and safety of protestors in Delhi.
During the debate, Labour MP for Slough Tanmanjeet Singh
Dhesi said that India is telling foreigners to keep their nose out of affairs
but human rights are universal. He said that people are distressed by images of
water cannons and tear gas used against peaceful protesters.
He said that journalists have been arrested and tortured, and
there are allegations of sexual abuse of female activists. He added that Sikhs
who dare to speak out are labelled as Khalistani separatists, “but we see
you and so does the rest of the world”.
He added that when he spoke up for farmers, he was faced by
a fake profile twitter troll factory.
He then said that the UK Tory government in desperation for a trade deal is failing spectacularly to stand up for human rights of protesters, and pointed out how Indian cricketers and actors copy and pasted the official government line simultaneously on their social media, and together with the revelations of India celebs “cash for tweets” scandal, “this has severely dented the credibility of the India.”
“If the UK government did the same they would be laughed out of the country. Any celebrity with a conscience would have tweeted out the exact opposite in defiance,” he added.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also said that the 100,000
signatures for the petition that prompted this debate shows the strength of
support from diaspora in the UK. He said that 250 million people took part in
strike action, the biggest ever industrial dispute in the history of the
planet. “We need to look at why there are so many supporters of the protests”,
he added.
Corbyn also criticised Indian government for suspending Internet access for protesters, and expressed concerns from the UK’s National Union of Journalists of how Indian journalists have been treated and how UK media have barely reported on the protest.
SNP spokesperson Martyn Day MP kicked off the debate by praising Liberal Demcrat councillor Gurch Singh for beginning the petition. He said that the protests have been peaceful, and that only strikes and blockades have been used by protesters. He noted that the Indian government suspended internet access at protest sites. The press and social media censorship in India cannot be ignored, he added, especially as the UK is embarking on trade deals with the nation.
Birmingham Perry Barr MP for Labour Khalid Mahmood was up
next and he said that this is currently the largest trade dispute in the world.
He referenced the use of state violence against elderly protesters and women.
Tory MP Theresa Villiers followed by saying that reform of
farm subsidy has been under discussion for 20 years and the IMF has welcomed
Modi’s attempt to challenge the issue. She backs the Modi government to make
farming more profitable. She even sad that the controversial use of police force
is to be expected given the scale of the protest.
Other speakers included Peterborough MP Paul Bristow who said
that he actions of the Indian government towards protesters break accepted
norms; “they cross the line”. MP Tahir Ali offered his support and
solidarity with protesters and called on the UK government to condemn PM Modi. He
added that British citizen Jagtar Singh Johal is also being detained on
spurious charges, and that the UK should work alongside international orgs to
promote human rights in India.
Feltham and Heston MP Seema Malhotra also said that her constituents
are concerned that violence against protesters will escalate further. She expressed
concerns about press freedoms and the safety of protesters, and added that this
is not a religious dispute.
Nadia Whittome MP is a granddaughter of Punjabi farmers and said
she is proud to stand in solidarity with protesters. Indian government and
media has demonised Sikh protesters as separatists and has responded to peaceful
protests with state repression and brutality.
She referenced the detainment and abuse of female
journalists in India, such as Nodeep Kaur and Disha Ravi, and said the BJP Government
is dividing India. “The UK government needs to decide if it is on the side of
farmers or the side of fascists.”
MP John McDonnell added that India’s democracy is undermined
by the lack of free press and media. He said that India’s leadership thinks it
can act with impunity, and called on PM Boris Johnson to condemn the human rights abuses of India
ahead of his next visit.
SNP’s Brendan O’Hara said that on matters concerning international human rights, people outside of India have the right to express their views. He added that Twitter has been receiving take down requests from Indian government for accounts based abroad belonging to news organisations, activists and actors, and called for the immediate release of those detained for exercising their freedom of speech in India.
MP Naz Shah then said that we shouldn’t need the likes of pop star Rihanna to speak out for protesters. “The powerful are heard with a single tweet, the average person is often ignored,” she said, adding that the same sentiment is faced by the farmers on protest who are being ignored. More than 52 per cent of India’s farmers are living in debt, and in 2019 over 10,000 farmers committed suicide; this cannot be ignored, she added.
Liberal Democrat MP Leila Moran also said that it is right for UK politicians to speak up on this issue because “where democracy and freedom of speech is threatened, we must not look the other way”. She said her party has written to foreign secretary Dominic Raab for fundamental freedoms in India to be respected, but says his response so far has been “woeful”.
SNP’s Day finally wrapped up the debate by thanking participants but said they could have benefitted from a longer debate.
In September 2020 the Indian Government passed three new agricultural laws without consultation with any farmer representative groups. Farmer groups unanimously expressed dissatisfaction about the new laws, viewing them as a path towards bankruptcy and corporate land grabs. After months of sporadic protests went ignored by the government, a decision was made for the farmers to march to India’s capital Delhi to protest against the state.
Since this march on November 28th, Indian authorities have inflicted constant violence towards the farmers, who remain in and around Delhi in numbers estimated of 100,000+.
Read updates on this situation below.
Note- these updates are edited bullet points via respected Sikh community figure Jagjit Singh of the Khalsa Foundation. Jagjit Singh is following the situation closely through both on-the-ground contacts and more. Follow Jagjit on Twitter and Instagram via @JagjitVaheGuru. This page was started on 01.02.21. Links for prior updates from Jagjit can be found at the bottom of this page.
The Sikh Press Association stand by Jagjit Singh as a reputable news source on the #FarmersProtest.
26th April
#FarmersProtest news has taken second place to huge criticism of Modi and his handling of the Covid crisis. The policies of BJP Modi reflect massive funding on vanity projects, but nothing for healthcare infrastructure. Statue of Unity cost : ₹3000 *Crore, Central Vista: ₹20,000 Crore, Ram Mandir: ₹300 Crore, BJP New Party Office: ₹700 Crore. Imagine if they spent all this money on hospitals and health facilities. How many more lives could’ve been saved? Gurdwaras are providing oxygen but hospitals have run out. (Crore = 10 million).
Sikh activist and lead #FarmersProtest figure Deep Sidhu has been finally bailed from Tihar Jail. He was originally bailed last month, but another nonsensical case was put in him to harass him.
Bail was granted to Iqbal Singh arrested under FIR 96/2021, Police Station Kotwali in connection with the 26th January Red Fort incident. From interviews prior to his release it was said that Iqbal Singh was kept purposely in a cell where prisoners were consuming tobacco freely. The smoking of tobacco is strictly prohibited for a Sikh of the Guru but Iqbal was made to spend his time in an environment where any Gursikh would find it difficult to do their GurBani (Guru’s word- prayers) and Simran (Sikh mantra meditation) freely. Such moves are tactics of further harassment on Sikh activists.
The crowds have swollen at Tikri and Singhu. The major push comes from lead protest figure Lakha Sidhana, as he has urged youth to participate in the movement. Lakha Sidhana brought 25 buses and 120 cars full of youth to Delhi’s borders today to strengthen #FarmersProtest. With harvest season approaching its end the numbers are swelling up again. Lakha has urged farmers to get vaccinated and take Covid precautions at the Morcha (protest).
BJP responded in a frenzy about an Australian newspaper frontpage calling out Modi’s incompetence. Indian High Commission in Australia responded, bringing further ridicule to India for their shameless attempts to hide the reality of the nation.
Buzzfeed news: “Twitter Is Blocking Tweets That Criticize How The Indian Government Has Handled The Pandemic”. More than 50 tweets are now blocked in India. As India’s coronavirus pandemic burns out of control, the country’s government is cracking down — on social media. On Thursday, India’s government ordered Twitter to block more than 50 tweets that criticized how it has handled the pandemic. Twitter complied, preventing residents in the country from viewing the posts from people who include a state minister, an opposition member of the Indian Parliament, filmmakers, an actor, two journalists, and several ordinary people. On Saturday, Twitter published details about the order to the Lumen database, a Harvard University project that keeps track of government takedown notices around the world. The news was first reported by Indian technology policy website Medianama.
Asserting that there is no shortage of oxygen in any private or public Covid hospital in Uttar Pradesh, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday asked officials to take action under the National Security Act and the Gangsters Act against “anti-social elements” who spread “rumours” and propaganda on social media and try to “spoil the atmosphere”, the Hindu reported. It’s easier for BJP to deny the Covid crisis problem that try to solve it.
Internet Freedom Foundation tweeted, “India will not be silenced and censored. We will continue demanding transparency, accountability and coordinating for emergency relief. For our right to speech — and today, our lives!”
Navdeep Singh, the farmer activist who became famous for taking over a police water cannon in December tweeted, “There is no restriction at the farmers protest sites. Oxygen vehicles are passing freely without any blockade. We are with citizens of our country and against the falls propaganda of BJP that farmers have blocked roads and restricting Oxygen supply”. This was in response to claims farmers were blocking ambulances and oxygen supplies to spite the nation.
#FarmersProtest leads sent an e-mail to Delhi Police stating, “We have vacated road along Kundli border for oxygen, etc. But Police has still NOT opened the road where it had placed barricades. Please remove your police barricades from Singhu so that healthcare essentials can move smoothly.”
President of Punjab Ekta Party Sukhpal Singh Khaira tweeted, “Modi failed to increase testing labs, intensity vaccine production, setup oxygen plants & increase medical care. All he was doing was campaigning for BJP. The whole Godi media has been unleashed behind farmers to insult, discredit & shift the blame.”
“Drug controller of India is delaying permissions to prepare & sell Remdesivir injections in domestic markets to an Amritsar-based firm Kwality Pharmaceuticals Ltd. The firm has the license to export the Remdesivir injections but are being hounded by DCI officials. This is really crazy that BJP is playing politics at the time of crisis by putting in medical curbs in non-BJP states like Punjab. “ Amaan Bali, journalist.
Punjab is not receiving a regular supply of allocated liquid oxygen of 104 MT from Centre as promised. On April 23, Punjab received 103 MT liquid oxygen while on April 22, it received small amount of 68 MT. Captain Amrinder Singh has urged PM to maintain uninterrupted supply to state #Punjab.
MSP assures sustenance and pushes toward crop diversification, giving more freedom to farmers for choice of crops. Why is a dignified life for Indian farmers inconceivable to the imagination of Modi Govt? #MSP_is_Farmers_Oxygen
Dr Swaiman Singh, an American medic that has been at the protest providing free medical aid to protesters, tweeted, “My stand on corona has been clear from the day I came to the farmers protests. I can’t get up and leave because I promised to serve in the time of need. There has never been a bigger need than now. #Doctors #physicians”
Police were deployed to open the Asoda toll tax road. Farmers refused to step back.
A five acre land owner farmer Harbant Singh from Thullewal, Barnala, is doing organic farming by diversifying his crops. The motive is not to promote corporate fertilisers.
Farmers in in Chabal, Sarai Amanat Khan, Bhikhiwind, Khemkaran, Khalra, Valtoha, Harike, Choha Sahib, Khadoor Sahib, Sarhali and other areas of Tarn Taran District have demanded immediate assessment of damage due to heavy rain. Agriculture officer Kuljit Singh Saini has said that he is on leave and has no information about the damages. The farmers suffer right from production to procurement due to lethargy of govt officials.
Sikh24 News: Court orders FIR against DSP Chekpal Sherawat who brutally tortured Jugraj Singh in prison.
In Kashmir there is one ventilator for 71,000 people, one doctor for 3,900 people and one armed soldier for every 9 people. This shows that lack of planning and policy of army suppression of the population by India.
NDTV- Khalsa Aid India arranges Oxygen concentrators for COVID-19 patients, will deliver them in Delhi.
Baaz news: “The very same Sikhs organizations that are now being widely lauded as heroes amidst what is one of the greatest humanitarian crisis ever to face India, were only recently labeled as anti-nationals & terrorists for providing aid at the #FarmersProtest…”
Sydney Australia- Police act on the BJP Modi supporters who attacked Sikhs in Sydney supporting Farmers. An Indian-origin youth has been arrested for a series of attacks on Sikhs which are suspected to be hate crimes. Australian media has identified the man as 24-year-old Vishal Jood.
Baaz News: @SFUInstituteHum has postponed its webinar with @HartoshSinghBal regarding the #FarmersProtest, which was to be held this Monday, after concerns were raised by @SFU_SSA over Bal’s history of defending the Butcher of Punjab, KPS Gill, who is also his uncle.
17th April
New York-based stock exchange and rating agency S&P Dow Jones has removed Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited from its permanent index due to trade links with Myanmar’s military. The Myanmar army is accused of human rights abuses after the coup this year. The country’s largest private multi-port operator is building a $290 million port in Yangon on leased land from the military-backed Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC).
Farmer Harvant Singh of Bhavanigarh near Fatehgarh has passed away while returning from Singhu Border. He was part of farmers’ protest since April 8 and was unwell since yesterday.
A significant storm hit Delhi yesterday with heavy rain and winds affecting all morcha (protest) sites. Many tents were damaged and elderly farmers had to contend with appalling weather.
As Lakha Sidhana led Punjab youth to Delhi for the closing down of a major KMP motorway, instead of trying to arrest him, in a heinous way police targeted his brother and tortured him to the point he was hospitalised (April 11). He was unable to speak in Bhatinda hospital. It’s shameful how BJP are using Delhi Police to do targeted attacks on family members of activists.
Deep Sidhu’s bail has been granted in police custody on charges regarding the January 26 Republic Day incident in Delhi’s Red Fort. Deep Sidhu has been locked in Tihar jail since February 8.
Shortly after being bailed, reports emerge that Deep Sidhu was rearrested. Deep Sidhu has been re arrested in a case for causing damage to the office of the Red Fort office complex. He was granted bail in the Tractor Rally Case based on goings on on the same day (Republic Day).
DSGPC Chief said it was a Vendetta move by @DelhiPolice. We condemn this dictatorial attitude of police and revengeful actions towards people who are supporting Farmers’ Protest. DSGMC Legal team will fight another battle for Deep Sidhu’s release.
Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana Dushyant Chautala has written to the PM to resume talks with Farmer Unions.
Haryana CM on live TV said that covid cases are rising and farmers should call off the protest for time being if they don’t want to cancel it. He said they can come to the border again if they want once the pandemic dies down. However BJP has no issues with 500,000 Hindus at Khumb Mela and BJP rallies in Bengal. Farmer leader Gurnam Singh told them to stop playing politics as everyone knows BJP track record on truth.
A deliberate fire was set on three tents by Indian nationalist goons near the Rasoi Dhaba at Singhu Border. A car and the belongings of some farmers have also been burnt. The aim was to intimidate farmers.
Procurement has been intentionally slowed to make farmers suffer in states that are protesting. Farmers in Haryana and some mandis (markets) of Punjab are angry. The procurement woes just don’t seem to end for farmers. For Fatehbad Mandis no payment has been received by farmers even after 240hours as compared to claim that payment is transferred within 48hours.
As per FCi (Food Corp of India) 13.7cr has been paid to farmers by DBT in Punjab. Punjab’s farmers however complain that payment claim of 48hours is false. Farmers are receiving money after 4-5days and some haven’t even after 10 days.
No procurement has taken place at Sirhind Mandi since the last seven days.
Seven acres of Punjabi farmer’s mustard crop of were set on fire in Bhuj of Gujarat, reports Punjabi tribune. Farmers claimed that two BJP leaders had occupied land of Punjabis. Many Punjabi farmers and BJP leaders are locked in legal battles.
Punjab govt decided to withdraw 146 cases registered against farmers and labourers over the last years. These cases were filed against farmers and labourers during struggles. – Via Tribune India.
Sukhpal Singh Khaira tweeted, “Modi govt keep preaching that Mandi system will not end after these laws but look what is happening in Punjab now. Modi is firmed to dismantle the Mandi system so his greedy friends Ambani and Adani can make more money on farmers blood. Shame on Modi Govt.”
Over 300 Sikhs were arrested for participation in Hazur Sahib Hola Mohalla, but 500,000 Hindus openly go to Khubh Mela (a Hindu festival) with no masks and no restrictions. BJP has different rules for different communities.
United Sikhs legal team has been on the ground to defend #Nanded #Sikhs. After multiple hearings the stay of 18 Sikhs in jail was decreased from 12 to nine days.
CNN article – Why Biden should be careful about courting India’s Modi government. India’s atmosphere has darkened since Prime Minister Modi came to power in 2014. Freedom House recently downgraded the country to “partially free,”citing a “multiyear pattern in which the Hindu nationalist government and its allies have presided over rising violence and discriminatory policies affecting the Muslim population and pursued a crackdown on expressions of dissent.”
Facebook allowed a network of fake accounts to artificially inflate the popularity of an MP from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), for months after being alerted to the problem. The company was preparing to remove the fake accounts but paused when it found evidence that the politician was probably directly involved in the network, internal documents seen by the Guardian show. The company’s decision not to take timely action against the network, which it had already determined violated its policies, is just the latest example of Facebook holding the powerful to lower standards than it does regular users.
Members Of European Parliament Express Concerns Over Deteriorating Human Rights Situation In India (headline livelaw.in). They expressed concern that human rights defenders and journalists lack a safe working environment and about the difficult situation faced by Indian women and minority groups.
Bapu Santokh Singh who became an iconic image after he was hit by a tear gas shell earlier in the #FarmersProtest is still at the #FarmersProtest and can often be seen doing sewa (selfless service) there.
To keep #farmers protected from the swarm of insects and bugs which have increased due to rising temperatures, #UNITEDSIKHS volunteers are building elevated beds for them at the #Tikriborder.
MLSS RecogniseOne has cleared the 77,000 rupee outstanding loan of Bhupinder Singh Ji who sadly died during the #FarmersProtest, making his family debt free.
The temperature at Delhi borders are soaring high through the day. Khalsa Aid volunteers are going around the protest site to distribute ice creams and chilled juices to the farmers bearing the scorching heat.
10th April
1. Social activist and #FarmersProtest figure Lakha Sidhana, despite being wanted by @DelhiPolice, publicly appeared to lead a big convoy of youngsters to Delhi border, to participate in a KMP Expressway 24-hour blockade (April 9th).
2. Huge traffic jams are reported due to the KMP blockade.
An estimated 25,000 vehicles were stranded. Traffic Police talked to farmers
about easing up the bandh (lockdown). Tents have been set up on KMP Highway.
3. As per some reports 15 farmers have been detained at Nooh
on the KMP Highway for blocking the highway.
4. Indians and their media are celebrating that Mukesh
Ambani has over taken Jack Ma from China as Asia’s richest person. However,
they are silent on how much of the wealth of Ambani and Adani was made by
taking over the national assets of India by cronyism with political parties,
especially Modi’s BJP.
5. No farmer has arrived with grains at Asia’s largest mandi
(market) at Khanna. This is surprising and many factors including Arthiyas
(middle-managers) strike and Mazdoor Unions strike against direct procurement
is said to be the reason. Labourers are directly hit with Punjab opting out
Arthiyas.
6. No farmer has arrived with grains at Asia’s largest mandi
at Khanna. This is surprising and many factors including Arthiyas strike and Mazdoor
(labourers) Union strike against direct procurement is said to be the reason.
Labourers are directly hit with Punjab opting out Arthiyas.
7. As procurement begins from today, wheat from other states
is smuggled into Punjab for MSP (minimum sale price). 24 trucks from other
states have been caught. Here is why this happens; traders buy wheat at
Rs1,100/ quintal (100kg) from states which don’t pay MSP to farmers and sell it
in Punjab at MSP Rs1,925 /quintal. They earn over Rs2 lakh (100,00) per
consignment of 400 quintals in 1 truck after paying Rs225 /quintal for
transportation and the new laws don’t eliminate this exploitation.
8. Lobbying from World Sikh Parliament continues to push for
an international action against draconian laws passed by the govt of India
against the farmers. US Congressman Joe Courtney has said that “excessive
response” to farmers’ protest in India by the government of India was “worthy
of condemnation”. US Sikh community figure Swaranjit Singh Khalsa on this
statement said “I am glad that our congressman did not just condemn Indian Govt
suppression but understands that India has history of using excessive force
repeatedly against peaceful protesters”. He said “We must remain vigilant as
India has impulse of committing genocides to suppress voice of dissent.”
Swaranjit Singh Khalsa gave the historical background and said “India is known
for suppressing voice of people and we should not forget that India responded
with committing crimes against humanity like the June 1984 attack on Darbar
Sahib and November 1984 Sikh genocide when peaceful protests of late 1970s were
led by Sikhs for equal rights and for state rights of Punjab which were
promised to them in 1947 when India got its independence”.
9. United Sikhs legal aid team members have been disseminating
the pics of missing protestors. Many are still missing as they work with
authorities to locate them. The missing protestors information is coming in
online from their farmers’ helpdesk and also from the SKM Union.
10. Speaking to Sikh24, activist Mandeep Singh has narrated
the entire episode of his arrest by the Delhi police’s crime branch from Jammu,
detailing the torture and interrogation he faced.
11. Contrary to state sponsored media reports, Delhi locals
are supporting farmers at Tikri. A retired customs officer residing at Balor
village on the Tikri-Bahadurgarh border has provided two acres of his land to a
group of agitating farmers from Amritsar to grow vegetables.
12. Deep Sidhu’s bail case was adjourned till 12 April.
13. Union leaders met some groups of labourers and members
of the Dalit community in Jalandhar yesterday and have urged them to ensure
participation in 14th April for Ambedkar Jayanti.
14. BJP politician Harjit Grewal was supposed to attend a
private function at hotel but farmers got to know about it and he canceled his
visit. Grewal is seen by many Sikhs as a politician that has sold out the
community by refusing to engage with them on issues. Grewal has a nephew that
is a Labour councilor in the UK, Vikram Grewal.
15. Vancouver Sikhs continue their protests in solidarity
with farmers, with a recent sleep out.
16. San Francisco Sikhs are doing a protest March in
solidarity with farmers at the Golden Gate bridge.
17. Sikh PA – Following comments made by Conservative Mayor
of London candidate Shaun Bailey threatening to ban pro-farmer protests in
London, he has claimed that there has been a “complete misunderstanding” and has
said he is not against peaceful Sikh protest.
20. From advocating for “Operation BlueStar 2”, calling
Sikhs a “virus”, cheering for the destruction of Pakistan and appearing
alongside neo-nazis — this is my profile of Hindu Nationalist provocateur, Ron
Banerjee. A regular fixture and small-time organizer for protests held by the
racist-right in Ontario, Ron Banerjee has come to the fore as the figurehead of
racist Hindu nationalism in Canada. – Anti-hate Canada article by Ahmar S Khan.
7th April
It’s the 200th day since the Farmer protests started in Punjab. A lot has happened, but BJP continues its fascist stance.
Farmer Leela Singh of village Ghareli passed away after returning from Tikri Border. Heart attack is said to be the reason of death. Total deaths now mount to 309.
A young man Gurpreet Singh (28) of Mahil Kalan in Punjab took his life by hanging himself with a ceiling fan. Gurpreet remained stressed due to debt on his father’s head & had taken to agriculture to assist his father by leaving his job. The trigger for his action as per police station Mahil Kalan is the appearance of collection agents on doorstep who misbehaved with his father in their presence.
A school teacher had attempted suicide in Haryana in support of farmers. In a video message he blames Narendra Modi for his apathy towards farmers & the crisis. As per reports he has been hospitalised.
A senior and respected advocate of Punjab & Haryana High Court, Mr J S Toor, has brought out a booklet on what is black in the farm laws. This 84-page booklet is available in Hindi and Punjabi. Click here to read in pdf format: jstooradvocate.com
Everyday the farmers think of wonderful, creative ways to stay alive in the Press cycle, everyday the ‘Fourth Estate’ behaves like a corporate mouthpiece. But it will take more than the mainstream media’s propaganda to quell these million mutinies. (@RichaChadha )
“This isn’t just about agricultural policy. It’s also about the persecution of a vocal religious minority. It’s police violence, militant nationalism, and attacks on labor rights. It’s global authoritarianism.” Meena Harris
A mistake many people are making is thinking those bailed have been freed. No they have just bailed. They will still have trials under a judicial process which very bias to BJP. Those who arrested Sikhs are BJP. While DSGPC President Sirsa has helped bail the sikhs, but he is also BJP. So BJP arrest the sikhs, and BJP bail them. It’s important to understand the political games especially with DSGPC elections coming up. Will DSGPC President Sirsa commit to free legal aid for all the sikh during their trials? If not, then we need to support sikh charities that will do that seva.
Additional Session Judge Himani Malhotra of Delhi court grants bail to last remaining Monu, Sehdev, Sanjiv and Vikas who were arrested in connection with Red Fort episode under FIR number 45 and 46.
Uttar Pradesh BJP’s leader Proyamvada Tomar has resigned citing that govt is indifferent to ‘farmers who have lost more than 300 men and have been protesting since last 130 days.’ She also resigned from UP’s women commission citing that UP has failed women. She was member of UP’s women commission as well.
Lakha Sidhana in an interview with RMB TV (on YouTube) speaks on the government continually trying to pit people against each other & use the divide and rule tactic. He tells people not to fall for it and continue to focus on unity and join the protest. Lakha speaks on the Mehraj Rally & false narratives being spread that he’s supported by the Congress party. He also speaks on the failure of political parties in Punjab & how they only remember Punjab when elections are near. However, he makes it clear that he’s disappointed with the people who support them after seeing all the harm they’ve done. Lakha says that many in Punjab do want change but they don’t see a leader who’ll bring about legitimate change. The reporter says the AAP could, but Lakha also explains their pitfalls. He says that Punjab & Delhi are two different places with different issues, and that any party sitting in Delhi cannot understand the issues of Punjab. Lakha also speaks on Arvind Kejriwal’s hypocrisy, specifically his inability to speak up for the situation in Kashmir and against the CAA/NRC. He says that people don’t know which leaders to trust due to them continually switching their stances. Even in the protest, many are trying to gain something from it, such as leadership, power etc. Lakha says that these people will be exposed when the time comes. Lakha mentions that people from different political parties are trying to get him arrested before the 2022 elections, whether that be in Delhi or Punjab. He says no matter what anyone says, he’ll always be with Punjab and that he’ll always be ready to take on any challenge. Lakha says that he’ll never break the people’s trust. He also appeals to the people of Punjab that they shouldn’t just make decisions on the basis of emotions but also use their mind. He tells people not to blindly follow anyone and think for themselves. Lakha makes an appeal to the people to come in maximum numbers to Delhi. Emphasizing strength in numbers. (Courtesy Ramnik Kaur Sidhu)
It has been a month since Bhai Palwinder Singh Talwara was jailed for a 10 year old case. He attended Lakha Sidhana’s rally where he called out Comrade Rajinder and the Kisan Union’s weak leadership.
BJP’s Som Prakash had to face the anger of farmers in Hoshiarpur. He was shown black and red flags and his car was gheroaed. He escaped the scene under heavy police protection.
Farmers opposed visit of BJP’s Nayab singh Saini in Sahabad, Hr. Farmers smashed wind shield of his car and he had to escape under police protection. Saini later said that these are congress supported protests. Note that he had apologised for defaming farmers when confronted.
BKU Tikait’s Rakesh Tikait is in Gujarat bringing awareness to farmers. Also in reference to India’s covid guidelines, he said, “Lockdown will take place in the entire country but this movement will not end. Whatever corona guidelines will be followed at the movement sites”.
Punjab govt has banned political gatherings and rallies due to rising Covid cases. The farmers gather daily at many places and such gatherings are also banned now. Farmers maintain that they will continue to agitate following the Covid rules.
While Punjab govt has issued a notification that Punjab will continue to procure via arthiyas, the Arthiyas association has said that they won’t lift grains until 131cr pending arrears & dues are cleared by FCi.
While the Caravan in India has provided good coverage of farmers protests. This week @thecaravanindia editor @HartoshSinghBal attacked survivors of police brutality & human rights orgs while launching outlandish conspiracy theories about global Sikhs. It’s a puzzling defense of his uncle, KPS Gill, commonly known as the “Butcher of Punjab”. This has significantly affected his credibility.
BKU Ugrahan has announced a Kisan Conference at Sabo Ki Talwandi on April 13th to celebrate Vaisakhi and create awareness on the farmers Movement.
Balbir singh Rajewal at the huge Abohar rally yesterday in Punjab called Narendra Modi as the ‘biggest Liar’ in the world.
Heavy damage to wheat crop has been reported from many areas of Punjab like Lambi, Moga, Bathinda due to the storm and rainy conditions last night.
Arthiyas have organised Maha conference in Moga’s Baga today.
After Trolly Times, another newsletter ‘Karti Dharti’ has started exclusively for women farmers.
Agriculture economist Devinder Sharma tweeted, “The fastest pathway to become a $5 trillion economy is to ensure no trading takes below #MSP for all crops. Give farmers the rightful income and they have the ability to propel the economy to new heights.”
London Conservative Mayor candidate Shaun Bailey makes a huge mistake when he says he would stop Sikhs protesting outside Indian High Commission in London. Basically he is giving a green light to fascist BJP Indian policies. The UK Conservative party is being seen by BJP as a party they can easily influence as it is motivated by trade over human rights.
Meanwhile vocal MP Claudine Webb tweeted,”There is no such thing as too much peaceful protest for democratic, economic, social & environmental justice. It is the right of all people to protest for a better future. Solidarity with all protesting against the creation of oppressive and unjust laws and for lasting change.
BJP’s micromanagement drive begins in Punjab. Political parties in Punjab, including #BJP, have parvasi cells mainly to focus on migrants from other states. However, in a first, BJP has created a special Himachal cell in Jalandhar, the first cell named after a state.
3rd April
A sad news of husband wife duo committing suicide in Rasuwala near Moga has come out. The farmer duo had a debt of 16lacs. Karmjit kaur & Sukhdev singh owned 7 acres of land.
Arshpreet singh of village Mansur Pur, Badala died while returning from Singhu Border. He fell from tractor near Panipat when his tractor collided with car.
Another farmer from village Shukur has passed away at Tikri Border due to heart attack. Farmer named Lakhvir Singh was part of #FarmersProtest since feb.
SKM has announced that farmers will march to parliament sometime in May without tractors.
Elderly farmers injured in lathicharge by Police in Rohtak. Bleeding from head, an elderly farmer looks straight into a cop’s eyes & dares the cop to shoot him dead. Another old farmer seen lying on road with swollen leg. They were protesting against Haryana BJP CM Khattar.
BKU Leader, Rakesh Tikait, was attacked by RSS-BJP goons in Rajistan. It’s the 2nd time he has been attacked. Last time it was in Calcutta.
After the attack on the farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, farmers have completely closed the KMP road and are shouted slogans against the government.
BJP Agriculture Minister Tomar had already agreed to remove electricity meters from tube wells, but has now done a U turn and going to put forward a bill to charge farmers on tubewell electricity. The only reason Punjab has had tubewell so deep is due to water taken from Punjab to other states. Delhi Centre has taken a U-turn on Electricity Amendment Ordinance by seeking suggestions from states before tabling it again. It should be noted that centre has assured unions in a meeting that this ordinance won’t be implemented. This is why farmers don’t trust BJP & Delhi.
Punjab agriculture economist Devinder Sharma tweeted, “In Punjab, more than 7,300 farm workers have committed suicide in 18 years, between 2000 and 2018: PAU study. Indebtedness was the major reason.”
The participation of women folk is increasing at the borders with men going for harvesting.
Sukhpal Khaira tweeted, “BJP and RSS agenda is to make India as Hindurashtra and kill the idea of diverse India. They have been working on this idea all along and oppressing Minorities and suffocating them by snatching their rights so they can leave India.”
Sikh24 – In a significant development, leaders of the farm unions resolved to induct youth leader and activist Lakhbir Singh, aka Lakha Sidhana, into Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) that is spearheading the unprecedented agitation against three draconian farm laws enacted by the BJP-led union government of India, on the demand of the largest section of Punjab’s youth. As demand was growing for the induction of Lakha, the SKM constituted a three-member committee comprising prominent union leaders Dr. Darshan Pal, Jagjit Singh Dalewal, and Baldev Singh Sirsa to talk to the section associated with Lakha and take the decision accordingly. The committee on Thursday announced to make Sidhana part of the Morcha and expected his active participation in the agitation.
In Bengal elections, a car of BJP candidate Krishenedu Paul was found to have an election EVM voting machine in it. The blatant election rigging being done by BJP. There is no depth to their lies and depravity.
Instead of filing an FIR against the BJP candidate & the Election Commission officer, a case has been registered against the people who stopped this car & exposed this nexus.
US State Department releases damming report on India’s human rights abuses, calling out the fascist Modi regime for torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, restrictions on freedom of expression and the press.
Farmers waited for Haryana Deputy CM @Dchautala at Hisar Airport, Haryana.
BJP official Arora in Uttarkhand caught in a hotel room molesting a woman. When he is caught by locals and videoed, the victim slapped him up with her chapel.
Punjab Govt of @capt_amarinder in a ‘secret’ order has ordered the DGP to provide extra security & coverage to the BJP workers in Punjab. They thought the public would not find out. Letter below. (Jas Oberoi)
Large Kisan Panchayat held in Gonda, Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh.
Farmers led by BKU Ekta Ugrahan and Labourers led by Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh committee set up a Morcha outside lambi police station today to protest against the false charges and cases against farmers in Punjab.
The Quint article – May Day Under Modi: A Distress Call From India’s 40 Crore Workers. Neither has the Modi govt been able to generate more jobs, nor has it been able to improve the worker’s life. The government’s own leaked report, held back on grounds of being unsound, says that unemployment is at a 45-year high. Data from India’s most respected private economic intelligence agency, CMIE, says employment has dropped from about 40.7 crore in 2016-17 to 40.1 crore in March 2019. That’s about 57 lakh jobs lost in the space of three years. RBI-KLEMS data shows a drop of 12 lakh jobs in the two previous years.
Shopkeepers in Malaut, where the BJP leader was stripped in public, have defied the Bandh call given by BJP & have said that they can keep shops closed for months in support of farmers but not a day for BJP. Ashok Singhla, president market association said that BJP & Akalis should know that they have been ousted from PB.
Lakhan Sharma who courted arrest in Malot along with 20 other farmers has said that he courted arrest because BJP wanted to use this to communalise the issue. He said that he is proud punjabi Hindu & stands with farmers & given a chance he won’t hesitate to gherao BJP again.
Malot BJP mandal president also quit from his post and said that BJP at centre could have listened to Punjab BJP in October and issue would not have escalated this far. He said the party doesn’t want to resolve the issue so he quit on moral grounds for Punjab
Sikh24 has article on sikh who was brutally tortured by police in Jammu.
By suspending the account of Sikh, Dalit, Farmer & Kashmiri activists and organisations, social media companies are siding with anti-democratic forces of India.
Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Nand Kishore forced to leave an event by #FarmersProtest. Bharat Kisan Union says shoes were flung at his car. It was his visit to Gazipur in Jan that had led to Rakesh Tikait’s iconic emotional outburst. Tikait had alleged Nand wanted to beat up farmers.
Kanvar Grewal and Harf Cheema confirm that 9 meetings have happened between Farmer leaders and Punjab youth leaders about Lakha Sidhana and many issues have been resolved and they are all coming together.
Deep Sidhu’s next bail hearing is 8th April.
A Pro Modi Rally was held in Brampton today. Kisaan supporters arrived at the location of this rally and not long after sent the pro Modi supporters packing home.
Baaz News – Ron Banerjee, head of @canhinduadv, is leading crowds at the pro-Modi and Hindu Nationalist Tiranga Yatra in Brampton this morning.Banerjee called for the targeting of Sikh gurdwaras earlier this month, which was widely denounced including by Mayor @patrickbrownont
Similar Tiranga rallies happened in other parts of Canada with sikhs turning up in favour of farmers, against Hindu nationalists. While in India this is not a Hindu sikh conflict but a BJP vs farmers conflict, but in Canada Hindu nationalists are targeting sikhs.
Vancouver council passed resolution in favour of farmers.
Baaz News – RSS funded ‘Canada India Foundation’ in GTA is passing around a petition to stop ontario teachers from talking about the Farmers Protest with their students.
MLSS RecogniseOne has today cleared the 35000 rupee loan of Sardar Balwinder Singh Ji who sadly passed away whilst taking part in the #kisanektamorcha, the largest protest in the history of the world.
#UNITEDSIKHS has been helping the families of the #martyred farmers, our team is also providing the means of living for the families who do not have an earning member or other sources of income.
USA sikhs not happy that Ami Bera, one of the most pro-Modi representatives in US Congress, & his edicts concerning the role of the #SikhCaucus upon its founding — any issues relating to Sikhs & India (such as the 1984 Sikh Genocide by the Indian State) “should & will” be handled by the India Caucus. It defeats part of the purpose of setting up the Sikh Caucus and silences the voices against Indian BJP fascism.
Punjab police has lathicharged on protesting ETT teachers and detained 100 of them. Teachers were approaching captain’s house protesting against pending salaries demanded that the Department should repeal the provision of B.Ed entry into their cadres, &advertise 10,000 n32 posts.
Sikh PA – Nanded police issued over 300 FIRs against Sikhs in the area and thus have been seeking their arrest. On 1st April, police seem to have acted on those FIRs with a violent wave of raids and arrests. Reports of severe torture of sikh children (mainly boys in their early teens, as depicted in the viral image shared above) have shocked the international Sikh community who are now calling for action. As well as the targeting of boys and men, Sikh women are also being harassed and worse, whilst simply trying to visit Sri Hazur Sahib Gurdwara. This was the police response to Sikhs at Hazur Sahib celebrating Hola Mohalla against Indian lockdown rules. However it should be noted the police has no issue with thousands of Hindus at the MahaKhumb in Hardivar.
SGPC delegation will meet Chief minister of Maharashtra to discuss Nanded situation. The bells rang from Takht Sahibs last night and rampant detentions were stopped by police.
A short story on contemporary India: Those responsible for inciting the mass murder of 51 Muslims during the Delhi Pogrom continue to walk free, but journalists, academics and activists who expose the government’s human rights abuses are locked away in prison.
28th March
25 year old Ramandeep Singh of Khundewala village died in a road accident returning home from protest site amid #BharatBandh. He died at the railway track near Golanpur village in Yamunanagar, Chhappar on Friday. His family is from a peasantry background and owns a small landholding. He was the only son.
Farmer Jarnail Singh of Khayal Kalan has passed away at Singhu border. He was part of protest since the past 58 days. This takes the total number of deaths to 305*
Punjab BJP leader Arun Narang is stripped by angry crowd. Police save him from the crowd. It’s the first time this kind of humiliation has ever happened in Punjab.
Godi media, like obedient servants, go on the offensive about the BJP Leader being stripped but make no mention of the 305 farmers that have died.
BJP has demanded governor rule in Punjab. The party has said that it is impossible for them to organise rallies for the upcoming 2022 elections in the current conditions. They also urged central Government to resolve the farmers issue and blamed congress for using farmers against the BJP in Punjab.
A case has been registered against Lakhan Pal Sharma, Sukhdev Singh, Nirmal Singh, Kulwinder Singh, Nanak Singh, Avtar singh, Rajinder singh, Veer Sharma and 250-300 more people for beating BJP’s Narang.
In the same day, in Uttar Pardesh, supporters reportedly from BJP and RSS thrashed a policemen who allegedly misbehaved with a RSS pracharak in Vrindavan area. This did not make the Godi media news agenda as the offence was committed by BJP members.
BJP’s spokesman Iqbal Singh Lalpura was surrounded in Hoshiarpur early this morning. Iqbal Singh had to escape under police protection. The gherao (protest) has been intensified by farmers in recent days.
BJP’s Harjit Grewal, and Ashwini Kumar have condemned the incident of gherao of Arun Narang where he was stripped naked in Malout. Sukhbir Badal has said that this sets wrong precedent for all. They all know it can happen to them.
SKM statement on BJP Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Arun Narang: “This agitation of farmers, under adverse circumstances, turned violent and the MLA was physically assaulted. It is a matter of regret that an elected representative was treated this way. We do not encourage such behaviour. We strongly condemn this act.” “We consider the BJP and its allies are responsible for this incident. The central leadership of the BJP is rooted in its ego and instead of solving the problems of the farmers, they are busy in elections, but local leaders are facing the bitter results of this behaviour,” SKM said.
Bharat Bandh was called and India was brought to a standstill by farmers today.
Tricity (Chandigarh and surrounding areas) is completely blocked today.
Farmers are sitting at 31 locations across Punjab and Haryana spanning Delhi, Ambala and Firozepur division affecting rail movement. Train services affected at 32 locations, 4 Shatabdi trains cancelled: Indian Railways. #Hindustanshutdown
Patiala bar association supported the farmers cause yesterday and came out in a rally to support Bharat Bandh.
“The crowds are thinning at Singhu and Tikri because of the harvest season. Indian media is spreading some lies that the protest is over. Farmers are maintaining rosters for harvesting and numbers will rise again post-Vaisakhi,” said SKM leader Harinder Singh Lakhowal.
Gujarat police pick up farmer leaders from ongoing press conference. Farmers accuse police of dictatorship.
Rakesh Tikait has said that its time to take the agitation to Gujarat. Talking about the arrests of leaders in Gujarat he said that farmer voices can’t be suppressed and that he will go to Gujarat soon.
Bail papers for Deep Sidhu have been submitted with a hearing next week.
Maninder Singh is still in jail for doing Gatka. Delhi Police continues to target Sikh youth with false allegations of violence.
Jagraj Singh, an Amritdhari Sikh youth in Jammu has been severely tortured by Police. His injuries are shocking.
As the first phase of the elections in Bengal and Assam begins, farmer leaders urge all the voters to be clear NOT TO VOTE BJP – the false promise makers.
Video footage shows farmers in Bangalore that were protesting are being picked up in Police buses by Police. It shows how BJP uses Police to silence protests.
At least four people were killed in the Bangladeshi city of Chittagong after police fired at protesters during a demonstration against a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, police officials said. “We had to fire tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse them as they entered a police station and carried out extensive vandalism,” Rafiqul Islam, a police official, told Reuters news agency, referring to protesters.
In a massive rally at Muktsar Sahib, farmers announced that they will boycott the rallies of Congress, AAP and SAD alike. The decision to protest all politicians was welcomed with loud Jakaras.
Central Government has approved Punjab’s request to reschedule the wheat procurement period. The wheat procurement period in Punjab has now been rescheduled to April 10 to May 31 in place of April 1 to May 25 due to late maturity of crop and Covid.
Sikhs in British Columbia, Canada hold a sleep out in solidarity with farmers outside the @VanArtGallery.
Rallies in Edmonton and many other parts of Canada continue.
In a video you can see MLSS RecogniseOne team at the house of late Ranjeet Singh Ji, the tractor mechanic who passed away at the #kisanektamorcha. “Last week YOU paid for a brand new scooter for his adopted daughter Amandeep Kaur and today our team has started work on building a new much needed kitchen and a bathroom for the family,” the team said. “We have also decided that we will take full responsibility for the marriage of Amandeep Kaur.”
On the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh freedom, PM Modi claims he was there. A complete lie, it was the Sikh Generals that freed Bangladesh. General Subheg Singh who became Shaheed in the Battle of Amritsar 1984 was the key General. BJP were at home on their sofas, just as they were during Independence, IndoChina wars, Indo Pak wars, etc.
Bangladeshis in the hundreds are protesting against Modi. Police shoot them resulting in four of them dying.
Sikh PA is interviewing Amaan Bali on Sunday who has been a reliable source of info on the farmers protest.
25th March
A 65-year-old protester from Punjab died of cardiac arrest at the Tikri border last night. Balbir Kaur, of Mandi Kalan village (Bhatinda), had been actively participating in the farmers’ agitation since Jan 2021.
Bhola Singh (70) of village Kot Vathu, Sabo Talwandi passed away at Tikri Border. He had gone to the Border just four days ago. BKU (Bharatiya Kisan Union) has written a letter to the Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder requesting him to give employment to Bhola Singh’s son and also provide compensation for his death.
Joginder Singh (62) of village Thatha, block Chughava in Amritsar, passed away due to a heart-attack. He was admitted in Delhi hospital earlier and had recovered but this time a heart attack took his life on the way to hospital.
Akashpreet Singh was released yesterday from Tihar Jail. He was shot in the leg at the Red Fort on 26th January. He also suffers from epilepsy for the last five years for which he is under treatment at Uttrakhand, due to the fact the disorder means he repeatedly suffer seizures.
Reports of the death of farmer Hakam Singh by slitting of his throat are coming out from Tikri Border. It is unclear if it is case of murder or suicide. Police has arrived at scene and it is being investigated. Hakam Singh is from Bathinda.
Farmers marked events around the anniversary of the martyrdom of freedom fighters Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. A call was given by union leaders to youth of Punjab to reach Delhi to mark the occasion. A large number of people could be seen arriving at the border of Tikri.
Dastaars were distributed and worn by farmers at Ghazipur border as part of the occasion.
Hundreds of women and elders took part in the Bhagat Singh Shaheedi run in Delhi, organised by Khalsa Aid.
Mohinder Singh Khalsa, Mandeep Singh abd Akashpreet Singh are among many activist protesters that have now been granted bail. Sunil and Deepak were released last night. “I was blessed to do kirtan inside prison”- Mohinder Singh Khalsa ji after being released on bail.
BKU leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni thanked SGPC, NGO’s, panchayats, and Panthic jathebandis (Sikh community oriented groups) for langar (Sikh communal kitchen service) organisation at borders and said that its our duty to thank them. “We are not ungrateful and that their efforts are massive.”
Farmers shut down a Reliance shopping mall at Sri Ganganagar.
Farmers surrounded BJP leaders who had arranged a Press Conference in Roopnagar to talk about the Punjab budget. The BJP leaders of Punjab had to escape under police protection.
Farmers have broken barricades at Pasiyana near Patiala while protesting against illegal occupation of their lands for Delhi Katra highway and are moving towards Moti Mehal. There is heavy police presence to stop farmers from moving towards Captain Amarinder’s residence.
BJP centre take away powers from Delhi Government run by AAP under leadership of Arvind Kejriwal. Rajya Sabha passed the GNCTD amendment bill. As Kejriwal complains, people on Twitter remind him he congratulated BJPs Amit Shah when he took powers away from Kashmir. Now the same is happening to him. The BJP is relentless is taking power from others and centralizing it. The constitution means nothing to them in their relentless pursuit of maintaining power.
India’s digital news media rules exceed the scope of the law, are unconstitutional and create hostile discrimination, writes Dushyant Dave for Bloomberg.
Villagers in Fazilka area protested against the digging of new canal saying that this will make them scarce of water. There are concerns about Punjab agriculture that the water crisis will be a major thing in years to come with social and political impact.
Farmer Union leader Rakesh Tikait has said that Centre tried to divide farmers on caste, religion and more, but farmers are united. He said that to move the govt into action, barricades will have to be broken once again and if the govt doesn’t listen we will sell our produce outside Parliament.
An FIR has been lodged against Rakesh Tikait under Section 153 by Shivamogga Police for instigating farmers to lay siege of Parliament. This is viewed by many as a fascist move.
UK MP Claudia Webb tweeted, “Farmer’s Protest. Their struggle is our struggle. I asked the UK Government what action it will take with social media companies to tackle online abuse directed at those supporting Indian Farmers. “
A video emerges of a BJP bike rally today in Haryana. BJP workers on seeing a farmer group ahead on the road removed BJP t-shirts and threw away BJP flags, cancelling the rally in Haryana.
Jaipur Mahapanchayat (community meeting) venue was destroyed by strong winds. Two farmers were injured due to falling iron beams/poles and have been taken to hospital.
Joginder Singh Ugrahan of the Ugrahan group has tested negative for corona and was discharged last night. He will return to lead the morcha (protest) again.
Taxi Union of Punjab has protested against centre govt. The union announced a three day strike (March 22-25) and protested at Golden gate Amritsar.
Female MLAs from opposition parties (non BJP) were dragged out of the Bihar Vidhan Sabha because they were protesting against the BJP-JDU govt’s latest bill which empowers the special armed police in Bihar to arrest and raid without warrant. The disturbing images of women being dragged out of a protest went viral on social media as an example of India’s so-called hypocrisy.
Baaz news- @PunYaab talks to locals about alleged illegal sand mining occurring along Punjab’s Sutlej River. Sand is a critical & finite resource in concrete production. Illegal mining brings with it ecological disasters, and is often done in cahoots with government officials.
Vancouver Sikhs announced another sleep-out on March 26th to continue to show solidarity and raise awareness of the #FarmersProtest, outside of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
21st March
Two Nihang Singhs were killed by Police in Tarn Tarn. Two officers claim they sustained injuries after being attacked by the Nihang Singhs and both Nihang Singhs were shot dead as a result.
Gautam Adani-run Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL) has won the rights to operate Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru airports for 50 years. India has a lot of privatisation benefiting only Adani and Ambani.
In a major move Farmers did their first MahaPanchayat (community meeting) in another part of India. Today it’s was Karnataka. Thousands of farmers turned out, showing the message against the farming laws is widely supported.
There was a significant turnout in Washington DC by Sikhs and farmers supporters. World Sikh Parliament speakers led the protest at Lincoln Memorial.
Protesters about the situation in Myanmar met with #FarmersProtest supporters in solidarity at Washington DC.
Dr Swaiman singh from New Jersey (USA) who has been providing medical care at the morcha (protest campaign) sites for many months said in his latest video that political rallies in Punjab should stop until the Sangarsh (protest) against farm laws is won. Political parties like Congress and Akali Dal have been doing rallies in Punjab.
Village Narangawal, famous for being the village of respected Sikh figure Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh Ji, sent water tanks, a generator, mosquito spray holders and other supplies to the morcha sites.
300 plus bamboo homes have been built on the morcha sites. In the middle of the night seven steel homes were constructed too. Dr Swaiman singh said 5 Rivers Heart Association helped do this. The aim is to get to 1000 homes for protesting farmers.
Hundreds of trolleys of farmers came to the morcha sites today, as farmers work in rotation to maintain protest presence. The numbers of protesters have significantly increased today.
A flood of young girls and boys reached the new grain market as part of the Sunam Youth Conference Against Imperial Invasion of Agricultural Laws.
Farmers in Patloni village of Mathura surrounded and chased off BJP MP Tejvir and his colleagues when they came to town for a PR visit.
As many as 54% of all workers and 42% of the rural workforce in India are engaged in farm-related activities. (Data: Business Standard). Farmers collectively provide jobs to around 263million workers on their farms.
Activist and economist Devinder Sharma tweeted, “From Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,250 per quintal a week ago, potato prices in Punjab have crashed to Rs 500-700 per quintal. Likely to go down still further. With this kind of volatility in markets how do we expect farmers to earn profit, maintain a sustainable livelihood? #FarmersProtest”
Randhir Singh of MLSS released a video of his team going to visit the family of deceased Sardar Deep Singh Ji and also going to pay off Deep Singh’s outstanding loan. The loaner said that in all his time in the trade he has never had anyone come to pay off anyones loan in one payment. This is only possible with donations. MLSS and charity RecogniseOne have taken on the seva (selfless service) of providing for the families of those that have passed away whilst taking part in the Kisaan Ekta Morcha (Farmers Unity Protest campaign), the biggest protest in the history of the world.
Today an event on Clubhouse at 5pm UK time called Ground Zero is providing perspectives from all protest sites. It will have Harkeerath Singh from Hemkunt Foundation, Dr Swaiman Singh of the 5 River Heart Foundation,, Navkiran Natt from newspaper Trolley Times and many other frontline activists.
AAP Arvind Kejriwal spoke in favour of Punjab farmers at their AAP large political rally in Punjab. Many feel he plays a dual policy of supporting call to repeal farm laws but also helping establish Hindutva.
An Indian BJP supporter is arrested in New Zealand for hate-crimes in abusing Sikh youth on Facebook.
BJP mismanagement has brought farmers, students, insurance agents, minorities, Dalits, workers, teachers, bankers, job seekers and many others to the streets protesting. BJP held onto power in 2019 with their best ever tally of 34% vote share only. It shows that if Indians were focused, they could remove the BJP project of hate and cronyism asset stripping.
As India’s democracy credentials plummet in various surveys, the BJP government doesn’t try to improve its respect for human rights and democracy but instead proposes to start its own rating system so it can give itself better marks. It is a vain attempt to look better but shows the fascist state is in denial.
A perfect example of the difference in narratives between Punjab and Indian nationalists; activist Bhai Ranjit Singh who was recently bailed out is being treated as a hero in Punjab as he was arrested protecting the the women’s tents from an attack by BJP goons hand-in-hand with Delhi Police. However, Indian social commentator Yogendra Yadav spoke to nationalist media figure Bharka Dutt and apologised to the very Delhi Police who attacked with BJP and brutally arrested Bhai Ranjit Singh. Bharka Dutt, as always, pushed the Indian state narrative and gave no focus to the BJP thugs attacking the protesters.
20th March
“Sikhs are being treated like slaves in Punjab. Reliance factory in Hoshiarpur refused food to 4 Sikh drivers in the canteen, saying that you are Gursikh, you will not get food. After reporting this to the transporter, even they said “cut your hair and then you can you can eat.” – Tweet by #farmersprotest support account @farmer3630.
India is ranked 139 out of 149 countries in the World Happiness Report 2021, released by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, worse than China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Nepal. India moved from 105 to 129 in a year, under BJP’s Modi govt.
On the Shahjahanpur morcha (protest) site, a large tent got burnt. Instead of crying over the loss, Within half an hour sevadaars (selfless servants) starting cleaning the place and put another large tent up.
The most active Farm organisation @Bkuektaugrahan president Joginder Singh Ugrahan from hospital bed, says though tested Covid positive, but he is fine and will be back in action soon.
Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi tweeted,”Dare to speak up for the rights of #FarmersProtest activists and face abuse from masses of fake profiles. Two rupee a tweet troll factory may go into overdrive to try and silence people, but it won’t deter them from saying #IStandWithFarmers and that human rights are universal.”
Today is the anniversary of the 35 Sikh men that were killed just for a propaganda battle between India and Pakistan in village chittisinghpora in Kashmir. Bill Clinton visited India for the first time as President. Indian security forces dressed in the garb of Kashmiri militants killed the 35 innocent Sikhs simply to get a headline for Clintons visit. Such is the warped mind of the Brahmins behind these strategies, that the lives of the innocent have no value. Just look at the faces of the children and family members to see the trauma in their eyes. No person has been held responsible for this. “During my visit to India in 2000, some Hindu militants decided to vent their outrage by murdering thirty-eight Sikhs in cold blood. If I hadn’t made the trip, the victims would probably still be alive” – Madalene Albright, US Secretary of State. This incident is a reminder of what the #FarmersProtest is really fighting against.
19th March
Punjab went down from the state with highest GDP Per Capita in 1981 to the 17th state in 2019. Bihar is consistently striking double digit GDP for a decade. The India project has done significant damage to Punjabis and their aspirations. Punjab was an independent nation which became colonized by British and now by Brahmin Raj (Upper caste Hindu rule).
301 BJP MPs in Lok Sabha are just 30km from where about 300 farmers died on Delhi borders. But it’s business as usual in Parliament. #300DeathsAtProtest
National Students Union of India tweeted, “Even after death of more than 300 farmers & more than 114 days of farmers agitation Modi Govt don’t even listen any single demand of our farmers. This Govt only thinks about their corporate partners, for them there’s no value of citizen’s life.”
113 days into the morcha (protest), the farmers still continue school lessons for local kids and feed them langar (Sikh communal kitchen service).
BJP minister offends farmers when he said on TV that farmers are free people (jobless) and alcoholic drunks. In reality, the farmers have being reading Gurbani (Guru’s words – Sikh scripture), doing seva (selfless service) whilst fighting for their rights.
Farmers have been struggling with agricultural law for the last 75 days in Rewa market Karhia, Madhya Pradesh. Organisers have held a protest against this issue and saw a wedding take place amid the protest, as two children of two organisers did not want their parents to come home from the movement, so decided to take the wedding to them.
Dr. Swaiman Singh California USA asks youth to rally behind our elderly farmers who are struggling for their livelihood
Jabarjang Singh Nihang Singh Maggu Math Wale has been arrested in Chanakya Puri police station. Those who went for an election campaign in West Bengal were arrested on the way. The government is now trapping them in a case which does not have much substance to it.
Ram Tirath, who was detained in treason cases for hoisting the Khalsa nishaan flag at the Red Fort on Republic Day 26th January, has been granted bail by Mohali’s Special NIA Court Judge Karunesh Kumar. This case was proceeded by Sikh Relief’s legal advocate Kulwinder Kaur. Currently Ram is detained in Mansa jail. His release will be possible soon after the paper process is completed. If Ram Tirtha and his four colleagues are convicted then these four youths can be sentenced to life imprisonment under the dangerous Indian treason law, just for hoisting a flag up a flagpole.
Sikh in USA are travelling to Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC where for a large farmers protest on 20th March.
Baaz News- Joti Kaur Rekhi: “U.S. Foreign Relations Chairman Triples Down For Farmers as Defence Secretary Visits Delhi.” Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-NJ) spoke out for the third time about undemocratic actions taken against demonstrators peacefully protesting India’s new farm bills.
U.S Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut has supported the efforts of World Sikh Parliament with a letter highlighting human rights violations of India and threatening them with sanctions.
The Tikri border today has a significant swell of numbers of farmers, creating an atmosphere of determined resistance.
Activist Ranjit Singh continues to get a hero’s welcome from Sikhs of Punjab wherever he goes.
Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik criticised the ruling BJP in sharp words for not supporting farmer rights against three agricultural laws. In an interview to a TV channel, the governor said, ′′ When a dog dies, it’s still sad, but 250 farmers have died so far, but no one has expressed sympathy. ′′ He said, ′′ If this movement continues like this then in the coming days, BJP will be in trouble in Western Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana.”
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday, March 17, questioned the Mumbai police about why Arnab Goswami, the Editor-in-chief of Republic TV, was not named as an accused in the FIR of the alleged Television Rating Points (TRP) manipulation case. Goswami is known as one of the biggest hysterical nationalist media commentators in India’s “Godhi media” circles.
The faculty at Ashok University released a statement Thursday in solidarity with noted scholar Pratap Bhanu Mehta, who resigned as a professor of the university, stating that the teachers were “deeply troubled” by his exit, which possibly was “a direct consequence of his role as a public intellectual and critic of the government”. Mehta has been critical of the Indian govt’s actions around the #FarmersProtest.
Some observers such as Sleeping Giants Kisan are wondering why Punjabi singers who supported farmers are going on Zee TV, when the news channel was so appalling in its coverage of farmers protests.
Washington Post article- “India, the world’s largest democracy, is now powered by a cult of personality. How Prime Minister Narendra Modi refashioned his governing party.”
18th March
300 farmers have died so far during the world’s largest protest. Out of 300 farmers, the number of deaths by state has been: Punjab-257, Haryana-29, Uttar Pradesh- 12, Rajasthan-2 #300DeathsAtProtest. The Government of India is in denial about the #FarmersProtest and is widely believed to be aiming to derail the protests using the force and power of media machinery.
Farmer Resham Singh from Ittanwali near Ferozpur has committed suicide due to onerous debts. His son, Harnoor Singh, says that they have a society debt of 11 lakh (1.1million) and that his father remained constantly stressed about the debt. Suicide in Punjab is at the rate of four farmers a week in 2020-2021.
A large Mahapanchayat (village council meet) was held at Abohar at which it was vowed that protesters would continue their agitation for as long as the new laws are not repealed.
As the protests exceed 110 days, the season has changed and with it the priority from keeping people sheltered and warm to trying to keep them cool and safe from disease ridden mosquitos and excessive heat. Sikh Relief has begun equipping out more than 20,000 tents with mosquito nets.
Hemkunt Foundation has received an amazing response from the protesters for their sugarcane juice project. It’s the third consecutive day and the line is only increasing each day for fresh sugarcane juice!
Local residents pelted stones on the convoy of former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Chaudhary Tejveer Singh in #Mathura’s Patloni village when he went there to attend a function. The protestors shouted pro-farmer and anti-BJP slogans.
Captain Amrinder said “Centre (central govt) should leave ego and should talk to farmers.” He said, “Bring new bills after discussion with farmers. Sit with them, talk to them and then bring a new bill. Why are you sitting on prestige and ego.”
Ahead of the US Defence Secretary’s India visit, the Chairman of the US Committee of Foreign Relations tells him in very strong words that India has silenced critics of the Indian Government and has been intimidating journalists covering #FarmerProtest: “The Indian government’s ongoing crackdown on farmers peacefully protesting new farming laws and corresponding intimidation of journalists & government critics only underscores the deteriorating situation of democracy in India.”
Farmers have launched a ‘MSP Loot Calculator’ to debunk the lies of government that the minimum support price (MSP) is upheld. The calculator will use its findings from government website Agmark.net to calculate the truth of MSP.
Yogendra Yadav: Farmers were “looted” of Rs 884 crore in the year 2020-21 for their gram crop as they got Rs 800 less than the MSP. In 2019-20, farmers were “robbed” of Rs 957 crore. This trend continues every year as the government has not made any “arrangement” for their safety in trading.
Eight youths from Haryana have demanded that use of unduly negatively biased words for farmers be stopped by TV channels; the youth will submit a memorandum to DC Hisar and have threatened to commit suicide if their demand is not met.
Bharat Bhushan Ashu has said that the Centre (central govt) is indifferent to Punjab. He said: “In retaliation against the farmers’ protest, the Centre is simply choosing to ignore the concerns raised by the state ahead of the crucial wheat procurement season.”
In Sriganganagar, Rakesh Tikait has said that if the proposed laws are not withdrawn, the next target could be the private godowns (in eastern Asia, especially India, a warehouse) of the corporations.
On March 17, the Delhi High Court directed the Delhi State Health Secretary to constitute a board of medical experts, forensic experts, and a radiologist to examine the X-ray report of deceased youth farmer, Navreet Singh. The Delhi High Court has taken this direction while processing a petition motioned by Navreet Singh’s grandfather, Hardeep Singh Dibdiba, in which he has claimed that Navreet Singh died due to a bullet fired in his head. Speaking to Sikh24, Navreet Singh’s grandfather said that he himself had inspected the dead body of Navreet Singh on the spot: “I had found the rear part of Navreet Singh’s head lying opened due to bullet injury,” he added.
Recalling a leaked letter of BJP to its lower cadre, in which BJP workers were directed to oppose farmers in every possible way on January 26, Dibdiba says that the bullet may have been fired by “someone else.” Still, it is almost certain that Navreet Singh died of a bullet injury in the head.
A youth rally will leave Moga (Punjab) on March 25 for the Singhu border, in remembrance of Navreet Singh. Lakha Sidhana. Leaders have urged people to join the rally.
A Hola-Mahalla program will be held on the Kundli-Singhu border for three days from 29th March, led as always by Nihung Singhs.
17th March
Farmer Union Leaders are repeatedly warning the government that farmers will block the Delhi-Noida border to surge the agitation, should the govt continue to ignore their demands to revoke the exploitative farmers’ bills.
Ranjit Singh has been officially released today. A video shows Sangat (Sikh congregation) celebrating as he was released. Ranjit Singh said that police used to beat him in all possible ways and he chanted Naam (Sikh mantra) every time they hit. He said that they swore at him all the time and were intimidated when they failed to break him mentally and physically. Ranjit Singh became a face of the protest after being attacked by a nationalist mob and the police, with a picture of a policeman stamping on his face going viral.
Lakha Sidhana in his latest video has said that the goal of morcha (protest/movement) is bigger than any person. He said that govt’s have been keeping a bounty on people who do not conform to their standards and that it is not new. He said that that the movement must focus on repeal and nothing else.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) group will be meeting the leaders of trade unions and other associations to discuss a joint strategy against privatisation by central government.
A bike rally was organised yesterday in Chandigarh to create awareness about the three laws and to protest against them. Black flags were used and slogans of kisan ekta zindabad (farmer unity forever) were raised at the rally.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Faridabad District and Sessions Judge to hold an inquiry into the allegations of illegal detention and custodial torture of labour activist Shiv Kumar, who was arrested along with Nodeep Kaur.
Haryana govt has again issued notices to farmers to not build permanent structures at any protest sites. SKM has also urged farmers to avoid building concrete structures. Sonipat police are to carry out a drive to tell people to not make permanent structures.
Farmers continue to protest outside SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrates) offices in Barnala, Bathinda and other locations against the new procurement measures.
Punjab Ekta Party President Sukhpal Khaira tweeted, “India has come a long way from begging other countries for food, thanks to hard working farmers. Modi Govt is hell bent on attacking the farmers and the food security of country for rich friends. They will control your communication, transportation and hunger!”
US Republican senator Mike Braun tweeted, “Last week, I met with the Chicago Consul General of India. Following this meeting, I sent word to the consulate and the Indian Ambassador in D.C. that I was concerned over the growing protests in India. This issue is especially important to Punjabi Americans in Indiana.”
#NoFarmers_NoFood was trending at Number five in India Trending with 22000+ Tweets. This helps the cause as the Indian government wants to pretend the farmers issue has gone away by having their Godhi media ignoring the issue. The diaspora need to help farmers show the world they are still protesting loudly.
Just to understand the Indian mindset, this tweet by Dhruv Rathee spells it out: “Farmers are angry because of Farm Bills…. Students are angry because of Flop Exam System…… Bankers are angry because of Privatization……Middle Class is angry because of Petrol Prices…..Andh Bhakts are angry because Hindu Khatre Mein Hai ……Then who is enjoying the Ache Din of Modi Govt??”
In Haryana’s villages government induced ‘new middle men’ shielded by new farm laws are cheating farmers. Private players are duping farmers even when the laws are under suspension. This is one of the reasons that a total repeal is the only valid demand.
“India’s new media guidelines will require social media companies to take down content that affects “the sovereignty & integrity of India” within 36 hours of a govt order. Modi & Hindutva are creating legal architecture to further their propaganda machine & authoritarian regime.” Tweet by US activist Arjun Sethi.
Baaz news – Jasveer Singh: “UK Parliament Debate Exposes India’s Undemocratic Response To The Farmers’ Protest”. The article explains that nearly all MPs that took part did request UK representatives to raise the topic of the Farmers’ Protest with India directly but only one MP (Tahir Ali, Labour) requested sanctions against Modi’s govt.
16th March
22-year-old, Balkaran Singh, who used to bring firewood to the protesting site Singhu, suffered an accident near Panipat and succumbed to his injuries at DMC Hospital, Ludhiana. Balkaran Singh had been part of the farmers’ protests since December.
Kuldeep Singh committed suicide through consuming poison after returning from the #FarmersProtest. Kuldeep Singh’s mother, Jagir Kaur, said that Kuldeep Singh had been at the protests since 17 February and had returned two days ago. Kuldeep Singh had said that the farmers were sad and that he felt helpless, which had contributed to his .anxious state of mind.
Dr Darshanpal, a farmer leader, spoke at the United Nations on the topic of the India Farmers’ protest as it continues to gain increasing worldwide recognition.
Protester Ranjit Singh won bail. He was famously pictured having his face stamped on by a police officer that was part of a mob attacking Ranjit Singh and others at the protest in late January. Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGPC) lawyers helped to secure the bail.
Punjab Ekta Party President Sukhpal Khaira tweeted: “The Farmer’s roar that started in Delhi has reached Bengal. Modi govt tried every trick in the book to suppress them but have failed to break their spirits. Farmers have taken their fight to Modi’s turf. Hyena’s cackle is no match for Lion’s roar! “
Posters about a social boycott of BJP-JJP leaders have emerged in Haryana villages. As a reaction to these posters, the Haryana assembly has passed a resolution to condemn the boycott and gherao (a protest in which workers prevent employers or managers from leaving a place of work until certain demands are met) of BJP- JJP leaders by farmers.
Farm labourers protested for a second day in Bathinda. Union president, Zora Singh Nasrali, said: “The government is betraying the country by selling out all natural resources, public and agricultural sectors to corporate houses”.
Haryana Assembly has tabled a ‘Riot Bill’. The bill aims to recover damages to public or private property from ‘court convicted rioters’. The bill will be discussed in a budget session. BJP Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar’s government wants to punish farmers by passing and enacting this law, is the view of many. Congress representatives staged a walkout against the bill motioned by their rivals currently in power.
The Sarpanch Union and the Bhartiya Kisan Mazdoor Union will hold a kisaan mahapanchayat (farmers community gathering) and Maha Kisaan Mazdoor Ekta (Farmers and labourers unity) rally at new grain market, Sirhind Mandi, on March 24. All major farmer union group leaders are set to attend.
Delhi High Court has asked Centre (central govt) to remove curbs on the movement of common people by removing barricades from the seven borders around Delhi.
Punjab government, in its diversification attempts, has bought potato and kinnow fruit, under the assured price regime from the coming financial year. This year, potato covers less than 2% of the total cultivated area and low prices across the nation discourage the cultivation of potatoes.
An ongoing bank workers strike enters day two. In-bank activities have been affected in urban areas. ATMs were also shut in some cities. The strike was largely peaceful.
Fearing protests by farmers against the proposed handing over of the non-core functions of the Amritsar railway station to private companies, Ashutosh Gangal, General Manager of the Northern Railways, did not visit the station during his annual inspection in the region on Sunday.
The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) has said that only farmers have been charged with violation of Covid protocols in Punjab but no charges have been filed against the Akali Dal Party who hold large rallies every day.
Sikh PA- Last week legal and political advocacy group, Sikhs For Justice led community calls for @POTUS Biden to raise the #FarmersProtest with India’s PM Narendra Modi during the 12th March Quad Summit. Many are disappointed that the issue was not raised during the international leaders’ meet.
Time magazine: “I cannot be intimidated. I cannot be bought.” The women leading India’s farmers’ protests.
Former World Bank economist, Kausik Basu, tweeted: “India’s economic growth has dropped from 9.3%, 9.2%, 10.2% in 2005-6, 2006-7, 2007-8 to 6.1%, 4.2%, -8% in 2018-19 , 2019-20, 2020-1. This is so unfortunate. I believe this economic crash is being caused in large measure by the rise of divisiveness & hate & the breakdown in trust.”
UK Home Minister, Priti Patel’s attempts to suppress the right of individuals to protest about the #FarmersProtest in the UK have raised widespread questions about her impartiality on the matter and questions about her priorities.
UK Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, has told officials in a leaked video call that Britain will seek trade deals with countries around the world that violate international standards on human rights, prompting concern about UK action on the #FarmersProtest.
Lawyer Prushant Bhushan tweeted: “On my complaint to govt re Anil Ambani’s firm having defrauded our banks & siphoned out 1000s of Crores; where I sought FIR against Ambani as required by rules, & cancellation of his Passport, govt asks me to seek ‘Court orders’! Govt has no role? They will only privatise Banks?”
Shiv Kumar and Nodeep Kaur, both 25-years-old, are children of landless Dalit agricultural labourers who grew up to be industrial workers. The young activists have come to be celebrated as symbols of the farmer-worker solidarity that underpins the current movement, particularly in Punjab, where large farmers and landless farm workers, despite their history of antagonism, stand united in their demand that the government repeal the three “black laws”.
15th March
A farmer named Surjit Singh of Budhlaada, Mansa (Punjab) who did not own any land but worked on leased land, took his life by drinking pesticide. Surjit owed 15lac to two banks and was tired of his trips to SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrates) Court for loan waiver applications.
Youth at morcha (protest) sites came together to create a youth committee. They aim to be a conduit between youth and elders and help with logistics, hopefully inspiring more youth to be involved. The number of youth at the morcha has gone down since 26th Jan incident.
The #FarmersProtest was raised at a United Nations Human Rights Council meet. The new India Farm laws are a violative of UN Declaration on Rights of Peasants of which India is a signatory. Arrests of Journalists was also raised. It is clear that government actions against journalists have damaged to India’s global image
A Mahapanchayat (community meeting) is going on in Ferozpur which was attended by more than 10,000 farmers. The farmers are talking against the farm laws and demanding repeal.
According to Samyukta Kisan Morcha, out of 151 farmers arrested by Delhi Police during the January 26 incidents, 147 have been granted bail with help of DSGPC.
Ranjit Singh has still not been bailed.
Sikh 24- “We didn’t commit any crime but Delhi police charged us with attempt to murder,” says a farmer held on Jan 26th.
Amandeep Singh and two more Sikh youth will spend a 10th night in jail for protesting against the rape of 6-year-old. His bail hearing has been postponed to 18th March.
Bursting the bubble of Godhi media that claim Farmers have blocked the main Highway of Delhi, a Delhi Court has asked authorities to stop violating the right of free movement throughout the territory of India under the Constitution, with a direct focus on the barricades they have set up around the protest.
A court has directed authorities to find ways for more movement by removing barricades to create movement channels through the protest sites. Court said that protesters have from day one allowed vehicular movement. Govt has put in barricades preventing this.
SKM (Samyukt Kisan Morcha) has decided that it will organise a Kisan Maha Conference on the day of Hola Mohalla in Anandpur Sahib. Rakesh Tikait, Rajewal, Dhalewal and other SKM leaders will attend.
SKM has decided that it will organise Kisan Maha Conference on the day of Hola Mohalla in Anandpur Sahib. Rakesh Tikait, Rajewal, Dhalewal and other SKM leaders will attend.
Hundreds of Farmers marched towards a BJP workers camp in Narwana, Haryana, to protest against the current govt’s actions.
Punjab Ekta Party leader Sukhpal Khaira tweeted, “Why is that over 4 lakhs farmers are protesting for their rights and living are unseen by Modi but he is helping Ambani and Adani growing their wealth? We all know, what is stopping Modi to repeal Farm laws, it is tremendous pressure from Ambani & Adani. #ModiGovt4AmbaniAdani”, “Indian constitution mandates Govt of the people, by the people and for the people. The current Govt seems to be all about their political donors and crony capitalists. They’ve been denying the rights of citizens to fill the pockets of Adanis/Ambanis! #ModiGovt4AmbaniAdani “
Lawyer Prashant Bhushan tweeted, “On my complaint to govt re Anil Ambani’s firms having defrauded our banks & siphoned out 1000s of Crores; where I sought FIR against Ambani as required by rules, & cancellation of his Passport, govt asks me to seek ‘Court orders’! Govt has no role? They will only privatise Banks?”
YouTuber and TV host Lily Singh went to the Grammys Award show wearing a mask supporting the farmers in Delhi.
Lily Singh tweeted, “I know red carpet/award show pictures always get the most coverage, so here you go media. Feel free to run with it.”
A letter from UK Home Secretary Priti Patel is doing rounds in media after she addressed a request by three Labour MPs to intervene against pro-BJP rallies in the UK targeting Sikhs. This was based on the “Proud Indians” rally which never materialised.
“I requested both PM and HM that they should not send the #farmers back empty-handed… The Sikhs will remember it for 300 years,” said the Governor of Meghalaya in a statement directed towards PM Modi.
One million bank employees were on a nationwide strike against privatisation today. But 99% of Indian media didn’t show it. If tomorrow, Modi plays with Peacocks, 100% of India media will show it. Media is the main reason Modi remains in power. They hide the reality of India from people.
A country where activists aren’t safe is no more a democratic country, many are saying now in regards to India’s current actions.
14th March
In Sangrur (Punjab), a young farmer allegedly attempted suicide over the central farm laws in the city of Sunam by consuming poison. Avtar Singh was referred to a hospital in Chandigarh in a serious condition.
A regular bus service has started from the Delhi Singhu border (largest protest site) to Jalandhar (Punjab). Union Leader Baldev Singh Sirsa said the service will help farmers to pay attention to their fields and the morcha (protest) at the same time. It will also make it easy for anyone to come to Singhu.
Three large gatherings were held today in Punjab. A seminar for farmers in Bathinda, Punjab, a rally organised in support of the United Farmers Front by a unit of BKU (Bharatiya Kisaan Union) in Sidhupur, Jalandar and a massive gathering at Mastuana Sahib Gurdwara to show support for Deep Sidhu and Lakha Sidhana. This last gathering was organised by Sikh youth.
Another MahaPanchayat (community meeting) was held in Sultanpur Lodhi today. It was a huge gathering to speak about how to support the #FarmersProtest.
It was decided at Sultanpur Lodhi today that 26th March will be observed as Punjab Bandh (Punjab Closed – a strike) in protest against the three farm laws. Cheques of 51,000rupees were distributed to the families of farmers who died during the ongoing protests.
Homage was paid to Shaheed Navreet Singh, the protester shot dead by police on 26th January (Republic Day), whose death has been covered up by Delhi police as a tractor accident. His grandfather Hardeep Singh was honoured at the rally.
Even after losing his young grandson during the 26th January rally, Bapu Hardeep Singh Dibdiba did not sit back. Instead he has intensified his efforts to strengthen the #FarmersProtests, say @Kisanektamorcha. He is motivating youth to join the #FarmersProtest with his enthusiastic efforts.
Sikh activist Nodeep Kaur addressed the farmers at the Sultanpur Lodhi Mahapanchayat
Women protestors at Tikri have made it clear that they will not leave the site until laws are repealed. The borders around Delhi remain closed for 108th day.
BJP rep Vijay Sampla was surrounded at Golpur, near Balachor area, by farmers and members of the Dalit community. Sampla had to escape under Police protection. Sampla is the Chairman of the National Commission on Castes.
@BasuAshis tweeted, “The more I read news from India, the more I am convinced that it has the beginnings of ethnic cleansing, which unchecked, will lead to genocide.”
CNN article covers the efforts of Dr Swaiman Singh from New Jersey. An American doctor went to India last year to care for protesting farmers. Swaiman Singh has become a standout figure in the protests after a video detailing police violence against doctors that were ironically treating other police officers at one of the protest sites.
Reliance Jio spends ₹57,100 crore at an Indian spectrum auction. By comparison, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea each spent ₹18,700 crore and ₹1,990 crore, respectively. Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani said the additional spectrum would help the telco expand India’s digital footprint and prepare for its 5G rollout, which he previously declared would be ready later this year.
Last year, Jio Platforms sold a third of itself to others for ₹152,056 crore. Buyers included Google, Facebook, Silver Lake, Vista Equity Partners, General Atlantic, KKR, Mubadala, ADIA, TPG, L Catterton, PIF, Intel Capital, and Qualcomm Ventures.
Times of India- LONDON: The United Nations confirm a donation of $10,000 from Sikh for Justice. They have been lobbying for an inquiry into treatment of farmers.
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has given a call for a nationwide strike on Mon-Tue to protest against the proposed privatisation of two state-owned lenders. Services such as deposits and withdrawal at branches, cheque clearance and loan approvals would be affected. SKM (Samyukt Kisaan Morcha) has already extended its support to the call given by bank unions.
A lot of farmer leaders who have got NIA notices have said that the govt is constantly pressuring them to opt out of #FarmersProtest
The farmers detained in Tamil Nadu have been released and police said that they were held as precautionary measure and that there was no permission given for a cycle rally. They have been told to take permission to protest before attempting it again.
A fortnight after being granted bail by Delhi court in a sedition case, Bengaluru climate activist Disha Ravi finally broke her silence. She said, “truth, no matter how long it takes, always reveals itself”. “In Tihar, I was aware of every second of every minute of every hour of every day. Locked in my cell, I wondered when it became a crime to think the most basic elements of sustenance on this planet were as much mine as theirs,” said Disha on her four-page statement on Twitter.
13th March
Nirbhay Singh Gholia, senior leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union Ekta Ugraha, passed away in Delhi protesting to reject the three farm laws imposed by the Modi government. He has been leading the struggle since the beginning of the Delhi Morcha. Nirbhay Singh was a member of the Advisory Committee of Block Bagha Purana. Those who supported everyone and played a leading role in solving every issue of farmers. Due to his death, the family village Gholia Khurd and the area have strongly felt the loss. The wave of grief has run in the village and the area.
A United Nations panel has asked India to compensate Safoora Zargar for arbitrary detention. Sikhs say Jaggi Johal has also been kept in arbitrary detention without fair and free trial.
MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi appeared on NDTV. He tweeted: “Human rights and press freedoms relating to #FarmersProtest were debated in the UK Parliament. As I explained on @ndtv, speaker after speaker spoke up for the essential need to protect press freedoms and the human rights of Indian protesters, since those values are universal.”
He did an interview with Indian media outlet the Wire as well discussing human rights.
Protester Ranjit Singh was denied bail yesterday. Ranjit Singh enters his 44th day in detention
DSGPC President Manjinder Singh Sirsa spoke with Ranjit Singh for 10 minutes. Despite his brutal treatment inside, Sirsa said Ranjit Singh was in Chardi Kala (high spirits).
Other farmer protested Who were bailed out stated that Ranjit looked as good as dead and had no clothes on. There have been no images released of Ranjit and no update on what injuries he has suffered.
Kisan Social army has constructed concrete houses at #TikriBorder . Around 6 houses have been constructed and water coolers will be installed.
Police has registered cases against farmers under various sections for digging up borewells on Highway & building concrete structures. First they remove access to water and sanitation for farmers. Then they put cases on farmers who are resourceful.
Farmers have brought bricks and started building houses at the protest sites, to show they have the stamina for the long haul.
Anand Sharma, project director, NHAI in his complaint to police, said the construction on NH-44 is under way. “Unidentified people have erected illegal structures on NH-44 in front of Malwa Motors. The illegal construction is damaging the NH-44.”
Harinder Lakhowal of BKU said that farmers had no option but to build concrete structures to stay for long to fight the battle effectively and to save the protesting farmers from the Summer heat. He said that the government is not talking to them and they are preparing for long haul.
Union leader Rakesh Tikait will lead farmers to Bengal on tractors on 5th April and stay on in an attempt to ensure the defeat of the BJP. “Woh toh helicopter mein chalega, hum peechhe peechhe tractor mein chalenge (Modi will travel in a helicopter, we will follow him in tractors),” said Tikait
There is a #FarmersProtest in Kolkata today.
BJP politician Shwet Malik was surrounded in Amritsar by farmers
A state level Kisan Yatra has started in Odisha. It will conclude on 23rd March at Bhubaneswar.
Strong winds flattened wheat crop in various regions of Muktsar area. Farmers were worried about the worsening weather and winds have caused flattening of crop. Flattening reduces yield by 30 to 40 per cent.
Due to the night curfew guidelines issued in various district of Punjab and restrictions on gathering, the remaining morchas are under threat of FIR’s for violation of protocol. Protesters may unanimously end their morchas this week. More than 120 FIR’s have been registered already.
A conference will be organised by SKM at Khatkan Kalan on 23rd March to mark the martyrdom of Sukhdev, Rajguru and Bhagat Singh. Senior SKM leaders will take part in the conference.
A protest rally was organised in Ludhiana by farmers against the local industries that dump their waste straight into the canals. Many studies have concluded that carcinogenic wastes are dumped into water without any moderation. Industries have failed to regulate the flow.
Farmers at Roop Nagar toll plaza entered into a scuffle with the toll plaza staff who tried to open the toll plaza once again. Farmers have been occupying the toll plaza for 108 Days now.
Banks association and traders association have announced a nationwide strike on Monday and Tuesday. Farmer Union leaders have extended unanimous support to the strike.
12th March
Another farmer of Haryana Dinesh passed away at Tikri Border yesterday. This takes the total number of farmer deaths to 289.
Bloomberg – Indian tycoon Gautam Adani has added more billions to his wealth than anyone else in the world this year. The net worth of Adani, a first-generation entrepreneur who rarely speaks publicly, has jumped $16.2 billion in 2021 to $50 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. This has made him the year’s biggest wealth gainer, beating even Elon Musk, who has tussled with Jeff Bezos in 2021 for the title of world’s richest. Shares of all Adani group stocks, except one, have rallied at least 50 per cent this year.”
The surge in wealth dwarfs the $8.1 billion added by Adani’s compatriot and the richest person in Asia, Mukesh Ambani.. Adani has been rapidly expanding his conglomerate, adding ports, airports, datacentres and coal mines in India, while doggedly proceeding with his controversial Carmichael coal project in Australia.
There is a large Farmers Protest rally at Muthada Kalan, Jalandhar district today.
KMSC has organised large rally of farmers at Grain Mandi Shahkot to protest against the three farm laws and human rights violations by police.
Union leader Rakesh Tikait has said that opposition leaders are not giving more support to Farmers Protest because they fear being targeted by Narendra Modi government.
American model Monica Gill tweeted, “Ranjit Singh has been in jail for 42 days now. My heart breaks thinking of what he may have been subjected to..”
Next hearing on Deep Sidhu’s Case is on 23rd March.
A rally was taken out in Amritsar in support of farmers who have been put in the jail. The rally in which black bands and black flags were used demanded the release of Deep Sidhu, Ranjit Singh, Mohinder Singh, Mandeep Singh and other farmers.
Sanyukt Kisaan Morcha leaders are being welcome at Kolkata airport. A massive crowd gathered outside, awaiting for them, raising slogans of Kisan Mazdoor Ekta.
‘No Vote To BJP’ is a slogan that people of Bengal are using to create awareness among people. BJP has almost ruined the lives of the farmers by passing the three farm bills and it will leave no stone unturned in taking control over Bengal. They say it is time for people to realise their mistake. #NoVoteToBJP
A first incedent report (FIR) has been registered against the farmers who protested against the BJP leader of Haryana. FIR under sections of attempt to murder have been registered against farmers.
Farmers across Punjab are worried due to a sudden and unexpected change in weather. Light rain was experienced last night and continued winds and drizzle are adding to worries of farmers with crop standing in the field. The moisture content will change things if heavy rains start.
Due to the night curfew and restrictions of covid back in place in Punjab the small morchas have been cancelled in many places. The total number of small morchas at start of farmers protests was around 1100 and it is now around 35.
The farmers of Doaba region are happy with record production of potato this year. Horticulture development officer Paramjit Singh said there was an increase of 150,000 metric tonnes of production this year.
Taking notice of Punjab government’s decision to force staff to switch to Jio networks, BKU Ugrahan and other farmer union leaders have said that chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh should withdraw any such order and should not force people to switch to Jio.
Washington Post Opinion Piece by Rana Ayub – India’s degraded and downgraded democracy. The world is watching while Indians back home continue to live in denial.
Claude Webbe MP tweeted, “Its 106 days of the #FarmersProtest. Why is Ranjit Singh still in jail – now 43 days – his treatment is inhumane. Supporting the Indian Farmers peaceful protest is not a crime. Preventing privatisation and the corporate takeover of India’s agricultural land is not a crime.
Farmers have been detained in Tamil Nadu by Police. Farmers had gathered to protest against the three laws by taking out a cycle rally. Media was also manhandled and stopped from covering the arrests.
The BJP/AIDMK govt is stopping the cycle rally for farmers at Kanyakumari. The rally is to begin from Kanyakumari today and go through the country to Kashmir in the next 5 months. This is gross abuse of authority by anti farmer govt of BJP/AIDMK. #ModiHarassingProFarmers
Baaz News has ublished an article by Jaspreet Oberoi on how Hindu Forum Canada and Rao Yendamuri have funded dubious “Thank You, Modi” Vaccine Billboards in Toronto. The organisation behind this campaign, is overtly political and is ideologically aligned with the BJP and RSS.
11th March
Farmer unions on Wednesday called for a Bharat bandh (national strike) on 26th March, when their protest at Delhi’s borders against the Centre’s three new farm laws completes four months.
Hindu nationalists are now openly threatening a repeat of the 1984 Sikh genocide on Twitter and Facebook, and the two social media companies are taking no action to stop it.
The Supreme Court has rejected the plea of private firm SM Logistics & Warehousing Company Private Limited. The company had filed plea to remove “anarchists masquerading as protesters” who disrupted its business. The Supreme Court rejected the plea saying protestors are not anarchists.
Farmers continue to protest at Shahjahanpur and the number has increased since February on all borders. There is approximate rise of 7 to 8 per cent in numbers as compared to February.
Approximate total of farmers on all 4 borders is around 175,000.
Haryana Farmers under BKU Charuni are demanding the payment of sugarcane dues by Naraingarh sugarmill. The protest is over the delay in payment of sugarcane, farmers held the mill officials captive for a couple of hours and served an ultimatum of 10 days to clear their dues.
“Payments of around Rs1.02 billion of the ongoing season and Rs60 million in the form of post dated cheques of previous season are pending. The mill has a sugar stock of over Rs400 million. The mill authorities have been giving assurances only but payments are not given.”- Gurnam Singh Charuni- Farmer leader.
Gurnam Singh Charuni said that a Mahapanchayat (traffic blockade) will be held on March 22 and if dues are not paid to the farmers, the mill will be stopped from working.
Awareness campaigns for Bathinda rally which is on 15th March going on in the villages of Punjab. Youth make announcements on bikes and cars about the rally andurge participation in the rally. Around 200,000 people are expected in Bathinda for the Rally on 15th March.
The Farmers Protest Morcha at Jandiala Guru, Gehri Mandi has been called off after 170 days by KMSC. KSMC leaders Savinder Singh and Harpreet Singh said that it was decided unanimously to end the Morcha and move to Delhi borders instead.
BKU president Balbir Singh Rajewal in a press conference in Chandigarh has said that Farmers won’t move until the laws are repealed. He said that teams will go to the poll bound states to urge people to vote against BJP because BJP only understands ‘Kursi’ (chair) and nothing else affects them.
Sikh jathebandis in Punjab have condemned the arrest of two Sikh youth including a foreign national. Jathebandis protesting at golden gate have said that media trials of Sikhs take place in India and crimes are decided by reporting outlets without any investigation.
Haryana BJP’s Aseem Goyal’s effigies were burnt outside his house in Ambala today. Haryana Farmers are angry over Goyal’s remarks about protestors in the house yesterday. Farmers have vowed to boycott JJP and BJP in Haryana.
.Harteerath Singh , community development director at Hemkunt Foundation was approached by Delhi police special cell. His organisation has been supporting farmer protests since day one. It’s the first time he was asked about the funding sources of organisation. During the COVID period, he helped distribute more than 300 tonnes of food and received praise from everyone at the time. Hemkunt Foundation have done immense seva getting tents quickly, food supplies and medical supplies.
Delhi Court has asked Delhi Police to submit reasons for not taking action on multiple complaints registered against controversial actress Kangana Ranaut. The court will hear DSGMC’s case against Ranaut on 24th March 2021.
An interesting article was published by the Economic Times – How American company ACPO Worldwide markets Narendra Modi to the World.
BJP supporters in Brampton are organising another pro-India Rally to antagonise Sikhs.
10th March
One more death at #FarmersProtest as Sukhpal Kaur of Punjab passed away due to heart attack on her way back to the Tikri protest site. Sukhpal Kaur had gone back to Punjab for a few days. She was part of the protests since Jan 2021.
Farmer Baldev singh passed away at the Singhu border. Baldev singh was from Sabo Talwandi and was part of protests since December 2020. This is second death of day and a total of 288 protesters have now died whilst participating in the #FarmersProtest.
Farmers suffered last night as rain crashed down at the Tikri border. Food supplies, mattresses got soaked. Many elderly farmers, bibian (women) and children in miserable conditions. While BJP leaders sleep in luxury beds, the farmers struggled in the harsh conditions.
Dr Swaiman Singh calls for bamboo as it’s required to create breathable temporary structures for farmers at protest sites. Some farmers have created very innovative structures from bamboo.
BJP are celebrating tonight as Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Khattar government survives No Confidence Vote in Haryana Assembly. 55 MLAs voted to save Khattar’s government. 32 MLAs voted against Khattar’s government. Haryana JJP voted in favour of BJP rather than the wishes of farmers. Some observers said money talks in these situations and BJP has plenty of money.
Haryana BJP CM Khattar for the first time admitted that Haryana authorities chose to dig up roads, use water cannons and tear gas shells against protesters. He said that farmers moved the barricades with planning and we haven’t seen anything like this.
Journalists and activists were arrested by @DelhiPolice for exposing BJP men who attacked farmers at the Singhu Border, with aid from police. Police arrested 30+ farmers and brutally assaulted Ranjeet Singh during the attack in late January. Zero attackers from the nationalist mobs were arrested.
Farmer Union leaders organised a rally in West Bengal to awaken the citizens about the three new laws. Leaders urged people to vote out BJP in the coming elections.
Farmer Union leaders will meet Trade Union leaders and Transport Union leaders on 17th March and will chart out programs to intensify the movement.
Bharat Bandh (India Closed – a strike) is to be observed on 26th March 2020 by farmers. Many bodies are likely to pour in to support the movement, via an SKM Press Conference.
Punjab Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution against the interference of Centre Govt’s agencies in Punjab’s affairs. The resolution also condemns the interference of Delhi Police in Punjab and Enforcement Directorate (law enforcers dedicated to economic crimes) raids in Punjab without informing Punjab govt.
UK MP Nadia Whittome tweeted, “Modi’s new farm laws threaten livelihoods. In the face of state repression and brutality, millions are resisting the BJP’s far-right regime and its RSS backers. Our government must decide whether it’s on the side of farmers, or fascists.”
Supporters of the protest have been highlighting that a government with all India’s power and influence has to intimidate, disappear, threaten, beat, name call, lie and torture its own citizens, proving it is a morally weak Government.
BJP Leaders continue to make up the most ridiculous lies. The latest from MLA Kanwar Gujjar says, ‘Congress should be blamed for the deaths of farmers’.
The facts are 288 farmers have passed away. Many young farmers have died as well as elders at Delhi borders. One was as young as 18-years-old. Some young children passed away in accidents traveling to the morcha (protest).
Australia TRT World article- “Amar Singh, President of Turbans 4 Australia, a Sikh charity organisation, says the Sikh community have never had “issues” with their Hindu compatriots in Australia. But when the Indian government, led by Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), began stigmatising protesting Indian farmers as part of Sikh separatist plot, relations between the two religious groups made a dramatic turn for the worse.”
UK Celebrity former Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall allowed The Sikh Press Association to present the case for farmers on his social media. On Twitter alone he has 171,000 followers.
Historian Audrey Truschke faces death threats from Indians and Rutgers University extended support to her. Some students of the university alleged that the historian was defaming Hindus due to her ‘inherently prejudiced views’. This is what happens to any journalist or academic who speaks out against Hindu nationalism. They are threatened with rape and death by hundreds of Hindutva thugs on daily basis. @AudreyTruschke claims she had to block 5,750 Twitter users to slow abuse against her. Truschke has been criticised for revisionist history which portrays Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb as benevolent, even though he killed the chota sahibzaade (young princes – referring to Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s youngest children).
BJP violence is not just being felt by Farmers, left wing activists, journalists and Kashmiris. Today, in the heat of Bengal elections, reports on social media state that Mamta Banerjee, All India Trinamool Congress rep and Chief Minister of West Bengal, was attacked and sent to hospital.
CNN opinion article- “The world’s largest protests you’ve probably never heard of“ Opinion by Dr Mandeep Rai Dhillon.
Despite the appalling weather last night, GurSikh elders at the morcha sat reading Gurbani, with strength in the hearts and Vaheguru on their lips. This imagery continues to inspire Sikh diaspora masses.
9th March
Farmer Mahinder Singh from Haryana passed away at #TikriBorder today. Mahinder Singh had been part of the protests since December 2020. This is the 286th farmer death and the 24th from Haryana.
Today, four farmers have been released on bail.
Bail applications for activists Mohinder Singh, Mandeep Singh and Ranjeet Singh have been filed. Ranjeet Singh was infamously pictured with a police officers boot on his face after officers attacked protesters in January.
Godhi media continues to maintain that the farmers protests are finished, when in reality the protests are getting larger and there have been huge turnouts by bibian (ladies), bolstering the numbers of the morcha (an organised march or rally) sites.
Rakesh Tikait, a prominent farmer’s union leader, which are addressed a huge rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur.
NDTV- “Will Reach Parliament On Lakhs Of Tractors If Needed”, Rakesh Tikait.
Punjab’s 32 farm organisations have agreed to form a nine-member committee to talk to the Indian Government.
Information given to the media this morning by Kisaan leaders Surjit Singh Phool and Ruldu Singh Mansa, has been criticised by Dr. Darshanpal on the grounds that no such committee has been agreed to be formed.
A night before the no-confidence vote in Haryana, farmers begin to surround homes of members of political party JJP of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). The house of JJP MLA Devender Babli was surrounded. Farmers also sent letters to MLAs to the effect that if they vote to protect BJP Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Khattar’s government then they should forget about getting farmers’ votes forever.
Devender Singh Babli, JJP MLA of Tohana, made it clear that BJP Chief Minister Khattar government has no moral right to stay in power in Haryana.
Heavy rain and wind at the Tikri border destroyed tents. The weather made it very difficult for the families of farmers at morcha site. Food supplies and mattress are soaked.
Activist Palwinder Singh Talwara, who has been very vocal in support of Lakha Sidhana and Deep Sidhu, has been suddenly jailed for five years in a sedition case which is 10 years old. The actions show how activists are being silenced, harassed and imprisoned.
Punjab Assembly has condemned the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids at Sukhpal Khaira’s house and other premises. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Charanjit Singh Channi and many others said that Khaira has been targeted because he is vocal about #FarmersProtest and protester Navreet Singh’s shooting by Delhi Police during the Republic Day rally (Jan 26th).
Sukhpal Khaira tweeted: “ED is being used to silence my voice because I supported farmers, raised their concerns, spoke against atrocities of Govt & attacks against peacefully protesting farmers. Farmers & their supporters were sent NIA notices, they have been jailed and tortured and now ED.”
Youngsters from Amritsar, Punjab brought trolleys of sugarcane and organised sugar cane juice langar (Sikh community kitchen service) at Singhu.
Agriculture economist, Devinder Sharma, tweeted: “Only 6% farmers in India get #MSP. When Govt says MSP will stay, all it means is it will stay for those 6% farmers. What farmers are demanding is #MSP to be made legal for all 23 crops for which prices are announced, meaning trading below MSP to be made illegal. Banning trading below #MSP does not mean the Govt will have to procure everything that farmers produce. Like in Spain, which has brought in a law to make trading below cost of production illegal, it only raises the price benchmark for trade to ensure fair prices to farmers.”
Numerous Members of Parliament (MPs) tweeted after yesterday’s UK Parliament debate. Vocal MP, Claudia Webb MP tweeted: “The Indian diaspora and the voice of Indian Farmers was heard today in Parliament- the UK Government must now act. In an oversubscribed debate I was disappointed not to be called as more women’s voices are needed. The #Farmers Protest is on the right side of history.”
MP Tahir Ali tweeted: “Today I spoke at the Westminster Hall Debate about the protests in India and the repression farmers have faced at the hands of PM Modi and his extreme right-wing BJP Govt. We must consider sanctions against PM Modi and BJP Govt figures, banning them from the UK and more.”
MP Nadia Whittome shone in the debate yesterday. In December 2019 at the age of 23, she became the youngest MP in the UK. Her father is a Punjabi Sikh and she is known as a straight talker and a defender of rights. She did not mince her words in the debate about the BJP, Modi and Hindutva. She called the BJP government sexist, misogynistic, bigoted and fascists. She said Home Secretary Priti Patel was an active supporter of the BJP and revealed that billionaire donors bankroll both the BJP and Hindutva.
Commentators have said that the reaction in India shows how humiliating the government’s response to the #Farmers Protest has been for Modi’s India. NDTV reported: “India called in the British High Commissioner today to express its disapproval of the discussions on farmers’ protest and press freedom in the British parliament, calling it “gross interference” and “votebank politics”. This is the first time the government of another nation has officially conducted internal discussions on the protests.“
8th March
ABVP tried to disrupt an event being attended by activist Nodeep Kaur at Delhi University on the occasion of International Women’s Day. They attacked her and her colleagues. ABVP is the student wing of the RSS and is utilised to silence opposition to the BJP in universities. Reports say Nodeep was pushed over, dragged and pulled. She has suffered bruises and her sisters glasses were broken. Others with her suffered injuries too.
According to The Caravan journalist Mandeep Punia, “ABVP people attacked the program of International Woman’s Day at Delhi University and started tearing up posters. When the girls stopped them, they tore the girls clothes and abused them. In this program, many courageous women like Nodeep Kaur had come.”
Video shows ABVP’s female lead figure @ShivangiSpeaks going up to the stage and interrupting the speech. Labour Rights Activist Nodeep Kaur and other respected female voices were there to speak.
At the Delhi Kisaan Morcha (farmers protest), farmers group BKU Ekta (Ugraha area team) held a huge womens conference on the occasion of Women’s Day, in which 50,000 women from Punjab and Haryana participated with full enthusiasm. This huge conference was run by and participated in solely by female speakers. The conference started with a tribute to the women who have been martyred through the farmer struggles, in whose memory a two-minute silence was kept. Addressing the conference, BKU Ekta (Ugraha) Women’s Wing leaders Harinder Kaur Bindu and Paramjit Kaur Pitho said that women’s role during the ongoing farmer struggle is crucial, as women are already facing most of the repercussions of the agricultural crisis (with the thousands of women that are widows being cited as an example). Women have recognised this new corporate attack on their livelihood and confronted it directly. The farmers protest is viewed as creating a pathway towards better rights for women in India, due to their prominent role in them.
In today’s conference, two important resolutions were passed by female farmer leader Kuldeep Kaur Kusa. A resolution demanded the release of all democratic rights activists, including women activists thrown in jail. Through second resolution, brave journalist women were saluted for exposing the truth of the fascist Modi government. Meanwhile, the play ′′ Je Abbhi Na Bole′′ was played out on stage by the conscious theatre group Mohali under the direction of Anita Shabdish.
Times of India article on USA Agriculture sector after it brought in same reforms that Modi has doing- “The US farmer’s share of the retail price has declined from 50% in the 1950s to less than 15% today. Debt has touched $425 billion, just shy of the all-time high reached in the recession of 1981. Loan default rates and bankruptcy filings are up, so are calls to the suicide prevention lines. Farmer suicide rates today are 4-5 times the national average. We heard about a farmer calling a suicide helpline, seated alone in his empty kitchen with the lights out and a loaded gun in his hand. We heard about a local bank officer who killed himself when forced by his management to recall loans and bankrupt farmers — folks he had personally known for years.”
Baaz News release- Monika Sidhu: Brampton Rallies In Support of Punjab’s Farmers and Women.
A large farmers rally was held in Haldwani, Uttarakhand today.
In UK, Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi MP was among many that spoke at a parliament debate on the farmers protests after over 114,000 UK citizens signed a petition for it. It was the first of many debates that petitions have demanded. While Tanmanjit Singh and other MPs spoke about the human rights abuses towards farmers and the abuse they suffered from BJP trolls, Tory MP Theresa Villers spoke what sounded like a scripted BJP response, claiming Modi’s reforms would benefit the farmers and that India was an economic success story.
It was notable on International Women’s Day that MP Charlotte Webb MP who has been very vocal on farmers issue was not given time to speak. Neither was MP Preet Kaur Gill.
Labour MP Zara Sultana tweeted, “I’m disappointed not to be called in the Indian #FarmersProtest debate in Parliament. It’s one of the largest protests in history, with farmers fighting back against Modi’s attempt to open-up farming to big corporations, devastating their livelihoods. Solidarity to the farmers!”
Over 2000 viewers were watching the streaming of the #FarmersProtest debate live.
The conclusion was diplomatic lip service as expected due to Brexit and the UK’s desperation for a trade deal. However with G7 coming up, this matter will get much louder in UK.
Despite unhappiness by many farmers supporters at lip service by UK Conservative Govt, the debate was highly embarrassing for Modi Govt as more learn about its fascist nature.
Sikh and Punjabis around the world need to call for RSS and it’s 40 affiliate groups to be banned in Western countries, many have suggested. These RSS groups have been involved in attacks on the Sikh community in western countries, work to feed false narratives into media, and are also threatening and trolling activists.
The Punjab Assembly Budget took place today.
1186cr ₹ loan of 1.13 lac farmers to be waived off in first phase & 526crore loan of landless farmers to be waived off in second phase under crop loan waiver scheme.
The Punjab Sugarcane Research Development Institute in Kalanaur, Gurdaspur and Batala will have their sugar mills upgraded. Three million are rupees to be set aside for the buying sugarcane, to be sold on further by the local authorities into local markets.
29 new schemes for improving canal systems have been announced. Large sums of money are being proposed for strengthening the canal irrigation system. This is very important given the rate at which water is depleting in Punjab, according to reporter Amaan Bali.
Over 20 million rupees has been set aside by the government by for crop diversification, after lobbying by farmers groups.
Over seven million rupees have been advocated for use as as a free power subsidy for farmers.
Lastly, today respect towards farmers was advocated by describing the farmer as an artist who paints the earth.
7th March
A 55 year old farmer named Rajbir Singh hung himself from a tree this morning at Bahadurgarh border.
Another farmer named Satpal Singh passed away this evening at Tikri Border due to poor health. Satpal Singh from village Mirzewala was part of protests since Jan 2021. This takes the total number of deaths to 285.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Kolkata to rally for votes but has still not spoken to farmers sitting on borders of Delhi for the last three months.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Sunday said he would hold a meeting with farmers on March 13 in Kolkata.
Sugar mills are procuring sugarcane at 325Rs per quintal, lower than the govt-fixed retail price of 385Rs. Farmers are made to wait for days before their produce is weighed leading to a loss in weight.
After yesterday’s successful KMP blockade Rakesh Tikait has said that this was just a trailer of what is coming. He said, “Like Delhi borders, KMP can also be blocked completely. Today was a trial for five hours.”
British Sikh peer Lord Indarjit Singh has written an open letter to UK MPs urging them to “voice support” for sending UN observers to the three farmer protest sites in Delhi “to monitor and report on abuse of human rights”. Crossbench peer Lord Singh of Wimbledon, born in Rawalpindi in pre-Partition India, is urging MPs to attend the debate on farmer protests and press freedoms in India in the House of Commons on Monday. His open letter asks them to “strongly condemn the Indian government’s high-handedness and violation of human rights of farmers exercising their right of peaceful protest.”
BJP’s Ashwini Sharma was shown black flags at Mansar toll plaza. Sharma was headed to Pathankot where he was opposed again and had to cancel his meeting after being surrounded by farmers.
BJP’s Vijay Sampla who also heads Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC ST) Commission was gheraoed (prevented from leaving his workplace) by farmers and members of Scheduled Castes community in Khuralgarh. The community said that Sampla is an opportunist who uses caste card to propel his own life and doesn’t know anything about conditions of community.
Farmers joined the members of Dalit community in gherao of Sampla and shouted slogans of ‘Punjab da gadaar Sampla’ and ‘Kisan Mazdoor Ekta Zindabad.’
Nodeep Kaur • exposing the truth in a special interview with lobby group Recognise One and presenter Harjap Bhangal is available on Sikh Channel today at 8pm.
Three rounds have been fired near TDI Mall at #SinghuBorder. No one has been injured, the assailant could be seen fleeing in a Chandigarh number plate car.
A young man has been doing seva (selfless service) for 90 consecutive day’s at the protest sewing and repairing clothes for the farmers.
Extremist behaviour of Modi supporters are being recognised by Governments around the world, as evidenced by the following:
Australia plans to ban extremist Hindu organisations like Vishwas Hindu Prasad and RSS after an attack on four Sikhs in Sydney. RSS and VHP have been termed as neo-Nazi organisations and any affiliation with them will be punishable offense.
A Modi supporter forced an Air France plane to land in Bulgaria due to a dispute in which he was shouting pro-Modi slogans and then behaved aggressively with stewards.
An article on the Farmers Protest was published in the Warwick Boar; the Warwick University Student Newspaper.
“Extremist views by British citizens members of BJP UK and the RSS must be investigated by the British police” – Jagjit Singh, Khalsa Foundation.
In the USA, KCRA 3 Sacramento News provided TV coverage of the Farmers Protest rally at Sacramento congressman Ami Bera’s office.
The rally drove past Bera’s office. Organisers say they have appealed to the congressman to take a stand on the issue, but he has remained silent. “He’s been so complicit. Despite his constituents writing to him repeatedly to address the situation happening in India – all the human rights violations occurring and just the disgrace of democracy that’s occurring there – he’s been silent on it,” one protester said.
Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi MP, Charlotte Webbe MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP have all spoken up for farmers. Hopefully in tomorrow’s debate, many more will step up, says Khalsa Foundation’s Jagjit Singh. “However, due to the £100 billion trade deal possibility, we do not expect much of an outcome.” He added that a good outcome would be banning RSS grups in the UK, as Australia is doing.
6th March
It has been 100 days since the Delhi portion of the morcha (protest). The Punjab portion has been going much longer, at 165 days. 283 farmers have died to date, thousands more are imprisoned, hundreds of thousands of rupees have been spent on food, shelter and organising the protest and providing transportation for participants just to convince Modi not to destroy the livelihoods of farmers to help his billionaire friends.
Farmer Janak Singh of village Gandhua passed away at #TikriBorder this evening due to heart attack. Janak Singh had joined the protests on 26th Feb.
Modi should learn some planning and execution from the protesters of Punjab and Haryana based on his recent manifesto pledges. What Modi promised has been achieved at Singhu in three months. Pure water, solar panels, caste free, bathrooms for all, food for all, air conditioning for all, hospital for all; protesters have built model city.
155 internet shutdown incidents took place in 2020 around the world. Out of 155 shutdowns, India’s share is 109. The nation to impose the second most was Yemen with six, and then Ethiopia with four. (Accessnow.Org).
India threatens jail for Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter Employees. India’s government has threatened to jail employees of the tech giants as it seeks to quash political protests and gain far-reaching powers over discourse on foreign-owned tech platforms.
Thousands of bibian (women) have come out in tractors and trolleys for the morcha on #InternationalWomensDay.
Farmers blocked the KMP Expressway on the 100th day of Farmers Protest. Thousands came from Punjab and Haryana and from the Singhu and Tikri borders to block KMP Expressway.
A huge Maha Samelan (conference) of farmers took place in village Mugowal, Hoshiarpur. Thousands participated.
The Shahjahanpur Morcha (protest on another Delhi border) has increased in stretch and the numbers have also increased manyfold.
A new convoy of tractors from Punjab’s Majha area is coming towards Singhu protest site. Farmers who have blocked the KMP are welcoming them.
The government’s move to regulate digital news and social media follows a roadmap chalked out during the height of the pandemic in a report on government communication prepared by a group of ministers. One of the core concerns of the report has been voiced in an observation by Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the union minister of minority affairs: “We should have a strategy to neutralise the people who are writing against the Government without facts and set false narratives and who spread fake news.”
The choice of words is revealing, as is the fact that the report does not spell out what a fake narrative is and how the government chooses to define it.
Former UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted, “We must stand in full solidarity with the farmers’ protests and strikes in India. They are on the right side of history.”
Ravneet Bittu, grandson of the butcher of Senior Police Officer Punjab Beanta Singh, continues to badmouth the #FarmersProtest. Bittu and other Punjab Congress people are trying to weaken the movement by playing people against the Farm leaders.
127 minority activists were arrested under India’s UAPA law in 2001 pertaining to links to a banned org SIMI. The Surat court finally acquitted 122 of them after two decades. The other five died during the trial.
On March 8, the UK parliament has scheduled a debate on “press freedom and safety of protestors in India”. This debate was marked in the parliamentary calendar after an e-petition crossed the threshold of 1,00,000 signatures earlier this week. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, British high commissioner to India, Alex Ellis said, “I think the foreign secretary (Dominic Raab) said it when he was here ‘your politics is our politics’ – in other words, things that happen in India have ripples in the UK partly because you have such a big diaspora community in the UK, so these things get debated.”
Pictures of Baba Santokh Singh are being celebrated. On the first day at Delhi’s borders he was hit by tear shell giving him a visible facial injury, a disturbing site on the face of an elderly man. Today the protest has entered 100th day and he is still here, beaming.
5th March
TIME’s magazines new international cover features women of the #FarmersProtest, headlined: “I cannot be intimidated. I cannot be bought.” The women leading India’s farmers’ protests.
Three points from the Punjab Assembly were raised regarding farmers. A) Electricity will continue to be free for Punjab farmers and will be at subsidy for industrial usage. B) The assembly passed another resolution against the 3 laws. C) A resolution has been passed to initiate steps on water table maintenance.
In an arm twisting measure, the Delhi BJP regime has stopped procurement of rice from Punjab. As per order on 16th Feb, Central Govt wants Punjab rice mills to include a mix of protein in while polishing the rice. 4300 rice mills in Punjab have no such mechanisms to do this and work has stopped in the mills. This is a back handed way to put immense pressure on farmers and agriculture workers in Punjab.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh made a revelation in the Punjab Assembly that Sukhbir Badal had written him a letter telling him to not mislead the farmers about the new farm laws. Captain said that Sukhbir was in support of laws until September 2020, when protests began.
Sikh soldier Gurjant Singh laid down his life for the nation at China Border today while serving in the Indian army. Gurjant Singh belongs to village Raipur Aria of Fatehgarh Sahib.
Four more farmers have got bail with the efforts of the DSGMC & SKM legal advocacy campaigns.
All the women arrested in Delhi for having Nishan Sahib and Kisaan Aandolan (Farmers Movement) flags were released yesterday, including the 2-year-old child. Sikh jathebandis (groups) the world over have condemned the draconian move by Delhi Police.
A huge Mahapanchayat (community meeting) was organised in Ratlam of Madhya Pradesh yesterday. It was attended by Gurnam Singh Chaduni and Congress’ Digvijay Singh. Chaduni said that there is no way farmers are returning without guaranteed MSP (minimum support price) and a full repeal of the three laws.
A huge jatha (Sikh group) of around 500 tractors and trolleys has left for the Delhi borders from the Golden Gate Amritsar. Farmers union group KMSC organised the jatha from various villages of Amritsar over the entire week. The preparation for tomorrow’s KMP March is on.
Farmers union leader Rakesh Tikait has said that a BJP’s minister will submit his resignation in support of the #FarmersProtest in this month. Tikait has not named the leader yet.
BJP’s Vijay Sampla and Shwet Malik were surrounded today in Amritsar. Vijay Sampla had gone to Sri Harmandir Sahib Amritsar (often called the Golden Temple). After darshan (meeting Guru Granth Sahib Ji), his cavalcade was surrounded during his journey.
A massive tractor march passing through Bathinda has been organised to urge people (especially women) to go to Delhi Borders on 8th March.
BJP Agriculture Minister Nardendar Singh Tomar also lied about eliminating ‘middle men’ with new laws in his recent statement today. No supporter of the new laws has been able to explain how a person does not become a middle man if he can buy crop from a farmer with and sell it to any big corporation.
SKM will take out a tractor march tomorrow from Uttar Pradesh city Meerut. This march will move within 16 districts of Uttarakhand before concluding at Delhi border Ghazipur on the 27th of March.
The #FarmersProtest has entered day 164 in Punjab. The morchas (protests) at various locations continue. Farmers are preparing for tomorrow’s KMP freeway blockade. Many farmers will go to Delhi with their tractors tonight in preparation.
Today DSGMC filed a Criminal Case against Kangana Ranaut u/s 156/3 in Patiala House Court. The matter is listed for March 10th for registration of an FIR against Kangana for inciting communal hatred against farmers and labelling them as terrorists.
United Sikhs (@unitedsikhs ) have issued a statement clarifying its legal actions and help provided to farmers. In the statement, they have said that they have met with farmers leaders and legal advocates and that all groups working in this area should work together without infighting.
Baaz Opinion- Tiranga Yatras Are An Old Divisive Modi Tactic That’s Now Targeting Sikhs In The West, from @iJasOberoi . “The origin of this term goes back to 2016, conceived by PM Modi himself. These ‘yatras’ follow a fixed pattern, irrespective of the issue.”
The Tribune- The Australian Government has threatened deportations following four attacks on the Sikh community ahead of the March 15 roundtable in Australian Parliament to highlight concerns about Delhi’s heavy-handedness and suppression of dissent in dealing with the farmers’ legitimate demands. Amar Singh of Turbans for Australia said: “They (pro Indian govt groups) are targeting our community.” The Australian Alliance Against Hate and Violence has held a press conference on the threat that Hindu far-right extremism poses.
A video on Twitter of two young Indian men claiming they are going to join Indian army so they can go to Kashmir and rape women has gone viral. It shows the sick mentally created within Indian nationalism, promoted by BJP and carried out by Indian law enforcement such as the army.
For the India #FarmersProtest debate in UK Parliament on 8 March 4:30pm, constituents are being urged to send bullet points to MPs on facts of the farmers issue and points to raise. While the UK is not going to do anything to jeopardise a £100 billion trade deal with India, the debate is still highly embarrassing for the vain Modi BJP regime.
4th March
Today Delhi police arrested a two-year-old girl and her mother with 24 other bibian (ladies) as they went from Singhu border to Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib Ji in a vehicle with a Nishaan Sahib (flag) and flags demonstrating support for the #FarmersProtest. The action mirrors events from 1984, when the Indian Government arrested many children who were eyewitnesses to attacks that took place, jailed them for years as the highest category prisoners and then eventually released, for them only for many to be killed by police in “fake encounter” meetings. In the same manner, today a two-year-old girl is seen as a threat to the country’s authoritarian style of rule.
55-year-old, Harnam Singh Ji, who had been protesting at the Kundli border since January 18, passed away due to a heart attack, after returning home to Sandli village. His son, Harjeet Singh, said that Harnam Singh had been brought home from the protest due to poor health. The total number of farmers who have passed away now stands at 282, according to journalist Amaan Bali.
In a widely mocked action, Delhi Police sent a notice to dead farmer, Jagir Singh, in connection with the march of January 26th. Jagir Singh passed away on 31st January.
Activist Shiv Kumar has got bail in a third case.
#FarmersProtest organisers held a large rally in Kolkata today, demonstrating the widespread support that the farmers are getting.
Many teams of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Indian Farmers’ Union, BKU) have reached different states and will start their rallies and campaigns there.
Four borders of Delhi, Tikri, Ghazipur, Shahjahanpur and Singhu, remain closed by farmers. The crowd remains consistent at these borders. The Shahjahanpur border has also seen a surge in numbers.
Farmers at Singhu have started making temporary structures to sit and sleep in during the summer. The structures are colder to stay in than trolleys, and farmers may have to send their trolleys back to Punjab during harvesting season.
Farmers at Tikri will have it easier in the summer as there are a lot of trees in that area. The farmers can be seen sitting on manjhas (Indian beds/seats) under the trees. However the Singhu protest site does not have trees so conditions will be different.
Youngsters from Ludhiana brought fans to distribute to the farmers.
Over 100 fire extinguishers were installed at Tikri border today.
Five people have been granted bail after arrests related to the #FarmersProtest, including a tenth grade student, showing the indiscriminate nature of arrests that had been made by the police.
Eleven more farmers will be released from Tihar jail tonight. All releases are down to the joint efforts of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM). DSGMC fights the battle head on whereas SKM’s panel helps with paperwork.
All toll plazas in Punjab and exterior of Haryana remain closed for the 130th day. There are more than 1100 morchas (an organised march or rally) that have or still are taking place in Punjab and most of them are at toll plazas.
A protest march was organised at the Golden Gate by Sikh students from Amritsar, demanding the immediate release of Deep Sidhu, Mohinder Singh Khalsa, Ranjit Singh and many others.
Women in villages from Bathinda are preparing to go to Delhi borders in huge numbers on 8th March, which is International Women’s Day. The women are collecting fans, mosquito nets and other equipment for the Delhi Border.
MP, Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi, tweeted, “Human freedoms, a free press and the ability to peacefully protest are rights, which have been hard fought and won over the centuries. So please always remember, when someone tries to silence you – human rights are universal.”
Sikh PA- The UK @HouseofCommons will host a debate on the ongoing #FarmersProtest in Delhi. It will take place on Monday 8th March at 4.30pm (GMT) in Westminster Hall. MPs are encouraged to attend in person or take part virtually and viewers across globe will be able to watch live.
Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah said, “Kangana Ranaut has a problem with every actor except Narendra Modi.” The line is a dig at Kangana’s rampant nationalistic tweets and rants that show blind support for Modi’s regime and direct anti-national accusations towards other actors and public figures.
Yogesh Khattar, Indian rally’s chief organiser and administrator of the Facebook group “Indian Diaspora in Sydney”, has told SBS Punjabi that they had no intention to head towards any Gurdwara. There has been violence towards farmers and their supporters, with allegations that Indian agencies are intentionally interfering in Australian affairs by paying goons to target the Sikh community. A group of Sikh men in Sydney claimed that they were victims of a hate crime after the car they were travelling in was attacked. CCTV footage of the incident shows a group of unidentified men smashing the car with baseball bats and hammers while the Sikh men were still seated inside.
Washington Post editorial- Mr Modi’s assault on dissent.
3rd March
Freedom House- India is not rated as a “Free” country according to Freedom House rankings of 2021. Political rights and civil liberties have eroded in India since Narendra Modi became prime minister in 2014, causing the country to drop from Free to Partly Free in 2020. #FreedomInTheWorld
Baaz news- Jaskaran Sandhu: India Is Not Committed To Democratic Values. What parroting the “world’s largest democracy” tagline actually does though is mask and excuse the reality of the rising autocratic and violent Hindu Nationalism that has gripped Modi’s India.
Five bail applications filed by DSGMC have been accepted today. Few anticipatory bail applications have also been accepted.
Activist Shiv Kumar has got bail in two out three cases. The hearing for the third case is tomorrow. He is finally free after suffering torture whilst imprisoned.
Gurnam Singh Charuni, leader of the Haryana unit of Bharatiya Kisan Union, attended a huge MahaPanchayat (community meeting) at Majra Piyau, Hissar, today. It was attended by more than 50,000 farmers and supportive youth.
A huge Mahapanchayat was held at Nagor. Rakesh Tikait addressed more than 80,000 people at Nagor Mahapanchayat. Many other farmer leaders were also present. #FarmersProtest is heating up in Rajasthan.
At the meeting of Haryana BJP workers, some BJP leaders asked for tips on how to spin the farm laws. They know they have lost the debate and are struggling for credibility.
In a very big crackdown on drugs in Punjab, 20,000 tablets of banned drugs and cocaine packets were found in BJP’s ex councillor Satish Nagar’s home in Ludhiana. Investigation is on and police will reveal the nexus involving many more BJP people involved in the drug business. The truth of the BJP is being revealed as they continue to try to oppress farmers.
Farmer leader representative Abhimanyu Kohar- Two days ago, farmers protested against BJP leader and in response 200 FIRs have been filed against farmers.
SKM (Samyukt Kisan Morcha) has decided to extend support to trader unions on 15th March’s anti-privatisation day.
BKU (Bharatiya Kisan Union)’s Paramjit Kaur has urged women to come to Delhi on 8th March to mark women’s day. She said that protest has been a major success due to women helping on and off the morcha (protest).
Farmers of Karnataka are getting paid at least one thousand less than the standard MSP.
Joginder Nain said the Haryana govt have approved six silos for crop storage for corporations making use of the new farming laws. United farmers front said farmers will protest against them.
Punjabis have brought a Borewell drilling machine to Singhu border to help with water. They are still struggling for water.
SAD’s Bikram Singh Majithia has said that SAD does not support Deep Sidhu as he has carried out a crime against the nation. Majithia said that Sirsa is doing this work in his own capacity and not as SAD’s representative. Majithia has many allegations of being a drug king pin according to sources.
Akali Dal and BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) are talking to form a coalition for upcoming assembly elections in Punjab. BJP’s central leadership is unhappy.
Mahua Moira tweeted in reference to Kangana and other cut and paste Bollywood actors. “Bollywood that crawls when asked to bend given security. Bollywood that stands straight with farmers raided by IT” (income tax department).
Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has condemned the income tax raids at Taapsee Pannu’s home, the actress that showed support for the #FarmersProtest. SKM has said that the govt is trying to intimidate and scare anyone who is standing with the farmers.
UK- The Petitions Committee met yesterday and agreed to schedule a debate on the #FarmersProtest petition which had over 100,000 signatures. The debate will take place on Monday 8 March at 4.30pm in Westminster Hall in the House of Commons.
Karnataka High Court refuses to uphold the proceedings initiated against actress Kangana by a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) which directed the Police to register FIR against her for her genocide advocation tweet on farmers opposing the #FarmersBill.
The corporations who want these farm bills are Cargill India, Tyson Food, Adani, and Reliance. In a press statement Cargill India President said “reforms would act as a catalyst in attracting private-sector investment in building supply chains for taking Indian farm produce to national and global markets.” Basically corporations want to take trade protections away so they can finish the farmers and turn them into labourers to create larger profits for corporations.
2nd March
Jeet Singh, a farmer aged 70, died in an accident last night when he was returning to his trolley after having langar at Singhu Border. This is the twelfth accidental death at the Morcha (an organised march or rally). Jeet Singh’s body has been sent to his village, Nathuwala Garbi.
22 more farmers have been freed from Tihar Jail due to the efforts of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) legal team and Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM).
More than 60,000 farmers in Punjab have got court notices due to their failure to pay their debts, putting their lands at stake.
The land of more than 398 farmers has been claimed by Punjab National Bank and the Bank of India.
Farmers in Umraya village of Chhata sub-division in Uttar Pradesh destroyed crops in a four-acre area yesterday to protest against the contentious farm reform laws.
Farmer leaders said that the Modi government only understands the language of voting in elections. The leaders said that they would raise awareness by going to five states and telling people how the government has treated farmers. United Farmers plans to start the campaign on the 12th of March, starting from Bengal.
The farmers morcha (an organised march or rally) will celebrate International Women’s day on 8th March as a tribute to the huge contribution of bibian (ladies) in the morcha. On 8th March, bibian will control the centre stage at all protest sites.
Asia Samachar article- India Farmer Protests: Women Like Dr. Ritu Singh Are on the Front Lines. “This moment has awakened so many people who were sleeping,” Dr Ritu Singh she tells Teen Vogue. “It has awakened those who never thought about what we are eating, and that what we have [on] our plates is because of those who work so hard in their fields each day in order to feed themselves and to feed us all.”
Erim Kaur, a young UK Sikh female activist has has used her platform to highlight the protests. She is the latest of many Sikh female activists to get trolled for her stance but she has stood her ground.
Bollywood actor Ajay Devgun was confronted by a #FarmersProtest supporter, Rajdeep Singh, about the actor supporting Modi and the new farm laws on social media. Bollywood actors are increasingly realising that the public will respond to their cut and paste statements favouring the fascist Modi regime. Rajdeep Singh was arrested by Mumbai Police but later released.
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Advocate, Amritpal Singh Khalsa Ji, had taken up the responsibility of completing Rajdeep’s papers and getting him released. However, there is some discrepancy as some reports said Rajdeep had been released prior.
Delhi Police has closed the stretch of open road at #Ghazipurborder.
Vinod Changla, a young man from Baania village, who can’t walk, has started a journey towards the Singhu border to support #FarmersProtest. Changla said that he won’t return until the laws get repealed.
The farmers who died while protesting against the three farm laws were remembered during the Punjab Assembly’s session.
Union leader Rajewal has said that farmers will block the KMP Highway on Saturday from 11am to 5pm.
Union leader Rakesh Tikait has said that the government’s silence over past few days indicates that it is planning something vicious against the farmers. He said that farmers aren’t scared and won’t be intimidated.
The deployment of the CRPF, RAF and police has been extended up to 10th March on the borders of Delhi.
Former MP, Udit Raj, organised a Dalit (low caste) conference at the Constitution Club of India and urged all Dalits, irrespective of what work or job they do, to support #FarmersProtest. He called Dalits the original sons of the soil and said that no one should be able to divide Kisaan and the Dalit community.
Dharmendra Malik (Media in charge of BKU) has resigned from UP government’s commission which was formed to address the problems of farmers. Malik said that the government is not serious about the farmers’ problems and no meeting had been held since the formation of the commission. He said the government never met any farmers in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
Farm unions will send teams to election-bound states and they will appeal to people not to vote for the BJP.
Rupi Kaur tweeted: “brilliant investigation by @newslaundry’s @NidhiSuresh_ that shows how Delhi police and goons attacked the #Farmersprotest. They break down the Delhi police’s horrid treatment of Ranjit Singh who they “dragged, beat and charged with murder.”
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee President MS Sirsa tweeted: “Yesterday again, I gave a reminder to @DCPNewDelhi that they haven’t registered any case against @KanganaTeam on the basis of our complaint against her malicious tweets done labelling Farmers as Terrorists.”
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee President MS Sirsa also tweeted about Godhi media operating in Canada: “First Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib, and now outside Brampton Gurdwara! This is a larger conspiracy to alienate Sikhs & spark communal hatred against us. We condemn any such actions happening in India or Canada that appear as threats to minority Sikhs and our faith. We request @DrSJaishankar Ji to report about the malicious activities of @canhinduadv & discuss about safety of Sikhs in Canada with his Canadian counterparts”.
New Westminster, BC, Canada Council passes resolution in favour of farmers protests.
1st March
Punjab is the largest market for agricultural product companies in Asia. Punjab has more than 3500 international fertiliser and seed companies operating in it. Punjab is the Asia HQ of 27 major international agriculture firms but BJP supporting economists are busy doing propaganda that Punjab hates private players -journalist Amaan Bali. This is in relation to nationalist propaganda suggesting the #FarmersProtest is a pro-communism anti-capitalist movement.
A massive Mahapanchayat (community meeting) was held at Rudrapur in Uttarakhand today. Farm Union leaders including Gurnam Singh Charuni attended the Mahapanchayat. More than 20,000 people attended.
Farmers in Sangrur in large numbers surrounded the local Deputy Commissioner’s Office. Hundreds are still in a council auditorium for the 5th day of a sit-in protest over land acquisition.
Fifteen more farmers have got bail today. 12 of them were detained under FIR 44/2021 in the Nangloi area.
Those released on bail said no medical was done to document the injuries they received at the hands of officers they while in custody.
Ranjit Singh continues to be in detention since 29 days now. Ranjit Singh is booked under murder and rioting for protecting his people on Jan 30th when BJP & RSS goons attacked women’s camp at Singhu. Ranjit Singh’s case is pursued by SKM & DSGMC. #ReleaseRanjitSingh
Manjinder Singh Sirsa from DSGPC has confirmed he has spoken with Deep Sidhu today, on the day he was remanded. He is perfectly fine, health wise he said. He has assured him that DSGMC will provide all legal assistance and will ensure that he is out of jail soon.
Giani Pinderpal Singh Ji has said that Kisaan Aandolan (Farmers Movement) has become Insaan Aandolan (Justice Movement). He says it is not only a fight for rights but righteousness too. He said that if kisaan (farmer) is impacted, dukaan (merchant) is impacted and thus urged common people to join the protests.
CNN- Indians are telling their 18 million-strong diaspora to keep out of their affairs. The diaspora response – “Don’t tell me to stay out of your affairs,” Meena Harris wrote earlier this month on Twitter. “These are all of our issues.”
The Wire article- Why Bihari Farmers Are Looking to Sell Their Sugarcane in Nepal.
Butcher of Sikhs Sumedh Saini and Paramraj Singh Unramgal have been given anticipatory bail by Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Ambani has started giving unlimited calls and free data. He lost his place as the top mobile supplier in India since the Farmer protests and is now trying to regain it.
Baba Makhan Shah Lobana Sikh Center and many of the Tri-State Gurudwara Committees in USA have come on to the same platform and have organised a #WakeUpAmericaFarmersProtest #MarchOnWashingtonForHumanRights protest in pain of the soon to be reached 100 days of peaceful protest that has been going on in Delhi that has been unrecognised. He made a humble request that we show up in thousands to Washington D.C on March 20, 2021. The March will start at Lincoln Memorial at 12pm.
In UK, the India rally did not have one participant. In Toronto, the pro-India rally had a handful of cars of BJP supporters. Local Sikhs and Punjabis, they joined the route and made it into a Pro-Farmer rally.
28th February
Lakha Sidhana’s Facebook page is not accessible in India. He has around 300,000 followers. Instead of debating the issues, BJP are resorting to silencing the farmers.
Another massive Maha Panchayat (traffic blockade) today. Farmer spokesmen Gaurav Tikait, Gurnam Singh Charuni, Harshpal Singh Charuni addressed a huge panchayat under the banner of ‘SKM’ held at new grain market in the Yamunanagar district in Haryana.
Arvind Kejriwal addressed a massive Maha Panchayat at Meerut and said that the government’s intention is not good. He also said that debts of farmers should be laid off like those of corporations. More than 100,000 farmers attended the #Mahapanchayt.
Huge crowds were seen at Bahadurgarh railway station in Haryana. A large number of people come to support farmers from Punjab on trains during the weekend. Each train reaching Bahadurgarh is full of farmers.
Farmer union SKM met a five member delegation from south India yesterday. Around 150 farmers from five states of south India have come to Singhu to join protests.
A delegation of Jammu and Kashmiri Sikhs has sought time from JK governor Manoj Sinha to address the pick up and arrest of people from Jammu, including Mohinder Singh, whose bail papers will be filed on Monday or Tuesday.
Punjabis from Dhudiwal village in Punjab has started to build metal frame boarded houses as they prepare for the long haul at the border sites.
Harjeet Singh, a retired army man from Amritsar, is preparing fans specially designed to operate on trolleys. He has served in the Indian army for 16 years. He has made over 50 fans for trolleys so far. Every Punjabi is contributing in their own way. He aims to make at least 300 fans for tractor trolleys.
The SKM legal panel has said that some people and organisations are collecting donations in the name bailing out farmers or legal aid to farmers. Bhangu said that all aid is provided by DSGMC and SKM, and to avoid paying to any organisation and individual.
Activist Nodeep Kaur has said that she was beaten and harassed in jail. She has revealed that her medical was avoided as well. She has made serious allegations of rape on Sonipat police after her conversations with other females in the jail.
Her fellow activist Shiv Kumar’s family has been denied permission to meet him for the third time.
The spree of privatisation continues in Punjab with Ludhiana railway station getting privatised. Amritsar station has already been privatised.
BJP’s Tarun Chug has said that BJP will emerge stronger in Punjab. He said that gherao (strike/boycott) of BJP people is unfortunate in Punjab. Chug was supposed to attend a party in Ludhiana which he canceled after farmers got to know that he will be coming.
Nobody turned up at the BJP Indian flag rally in the UK. Many Sikhs were ready at Gurdwaras and other locations. Police had a significant presence. A significant failure for BJP.
Saving Punjab – Once again India is using ridiculous laws which threaten freedom of speech. Minister of State for IT Satej Patil says these regulations need to be opposed strongly as they infringe the privacy of individuals and free speech given by the Constitution. A Maharashtra minister on Saturday opposed the Centre’s regulations for social media platforms and over-the-top (OTT) players, terming them as “dictatorial” and a “threat” to democracy. “This move by the Centre needs to be fought tooth and nail. Such dictatorial regulations will not be accepted by the people of this democratic country,” he said.
Please remember all the farmers and activists have just been bailed not freed. Nodeep Kaur and the over 150 farmers still have cases to fight.
A benti to Sangat to now raise the profile of Bhai Ranjit Singh and campaign online for his freedom – Jagjit Singh.
27th February
Today, the Farmer Labour Sangarsh Committee suffered a tragic loss when District Jalandhar’s senior vice president Kuldeep Rai age 28 years old, coming from Delhi died due to an accident at around 11:30pm. He was serving in the Delhi Morcha since February 5th. His funeral will be held tomorrow at 1pm at his village Talwandi Sanghera.
A farmer named Sarabjeet Singh took his life by consuming pesticide in village Darapur of Taran Taran. He was under immense stress due to debt of INR720,000 and owned 3.2 acres of land. His family has said Punjab chief minister Captain Amrinder Singh is responsible for his death.
The United Nations has asked India to find ‘equitable solution’ to the Farmers Protest. UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet bashed India for human rights violations during the protests and also condemned communication blockades in Kashmir.
Farmer leader Mohinder Singh Khalsa’s family has said that they have not been allowed to meet him and have not been allowed to give him his required medicine.
10 more farmers have been released from Tihar Jail who were arrested under FIR 49/2021 Alipur PS. The DSGMC legal team has been working day and night for the release of the farmers.
More bail petitions will be filed today in the court by DSGMC. 64 farmers are still inside the jails, after the 10 bailed today.
In addition to the 10 released Farmers, 9 bails have been approved thanks to the legal team of DSGMC; 5 anticipatory bails and 4 bails for farmers in Tihar.
BJP’s Ram Bilas Sharma had made a threatening statement that no farmer will be seen on borders by Holi. Farmer leader Ruldu Singh Mansa has said that no force can move farmers until the laws are repealed. Mansa said that these tactics don’t intimidate farmers and least of all Punjabis.
There was a massive Maha Panchayat (traffic blockade) in Moga district today, woth another huge turnout.
Numbers have swollen up at Tikri and Singhu with over 50,000 farmers coming from Punjab and Haryana to mark Bhagat Ravidas Jayanti (coming to the world).
Nodeep Kaur has said that she was tortured in custody and that she has come out stronger. She said she will join the Farmers Protest back at Singhu and will continue the fight for her colleague Shiv Kumar. Later she spoke powerfully on stage at Singhu border.
In a press conference, Bhenji Nodeep Kaur talked about being slapped, abused, sworn at, dragged around by her hair, and forced to sign blank papers while 2 policemen sat on her body. Some policemen were not uniformed so impossible for her to know who they are. 4 of them were slapping her at one time. It was all male policemen, no female police personnel was there. After the beating she was unable to walk. Then she was refused a medical examination. The excuse given by police was she refused it when offered. She was incarcerated for 1.5 months.
Remember the shirtless men and boys taking out march at Tikri border in the chilling winters? That very protest still goes on. Every morning men and boys walk shirtless up to the barricades shouting slogans against the three laws and demanding repeal.
Farmers in Barnala region have voluntarily decided and prepared rosters for Delhi borders. The money is collected and seeds and urea is procured jointly. Then it is distributed to family members of those who are at the borders.
Journalist Amaan Bali went to Barnala to expose lies of Indian Godhi Media. No work is being done in the fields of Punjab. Labourers from Bihar, Chattisgarh and Jharkhand are contributing to the Farmers Protest in their own way by going an extra mile and working on the fields in Punjab.
Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee (KMSC) has said that Kisan Maharally will be held in Sultanpur Lodhi on 14th March. Thousands are expected to join.
All India Kisan Congress protested outside agriculture minister Narendra Tomar’s residence against the three farm laws. It should be noted that Tomar had met AIKC earlier in November and had claimed that he has convinced the organisation that laws are good.
Sikh PA has been in communication with the @metpoliceuk in Southall today regarding the planned pro-India car rally. There is a large police presence at the location where the rally was due start, and officers are issuing fines to any protesters congregating at the site.
8 riot vans and a police helicopter are close to Gurdwara in case anybody actual comes to the rally. Police said they will issue fines.
MP Sara Singh from Brampton Canada spoke very well in Parliament on farmers issue. “To the farmers in India – we see you, we hear you, and we are with you in solidarity. Special thanks to @unitedsikhs @Khalsa_Aid and the Sikh Motorcycle Club for raising awareness about the Farmers Protest and providing support on the ground.”
ABP News journalist Rakshit Singh resigned from the TV Channel. Rakshit said, “If it is not allowed to show the truth then it is also a lie. I am not being allowed to show the truth. What is the benefit of such a job? I kick such a job”
26th February
An 18-year-old boy has died at the Singhu border protest site this morning. He was present at the #FarmersProtest with his parents. This takes the number of protester deaths to 264. Reasons for his death remain unclear, although some believe he suffered a heart attack.
Today, Nodeep Kaur has been released on bail from Tihar Jail, where she suffered police torture. Her ordeal is not over. Her story is one shared by many female activists from minority groups across India, whether Dalit, Sikh, Muslim, Adivasi or other.
Baaz News Opinion- From #NodeepKaur To #DishaRavi, India Has Always Abused Its Female Activists, from @amaanbali. “There are many activists, often of Dalit and minority backgrounds, still languishing in India’s jails and broken justice system.”
Another 18 Sikh farmers were bailed today due to efforts by DSGPC lawyers.
The Tribune- Legal notices have been sent to 1700 farmers across the country for inciting violence (allegedly).
Today saw a huge Mahapanchayat (community meeting) in district Karauli, Rajasthan. So far there have been more than 200 various Mahapanchayats since the protest began. The movement has spread like wildfire across the country.
Another large Mahapanchayat was held in Padampur Mandi, district Ganganagar (Rajasthan).
Another Naujawan (youngsters) Kisaan (farmers) rally was held in Chandigarh.
BKU Ugrahan has announced that it will now dedicate the 27th Feb as Remembrance Day for Bhagat Ravidas Ji and Chandrashekhar Azaad. Joginder Singh Ugrahan has urged farmers to reach borders of Delhi.
As Punjabi farmers are protesting at Delhi’s borders fearing corporate takeover of India’s farming sector, at the same time Punjab’s Captain Amrinder Congress govt is openly auctioning Panchayati (community) land of Punjab’s villages to corporates.
Lakhvir Singh was protesting at Singhu border against new farm laws but then he got to know about auction of Panchayati land. Today morning he traveled from Singhu border, Delhi to Chamkaur Sahib, Punjab to protest against the auction.
LA Times- “India rolled out new regulations on Thursday for social media companies and streaming websites to make them more accountable for the online content shared on their platforms, giving the government more power to police it. The Information Technology Ministry said the new regulations would require social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter to swiftly erase content authorities deemed unlawful. The regulations include a strict oversight mechanism that would allow the government to ban content affecting ‘the sovereignty and integrity of India’.”
Really bizarre behaviour from the High Commission of India, London, in attacking UK Labour’s Claudia Webbe MP, with an open letter. Webbe was taken aback by the manner in which the HCI broke protocol in engaging her. “It was obviously extremely unusual to receive official correspondence from the Indian High Commission via a public social media platform. Particularly given that they represent the Indian Government in the UK and thus will be well aware of the usual protocols for communicating with parliamentarians.”
YouTuber Lily Singh released another video on the farmers protests and India’s appalling behaviour.
25th February
A huge MahaPanchayat (community meeting) was held in Tarn Tarn Sahib today. There was a significant female turnout.
Shiv Kumar’s medical report has revealed that he has serious injuries. The activist was arrested for supporting the #FarmersProtest and fighting for Dalit labour rights. He was beaten on the soles, buttocks, chest and back whilst imprisoned. His injuries indicate third grade (military level) torture. “They also hit him on the buttocks with flat sticks, then they tied his hands and stretched his legs. He was made to lie on the ground with both legs straight and a metal pipe was placed on his thigh and rolled over the thighs by two people”. These injuries are similar to what many Sikhs faced over last 30 years.
Nine farmers that were released yesterday have revealed that GurSikhs were separated in Tihar and their kes (unshorn hair) was insulted by hitting them on their head with shoes. They were constantly mocked for being GurSikhs. Police and prison wardens made anti-Sikh insults towards the GurSikh prisoners.
Mohinder Singh Khalsa, Jammu activist arrested for his #FarmersProtest support, will be met by legal teams in Delhi and his documents will be submitted for a bail application later today.
18 more bail applications of farmers have been approved with the efforts of DSGMC. Farmers will be released in a day or two if all goes as planned.
The crowd numbers remain consistent at the Delhi borders with farmers taking turns to go back to villages for seed, urea procurement and crop sowing. Numbers are likely to pump up in the coming weeks.
Indian media has stopped covering protests to give the false illusion that it is over.
The Hemkunt Foundation have installed water coolers at the protest sites because of rising temperature. The cold water is made available to our farmers 24/7.
Farmers union group SKM has written to the President of India to release all the farmers unconditionally and also look into cases of tortures.
SKM and farmers will mark February 26th as Ravidass Jayanti (Day of celebration for Indian spiritual figure Ravidass) and will take out a Shobha Yatra (procession).
SKM has extended its support to a Bharat Bandh (India closed) strike tomorrow. Bharat Bandh call has been given by traders and Transport bodies. SKM has appealed to keep Bandh Peaceful.
SKM will address global audience tomorrow via a webinar to answer common questions about #FarmersProtest and the three Farm Laws. The webinar can be followed on official page @Kisanektamorcha’s Facebook and YouTube.
There are reports of increasing shortage of water at the #Ghazipurborder. NGOs are requested to address the issue.
#FarmersProtest enters day 155 in Punjab. The resilience, patience and resolve of Jandiala Guru Morcha (protest in Punjab) is as inspiring as what is seen in the Singhu and Tikri sites.
The Punjab cabinet is all set to repeal the contract farming act which was made by BJP and the Akali Dal in 2013. The act is likely to be repealed in the session from 1st to 10th March.
Gurratan Singh brought up the Nodeep Kaur case in Ontario Parliament.
UK MP Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi in reference to Godhi media tweeted, “Lies and moral depravity of some in Indian media seem limitless. Labelling farmers as separatists and terrorists; then moving onto Punjabi singers, global trade unionists, aid charities, climate activists and anyone speaking for #FarmersProtest human rights is beyond a farce. Rest assured, baseless diatribe (further exposing shoddy journalism to global audience) won’t silence me from speaking truth to power & standing up for farmers”.
Lord Inderjit Singh has written to PM Boris Johnson about the farmers issue.
UK PM Boris Johnson spoke to Modi with no mention of the farmers issue as he pushes for a £100 billion Brexit trade deal.
120 RSS affiliated Sikhs from Jalandhar have ended their allegiance with the RSS and vowed their allegiance to Sri Akal Takht Sahib yesterday. Bowing down to the seat of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, they took Amrit and were reinducted into Sikhi. They were facing boycott for years in Punjab due to their association with Hindutva extremists the RSS.
Germany suspends arms exports to India over human rights abuses in Kashmir.
Sikh Relief is currently helping support the education of many farmers children as the protest continues.
Ravi Singh from Khalsa Aid tweeted, “Indra Gandhi massacred Sikhs and has an Airport named after her ….Narendra Modi massacred Muslims & has a Stadium named after him….So tell me again how Indians respect minorities?”.
ITV central covered the farmers protest by speaking to Randhir Singh of Midland Langar Seva Society, who spent seven weeks in Delhi doing seva (selfless service) for the protesters.
24th February
Malkit Singh (70) has passed away at the Singhu Border this morning. Malkit Singh had come to join #FarmersProtest on Monday. He belonged to village Padi Sura Singh in Hoshiarpur.
“Our next call will be for a march to Parliament, and not just 4 lakh (hundred thousand) tractors but 40 lakh tractors will go there if farm laws are not taken back”, BKU leader Rakesh Tikat said at a farmers rally in Sikar, Rajasthan.
Naresh Tikait in Barabanki Mahapanchayat (community meeting) has said that India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh can find the solution to #FarmersProtest issue and that no other leader comes close to understanding issues at core. He said that Singh is deliberately kept away from Farmers Protest. Singh was famously the first MP to call what India did in 1984 to Sikhs a genocide, back in 2015.
Police are now harassing event organisers of yesterday’s MahaPanchayat in Bhatinda where lead Sikh #FarmersProtest figure Lakha Sidhana spoke.
Nodeep Kaur’s case will come up for hearing on 26th February.
AAM Aadmi party’s Harpal Cheema has written a letter to the President highlighting the human rights violations and abuses done to #NodeepKaur . He has demanded President’s interference in the case as well.
India’s High Court also ordered immediate medical care for political prisoner and Dalit activist Shiv Kumar at GMCH 32, Chandigarh, where he is being held.
Mohinder Singh Khalsa who was arrested from Jammu has been sent to judicial custody. DSGMC lawyers will meet him tomorrow.
Nine more farmers will be released from Tihar tonight with efforts of DSGMC. The formalities have been completed.
Deep Sidhu’s custody was extended by 14 days yesterday.
Some farmers are still destroying their crop in Haryana. Three such reports have come out.
Climate change is a livelihood crisis for farmers according to a growing message from the #FarmersProtest.
SKM will be celebrating anti-oppression day today and will send a letter to the president Ram Nath Kovind demanding the release of illegally detained farmers. Baldev Singh Sirsa said that such letters would be sent from district levels to the president.
Australian Sikhs launched a parliament petition similar to the successful UK one. Due to the Adani files and controversy already in Australia, it may lead to an opportunity to discuss Adani business practices and its impact in Australia, India and the environmental damage already done in Africa.
NDTV- Row Over ‘How To Mislead Farmers’ Query By BJP Workers In Haryana. In the video a BJP party worker can be heard saying: “Farmers are in no mood to hear us… they will have to be misled. So please share some tips with us.” The appeal was made during a party meeting in Gurgaon that was attended by OP Dhankar, the president of the BJP’s state unit, sports minister Sandeep Singh and Hisar MP Brijendra Singh, and caught on camera, with the clip shared online and flagged by the Congress’ Randeep Surjewala.
Lawyer Prushant Kumar tweeted, “So, Modi got the Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad named after himself! And the 2 ends of the stadium after his 2 favourite cronies Ambani & Adani! Wah! What a sixer Modiji!”.
Baaz News Opinion- Judge Rana Does His Job As Modi’s Sedition Narrative Collapses, from @iJasOberoi. “The chattering class went way overboard in praising and hailing the Judge, forgetting that upholding the law is his job and duty.”
Narendra Modi- “On this day, two years ago the PM-Kisaan scheme was launched with an aim to ensure a life of dignity as well as prosperity for our hardworking farmers, who work day and night to keep our nation fed. The tenacity and passion of our farmers is inspiring.” Clearly this shows another policy failure by Modi as every farmer in the country is against him, despite his attempt to buy them with this fund.
Govt has no way to identify farmers based on landholdings as per Vivek Aggarwal. The number of people benefiting from govt PM Kisan system is mere 28% and no further benefits are going to take place because of slow registration process.
In the 2nd part of a thread, Modi talks about the credit card scheme but fails to notice the suicides that take place due to that very credit policy.
The incompetence of Modi govt keeps coming to the fore. After a backlash from scientists, the government has withdrawn a controversial order that required scientists and researchers, among others, participating in online, international scientific seminars and conferences to get permission to run such events from the Ministry of External Affairs. It is typical of an extreme fascist policy idea that spectacularly failed.
Plans to build the world’s largest zoo and animal sanctuary by India’s richest family, which owns the $168bn Reliance Industries corporate empire, has stirred controversy in the country. The Ambanis plan to build a 113-hectare (280-acre) zoo and animal sanctuary called “Green Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Kingdom” in Jamnagar city in the western Indian state of Gujarat, The Week Magazine reported.
23rd February
Three massive MahaPanchayats (community meetings) happened today, each with more than 30,000 attending. The biggest happened in Mehraj, Bhatinda, organised by youth in support of Deep Sidhu, Lakha Sidhana and others currently imprisoned. Nine acres of land was covered by attendees people in an immense show of support for Lakha Sidhana, despite attempts by BJP, Godhi media, Badals and communist farm leaders to give him a bad name. People of Punjab recognise his commitment to Punjab.
Lakha Sidhana spoke at the event and showed his bravery by speaking in front of Police who have a warrant for his arrest. While speaking Lakha roared, “history only remembers those communities which resist oppression, not the ‘boot lickers’.”
Slogans were raised at the rally in favour of Lakha and calling for the release of Deep Sidhu.
Lakha said if Delhi police come to arrest any farm leader, farmer or laborer and Punjab police cooperates with DP, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh will be responsible for that arrest.
Another farmer named Gamdoor Singh passed away at the Dharna site at Lada where he was protesting since last 153 days. He was affiliated to BKU Ekta Ugrahan. Gamdoor Singh used to prepare langar at Lado Morcha in Punjab. This takes farmer deaths to 250+ according to journalist Amaan Baali.
Mohinder Singh, resident of Jammu has been arrested in Jammu. He was called by police and was handed over to Delhi police. There is anger among Sikhs of Jammu. The rampant arrests of Sikhs across the nation continues. He was supporting the #FarmersProtest. Mohinder Singh is a hypersensitive patient who needs his medicine on time. He has not been able to talk to his family since yesterday. Family members aren’t able to meet him. Mohinder Singh was arrested deceptively. He was called to a police station in Gandhinagar Jammu. Since he had done nothing wrong he went there as a law abiding citizen. He was handed over to Delhi Police without informing his family. Delhi police brought him to Delhi whilst his family had no clue what was going on.
A huge protest is going on in Jammu against the arrest of Mohinder Singh. The national highway has been blocked for traffic.
DSGPC president says anyone facing legal issues due to Farmers Protest must first get legal representation or can go to Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee @DSGMCDelhi for help. No one should pay anyone any “bail” money.
The second massive MahaPanchayat in support of the #Farmersprotest is happening in Kharkhoda. This gathering took place in Haryana State. An estimated 30,000 attended to support farm leaders.
Separately, a third massive MahaPanchayat in Sardarshahar (Churu district) occurred. This is third event of the day to have 30,000 attending. These scenes reflect how many are fed up with BJP and Godhi media lies.
BJP is facing strong hostility in Punjab and Haryana and now in UP as well. BJP’s Sanjeev Baliyan visited Shoram village in Muzaffarnagar and was chased away by villagers. His goons were also beaten by villagers. He escaped under police protection.
Tributes were made today for Sardar Ajit Singh,Uncle of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, who led the agitation against British #FarmLaws to colonise land. On his 140th anniversary, the #FarmersProtest demonstrates against the ideology of #RSS #BJP who have become the new colonialist with their super rich cronies.
Deep Sidhu was presented by Delhi Police today on 23 February in the third Hazari Court after noon. It is noted that he has been on police remand for the last fifteen days and according to sources the police still asked to continue further remand. Deep Sidhu’s younger brother Mandeep Singh was present on this occasion.
A water filter (RO) system was installed by Sikh Relief at the Singhu Border protest site. Sikh Relief along with students of local Sainik School has established water cleaning facility at Singhu and Kundli border as the Municipal Council is not providing these services. This new system produces a safe and clean supply of high quality drinking water at a rate of 250 litre per hour. As an example of stability and sustainability, currently Sikh relief volunteers spend Rs 1000 for water. With this, about 30,000 cups of fresh coffee are prepared daily and used in the congregation. This system reduces the negative effects of used plastic bottles on the environment.
India Supreme court halt’s tycoon Mukesh Ambani’s retail deal. The verdict is a win for Amazon which says Future Group’s sale to Ambani’s Reliance Industries violates its contract. India’s Supreme Court has barred a final ruling by a tribunal reviewing Future Group’s $3.4bn sale of retail assets until the top court hears objections from aggrieved partner Amazon.com Inc, the Reuters news agency reported, citing three unidentified sources. US retail giant Amazon had appealed to the Supreme Court this month against Future Group’s proposed sale to Indian market leader Reliance Industries owned by Ambani.
Nodeep Kaur still not been released.
Brut India- Beauty queen in Nagaland replies to question on what she would ask Prime Minister Modi, “I would tell Modi to focus more on women than cows.”
Disha Ravi has been granted bail by Delhi Court by paying 100,000 rupees. The court’s judgement completely exposes all conspiracy theories against her. Here are some lines from the highly embarrassing judgement for the BJP- The right to freedom of speech and expression includes right to seek global opinion. There is not even an iota of evidence brought to my notice connecting the perpetrators of the violence on 26.01.2021 with the said PDF or the accused. The perusal of the said ‘Toolkit’ reveals that any call for any kind of violence is conspicuously absent. Citizens cannot be put behind bars simply because they choose to disagree with the State policies.
Brahmins are 5% of the Indian population, but they control a significant majority of parliament via all parties, businesses, corporations and every aspect of life in India. Many are now comparing how they operate with white supremacy and fascism.
To understand how BJP/RSS propaganda works, in over 2 million messages in more than 5,000 Indian WhatsApp groups, researchers from IIT-Kharagpur and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that one in three posts in these groups incites fear of minorities in India, particularly Muslims. From an article in Times of India.
Many BJP supporters have been saying MSP should be abolished because India has too much food and it gets ruined. Well that is not the failure of MSP, it is a failure of Indian governance which has never created a social care system due to its support of the caste system. There are millions of homeless and families below the poverty line in India. If India as a state wanted to, they could actually used that excess food to feed its people and created a safety net for people.
If an RSS member or a Brahmin does not consider another Hindu as equal due to the apartheid system of caste, why do you expect them to give equal status to a Sikh, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, atheist, feminist, environmentalist? This is a question being asked among #FarmersProtest participants.
Many of us who originate from Punjab and most of the subcontinent were liberated in 1469 with the coming to earth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj. Feel free to remind that to any BJP member who says India was liberated in 1947 and India is the motherland. India is a colonial project which is occupying many parts of the subcontinent via genocide of its citizens.
East London Sikh Councillor Jas Athwal wrote to @Keir_Starmer about the Farmers protests & the need for @UKLabour to continue to show leadership in calling for an end to the needless violence across India.
GlenRock Gurdwara Sahib, NewJersey USA held Ardas Samagam during Sunday’s Diwans for Chara Di Kala (ever rising spirits) of Kisaan Sangharsh #FarmersProtest and for #ReleaseDetainedFarmers.
Time magazine- “Hindu supremacism found a natural ally in white supremacism.” The U.S. would like to see India as an ideological and strategic counter to China’s rise, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to overlook India’s fast-declining democratic standards. The daily assaults on civil liberties and the threats to India’s Muslim minority under Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have noticeably increased since Modi’s re-election in 2019. Hate speech is rife, peaceful dissent is criminalised, freedom of expression and association faces new constraints, and the jails are filling up with political prisoners and peaceful dissenters as a servile judiciary looks away.
22nd February
Young farmer Karamjeet Singh of village Kipyal has passed away due to an accident while on his way to the Singhu border.
A 28-year-old named Sandeep Kumar died when he fell from a tractor while on his way to Goriya village, returning from the Singhu Border. Kumar was part of the #FarmersProtest since day one and was affiliated to KMSC (Kisaan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee). The number of farmer deaths due to accidents is 11 according to journalist Amaan Bali, with overall total now at 249.
The spree of suicides is not ending in Punjab. Jarnail Singh took his life by drinking pesticide. He was stressed due to a rising debt he had. He had two acres of land with a debt of 170,000 rupees. This is 311th suicide in 2020-2021 according to Amaan Bali.
Gurnam Singh Chaduni has requested farmers to not destroy their standing crop and urged farmers to not commit suicides. In a video message he said that farmers will win this fight and will be successful. He said that it is just matter of time and a win is inevitable.
Massive Mahapanchayat (community meeting) took place at Kharkhoda, Haryana.
Kisaan Mahapanchayat will be held on Feb 28th in Meerut. Huge crowd participation is expected.
BKU Ekta Ugrahan has announced that 23rd Feb will be celebrated as Pagdi Sambhal Divas (keeping of the Pag <turban>) in memory of freedom fighter against the British Raj Ajit Singh. Farmer Union groups have urged people to come to Delhi borders on 27th Feb.
Jaspreet Singh has been arrested by Delhi Police. Jaspreet is a resident of Delhi and police arrested him in connection with 26th January Red Fort investigation. Rampant targeting of Sikhs and farmers continues in India.
Sikh Panthic Jathebandi (Sikh path/community group) named Power of Punjabi Youth is protesting against the illegal detentions and false cases filed against Sikh youth in Amritsar today. The protesting youth stopped traffic near Bhandari bridge.
Joginder Ugrahan has said that no person of the Ugrahan Farmer Union or even from the villages of Ugrahan can be arrested because we are united and will surround Delhi police when they come to the villages.
Bloomberg- India Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration is using a colonial-era sedition law to quell unrelenting farmer protests.
In the village of Soram in Muzaffarnagar, UP, the goons of the BJP ruling party went on a rampage to attack farmers who were holding a small rally. Many farmers have been injured in this attack. After this incident, panchayat (meeting) of farmers have started in Soram. The farmers have reached the police station to place an FIR.
Citing damning examples of Reagan era policies that have led to irreparable damage to the US farmers, 87 farmers’ unions in the country have extended solidarity to the ongoing protests by farmers in India. In a strong letter, the organisations draw a sharp connection between how agriculture has been affected by “forces of neoliberalism” in both India and the US. The unions began the letter by quoting Ghazipur protester Ringhu Yaspal, who says, “Agriculture has turned into a slow poison. It’s better to die fighting here.”
Punjab Agriculture economist Devinder Sharma tweeted, “In US, cotton farmers receive a massive subsidy support of Rs 85.10 lakh ($1,17,494) per farmer/year. In India, it is barely Rs 1,955 ($27) [Source:IIFT]. This is how the US has ‘market competitiveness’ in cotton. Our cotton growers are left to commit suicide.”
Nodeep Kaur’s court hearing was due today, but bail and applications on “illegal custody” will be heard together on 24th Feb by Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Feminism India article- Dig Into The History Of The Casteist System, You’ll Find Many Nodeeps. “Violence against Dalit women is not new. They have to face injustice at every step, as though the only purpose of her birth is to struggle and as though any injustice on her is only right and she has no choice but to bear it. In India, Dalit women are thrice oppressed. The caste system denies women their rights. In that, if she is a Dalit woman, she is only considered to be a servant. Brahminical patriarchy does not even accord her the dignity of treating her like a human being.”
Adani Enterprises Ltd and DP Jain & Company Infrastructure Pvt Ltd have emerged as the highest bidders for two separate highway packages auctioned by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the toll-operate and transfer (ToT) model. Adani Enterprises placed the highest price bid of ₹1,011 crore for 53.6 kms highway stretch between Palanpur-Radhanpur-Samkhiyali section of NH 27, government sources said.
Legal notice has been sent by legal advocate Jaswinder Singh to DAV School in Tamil Nadu for calling the farmers violent miscreants in an exam question.
A farmers protest rally was held in Bakersfield, California, quickly organised to respond to an Indian nationalist.
Canadian The Star article- “Inside the politics that led India to accuse a Canadian man of paying Rihanna to tweet support of farmer protests.” The article talks to Mo Dhaliwal and how demonized Mo because it was unable to debate the Farmer Laws so created a bogey person with a toolkit.
Baaz news article- “Farmers And Labourers Unite Against Modi In Barnala Maharally” from Sandeep Singh @PunYaab. “The BJP is a party that believes in Brahmanical social order, and it wants to put labourers down.”
Baaz News article- Sukhraj Singh: “Indian State And Media Nexus Dubiously Targets Danish-Sikh Community”. Article explains how Mrutyuanjai Mishra’s “The rise of radical Sikhism in Europe and Canada” article resembles a badly concocted conspiracy theory that hides behind the veil of a Times of India opinion piece.
Mumbai: Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Shiv Sena puts up banners stating ‘Yahi hai acche din?’ (Are these the good days?) at various petrol pumps and roadside in Bandra West after big price hikes. This is a dig at the governance of the BJP from their own vote base.
21st February
Today, a leader of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) group of farmer unions and president of Kirti Kisan Union in Punjab Datar Singh passed away. SKM paid a revolutionary tribute to him. They said Datar Singh’s contribution to farmers’ interests, especially in this movement is incomparable.
The Modi government is delaying further meetings in the hope of weakening the farmers protests and causing farmers to go back to their fields for harvest at Vaisakhi.
In response, union leader Rakesh Tikait has said farmers may need to sacrifice this years harvest to keep pressure on the Indian government.
Some Haryana farmers have driven tractors over their crops to destroy them. Indian broadcaster NDTV has shown footage women and men in Haryana destroying their crops.
It’s an extreme move, but the Modi government is already under massive pressure due to petrol prices rising, and if less crops are harvested, then food prices will rise significantly, which will turn more people against the current regime. However it’s a gamble as many farmers are already in debt, and losing income from this season will be very tough for them.
Farmers hold the largest Maha Panchayat (traffic blockade) so far as 225,000 farmers turn out today in Barnala. It’s such a massive rally that even the Godi media cannot ignore it, and it shows that these protests have massive support.
DSGPC lawyers bailed out 25 farmers today. Full list in picture below.
BJP’s Minister Sanjiv Balyan has faced heat due to the farmers protest. Villagers parked tractors and chanted slogans to stop his convoy in Uttar Pardesh. Balyan has been deployed by the BJP to hold meets with farmers, and he had to flee the area.
Bloomberg – Modi’s plan to turn Gujarat into Singapore falls flat. International investors fail to materialise to Modi’s Gift City.
Independent journalist Amaan Bali – “Gurdwaras are playing a significant role in keeping the farmers movement alive and strong. The Sangat and gurdwaras have played mitochondrial role in keeping farmers agitation up to date. I visited three villages (Dande, Dhanola Khurd, Mallowal) of Amritsar to find out how gurdwaras are powering the movement.”
Gram Panchayat Kakkar has officially announced the social boycott of BJP leaders, party members and affiliated people. Sarpanch Major Singh said that no BJP person will be allowed to enter the village.
Nodeep Kaur’s bail petition for bail in her third FIR will be heard tomorrow. Rajvir Kaur (Nodeep Kaur’s sister) said that she is hopeful that Nodeep will get bail tomorrow. Rajvir says that the family of Nodeep Kaur has written many letters to farmer leaders but they took notice of it only after social media storm and noise around Nodeep began to amplify.
Rajvir says that not only the women’s commission chairperson but many other people have also been denied permission to meet Nodeep Kaur who is lodged in Karnal jail at the moment. Nodeep is in Chardi Kala (high/rising spirits) now and hopeful to be a free girl tomorrow.
Nodeep’s associate Shiv Kumar’s medical was done outside Haryana (in Chandigarh) as requested. Court has taken suo moto (“on its own motion/initiative”) notice of the torture of both Shiv Kumar and Nodeep Kaur. The court will hear this case on 24th February.
For those who don’t have context about arbitrary detentions in India, in August 2019, more than 6000 Kashmiris were detained and lodged in various jails of India. The families continued looking for missing men for a whole year. These men were released in batches starting 2020. Many are still in detention.
26 members of SKM were detained yesterday from Azad Maidan in Yavatmal, Maharashtra. Police says that they had conveyed a week in advance that permission to hold a rally had been denied. Rakesh Tikait who was also supposed to attend the rally had cancelled his visit after denial of permissions.
Suggestions are being sought from architects for how to create eco friendly hideouts for farmers in view of the heat at picket sites. If you have any idea, then please put forward your suggestions so that farmers can continue their fight against black laws even in difficult times of summer (editor’s note: you can email suggestions to media@sikhpa.com and Sikh PA will forward them on).
Captain Amrinder Singh urged prime minister Modi to resolve the farmers issue at the earliest. He also urged the prime minister to pay the pending Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation to Punjab which is now mounting to INR13 billion.
The father and son who committed suicide yesterday have left a suicide note blaming Punjab chief minister Captain Amrinder Singh for their death. In the note they have expressed disappointment on Captain’s failure to take back the loans as promised to peasantry. Opposition parties demand legal actions taken against the CM.
Farm leader from Haryana Gurnam Singh Chaduni has said that the implementation of laws will increase the food prices and hit back on Nirmala Sitaraman. He said that the government will deny any role as everything will be handled by private companies, and to take lessons from the movement in petrol price.
Central Government has announced that minimum support prices (MSP) for Punjab and Haryana will be given by electronic transfers only. SKM hasn’t expressed reaction to the move yet.
A Punjabi man from Tanda, Hoshiarpur renovated a building which was in ruins close to Singhu border. He plans to install air conditioning and get his children admitted into a local school. His children joined him at Singhu on 15th December. They have been at the protest site since then and don’t want to leave.
BJP supporters in the UK tried to organise a car rally in support of Modi. Many believe that their aim was to incite and provoke Punjabis into reacting and then use its UK based Godi Media to defame Sikh community. Then they will say that the Hindu community feel unsafe due Sikh community’s protest; basically it’s a trap.
UK police authorities have intervened and cancelled the BJP car rally.
Two BJP youth leaders were caught with large amount of cocaine in their car, and Indian youth are tweeting about this case in relation to protesters Disha Ravi and Nodeep Kaur who have both been arrested. Tweets are saying “It’s safer to be a cocaine peddler than a climate activist in India.”
On farmers Rail Roko day, Godi media started filming after 4pm, when the farmers had started going home. Godi media – the mainstream media that shows huge bias towards Modi – has no ethics, and no concern for the truth.
Today is International Mother Language Day! To mark the occasion Saving Punjab have released an article documenting – the history of the Punjabi language – the struggles to recognise Punjabi language – how the Punjabi language is currently at risk. You can watch it at: https://www.savingpunjab.org/2020/02/21/international-mother-tongue-day/
February 20th
In a significant tragedy, a father-son duo have ended their life by drinking poison in Dasua, Hoshiarpur. They have been identified as Jagtar Singh, Kirpal Singh respectively. Both were part of the morcha (protest) for very long time. They had debt of around 21,000 rupees & remained stressed due to it.
Morcha sites are getting better prepared for warmer weather. However access to fresh water, milk and medicine is still an issue due to police barriers.
1000 farmers patrol at night across the sites to stop police and nationalist goons from attacking attendees.
Reports say Punjab may introduce a minimum price for vegetables, like Kerala has done for 16 vegetables. “That will certainly be a step in the right direction” said agriculture economist Davinder Sharma.
Consistent efforts of DSGMC legal team and support of Kisan Sanyukt Morcha (lead farmers group) resulted in bail for seven more people who were detained post Jan 26th under FIR no 31/21. Their names are Parkat Singh, Sawarn Singh, Joginder Singh, Balbinder Singh, Gurdayal Singh, Paramjeet Singh, Kulwinder Singh.
Many of those released talk of poor conditions and intentional humiliation and torture done in Tihar Jail. DSGPC said this policy is designed to discourage other Sikhs, Punjabis and farmers from protesting.
Today’s Chandigarh #Mahapanchayat (community meeting) was in the tens of thousands. Estimated numbers are around 25-30k.
Children in schools in Chennai were given an exam question apparently in which it asks them to write a letter to a national paper expressing outrage against Sikh farmers regarding the January 26th events. This is a massive abuse of power by BJP in educational institutions and ingraining division between communities in India.
The grandson of Jathedar Lashman Singh, who gave martyrdom to liberate Sri Nankana Sahib, was at the morcha (protest) in December doing langar seva (Sikh communal kitchen selfless service).
An extremely well explained video has been released by Russell Brand, where he explains the farming crisis using the work of Dr Vardana Shiva. In my daily updates, I have mentioned the deal between Modi, Ambani, Facebook and Microsoft in reference to farming data. It is called The Great Reset – Farming & Bill Gates.
Shashi Tharoor- “This action by Kerala Police is absolutely shocking. The pictures of KSU state president Abhijith and his colleagues who were assaulted are absolutely frightening.”
Ruldu Singh Mansa said that that the govt is planning to make private mandis (markets) for Adanis in around 6-10 hectares in Punjab. He said that this is being done in the name of storage silos but after the laws apply these silos will turn into mandis and will replace state mandis.
Khalsa aid- “The massage centre at Tikri border is running at full capacity.”
United States Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy express solidarity with the historic Farmers Protest.
Gurratan Singh NDP MP tweets- “Moment of silence to remember all farmers who died in peaceful protests in India in the proceedings of the Ontario parliament.”
Bharti Airtel now has the highest number of active subscribers in the Indian telecom industry, beating Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio. This may have been impacted by mass exoduses of Jio following revelation of Ambani’s role with the Farmers Protest.
Punjabis living in Brampton are waking up to the Sikhiphobhic comments of MP Ramesh Sangha, who is hyping Sikh extremism narratives. Some have started a petition for his removal, whilst others ask how can such a person have been elected in Brampton.
February 19th
A farmer named Shamsher Singh has passed away at Tikri Border due to a heart attack. The 69 year old farmer was part of the movement since day one. This takes the total number of farmer deaths since the protest began to 208.
Fresh water has been not allowed in the sites, which is a major human rights violation. The Delhi Government’s water tankers wait near Singhu Border, as police have stopped the tankers.
American aid worker Dr Swaiman Singh has appealed for water, milk and medicines to be sent to the protest sites.
The farmer unions have suggested alternative legislation to protect the interests of the farmers. The legislation draft model was put forward by AIKS leaders Hanan Mollah and Ashok Dhawle. The legislation will ensure fair pricing, and procurement issues will be settled.
BKU leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni has said that farmers are being arrested from villages in Punjab. He said that Delhi police are harassing farmers and levelling bogus charges against them. He said that farmers are arrested when they are called to police stations.
Chaduni said that farmers have not been given back their tractors which were seized on 26th January 2021. He urged farmers to do gherao (protest) of Delhi police teams in Punjab without resorting to violence. He said that policemen should be released only when district administration intervenes.
Nihung Singhs have appealed to people not to make statements against any farm leader. They said farmers need to be united and join the struggle against the Modi government. Nihang Singhs said it’s a matter of existence, and youngsters should join the protest and farm unions need to stay united.
Satnam Singh Pannu, Lakha Sidhana, Inderjeet Nikku, Jagtar Singh Bajwa, Ruldu Singh and many Nihung Singhs have been released by Delhi Police.
Police says that it has arrested 152 people as they undertake more probes. Police claims that lot of people have been sent notices along with farmer leaders. Some farmer leaders have replied to notices.
Rakesh Tikait has said that the government should not take farmers lightly and that farmers won’t go back in two months. He said that protest and harvest will go on simultaneously. He said that if need be, farmers are willing to sit indefinitely on the borders and don’t mind losing one season.
Newslaundry – “I cycled 470 km to be a part of this protest.” Dilbag Singh cycled from Punjab to join the protest at #SinghuBorder. He takes rounds of the protest site on his bicycle, talking to farmers and seeking to inspire them.
A Mahapanchayat (large traffic blockade) will be held in Chandigarh on 20th February 2021. Kisan Ekta Chandigarh announced the decision to hold the Mahapanchayat.
Agricultural minister Narendra Tomar has said that the BJP party has never done well in Punjab elections and the poor show in the recent municipal corporation elections has nothing to do with farmers protests.
Rakesh Tikait has been denied the permission to hold rally at Yavatmal, Maharashtra.
Sachin Pilot will address Kisan Mahapanchayat in Jaipur today.
Indian Railways has said that farmers Rail Roko was peaceful at all places.
A large number of farmers are expected to reach Bahadurgarh railway station from Punjab and Haryana. The number is set to increase over the weekends.
Jio is the only major telecom operator to lose subscribers in these two states. Jio lost around 1. 5 million Punjabi subscribers in December. The company’s subscribers fell from 14 million to 12.5 million
Jio lost around 500,000 followers in Haryana. The company’s subscribers fell from 9.4 million to 8.9 million subscribers.
UK based activist group NSYF are concerned about censorship of grassroots Sikh media and the role of big tech in blocking access to Sikh sites. They stated it is long past time news agency @sikhsiyasat is verified across social media platforms.
@SikhSiyasat is not an Australian news portal but Facebook have imposed restrictions on it Facebook in Australian. The news outlet has asked Facebook to review the decision and remove restrictions from Sikh Siyasat page.
Many comments have been made on Twitter about bribes paid to Indian cricketers and Bollywood celebrities for their tweets. One such tweet said, “Nobody bought Arjun Tendulkar during the IPL auctions and hence, Mumbai Indians (Ambani) bought him for his base price of Rs.20 lacs (2 million) ….now someone needs to explain to Sachin Tendulkar that his son was sold at the MSP….and that’s what farmers in India are demanding.”
BBC received highest number of complaints in three years for the biased interview demonising protesting farmers in India. 3,177 viewer complaints were received by the BBC for their broadcast on 6th February 2021 relating to the farmers protest in which interviewer/news presenter showed continuous bias against protestors and pushing false narrative demonising Sikh community.
Meanwhile, mainstream media and far-right social media handles called the right-wing BJP attackers at Singhu and Ghazipur ‘locals’, on 26th January. The Wire’s investigation shows otherwise. The Wire’s investigation has managed to establish links of many more of these alleged “locals” with the BJP and its affiliates. Apart from local BJP leaders, leaders of Hindu extremist organisations were present at the Singhu border with their cadres. The Wire found that neither were these protestors local villagers, nor is this the first time that they have attempted to violently uproot peaceful protestors. Impersonating “locals”, most of these protestors belonged to far-right organisations like the Hindu Sena, Hindu Army, Hindu Force and Sudarshan Vahini – local Hindutva organisations working in New Delhi.
‘I fought three wars for this country and they call me a terrorist’: Why Gurmukh Singh won’t forget his humiliating arrest. The 80-year-old army veteran was beaten, humiliated, and jailed for 15 days for protesting against the farm laws.
Lastly, commentary from Jagjit Singh from the Khalsa Foundation: “Many people see the pictures of RSS in action and think they are a major force. These pictures are designed to present this image to intimidate. In reality the RSS are 3-4 million supporters who work in media, administration, army and other jobs.” “They do have significant control on India, more than any other political party. But should we be intimidated, the answer is no. As a Sikh nation, we have a significantly larger 15 million population and the diaspora has shown it can be far more vocal than BJP on social media. We are a large Sikh/Punjabi nation which is educated, affluent, influential, entrepreneurial and we need to speak as a nation with confidence. Farmers still have the upper hand. BJP may try to use the army, but they know most in the army are from farming backgrounds so will rebel. BJP cannot risk losing the vote bank of farmers. So no activist should be intimidated by 3-4 million RSS workers and their Godi media dirty tactics.
February 18th
1. Two more #Farmers died today near Tikri border #FarmersProtest; Ajaib Singh and Gurdas Singh Dhillon. They were residents of Ghudda village in #Punjab. The pair died as a bus collided with their trolly.
2. On 8 February, Sardar Davinder Singh was called to a police station and was arrested on the basis of identification by his bike number plate. Davinder Singh had been doing jaal seva (water selfless service, giving out drinking water) for protesters at a crossing. He had been stopped while coming back from doing seva and had been directed by police towards Red Fort. He was not among the group which entered Red Fort. However, the charges he was arrested under were IPC 307, IPC 395, 397 (attempt to murder and dacoity/thuggery). Davinder Singh told reporters that he was held in jail and there were 40 more youngsters from the Morcha (an organised march or rally) in the same jail. He was rigorously questioned about who was helping him and who was supporting him financially, from which he surmised an intention to falsely implicate him in some case.
3. Seven more youth got bail and will
be released after completion of formalities, due to the efforts of Delhi Sikh
Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC). The youth were arrested as per FIR
number 31 in Mukherjee Nagar PS. First Information Reports (FIRs) were
registered under sections 186,353,188, 269 and 34 IPC. The individuals who got
bail are: Parkat Singh Ferozpur, Sarvan Singh Patiala, Joginder Singh Mansa,
Balbir Singh Hoshiarpur, Gurdayal Singh Hoshiarpur, Paramjit Singh Yamuna Nagar
and Kulwinder Singh Dasua.
4. Today farmers across India took
part in a successful demonstration #RailRokoForFarmers (stop the trains) as
part of ongoing civil disobedience to protest against exploitative agricultural
laws.
5. Farmers stopped trains from 12-4pm
all over India today as announced by SKM. Railways have deployed 20 additional
companies of RPF in Punjab, Haryana and UP. Farmers assured everyone that #RailRokoForFarmers
(stop the trains) would be peaceful.
6. No one expressed discontentment with the farmers today during #RailRoko. The view is that farmers are showing love, empathy and backbone to the rest of India. Free food and drinks were given to anyone who was affected by any unintended disruption.
7. Farm Union leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni, has said that farmers won’t move an inch until the laws are repealed. He said that the Indian Government is free to convince its lackeys that the protests are over and that the government should lift the barricades if the protest is indeed over. He said that the protestors would exert more pressure on the Indian Government.
8. Rakesh Tikait has said that farmers are in it for the long haul and may move the protest to Kolkata after reaping their crops. Takait urged farmers to be ready for Kolkata, where they will further the demonstration. He said that the Indian Government had thought that farmers would go home in a month but that the government had underestimated the strength and determination of the farmers.
9. A truck full of mattresses arrived
at Singhu for protesting farmers.
10. Farmers have started putting fans
in trolleys and preparing for warmer weather.
11. Water availability is becoming an
issue at protest sites and charities are being asked for water and medical
supplies.
12. Congress benefitted in Punjab
municipal elections, as people sent BJP and Akalis a message through their
votes.
13. Baaz News- BJP Routed In Punjab Municipal Elections As #FarmersProtest Impacts Electoral Fortunes, from @amaanbali . “We never voted during municipal elections but this time I told my sons and daughters to vote for the sake of farmers.”
14. UK MP Claudia Webbe, writes to the Foreign Secretary about the farmers’ protests. MPs Claudia Webbe and Tanmanjit Dhesi have been vocal about the farmers’ protests.
15. A solidarity protest in front of
the Canadian Parliament was held for India’s farmers today. Across the country,
solidarity protests have been held in front of provincial legislative
buildings, as well as in Ottawa, in
memory of those who have passed away while protesting. Shoes have been placed
outside Parliament for every farmer who has passed away, to emphasize the
issue.
16. Controversial Brampton MP, Ramesh
Sangha, today used his platform to attack Sikhs in Canada again, using BJP
talking points. Parliament dismissed his controversial comments. Previously, the
politician has been de-selected from the
Liberal party due to his anti-Sikh comments. Brampton people have been
urged to remember his comments at the next election and select good advocates to
represent their voices.
17. The SGPC President has written a letter to the Prime Minister and Home Minister of India expressing the disappointment of the Sikh Sangat about a last minute cancellation of a visit of a jatha (group) to Pakistan. The jatha was supposed to mark a centenary event of Saka Nankana Sahib (The Nankana massacre).
18. While the nation is distracted and busy with the farmers’ protest, commentators have noted that Narendra Modi has cleared his way to curb dissent by academics. Revised guidelines will see voices from universities and colleges choked, and activism blocked. As per the new guidelines, all “central educational institutions, publicly-funded universities” (this category will naturally include affiliated colleges) “and organisations owned and controlled by the Government” will now have to get prior approval from the Ministry of External Affairs if they want to hold online international conferences or seminars on subjects related to “security of State, Border, Northeast states, UT of J&K, Ladakh or any other issues which are clearly/purely related to India’s internal matters”. This includes Punjab issues.
19. BJP IT Cells have been mass
reporting accounts that speak up on #farmersprotests on Instagram where they
have been allowed to suppress voices. Observers said India went after Twitter
and not Facebook/Instagram, because they had already been given access by
Facebook.
20. UNITED SIKHS has been pursuing
the whereabouts of persons who went missing from protest sites around Jan 26,
2021 from New Delhi. In case anyone has any details about these persons, kindly
share with UNITED SIKHS at the following helpline number 1800-258-6769. (See
pic below).
February 17th
A farmer named Major Singh (59) has passed away after returning from the Tikri Border. He belonged to village Mirpur Kalan of Sardoolgarh (Mansa). He was part of BKU Ekta Ugrahan group. He had come home for collecting clothes for summer.
Farmers leaders prepare for the national rail block tomorrow between midday and 4pm.
There was a massive turnout of the Kisaan Panchayat (farmers meet) in Telangana yesterday. This is enough to show how widespread the movement is, reaching not only the states around Delhi but also reaching to South India.
Farm leaders have condemned attack by VHP goons on a peaceful protest organised by All India Krishak Khet Majdoor Sangathan in Muzaffarpur today.
According to Indian liberals and leftists, the farmers agitation is pan India and got nothing to do with Sikh religion. But can someone explain why mainly Sikh youth are being picked up by Delhi police from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand? So far approx 250 Sikhs are arrested under sedition and UAPA law. -IJ Singh
Three youth from Bhangi Nihal Singh area have been released by Delhi Police due to efforts of DSGMC lawyers. Sandeep Singh, Lakhvir Singh, Simran Jeet Singh This is in addition to six others that were released by Delhi Police yesterday.
The Caravan article- A young Sikh woman leads the GurBani hymns from the central text of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib, at the Singhu border. Makeshift gurudwaras have appeared at the protest sites, including one inside a bus at Singhu.
Jayant Chaudhary has said that Central Govt is yet to explain the merits of the three laws to farmers. He said that why is Agricultural Minister Nardendra Singh Tomar shying away from a public debate with any of the farmer union leaders.
Three Godhi media Zee reporters arrive at Singhu border to photograph misleading images to imply langars (Sikh communal kitchen services) are empty and farmers have returned home. Farm leaders catch him then put them in front of public. Their whatsapp chat revealed they only filmed places where farmers where not standing. Typical Godhi media, not reporting the truth, but creating fake news to suit their agenda.
Contrary to Godi media reports the crowd remains consistent at borders. Revised approximate numbers are:
Singhu- 130,000
Tikri- 100-105,000
Ghazipur- 40,000
Shahjahanpur- 16,000
Numbers continue to increase everyday.
BJP senior leaders Amit Shah & JP Nadda met youth of Haryana to convince them to end the agitation. Meeting was attended by Sanjeev Baliyan, Rajkumar Chahar, & Satpal Singh as well.
“With their uncanny grassroots intuition, the farmers had realized something that many economists, including me, had missed.” – Kaushik Basu, former Chief Economist of World Bank in his article today.
74 organizations undersign an advert in the New York Times in support of farmers protesting in Delhi. A significant effort and many large organizations have signed up.
The Sikh Council UK expresses concern over rising community tensions in the UK due to events in India and the possibility of Hindutva violence/intimidation against Sikhs, as seen in Australia yesterday.
Baaz News Opinion article- Indian Media Desperately Trying To Reframe Farmers Protest In Canada, from Balpreet Singh. “Hindustan Times stories have largely been authored by Anirudh Bhattacharyya (‘A.B.’) who is based in Canada and has a lengthy record of reporting on alleged “Sikh extremism” in Canada. India has lost control of the narrative when it comes to the farmers’ protest. India’s human rights abuses and trend towards authoritarianism have been made plain to the world. It is clear that the Hindustan Times and A.B. are working extra hard at reclaiming lost ground by trying to reframe the farmers’ protest from the angle of extremism and violence that threatens Canada. India would like nothing more than to reframe the farmer issue as a conflict between Hindus and Sikhs. This is a falsehood that must be quickly exposed.”
Delhi Police said Google had helped them obtain information which led to arrest of Disha Ravi. If true, then it’s raises question why is Google assisting a fascist regime?
Delhi Police has written to Zoom to seek details of who all attended the meeting for discussing farmers protests and creating an awareness campaign around it.
Delhi Commission For Women has sent a notice to Dehli Police regarding Disha Ravi’s arrest, as they didn’t follow the correct procedures during her arrest.
The alumni of Bengaluru-based Mount Carmel College (MCC) on February 16 condemned the arrest of climate activist Disha Ravi.”We condemn the arrest of our fellow alumni Disha Ravi by the Delhi Police.”
Godhi media today claiming Disha Ravi is a Christian and has the name Joseph after her name. There is zero evidence of this, but facts never stop Godhi media from their hate agenda. This is an attempt to alleviate the sympathy coming towards Disha, as many Indian Hindu nationalists are bigoted towards minority communities like Christians.
Separately, Arnab Goswami of Republic TV claims her group is linked to Bangladeshi Muslim groups. Accusations galore!
@SikhSiyasat confirmed Indian govt has blocked four of their websites and restricted six YouTube videos of their content.
Indian High commission in London tweets “India’s internal law & order is a sovereign subject and not open to external interference. The Hon MP @ClaudiaWebbe is, once again, invited to obtain facts and correct information from High commission of India.” It shows how paranoid and rattled Indian diplomats are about the stance of Leicester MP Claudia Webb.
Sikh youth farmers’ protest lead figure Deep Sidhu was not even allowed to meet his lawyers yesterday. He was supposed to be presented in the court at 10:30am. Deep’s lawyers were waiting there since 9am. The judge gave another seven day police remand stay for Sidhu, while police presented him to the judge without his lawyers present around 8:30 pm. This is illegal.
“We have been absolutely clear from the very beginning that Navreet was hit by a bullet but now analysis of the post-mortem report and video of Navreet’s face by a top expert of #UK has also confirmed that he had bullet wound,” said Navreet’s grandfather Hardeep Singh Dibdiba who is fighting for justice for Navreet, who was killed by a police bullet on Republic Day according to dozens of witnesses.
A petition has been filed in Punjab and Haryana high court for transferring investigation of all FIRs against #NodeepKaur & #ShivKumar to CBI.
Sister of Ranjit Singh, who was viciously beaten and then arrested when BJP goons attached the morcha (protest) site: “There’s no one like my brother in Panjab. We don’t trust DSGPC. We want to hear from Ranjit Singh himself about his medical condition. Arrest Pradeep Khatri Tholedar and Aman Dabas, the BJP leaders under command of whom those goons attacked Singhu Border on 29th January. Hold Delhi police accountable too for being mute spectators when the stone pelting started and then supporting the attackers. Shame on those people who were standing there when this incident happened and didn’t help Ranjit Singh” she said.
Buddhist monks have bolstered the ranks of tens of thousands of Indian farmers who are locked in a defiant standoff with India’s government on the outskirts of Delhi after months of strikes, protests, and demonstrations against controversial new agricultural reform legislation, which the farmers say threatens their livelihoods.
Supreme Court appointed panel has said that giving MSP (Minimum Sale Price) guarantee in written on all crops is required. The committee has met 81 farm unions but none from protesting ones which is 482 unions.
NBC news article- India’s farmers are protesting authoritarianism disguised as capitalism. Sound familiar? The Indian government forced through a series of laws that could enrich a few corporations while impoverishing millions. No wonder people are protesting.
BBC 5Live interviewed a Punjabi farmer today on the farm laws.
Hollywood celebrity Susan Sarandon tweeted, “”The government wants farmers to trust in its benevolence when it designs laws without their input to supposedly benefit them, but it undermines this trust by repressing their dissent to those laws with indifferent cruelty.” #FarmersProtest
To further antagonise the Sikh community, the Indian Home Ministry announced a ban on Sikh pilgrims wanting to observe Saka Nankana’s centenary in Pakistan, citing the “security and safety of the pilgrims”. The Indian government’s order has come just a day before the Sikh pilgrims’ scheduled departure for Pakistan on February 18.
February 16th
DSGPC lawyers bail six more farmers today. The farmers were detained by the Delhi Police on January 26 in connection with an incident. DSGPC said, “Our lawyers are fighting the cases of the farmers very closely. By the grace of God, we will soon be able to grant bail to the rest of the heroes as well”.
Sikh youth farmers’ protest lead figure Deep Sidhu’s police remand has been extended for seven days.
Rakesh Tikait has remarked that all crop prices increase but surprisingly the sugarcane price for farmer remains constant. He asked whether the farmer is immune to inflation. He said that the government owes more than 12,000cr to farmers, which is as yet unpaid.
Many farmers have not been paid for sugarcane for two years. How much more debt can they be put under? In which industry would you not get paid for a product supplied two years earlier and still expect to be in business?
Tikait has said that the farmers’ unions are willing to talk and for that to happen, the prime minister does not necessarily have to be present at the meeting.
Farmers brought a system to cook food using steam; it’s a quicker and cheaper way of cooking food.
New tents on morcha (protest) sites are being erected to prepare for the summer.
A rotation of farmers continues, as groups from different villages replace each other to ensure that there is continual representation at the morcha sites.
A new groups of farmers will be leaving for Delhi from villages Bal Kalan and Bal Khurd. The sarpanch (head representative) of the Bal Kalan village said that they are done with sowing of crops now and that all farmers and their families haven’t failed in the fields, contrary to what the Indian Government media shows.
India gets international condemnation for sedition cases. Rational people around the world realise how deluded the BJP is acting in enforcing arrests of activists and journalists, as well as ordering violence and more.
There is a record number of Google searches by youth in India about leaving India, as more realise that having any non-mainstream or politically correct opinion expressed can be dangerous in a surveillance state.
Many activists and human right groups across the world have added calls for the Indian Government to release #ReleaseDisha and #NodeepKaur.
17 Tamil Nadu youth groups pledge their support to youth activist, #DishaRavi. They say: “We will not be silenced, and will ramp up our support to farmers and Disha.”
Former Supreme Court judge says that the ‘toolkit’ which is being used by the Delhi police to arrest climate activists, did not promote violence or contain anything seditious.Organising protests or tweet storms are not do not amount to sedition.
Protest for Disha and standing up for farmers at Mysore Bank Circle, Bengaluru, Feb 15 at 4 pm.
A complaint seeking registration of an FIR against Haryana Minister, Anil Vij, for his hateful statement calling for the killing of Disha Ravi on Twitter has been filed in Bengaluru.
30 days after Republic TV Arnab Goswami is caught in possession of national secrets, buying judges and bribery of rating agency, he is not arrested or charged, whereas a young female activist is charged for editing a Google doc.
In what could actually be called a toolkit, Maharashtra police has said that names of BJP IT cell people and Malviya have come forward in an investigation into paid Celebrity tweets by Central Government, in response to Rihanna’s tweet. Celebrity bank accounts are to be looked into by Maharashtra police, as they are against the BJP’s agenda.
Indian agencies use BJP sympathisers in Western countries to take out “Triranga marchs”. The aim is to counter the pro-farmers marches. Then the Indian agencies use Godhi media to create artificial conflict. For example, in Sydney Australia, such sympathisers incorrectly said that a march was ending at Glenwood Gurdwara.
In Vancouver, Canada, the BJP sympathisers use Godhi media to accuse pro-farmer groups of surrounding an Omni news reporter, which is a completely false narrative.
It’s all to deflect the narrative away from Farmer bills because the BJP know they have lost favour with many neutrals, so they make the narrative about hyper-nationalism, Indian flag, and foreign influence.
Godhi media and Indian journalists twist their incitement to blame Punjabis abroad in Canada, the UK and Australia. Already, news articles in the Canadian press are pushing Godhi media’s agenda. India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa, Ajay Bisaria, wrote: “We are also concerned at reports that Indian citizens and friends of India who have expressed their views in support of the farm reforms in India have been targeted and subjected to intimidation, threats of violence and calls to boycott or disrupt their business. Reports of threats, including violence and rape, against Indo-Canadians were received from the Greater Toronto Area, Metro Vancouver, Calgary and Vancouver”.
February 15th
Parvinder Singh (46) of village Goreya has committed suicide. He had returned home from the Singhu border protest site recently to come back with more people from his village. It is said that he used to remain sad and expressed fears about elders at the morcha (protest). His family says that he was feeling helpless. The toll on mental health on protesting farmers is not being discussed and support is needed.
DSGPC- Nodeep Kaur’s bail in regarding her second FIR has been granted by the court. Her legal team are trying to get her the bail in 3rd FIR. She is still in Karnal Jail.
Punjab Women’s commission Chairperson Manisha Gulati has been denied permission to meet #NodeepKaur by Karnal Jail’s superintendent. Many feel this establishes that Nodeep is still being beaten and assaulted. #ReleaseNodeepKaur
A motorcycle rally was held in Amritsar today in support of #NodeepKaur . 2500 motor motorcyclists of the city participated in the rally. The rally concluded at Baba Deep Singh Ji’s Gurdwara.
A massive Kisan Mazdoor Rally was held in Khammam (Tilangana) against agricultural laws.
Arvind Kejriwal will be attending Mahapanchayat (community meeting) in Meerut. Mahapanchayat expected to have huge turnout.
Huge farmer rallies were held in in Meerut and Bijnor today. Thousands expected to join.
A tractor rally is to be organised in Jalandhar from 12-3pm for Ferbruary 16th. Around 10,000 tractors are expected to join. Traffic police have issued directions for people in case of jams.
Conditions at the morcha site are tough according to attendees. Farmers are sending their own water tankers, since Delhi govt stopped water at the site.
Punjab and Haryana have a very high yield per hectare of land due to one of the most fertile soils in India. For both wheat and rice, it is nearly double compared to most of the other states and is even triple to a few. This information is being used to add weight to the demands of farmers of Punjab and Haryana.
Punjab has among the least communal violence incidents in India and among the least caste violence issues. Many feel this is only because Punjab remains Sikh majority state. Once this is no longer the case. It will join the other states.
In Amritsar, Gurdwaras are acting as one point stop for incoming and outgoing farmers. Details of all farmers are noted. Gurdwaras have started collecting air coolers. Some farmers are making specially designed refrigerated trolleys as well.
Journalist Amaan Bali met some local farmers who had gone to Singhu and Tikri borders. They say that Sri Akaal Takht Sahib has always been a guiding light for the morcha. The Dhaadi Jathas (musical story telling groups) talk about farmers everyday
Hardeep Singh Dibdiba has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, seeking an independent investigation into his grandson Navreet Singh’s death. Navreet is the deceased at the centre of the Republic Day shooting incident. Dozens saw police fire at him, resulting in his death. Bullet holes were visible on his body. However, state authorities denied he was shot.
Member of the Muslim Personal Law board Mohammad Sajad Nomani was at the Singhu border with other Muslim legal workers supporting the morcha. He wanted to leave for Namaz (Muslim prayer). But then Nihangs (Sikh warriors) invited them to offer namaz in their makeshift Gurdwara. The visual of this has gone viral as a great example of the unity on display at the morcha.
Fresh non-bailable warrants have been issued against against Nikita Jacob and Shantanu who have been amplifying farmer voices by social media. The state’s aim is to silence anybody supporting farmers.
Disha Ravi’s (arrested activist) motivation to become a climate activist stemmed from watching her grandparents, who are farmers, struggle with the effects of climate change.
BJP Minister Anil Vij calls for the killing of Disha, saying anti-nationals like her should be destroyed. This hate speech has been normalised by this govt regime. This is how this nation treats its people who disagree with ruling party’s decision.
BJP supporters have been tweeting in a sick crowd mentality of how Disha will become pregnant as they applauded sexual violence against female activists.
Disha has been sent to police remand by a judge, despite her lawyer not being present which is against due process. BJP know they have been unable to debate the farm laws, so construct numerous conspiracy theories, they demonize any youth in favour of farmers as anti-national, when it reality they are just anti-BJP.
Mass commentary on Twitter, Whatsapp and Clubhouse reveals the protest situation is so bad that parents are scared and tell kids not to express any opinion on any cause on social media as it might get you into trouble. Let’s face it, if being a climate change activists is anti-national, then which activist is safe to express an opinion? By silencing activist voices, BJP rhetoric in India never gets challenged. This is textbook fascism.
High caste Hindu youth were silent when Muslims, Sikhs and Dalits were attacked, but now they are waking up to being arrested for supporting farmers or climate change. Many on Clubhouse admit they are scared and struggling to comprehend this new level of Govt tyranny.
Three other students are being sought by Delhi police due for just being in a zoom call with Disha. They used guilt by association against Disha, now using that with those associated to Disha.
Wall Street Journal and news outlets carry the story of Disha.
An FIR was filed by a member of the BJP, Alexis Sudhakar, in the cyber crime cell demanding action against the Tamil Actress Oviyaa who tweeted with the hashtag ‘go back Modi’ on February 13.
BJP might be trying to use ‘tea’ as conspiracy item from a social media campaign, claiming overseas anti-India forces want to destroy the country’s tea industry, but the party hasn’t even lived up to its promises made to tea plantation workers of higher wages. After Modi’s speech in support of the industry, the tea workers will now launch an agitation as they feel that PM has fooled them.
The Wire- More than 40 lawyers of south Asian descent have written an open letter to US President Joseph Biden, asking him to take note of the farmers’ protests and the methods of repressing it taken up by the Centre. The letter is also marked to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Gregory Weldon Meeks, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jim Risch, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission chairmen James P. McGovern and Christopher H. Smith, and Chair of US Commission on International Religious Freedom Gayle Manchin.
British Colombia Premier John Horgan writes to Trudeau in favour of the farmers.
Today’s Sky Kids FYI did a report on the #farmersprotest.
Time magazine article- How Long Will Joe Biden Pretend Narendra Modi’s India Is a Democratic Ally?
BBC article- Indian farmers’ protests: Why they matter to British Indians
Bloomberg article- Modi’s Fight With Farmers Is a Pivotal Moment in India’s Growth
Meanwhile Khalsa Aid continues to provide aid in Uttarkhand where recent floods impacted locals. The rabid Hindu nationalists calling K.A a terror group are nowhere to be seen.
February 14th
Ex -gangster turned social activist Lakha Singh Sidhana has been arrested today. His location was raided this morning by police, but he had already left, the INR100,000 bounty was placed on him. Sidhana has improved his reputation at the grassroots level over the last few years, due to his role as the president of the Malwa Youth Federation, an organisation dedicated to the revitalisation of Punjabi culture and youth. In 2017, Sidhana was arrested for leading a group of youth to paint over state highway signs that were written in Hindi and English but left the Punjabi ones untouched. He said that it was a near-death encounter when a bullet entered the back of his head that showed him that the gangster life is not what he wanted for himself.”
The Badals are desperate for Lakha to be killed or in jail, as he openly speaks about their crimes against the Panth since 1978 – Jagit Singh, Khalsa Foundation.
Amritsar has recorded only 34.2% polling till now in the first half of the day (Nagar Nigam Elections). Most people don’t want to vote for duo of Akalis and Congress. AAP faring well. BJP in 4th & last position.
After Bapu Gurmukh Singh and Bapu Jeet Singhs release on bail. There are still :
Total Arrested — 143
On Bail — 5
In Police Custody — 2
In Jails — 136
Farmer leaders has said that they have met AAP leader Raghav Chadha and have demanded that all prisoners be kept in one jail to make it easy for families and legal help to be made easy.
Prem Singh Bhangu head of legal cell of farmer unions met Ranjit Singh the Sikh who was brutally beaten and arrested by Delhi Police. According to Bhangu, Ranjit is doing great.
A farmer has hanged himself in UP after being beaten by Power Dept officials and served an inflated electricity bill in several thousands. The other day Uttar Pardesh chief minister Yogi spent INR100,000s in advertising how he is helping farmers.
Update on Nodeep Kaur – Punjab Women’s commission chairperson Manisha Gulati has met home minister Amit Shah to appraise HM about the human rights violations committed against Nodeep.
Modi Govt has got Twitter to closed the account of Gurpreet Singh, an artist who has been doing a lot of artwork in favour of the farmers and has been in the morcha.
Another massive Maha Panchayat (traffic blockade) today. More scheduled over next few days.
Baaz news – Freezing Rain Does Not Stop Philadelphia Solidarity Farmers Protest. Despite the threat of a winter storm, some attendees travelled to the Gurdwara from New Jersey and New York by a bus organised by volunteers
Farmers trade unions in France write to express solidarity.
Teachers Unions in BC, Canada write a message in favour of Farmers protests.
Punjabi community in Stockholm thanked @GretaThunberg for support to the farmer protests.
Many observers are saying that India is using soft power of its production of Covid vaccines. This is being used to maintain silence from western countries on the fascism in India.
Many farmers have now dug their own toilets around morcha sites, since Delhi police barricades stopped them access to toilets, water, medications, electricity and wifi.
Arnab Goswami’s Republic TV has served a cease and desist notice to media trade portal BestMediaInfo.com asking it not to publish a news report claiming that several companies had cancelled advertising contracts with the channel since October, the website reported on Friday. “The brands apparently acted after BestMediaInfo.com published a news report (dated September 28, 2020) about advertisers asking news channels to stop broadcasting toxic content,” the website claimed. “The news report led to a wider discussion on the subject, with more advertisers echoing the same views.”
Delhi Police Cyber Cell arrested 21-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi from Bengaluru on 13th February for her alleged role in spreading ‘toolkit’ related to farmers protest.
In an immediate response, Karuna Nundy, an Indian supreme court lawyer, tweeted: “Disha’s the daughter of a single mother. Allegations of criminality are ludicrous, to arrest in such a case more so.”
Disha Ravi broke down in court room and told judge that she had merely edited two lines in the toolkit and was supporting farmers.
Reports show that Disha Ravi was sentenced to Police remand by the judge before her defence lawyers turned up.
Delhi police used Pegasus software to track and find the climate activist student in Bangalore. Delhi police swooped upon her. She has 5 days of police remand. It has been well documented how young women are treated appallingly in police custody in India.
BJP groups and tweets are targeting international activists like Rupi Kaur and others with rape threats if she comes to India. Clubhouse discussions focus on suppression of freedom of speech in India, in particular the role of pro-Modi mainstream media (Godi media) creating a hate narrative and young activists are being targeted as a result of this hate narrative of Godi media.
The Guardian has published an article on: How Hindu supremacists are tearing India apart. For seven decades, India has been held together by its constitution, which promises equality to all. But Narendra Modi’s BJP is remaking the nation into one where some people count as “more Indian” than others.
People running the farmer movement in Hisar took out a candle march in memory of the martyrs of the Pulwama attack.
Candle light march was held at the Singhu border in memory of martyrs of Pulwama attack.
Lastly I will attach pictures of artwork by Gurpreet Singh artist who’s Twitter account was blocked at the request of India.
February 13th
While many know about 200 farmers passing away, many are not aware that 4061 Sikh youth have been booked under UAPA. This is an appalling statistic that shows huge organised repression of Sikh youth voices during these farmers protests.
143 farmer protesters have now been arrested. Many have been severely tortured according to on-the-ground reports. The issue evokes memories of the fact that during 1978 -1995, many Sikh youth who were arrested returned home disabled due to torture, if they did return home at all.
While in Tihar jail Mandeep Singh Punia (journalist arrested for reporting on Delhi police #farmersprotest brutality) met many innocent farmers who had also been illegally arrested. He reports their wounds from torture are very serious. These farmers were innocent protesters and were being locked up arbitrarily. Sometimes the farmers would cry but their spirits remained unbroken, according to Punia.
80-year-old Gurmukh Singh & 70-year-old Jeet Singh were released today from Tihar jail due to legal assistance from DSGPC. Both said they were beaten and tortured inside. Both are former Indian soldiers who fought in the Indo-Pak wars and retired to become farmers.
Thick fog at morcha (protest) sites today made conditions very difficult for farmers and families.
A massive crowd saw a performance from spiritual singer and lead #farmersprotest figure Kanwar Grewal at Gadri Gulab Nagar, Tikri Border. He promoted unity among different unions and motivated people to join the protest. A large gathering of local people along with protesters in attendance proves the movement is growing.
Many farmers are concerned that the morcha may go into April as many will have to return for harvest (Vaisakhi- also the period celebrated by Sikhs for the creation of the Khalsa). At the moment many fields are being attended to by bibian (women) or extended families.
In Punjab the farmers are still facing the shortage of bardana (burdock crop). The sheller associations are playing the blame game with the govt and farmers or their families/ workers who are on the fields facing troubles in growing the vegetable. The govt and sheller associations are laying waste to all the hard work done by farmers and making them suffer financially.
The numbers continue to swell at Bahadurgarh after a massive Mahapanchayat (community meeting) yesterday. A large number of people are expected on weekends from Punjab via trains.
Haryana Agriculture Minister JP Dalal has being caught on video making fun of the death of more than 200 people who have lost their lives so far in the farmer movement. He mocks their commitment to the cause.
As per reports Haryana BJP Chief Minister Khattar govt is planning to bring about a law which will penalise the protesting farmers for losses incurred to Haryana govt due to protests. It’s ironic as he was the person who had the motorways dug up and brought huge amounts of police against the farmers, and now he wants to farmers to pay for it.
Delhi Police Commissioner chaired an important meeting to review the situation on the borders of Delhi such as Ghazipur, Singhu, Tikri and Shahjahanpur.
#FarmersProtest has entered day 143 in Punjab. A protest march led by advocate Lakhbir singh was carried out in Amritsar near golden gate.
The Supreme Court bench has sought replies on the delay in payment of dues of Rs 15,683 crores to sugarcane farmers. Sugarcane farmers have been protesting for FRP (Fair and remunerative price). Farmers of West UP are majorly impacted.
Farmers union leader Rakesh Tikait has said that Mahapanchayats have rattled the govt and that this is a beginning. He also announced his intentions to organise Mahapanchayats in Gujarat.
Sikh PA- “Police should shoot them” These are the words of BJP politician Nand Kishor Gurjar (pictured), said recently in regards to the farmer protesters in-and-around Delhi.’The farmers who are sitting are hundred percent terrorists. The police should shoot them’ – quoted by Indian media outlets from a video Gurjar spoke in.
Vocal MP Claudia Webbe wrote a full page article in the Morning Star supporting on farmers protests. She has faced a lot of hate as a Leicester East MP, but has stood strong for farmers.
Meanwhile in Germany, domestic farmers are protesting against the corporatisation of agriculture and new environment laws that mandate them to be slaves of seed mafia. Agriculture issues are global.
Some of B.C’s most powerful unions are throwing their support behind the protesters in India amid growing concerns about censorship of the social media movement. The B.C Federation of Labour (BCFED) has planned a car rally and protest for Tuesday (16.02.21) at 6:30 p.m in Surrey at Nordel Way and Scott Road.
According to media reports, Deep Sidhu and Iqbal Singh were brought to the Red Fort to recreate the January 26 events and the involvement of Deep Sidhu. The Delhi Crime Branch attempted to understand the events that took place involving lead #FarmersProtest figure Deep Sidhu.
Baaz news- Koo, the Indian Twitter alternative, has gotten into controversies right at the beginning of its big moment, including a data leak row and the revealing of having a Chinese investment.
Many UK citizens are waking up to BJP fascism within the UK Tory party, with appalling remarks by Home Minister Priti Patel on Black Lives Matter and taking the knee in support. Many are calling for her resignation on social media.
Sikh Council UK tweeted, “We would like to thank @pritipatel for being honest in her opinions on #BLM, we wouldn’t expect anything different from an admirer of #RSS & #MODI. Would she now also endorse the views of #Modi that protestors are PARASITES?”
Haryana Jaat (farmers) leader Hawa Singh Sangwan gave a public statement that he is leaving Hinduism to embrace Sikhi, along with 300 of his supporters. They are going to Sri Akal Thakht Sahib on 21st April.
Ravi Singh Khalsa Aid said,”The hate from the right wing Indian fanatics motivates us to do more for humanity….. ! Their hate for minorities is nothing short of the Nazi ideology!”
12th February
Nihang Singh Baba Kashmir Singh Ji has passed away at the morcha (protest) at the Singhu border. Baba Ji was responsible for langar seva (Sikh communal kitchen selfless service) and been carrying this seva at the morcha since December 2020.
Due to international pressure, bail has been granted to 80-year-old farmer Gurmukh Singh and 70-year-old Jeet Singh. Both served in the Indian army in the Indo-Pak war, but as veterans they have been shown no respect. Instead they have been tortured in Tihar Jail during their arrest. DSGPC lawyers helped them. They will be released tomorrow due to paperwork issues.
Nodeep Kaur has been granted bail in one out of the three FIR’s on her. She has got bail on FIR from Dec 2020. Another FIR number 25 was earlier rejected by the presiding court. DSGMC will submit a bail petition regarding the remaining two FIRs to free Nodeep.
An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale hit Tajikistan on Friday night, sending tremors in Delhi-NCR, Jammu, Uttarakhand, Lahore and parts of Uttar Pradesh.
A Sikh at the morcha has been repairing the shoes of the street children for free.
Farm leaders know 50% of India’s population work in agriculture. Many are too poor to come to Delhi, so more Maha Panchayats (community meets/counsels) are being scheduled.
Another massive day of Maha Panchayats today. This policy of going to farming regions allows farm leaders to educate snd motivate the population.
Farm leader Rikesh Tikait attended a massive #Mahapanchayat at Bahadurgarh today. He said “We will march nationwide, going to Gujarat to set it free. It’s controlled by Centre (Central Govt). India is free but people of Gujarat are imprisoned. If they want to join the movement, they are jailed.”
Farmer Suicides are a big issue in Indian agriculture that govt is steering clear off. Implementation of the Swaminathan report will relieve the stress on farmers but the Indian govt is adamant on taking away the basic safety net of MSP as well. A farmer named Ajeb Singh (55) took his life by jumping in a canal in Haryao village of Punjab. The farmer owed 15lacs to two banks that he had taken for tractor and seeds in 2018-19. His son Kuldeep Singh said that family owns 2.8 acres of land, and that they lost land from 3.2 acres due to debt. It is important to understand that farmers anywhere in India are not subsidised enough that govt can take away the safety net of MSP unless the prices of pesticides, seeds, machinery are regulated. No Kisan (Farmers’) credit card can save the lives. A Kisan credit card is “death warrant” according to some.
Dr Vandana Shiva tweeted, “The #GreenRevolution was the reason for #farmersprotests in Punjab in 1984. It continues to be the context for the protests in India today. It increased rice and wheat but destroyed our soil and water.”
Labour MP Claudia Webbe has received horrific abuse on Twitter for standing in solidarity with Indian farmers, who are protesting against a new law that would see their incomes ravaged by big business. Some of the responses read: “Ugly N***,” “Black b*tch,” “Keep you [sic] f*cking nose out of my country” and “I stand with chimps.” Meanwhile, another UK politician London deputy mayor Rajesh Agrawal also tweeted criticism of Ms Webbe’s support, which he deleted after The Skwawkbox approached the mayor’s office for comment, according to the online publication. Appalling behaviour from London’s Deputy Mayor Rajesh Agrawal.
The Indian government is cracking down on independent media, such as NewsClick, amid massive protests against highly contested agricultural laws. “The main idea of doing this is to send a warning .. to say that you guys are not immune,” says @PSainath_org.
Time magazine article- The Farmers’ Protests Are a Turning Point for India’s Democracy—and the World Can No Longer Ignore That.
After the Professor Simranjeet Singh Time magazine article (above) in Meena Harris tweeted, ““This is not just India’s fight. In a world grappling with rising authoritarianism, propaganda, human rights abuses, and anti-democratic practices, quashing right-wing nationalism is in everyone’s best interest.”
Guardian article – Roaring crowds, roti and Rihanna: the view from a Delhi farm protest camp. As rhetoric rises on both sides, Indian farmers at the Singhu camp say they are going nowhere.
UK BJP supporters start an online petition against Sikhs supporting farmers. The petition asks for their OCI cards to be removed so they cannot visit Punjab and their loved ones.
Annihilation of Caste is a new discussion series from the Panth-Punjab Project featuring Bahujan thinkers and activists from across the subcontinent.
Canadian NHL player Jujar Khaira has publicly supported farmers protest through Canada’s huge hockey media outlets.
A Godhi media outlet tried to take a shot at @BaazNewsOrg by saying they appear too well “organized” and “funded”. BJP struggle with farmers and Sikhs being educated and capable of presenting a truthful counter narrative to their dirty propaganda.
Many Sikhs in the UK are concerned about bias reporting in the BBC. Responses people are receiving about complaints submitted to the BBC about news reporter Geeta Guru-Murthy show no acknowledgement of the concerns of those complaining. Many were upset that infamous India Today reporter Lovleena Tandon, a known propagator of nationalist anti-Sikh rhetoric, was interviewed by Geeta, who also raised Indian nationalist conspiracies about who is behind the protests. Loveena is considered by many to be anti-Sikh, especially considering one particular incident where she complained to the Charity Commission about Singh Sabha Gurdwara Slough having a Khalistan sign. This Gurdwara has had that sign since 1984, like many Western Gurdwaras. It’s the choice of the Sangat what signs they put in Gurdwara, not the choice of Mrs Tandon and Indian Government. Sikhs in the UK question how BBC is maintaining neutrality, when it allows right wing reporters like her to drip-feed untrue references on “Sikh extremism” on the BBC. Comparatively, there is no BBC discussion on the fascism of the BJP and PM Modi, despite so much evidence of it.
11th February
On her Birthday, Nodeep to her sister that she needs t-shirts and other basic necessities for 20 women inmates. She is speaking up about conditions for female prisoners. The prison too cannot restrict her from her basic principle of ‘serving the people’.
Punjab Government tweeted, “Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister @ArunaC_Official urged the National Women Commission to immediately intervene for releasing Nodeep Kaur, whose medical examination conducted after her arrest revealed injuries on her body and private parts.”
Three more people have been arrested by Delhi police in connection with the 26th Jan incidents; Gurprakash Singh, Rajendra Singh, Gurjeet Singh. All three are arrested after analysis of videos of the Burari region.
Massive crowds attended Mahapanchayat (meeting) at Jagrao Mandi. Approximately 30,000 attended. These Maha Panchayats allow the poorer farmers to come out in support.
50% of India’s population are connected to agriculture. But many are so poor, they are not getting the news of protests in many states. However through the Maha Panchayats many are finding out about the effects of these laws.
BJP Punjab leaders get surrounded and hit by women. They have avoided villages, but even city dwellers are turning on them.
Akal Youth stop BJP campaigning in Rajpura area.
BJP Amit Shah tries to bribe Bengali farmers, “Will credit Rs 18,000 in your bank accounts if you bring BJP to power”
Every opposition party has blasted Modi in parliamentary debates. Many speeches go viral, especially Muhua Miotra’s.
Update on the death of Navreet Singh: Delhi Court issued a notice in plea seeking a court-monitored investigation by special team in connection with the death of Navreet Singh on Jan 26 during tractor rally. Witnesses saw him shot dead by police, which is being denied by authorities.
UK MP Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi again raises the farmers protests in parliament, as well as the case of Nodeep Kaur. He said all 650 UK constituencies have had local signatures on a petition calling for more from the UK regarding the #FarmersProtest. He called for the Parliamentary debate to happen as soon as possible.
Delhi University students march in solidarity with farmers and those arrested.
Hemkunt Foundation, United Sikhs & Khalsa Aid have installed water purification plants at various borders of Delhi for the agitating farmers.
Economic Times- Overall, a total of 1,34,516 suicides were reported in the country in 2018, showing an increase of 3.6 per cent in comparison to 2017 when 1,29,887 people ended their lives, the report said.
UK’s largest trade union group Unite today held a two hour webinar on India’s farmers protests.
Randeep Singh Canadian MP tweeted “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. The leaders discussed Canada and India’s commitment to democratic principles, recent protests, and the importance of resolving issues through dialogue.” This account and BJP account of the conversation differ as they make no mention of the farmers protest.
Huffington Post- Celebrities get behind Farmers Protest. ‘The world is now watching and that has caused extreme embarrassment for the Indian government,” said Jindi Singh, national director for Khalsa Aid Canada, a humanitarian organization supporting farmers on the front lines. “We have to keep amplifying the story, trying to keep it in the media, putting pressure on our local politicians, to remind India of its human rights obligations to allow people to not only peacefully protest but also the freedom of movement.”’
Canada Global news- Many B.C. residents are feeling familiar fears as tensions rise in India, over ongoing farmers’ protests, triggering traumatic memories of the 1984 Sikh massacre.
Hindustan Times- Actor Kangana Ranaut has hinted that she might quit Twitter soon, and move to ‘homegrown’ app, Koo. Kangana has faced multiple account restrictions recently, and has had certain tweets removed for violating Twitter guidelines. Her sister Rangoli Chandel’s account remains permanently suspended for promoting hate speech.
Kangana Ranaut joins other BJP hardliners to call for Twitter to be banned in India.
Other Indians on Twitter called out BJP as their new app Koo App is actually registered in China instead of USA. Hypocrisy of BJP is clearly evident as BJP banned TikTok as it was registered in China.
India continues to silence the voices of the farmers. YouTube has blocked music videos such as the song by famous Punjabi singer Kanwar Grewal titled ‘Ailaan’ which was related to the farmer protests. YouTube has placed a notification on the original video, saying “This content is not available in this country domain due to a legal complaint from the government”. A YouTube spokesperson said in a statement: “We comply with valid legal requests from authorities wherever possible, consistent with our longstanding policy and act quickly to remove identified content”.
Ofcom has received 414 complaints against Arnab Goswamis Republic TV interview of Kangana Ranaut.
Sonakshi Sinha, who has expressed solidarity with the protesting farmers, has now shared a poem as a tribute to them.
Newslaundry- Conservative MP Bob Blackman tweeted out an infographic with inaccuracies and ‘blatant misinformation’ about farmers protests. On February 5, 2021 Blackman tweeted in support of the three farm laws at the centre of the farmer protests, quoting an infographic headed “A [blithering] idiot’s guide to India’s Agri reforms”. Newsluandry responded , “What you referred to as a ‘very useful guide’ is in fact misleading, factually inaccurate and, in parts, downright false. It is likely that you have been poorly briefed and put out this tweet without questioning its factual accuracy. We invite you to consider the following and withdraw your tweet. In view of the huge engagement your tweet received -38,000 likes and 19,000 retweets as of noon on February 6- we ask that you also issue a public apology for the misleading tweet.” Then News Laundry did a point by point response ripping apart the propaganda put out by BJP via MP Bob Blackman.
This Bob Blackman incident comes after India tells outsiders not to interfere in their internal affairs, yet continue feeding propaganda into countries like the UK through MPs like Blackman.
10th February
Satpal Singh (45) from Morh Khurd passed away while he was taken to hospital. He was at Tikri Morcha from December 12, 2020. Satpal Singh has 2.5 acres of land.
Another farmer, Darshan Singh, has passed away at #SinghuBorder. He was from Moga and has been part of the movement since Jan 5th. He died of a heart attack.
Iqbal Singh has been arrested by a Special cell of Delhi Police. Iqbal Singh is the third arrest after the targeted arrests of influential farmers’ protests leads Sukhdev Singh and Deep Sidhu. Iqbal Singh also had a bounty of ₹50,000 [Rs 50,000 crore] on his head.
Rawal Singh, who escaped from Nangloi when police were picking up boys, reveals that they were all arrested ‘fraudulently’ without any evidence and were stamped with rioting charges.
Two friends, Dilshan and Navjot, from Hasanpur went to participate in the tractor march. They went missing on 28 January after some people attacked farmers at Singhu border. 3-4 days after the incident, their families got information that they were arrested by the police.
Twitter is locked in a battle with the Indian government after it was ordered to take down accounts supporting the ongoing farmers’ protests. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government demanded the social media site take down more than 1,100 accounts and posts it said accused the administration of trying to wipe out farmers. Twitter refused to take down the accounts. The social media giant says it has principles of “defending protected speech and freedom of expression”.
Twitter has expressed concern for the safety of its employees in India after the company’s refusal to comply with a demand from the Indian government to remove more than 1,000 accounts connected to the farmer protests in the country.
Modi’s trolls are fuming and calling for a national ban of Twitter.
Kangana and other Modi supporters are moving to their new app called Koo. It’s being called the BJP version of Twitter and being compared to how Parlour is used by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
Lakha Sidhana appears in a new video calling on all youth to support the protests and come out to Delhi. He said governments always try to scare people to turn them away from protests; “Do not allow them to create in-fighting and division”.
Opposition parties of India have maintained consistent pressure on the ruling party. Opposition in Lok Sabha said that the government needs to shun its arrogance and should talk to farmers.
50,000 attended Kisan Mahapanchayat (Farmers meeting) in Iglas, Aligarh today. These Maha Panchayats continue to rattle BJP.
Newsclickin Farm Laws: Despite Allahabad HC Order, UP Farmers Served Notices for Personal Bonds. After a mahapanchayat in Muzaffarnagar, at least 200 farmers linked to the farmers’ protests received notices asking them to sign personal bonds worth Rs two lakh to “ensure peace”.
Not only is this in violation of what Allahabad court has pronounced regarding notices but is also an invasion of the privacy of farmers. People are tracked in villages, and records of whoever joins protests are kept to harass them.
United Sikhs installed a water pump at Tikri for protesting farmers.
Delhi police put CCTV at Tikri border to keep an eye on farmers.
UK MP Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi tweeted, “Alarmed to learn about the sexual assault and torture allegations in police custody of Punjabi trade unionist #NodeepKaur, who after 4 weeks hasn’t even been granted bail. Abuse of peaceful India #FarmersProtests activists, especially women, is an affront to democracy and civilised society.”
DSGMC (Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee) have decided to fight the Nodeep Kaur case. The lawyer of DSGMC Harinder Singh Bains has met Nodeep in jail and has taken her statements. Nodeep’s family has confirmed that DSGMC will carry forward the case.
Tomorrow is the birthday of Nodeep Kaur.
SAD (Shiromani Akali Dal) Delhi have submitted a letter to Sonipat Police demanding the release of Nodeep Kaur. SSP (Senior Superintendent Police) Jashandeep Singh Randhawa said that the case is for the court and that police are helping family get in touch with Nodeep. He said that human rights violations will be investigated as well.
Baaz news – Joti Kaur: White House Stance On Indian Farmers Protest Has Sikhs Expecting More. U.S. President Joe Biden shared his stance on “democratic norms” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first call since his inauguration.
Business Today – Adani Group completes acquisition of 23.5% stake in Mumbai Airport to hike ownership to 74%. Adani Airport Holdings (AAHL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, has acquired 23.5 per cent equity stakes in Mumbai International Airport from ACSA Global and Bid Services Division (Mauritius) for Rs 1,685.2 crore.
The Express- Boris hails ‘golden Brexit bonanza’ in £23bn India deal. The UK has agreed to a new multi-billion trade agreement with India to boost Britain’s “outward-looking” stance across the world, it was [will be] revealed this morning.
The above article is why many felt UK PM Boris Johnson was complying with BJP to get a trade deal. This includes ignoring farmers protests and farmers deaths, ignoring questions in Parliament by MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, ignoring the fact Jaggi Johal spent his 34th birthday in prison without charge, and targeting 3 UK Sikh youths for extradition.
Six Canadian MPs write to their government to be more vocal to support farmers.
U.S. State Representative, Rashida Tlaib, writes to support our farmers and also highlights the increasing human rights concerns in India.
UK MP, Zarah Sultana, tweeted, “Modi’s new laws have provoked the #FarmersProtest, one of the largest ever protests. Set to benefit from the laws are Modi’s allies like Mukesh Ambani, one of the world’s richest men & a Tory (UK) donor.
UK MP for Peterborough, Paul Bristow, speaks in favour of farmers.
NBA Champion, Matt Barnes stands with farmers in a video statement.
Widely watched in the USA, The Daily Show by Trevor Noah covers the farmer protests in its latest issue.
Ontario MP, Gurrattan Singh, tweeted, “Peaceful farmers have died, been arrested or have gone missing during the #FarmersProtest in India. Protestors, like #NodeepKaur, have been unlawfully detained & brutalized. Calling on the Indian Government to end their violence against peaceful farmers & to free all political prisoners.”
Times Group files Rs 100-crore defamation case against ‘Newslaundry’ for videos on TV anchors. Replying to the notice, ‘Newslaundry’ said that the comments made about the anchors were factually correct and not defamatory. It’s another attempt to silence media sources that do not tow the Modi line.
Indian government attack on @newsclickin is a violation of all the basic norms of press freedom articulated in the @UN Charter of 1945. Newsclick offered the most comprehensive coverage of the farmers’ revolt; it is being punished. Indian government’s crackdown on media continues amidst the growing farmers protests. The Enforcement Directorate’s raid on the office of Newsclick and on the residences of its editors came in the backdrop of sedition charges filed against several veteran journalists whose reporting on the farmers’ protests had been critical of the government. All media positively covering the farmer protests are being targeted.
Punjabis protested in freezing cold in Alberta, Canada, in solidarity with farmers.
Jaskaran Singh Sandhu, Director of Administration for WSO, breaks down the ongoing FarmersProtest in India on Canada Tonight with @Ginella_M.
Lord Inderjit Singh of Wimbledon- Will the UK Government condemn the violation of human rights by the Indian Government?
While farmers are sitting on borders of Delhi, Punjab government has failed to provide the packaging bags for ride to its rice mills, due to which tonnes of rice will rot away. Sheller association says that government isn’t willing to provide the promised number of bags used for packing.
SGPC has unanimously passed resolutions demanding: 1) Demand of repeal of the three laws; 2) Release of all the farmers from jails; 3) Take back cases against farmer leaders; and 4) Demand for Gyan Godri Gurdwara Sahib. SGPC set to meet Uttarkhand Chief Minister later this month.
Lastly I (Jagjit Singh) encourage all Punjabis to watch the interview of Vandana Shiva discussing multinational chemical companies and the Green Revolution in Punjab, its resultant cancers in Bhatinda, water issues and how farmers revolution led to 1984 Battle of Amritsar.
9th February
One more farmer died at Singhu. Harender of Sewa village of Panipat died due to cardiac arrest. Salute to the martyrs. Harendra used to get up every morning at 4 am and engage in langar service.
Deep Sidhu went to Sachkhand Siri Darbar Sahib to do seva, then handed himself for arrest in Sonipat. Lawyers from Punjab are already coming forward to represent him.
Delhi police claim that they had a special cell who arrested him after an investigation. Punjab police deny this. Then police said he was arrested in Zikarpur, but that was denied by Zikarpur police. He is now in police custody for 7 days.
He was sent to police custody from “Tees Hazaari”, a place named when 30,000 Khalsa Sikhs stayed there for some time, later to attack Mughal emperor and to hoist same flag at Red Fort 250+ years ago.
Deep Sidhu has been booked by Delhi Police Case FIR No. u/s 96/2021 PS Kotwali Delhi under sections 146/148/149/152/186/269/279/353/332/307/308/395/397/427/188/120B/34 IPC; read with secs. 25/27/54/59 Arms Act; r/w s. 3 PDPP Act & s. 30 AMASR Act. It’s an extraordinary list and shows how differently BJP treats Deep Sidhu, Nodeep Kaur and other activists in comparison to the charges received by rich Gujaratis such as Nirav Modi and Vijay Maliyas.
Farmer leader Rulda Singh has made a statement that it is good that Deep Sidhu is arrested. Some people believe this shows how farm leaders like Rajinder help BJP separate Lakha Sidhana and Deep Sidhu from the mainstream leadership, but then still have a significant following in Punjab Youth. Now it is clear that the real discussion with happen on the table by Amit Shah from BJP and Rakesh Tikait from farmers. Punjab had started and put most effort into morcha, now at the vital time, it’s no longer the biggest player in the talks and this will naturally be detrimental to Punjab.
Mahua Moitra MP from West Bengal was scathing of BJP yesterday in Parliament. Openly calling Modi and his cronies cowards. She laid out many truths of BJP hypocrisy and called for farm laws to be repealed. One of many quotes from her speech, “The farm laws have firmly established this government’s motto of “brutality over morality”
The speech of MP Mahua Moitra has gone viral on social media. She was praised on social media for her fearless stand inside the Parliament. She made references to leaders in Sikh history Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Sardar Bhagael Singh who conquered Delhi from Mughals in 1783. BJP only won Delhi in 2014. Do not speak to Sikhs about courage, she said.
She vividly pointed out BJP talks of nationalism but it’s actual contribution is zero compared to Punjab.
She tweeted: “But this government has miscalculated. There is a fundamental difference between cowardice and courage. The coward is brave only when armed with power & authority. The truly courageous can fight even when unarmed.”
NDTV – No Action Against Trinamool’s Mahua Moitra For Parliament Speech After All. Sources say legal opinion was in favour of Mahua Moitra as she spoke about a former, not sitting, Chief Justice who currently does not count as a “higher authority”.
Mahapanchayat in Kurukshetra today. Farm Union leaders will address the Mahapanchayat.
Amnesty International is not operating in India due to harassment from Hindu fundamentalists. Today it stated, “The Government of India needs to engage and listen to its people. The authorities must stop threatening, demonising, and arresting peaceful protesters and stop treating them as ‘anti-nationals’ or ‘terrorists’,” said Rajat Khosla. “Amnesty International calls for the immediate and unconditional release of activists and others who have been arrested for simply exercising their right to peaceful protest and for the government to stop the harassment and demonisation of protesters.”
NDTV covers the case of Nodeep Kaur and Shiv Kumar due to the Sikh diaspora highlighting her case.
NDTV covers the cases of 2 elder Sikhs arrested; 80 year old, former soldier Gurmukh Singh who is veteran of Indo-Pak war, and 70 year old Jeet Singh, who was a former soldier. Both are now in Tihar Jail in Delhi which over 140 other Sikh protestors. Many other protestors are missing.
#FarmersCallPMforDebate is Trending #1 in India.
Twitter seeks talks with India over order to remove accounts. India has asked the social media giant to take down 1,178 accounts it says are spreading misinformation.
Mahima Kaul has resigned as India Public Policy Head employed at Twitter.
Three youth have been released from Tihar with the efforts of DSGMC. Ramandeep Singh, Lavpreet Singh, Jaswinder Singh of Mansa have been released. @mssirsa’s efforts have helped.
MP Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi condemned the BJP supported group from West London called Inspiring Indian Women, who tweeted in favour of genocide of Sikhs. He tweeted, “”Rather than inspiring women, their anti-Sikh, anti-Labour, anti-Congress, anti-farmer vile tries to divide communities.”
West London observers call for police action against this BJP for hate-mongering and incitement.
BJP’s Ashwini Sharma has been gheraoed in Ferozpur by farmers. He had gone to attend party’s ceremony in Ferozpur. Police trying to steer him out of the area.
Harsimrat Badal’s microphone is shut off in Parliament when she in her speech points out PM Modi called farmers a word meaning “parasites”.
Just when you think the Modi supporters cannot get more pathetic, the BJP supporting organisation called Social Umbrella Foundation from New Delhi writes to the USA ambassador of India asking for arrest of Rihanna and her deportation to India based upon her part in a so-called global conspiracy.
8th February 2021
Manmohan Singh Galoti (63) belonging to village Galoti of Khanna has passed away at the Tikri Border. Manmohan Singh had come to India from Canada during pandemic and was supporting the farmers at Tikri since 3rd December 2020.
75 year old Jorawar Singh went missing on 26th January during the tractor march. His daughter is crying and searching for him. His name is not even in list of people who have been arrested by Delhi police.
Sikh community in Fresno fund a Super Bowl advert on the farmers issue. It created more local news to cover the farmers protests. Sikhs thank Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer for helping facilitate the advert on farmers protest during Super Bowl in their area.
A list of 1178 accounts has been submitted to Twitter by the Government of India. GOI wants these accounts suspended. Twitter still to respond on this.
Navreet Singh murder by police – journalist Kulvinder Kaur writes in Sikh 24: “Two CCTV cameras were placed on the boundary next to the arch to the Andhra Education Society, which would have closely captured Navreet’s death. The protesters at the AES were determined to see that footage and wanted to confirm that it has not been destroyed yet. The building’s guard accompanied them along with police to the basement where after about half an hour, farmers could not see the footage, so a technician was called out, who was sadly unable to figure out the problem. Suddenly, around twenty officials—all dressed in riot gear—entered the AES. They were led by HSP Singh, the additional commissioner of police for the Tilak Nagar division. The ACP waited outside the building while the other police officials went down to the basement room. They went down to the basement and pushed the farmers out of the room, and even dragged one farmer from the collar. One policeman grabbed the hard disk containing the CCTV footage, placed it within his chest shield, and walked out. The police officials refused to speak while declining to disclose their identities or which police station they were from.
Daily Post Punjabi show a video of a BJP MP who gets surrounded by locals who makes his face black and chase him off. Unclear if video is from Haryana or another state.
UK Sikhs not happy that PM Boris Johnson tweets for Uttarkhand, but never spoke for farmers. He has intentionally always avoided the matter of the farmers.
Independent UK article by Minreet Kaur – My dad, ‘the skipping Sikh’, is supporting the farmers in India. Why isn’t Boris Johnson doing the same?
Akhand kirtan has happened at Singhu border for 75 days. Daily nitnem is on all the speakers.
Kanwar Grewal performed at Tikri Border today. Almost every day, there are performances by Kanwar and other singers to keep the spirits high of farmers who have been here for 75 days.
The Guardian article – In northern California, home to a large Punjabi population, residents join backlash against laws ‘shoved down people’s throats’ by Summer Sewell
UK Sikhs highly offended by tweets by Twitter account “InspiringIndianWomen”. It tweets: “Punjab needs to cleansed of lots of cobwebs .. they forgot the massacre after Indira..”.
Later this group deleted the tweet, but it unveiled a west London group with links to BJP.
Southall MP Virender Sharma realising the massive PR disaster of being a Southall MP, then a patron and speaker at events of the group Inspiring Indian Women, that just tweeted in favour of bringing genocide on Sikh / Punjabi people. He hurriedly resigns from the group. However this does not explain why he was patron and regular speaker of a fascist group supporting a terrorist organisation RSS. A huge scandal for a sitting UK MP.
Advocate Pavandeep Singh tweeted they are working hard to release Nodeep Kaur.
Nodeep Kaur was due in court today. She has not been bailed on her first 2 FIR cases. Instead, there are now three false FIRs filed against NodeepKaur. Her advocate too was not aware of this. He has filed petition for bail in the third case in the lower court.
Nodeep Kaur’s mother Swaranjit Kaur has said that she wants her daughter to be free. She said that when she saw Nodeep Kaur her feet were bleeding and she could not stand on her own, she said she could barely talk. Swarnjit Kaur says that no political party of Punjab has helped them.
Ontario MP Gurrattan Singh calls on world leaders to demand release of Nodeep Kaur.
Karen Attiah writes an opinion piece in Washington Post: “The culture of abuse against women has been in disgraceful display: 23-year old Dalit activist and protester Nodeep Kaur was arrested and allegedly sexually assaulted by police, according to her family.”
Indian PM Modi tweets: “India is very proud of the contribution of Sikhs. This is a community that has done so much for the nation. The words and blessings of the Guru Sahibs are precious.” Observers point out he said a lot but his actions never match his words. He leads a fascist regime.
Farmers leaders has said that Modi’s speech is an eye wash and that efforts to defame protests or protesting people are sad. SKM also hinted on the zero role played by RSS cadres in freedom from or agitations against British.
UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer responds to Sikh Network letter on farmers protests.
Conservative Party of Canada pen a letter in favour of farmers.
Times Now – Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh orders probe into celebrities’ tweets on the farmers’ stir. HM hints at probe into a possible BJP hand behind those tweets.
Baaz news article – Mansi Kaur: Former Members Disclose How The BJP IT Cell Is Targeting The Farmers Protest.
Committee to Protect Journalists – Journalists covering #farmersprotests in #India have faced arrests and legal investigations. Join us tomorrow, Feb. 9, at 10 a.m. EST / 8:30 p.m. India time for an IG live with @rupikaur_ and @mandeeppunia1 to learn about the threats journalists are facing covering the protests.
Over 150,000 so far sign a petition asking for Kangana Ranaut Twitter handle to be removed.
Despite BJP government and its IT cell attacking Khalsa Aid. Khalsa Aid India volunteer team is at ground zero Uttarkhand, where people are stranded and stuck due to glacier disaster.
7th February 2021
4 farmers passed away today. Farmer Lakha Singh (60) s/o Baja Singh of village Kalodi, Sangrur has passed away at #TikriBorder. Singh was diabetic & suffered heart attack.
60yr old Sukhmandir Singh passed away at Tikri Border today due to heart attack. Sukhmandir Singh was present at Tikri since Dec 3rd, 2020. He belonged to village Dhoorkot, of district Ransingh in Moga.
A third Farmer committed suicide by hanging himself at Bahadurgarh Morcha. The farmer is based out of Haryana.
Karambir Singh of Singhwal committed suicide because of Govt’s attitude towards farmers at Tikri border.
12 days after Delhi tractor rally, among the farmers still untraceable is a 75-year-old farmer from Ludhiana. “He is not in any jail, not at Singhu, nowhere,” his daughter told @AarefaJohari, crying inconsolably.
A large number of farmers came to attend Kisan Mahapanchayat in Charkhi Dadri, Haryana today. Fourth day of Maha Panchayats with over 100,000 at each event. Due to Delhi Police making morcha sites into concentration camps. The change of policy of farmer leaders to start Maha Panchayats is rattling the BJP govt.
Another Maha Panchayat in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh is also attended by 100,000 farmers.
RSS has criticised Narendra Modi & Narendra Tomar on their way of dealing with #FarmersProtest & have said that “arrogance of power has gone into heads of Modi & Tomar.” RSS though concerned about mandate & vote bank suggested Modi to not force the laws on farmers.
After Ghazipur, Farmers at Singhu too have planted flowers close to barricades.
Nodeep kaur case is global. It trended 2nd in India and her case was widely shared in UK and North America. To all those who tortured her, the world is watching.
Jaago Party has written a letter to Haryana BJP CM Manohar Lal Khattar in reference to Nodeep Kaur. Manjit Singh GK has said that he has demanded her #ReleaseNodeepKaur . She belongs to Muktsar Sahib & was arrested from Kundli on 12th Jan.
Sukhdev Singh has been arrested from Chandigarh today by team of Delhi Police. There was a bounty of 50,000 on him, he was named along Deep Sidhu & others in connection with 26th Jan.
Three youth Harpreet Singh, Harjeet Singh and Dharmender Singh (all of west Delhi) have been arrested by Delhi police late last night. Police says that they appeared in video analysis. More arrests likely. FIR’s haven’t been registered as of this minute.
Internet has been restored to morcha sites.
At Singhu border, more locals complain about police than the farmers.
Rakesh Tikait has said that farmers won’t move an inch and if laws are not repealed till 2nd October, new strategies will be announced. He said They’ll try to do Jats vs others. Earlier, they tried dividing Punjab-Haryana, Sikhs-Non Sikh., He hailed Sikhs saying ‘No better ally than Sikhs in #FarmersProtest. Government is of the corporates. A corporate will never be loyal to citizens. Corporates will lock our food grains with same level of BARRICADING as it has been done in Delhi to stop protesting farmers. They’ll hoard & increase prices.
Farmer leaders have urged people to call on their relatives in defence forces to show support in response to NIA notices & tags of traitors.
Former Chief economist of the World bank, Kausik Basu tweeted, “What can be more anti-national than being anti-farmer, especially in an emerging economy where agriculture is the backbone?”
Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s niece has reached #GhazipurBorder to express solidarity with the farmers. She said that denying bail to #NodeepKaur is a crime against women & lower castes. She expressed sadness on harassment of Nodeep in detention.
3rd veteran Bollywood actor tweets in favour of the farmers, Mithun Chakraborty tweeted, “When India is dumb and foreigners raise their voice, we should not fight but support them.”
West London Labour MP Seema Malhotra recommends Loveena Tandon’s views on the Farmer Protests on Twitter. This results in a huge backlash as Loveena is the notorious UK based “reporter” for Ambani owned India Today media group who accuses UK Sikhs and Gurdwaray of being terrorists. Later Semma deletes the tweet and then talks of farmers issue.
Conservative MP Bob Blackman appears in BJP/ RSS event on YouTube praising the fascist group.
Saving Punjab – Punjab, Patiala, Ludhiana and Amritsar universities reported that in 2017 during the Akali-BJP coalition goverment, the yearly average of farmer suicides was calculated to 1,107 deaths. Using these figures as a guideline we can estimate there has been 22,141 farmer suicides from 2000 to 2020. Figures are estimated to be higher as many suicides in Punjab go unreported.
In UK, Boris Johnson tweets for Uttrakhand, but not farmers.
India passed farming laws without consultation or a transparent vote. These laws impact 250m people. That’s equivalent to: 3.7 x the population of the UK, 3 x the population of Germany, 5 x the population of Spain, 4 x the population of Italy, 75% of the population of the USA. This would never be allowed in any other country, but this is Modi’s India.
Balvinder Singh went missing in Delhi on 26th January Tractor parade. He was later found dead in Delhi Hospital with injuries to his face. Delhi police said he had met with an accident. His family got booked for ‘Insult of National Flag’ because they wrapped his body in national flag during his last rites. Family said “We believe farmers are fighting for the country, like soldiers at the border. Balvinder was a martyr for the farmers’ cause. A funeral is a sacred ritual. It was a patriotic gesture.” Govt thinks otherwise. Source TOI.
A Sikh farmer from Punjab who has been at the morcha since the beginning, hugs his 2 sons who took leave from their Indian army posts to meet him. There no better example of the gulammi of Punjabis under Delhi rule.
Karnataka farmers reach Ghazipur border, Kodihalli meets Tikait. 4,000 protesters from state to join ongoing agitation after February 6.
Sikhs in Kurukshetra hold Chakka Jam by feeding locals langar on the highway. Police were not sure what to do so went and ate langar.
Thousands of city dwellers come out for farmers. Scenes of candle light vigils at almost every major junction in Chandigarh this evening. Children, women, students all on the roads standing in solidarity with #FarmersProtests. It’s not just villages, definitely not just farmers protesting.
People expressing support for #Farmers in Mysuru were arrested.
Many states in India were at a standstill as millions supported the Chakka Jam today. Pictures available from every state in India.
After BJP cut electricity to morcha sites. Farmers now have brought in generators & solar panels on the protest sites. Most of the generators are donated by villages by collecting 200/- per head. Total number of generators at Tikri Border is approx 23.
40 Farmer Union leaders have been called for questioning by Crime Branch Delhi. They have been told to appear at CB office at 2pm.
To intimidate farmers 30 notices have been sent out to farmer leaders of UP in last 24hrs. Most leaders have been asked to sign surety bond to ensure lawful behaviour
Delhi police detained people protesting against the farm laws. The citizens of Delhi were protesting against the farm laws at Shahidi Park area.
75 former civil servants have written a letter to Centre reiterating that demands of farmers be heard & solution be arrived at. The letter has called the behaviour of govt as great injustice & govt as intolerant to dissent.
Delhi police has deployed extra 50,000 policemen to keep watch on #ChakkaJam . In addition to this social media posts are also analysed.
CNN reports on the Farmer agitation: The farmers face challenges — the cold winter temperatures, clashes with police and security forces, and restrictions on their internet access, among others. Despite that, farmers say they have no plans to leave until the government overturns the laws.
Sky news – More than half of India’s 1.3 billion population work on farms, but agriculture contributes to only about a sixth of the country’s gross domestic product.
ITV news – India’s government has been accused of cracking down on free speech ahead of another farmers’ protest this weekend. Media platforms, dissenters and activists have also come under unprecedented attacks from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.
Dr Sharandeep Singh on the BBC I discussed the huge India #FarmersProtest happening right now. “As an NHS doctor with family in India, I worry about growing human rights abuses and state violence. Sadly the BBC amplified Govt propaganda to malign those of us speaking up for democracy”
YouTube removed Kanwar Grewal and Himmat Sandhu’s songs after report from Indian govt. The videos are now banned in India.
Meena Harris, niece of US Vice President when attacked by BJP IT cell responds saying, “Dude, I’m Hindu. Stop using religion as a cover for fascism.”
#freenodeepkaur is now getting international support and momentum.
Dr Swaiman Singh in the morcha site has asked on Twitter for ideas on how to switch to summer shelters as season is starting to change.
Farmers surrounded BJP minister SomParkash & Teekshan Sood in Hoshiarpur who went out to campaign for corporation elections. Previously farmers had dumped cow dung on his driveway.
Shiv Sena slams BJP in Parliament over their treatment of farmers.
Twitters farmers activists question, “Will the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Indian celebrities now ask UN Human Rights to not interfere in our country’s internal matters ? The UN Human Rights has sent a stern message to the Modi government not to violate human rights!!!
Ravi Bhalla, Mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey has written a very strong letter addressed to United States President, Joe Biden, Vice President, Kamala Harris and Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken. He provides a detailed summary on the farmers agitation in India and advocates the need for the United States to defend Human Rights.
Karen Goh, Mayor of Bakersfield, California makes video statement supporting our farmers.
Hollywood stars like Susan Sarandon now come out for farmers.
Sachin Tendulkar Loses Thousands of Punjab and Haryana Fans.
Actor Ranvir Shorey mocks Greta Thunberg in a song, calls activist ‘uneducated’; says Rihanna is a ‘bahana’
Celebrity godman Sadhguru like Ramdev sing the BJP line. Observer posts previous quotes of theirs about human rights which show their hypocrisy.
Andre Borges Tweeted, “I’m so confused why Hindutva right wing groups thought it was good idea to burn effigies of Rihanna, Greta, Meena etc. to prove that they’re not a violent mob and democracy is alive and well in India. I mean, I know violence is their go to move, but it really does baffle the mind.”
Actress Sonakshi Sinha joins her father to support farmers. When attacked by BJP IT cell, she concluded with a message: ‘Wake up.’ In the original post, the author said that people like Rihanna and Swedish activist Greta Thunberg raised their voices because of ‘violation of human rights, suppression of free internet and expression, hate propaganda, hate speech, and abuse of power’.
Hindu leader Swami Avimukteshwara Nand, second in command to Shankaracharya of Dwarka Sharda Peeth scolds Modi for using the name of Ram for their actions. He condemns on video the Modi approach to farmers.
Only in Modi’s India, Trump is a Hero & Greta is a villain. Modern Fascism being exposed.
Disappointment in UK, as Foreign Secretary Dominic Rabb keeps commenting on Hong Kong, but nothing for farmers in India.
The BJP man pretending to be Farmer leader on Godhi media, but is no farmer, has been given a promotion in the BJP party.
Sikh 24 article – As India tightens noose on @Twitter, UN asks India to protect farmers’ rights of expression and peaceful assembly.
Saving Punjab held a live event today on the Amazon documentary called Toxification.
In Norway, having internet is now a human right. Today 4G was restored in #Kashmir after 550 days. Let that sink in.
5th February 2021
UP Police filed FIR against the mother and brother of a deceased farmer for draping his body in the Indian tricolour flag. Baljinder Singh died on his way to join the farmers’ protest in Ghaziabad. Baljinder’s mother Jasveer Kaur and brother Gurvinder Singh have been named in FIR filed on the complaint of Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, Sehramau PS in charge. Both have been booked under Prevention of Insults to the National Honour Act, which provides for imprisonment of up to 3 years.
A farmer named Gurjant Singh (45) died on the spot in an accident while returning to his Ren Basera from stage area at the Tikri border when he was hit by a bus. He was shifted to Bahadurgarh hospital but could not survive due to loss of blood.
India constantly recalls slogan Jai Jivan Jai Kisan, (hail army, hail farmer), then jail a 70 year old Sikh farmer and an 88 year old Sikh farmer who are both former Indian army veterans.
Maha Panchayats are now causing more issues for the BJP govt than the Morcha sites. This is the third day of these Maha Panchayats where over 100,000 people have attended. This despite the BJP Chief minister Uttar Pradesh banning these events. Despite internet blackouts and threats to remove passports huge crowds come out for farmers. Local press said these are not just farmers but all types of people are supporting farmers. It’s a major message than BJP is losing these states.
Haryana, Rajistan and Uttar Pradesh had huge Maha Panchayats today. Despite Delhi Police turning morcha sites into concentration camps, the Farmers message is getting out in these Maha Panchayats.
Mahapanchayat In UP’s Shamli. District Magistrate have imposed section 144 but still 100,00 people have gathered to participate in the protest.
A mahapanchayt has been called in Charkhi Dadri in Haryana on 7th Feb. Both @RakeshTikaitBKU and Gurnam Singh Chadhuni likely to attend. This is second mahapanchayat after Kandela in Jind.
Hundreds turn in Karnal Plaza. Authorities unable to stop the enthusiasm of people to protest.
United Nation Human Rights tweeted,”#India: We call on the authorities and protesters to exercise maximum restraint in ongoing #FarmersProtests. The rights to peaceful assembly & expression should be protected both offline & online. It’s crucial to find equitable solutions with due respect to #HumanRights for all.”
In the latest embarrassing episode for BJP, Ghazipur Farmers including Rakesh Tikait plant flowers when there Modi Government planted spikes which are illegal in international law. Marigold flowers were planted.
Farmers will block national & state highways for 3 hours between 12 pm to 3pm as protest against #InternetBan, harassment by Govt, water & electricity cut at protest sites and anti-Farmers Budget 2021.
Rakesh Tikait has said that farmers had evidence & hints that few people would have attempted to spread violence at these places and that’s why Uttarkhand & Uttar Pradesh are kept out of #ChakkaJaam. They are now know how BJP goons operate.
Emergency and essential services won’t be stopped. It will be peaceful Jam. Chakka Jam will conclude at 3 PM after blowing horn of cars for a minute. Farmer unions appeal to people join and show solidarity with farmers.
When Godhi media asked why they are doing in all states but not Delhi, as farmer leader responded “we have blocked the 3 main highways into delhi for last 3 months, please wake up.” However Godhi media still using Headline that farmers not blocking Delhi.
Bollywood backlash begins. Farmers in Patiala told Bobby Deol and his film crew to pack up and leave Punjab. They had to stop filming and pack their trucks.
Niece of USA Vice President, Meena Harris tweeted, “This isn’t just about agricultural policy. It’s also about the persecution of a vocal religious minority. It’s police violence, militant nationalism, and attacks on labor rights. It’s global authoritarianism. Don’t tell me to stay out of your affairs. These are all of our issues.”. She understands India better than Bollywood and Godhi media.
Stephen Kinnock MP, UK Labour’s Shadow Minister for Asia and the Pacific, commenting on the farmers protests in India, said: “We are increasingly concerned by the violent nature of clashes between the farmers and police, and the risks to essential democratic rights and freedoms. We call on both sides to show restraint, but we are clear that the onus is the Indian authorities’ to protect the farmers’ right to peaceful protest, to respect their right to freedom of assembly and expression, and to respond to any incidents of civil disobedience in a proportionate and appropriate manner. “The Foreign Secretary should raise these concerns with his counterpart in the Indian government as a matter of urgency.”
Celebrity reporter Mehdi Hasan does a YouTube video calling the fascism of Modi. It’s called Farmers Protest and Modi descent into Authoritarianism.
The Wire : Rihanna’s tweet was a huge setback for the Indian state and others trying to silence the farmer protests because it broke the monopoly of power and influence held by highly positioned stakeholders in the media and state apparatus.
Over the past 24hrs the following tags have been trending: #StandwithFarmers: ~4000 tweets/hr trending; #FarmersProtest: ~12,000 tweets/hr trending; #HumanRights: ~400 tweets/hr and trending upwards overnight
Unlike the modern rent a Bollywood stars for BJP who all parroted the pre-written tweets by BJP press office. More veteran Bollywood actor Satrughan Sinha speak eloquently on NDTV against BJP tactics and in favour of farmers.
BJP favorite tabloid website OPindia now claim khalistanis paid Rihanna 18 Crores for tweet. She is worth 550 million dollars. Not everyone behave like BJP and their bollywood poodles.
#FARMERSPROTEST MISSING PEOPLE HOTLINE * @unitedsikhs are helping people connect with family/friends that are “missing” since attending the ongoing farmers’ protests in Delhi. We have received many reports of protesters being arrested and then “disappearing”.
Kangana Ranaut was on Republic TV spouting absolute venom after getting her genocidal tweet banned.
It’s a UK broadcast. Please complain to Ofcom via: https://t.co/miI2CyiYli
Actress Kangana Ranaut made claims that peaceful farmers protesting in India are terrorists and false claims that Sikh community are inciting/funding violence. She also criticised Greta Thunberg for conspiring to break and destroy India in relation to Anti-Indian forces, while mocking autism. She referred to Rihanna as a ‘porn singer’ several times. Spreading hate between and inciting communities. Link to interview: video https://t.co/X9gGhV13jH
February 4th 2021
The GDP of India has fallen as Modi makes its economically weak, but even worse Modi continues to demonstrate the moral bankruptcy of the Indian government. We see today the morcha sites look like Nazi concentration camps, BJP goons burning effigies of Greta Thunberg, the threat of 7-year jail sentences to senior Twitter staff, journalists arrested, female activists sexually and physically assaulted, then we see that a protestor was shot in the face, and Indian media deny he was shot despite the wounds on video. We see thousands of elderly citizens sleeping on a motorway, which leads to 200 passing away. It demonstrates Modi operating India as a authoritarian fascist regime.
The reaction to the tweet of Rihanna has shown how vain, fickle, panicked the so called powerful BJP government are.
Times of India – The Indian government on Wednesday warned Twitter to either follow its orders regarding removal of “inflammatory content” on farmers’ protests, or be ready to face jail and financial penalty. The action, under the IT Act Section 69A (3), could result in up to seven years jail for senior Twitter India officials, and a financial penalty imposed on the firm.
In reference to spikes in the ground. Punji sticks made from bamboo were used in the Vietnam war and some other earlier wars against enemy armies were internationally banned in the early 1980s with the ‘Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons’. Today even deadlier iron spikes are being used against our “own” farmers around Delhi.
Farm leader Rakesh Takait continues to draw huge crowds. He talked about the Internet ban and has said that this is a revolution and not a WhatsApp game; agitation is unaffected with Internet ban. He said that it’s fight for the fair price of crops. He said that we won’t leave and are not intimidated by Delhi police’s nails on roads.
Union leader Rakesh Takait has said that “chaka jaam”, a three-hour blockade of roads, will take place on Saturday 6th February outside Delhi, everywhere in India. He has sought cooperation and urged people to participate in the transport strike.
On the 126th day of protest in Machiwara area, a motorcycle rally was carried out by youth. The rally with over 500 motorcycles passed through 40 villages. The rally was welcomed in all villages with showers of flower petals.
Key meeting is underway between Amit Shah, Police Commissioner and notorious Ajit Doval. Discussions on analysis of 26th is the main agenda along with law and order conditions around the borders of Delhi.
Adding to human rights violations of protesting people electricity supplies are either disconnected or low phased at Tikri. This hasn’t stopped farmers and many generators have been brought in from Punjab. 17 gensets reached today at Tikri.
BKU Ekta-Ugrahan person said that farmers of Daun Kalan in Patiala brought a generator yesterday and now we are getting power from here. At the langar site we need the power to operate chapatti-making machines. Many other volunteers have installed solar panels and are constantly bringing in diesel for the generators.
Many more Khaps ( gatherings) have been announced and will march to the Ghazipur border. The crowd is expected to swell even more. Current numbers already close to 230,000.
Today there was waterlogging at Singhu, so protestors brought a water dispenser to get rid of rainwater.
Here is what dissent looks like in India: If you protest in Bihar, you will not be given clearance by police for passport application (if you ever apply). If you protest in Uttarakhand you are no longer eligible for government jobs. If you protest in Kashmir you are eligible for UAPA and even extra judicial encounter. If you protest in Punjab you are stamped with UAPA. 4,060 Sikh youths are facing UAPA in Punjab for merely defining Sikh narratives clearly, and they are without R/L alignment. Let this sink in. Let the world know. I know lot of people who won’t speak a word on public platforms because they lose their jobs or fear authorities. I stand by you all. We will over come this. Thanks to farmers we might actually see some light on our beloved nation.” (Journalist Amaan Bali)
The eldest person arrested by Delhi Police is 80-year-old Gurmukh Singh, a former Indian army soldier. His name cropped up in the list of 122 people arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with the Republic Day violence, his family in Punjab is yet to reconcile with the shock. Gurmukh Singh was taken into custody on 29th January by Mukherjee Nagar police station staff. He is a small farmer from Shamaspur village in Fatehgarh Sahib district and grows wheat and paddy on his one-and-a-half acre plot of land. He has been in Delhi ever since the protest began in November 2020. The police list of arrested individuals includes several in their 70s and 80s. Gurmukh Singh, like all the others, has been charged with rioting, unlawful assembly, assaulting and obstructing public servants, attempt to murder, dacoity and robbery. “He was against the farm laws since day one and wanted them repealed… he has been at the morcha at Delhi’s Singhu border since the beginning. Gurmukh retired from the Army as a subedar more than three decades ago. He leads a disciplined life and would go to the Gurdwara twice a day…,” said the sarpanch (local official).
United Hindu Front burn pictures of new USA Vice President Kamala Harris’ niece Meena Harris. She tweets to show how ridiculous they are.
NDTV New Delhi: Greta Thunberg’s tweets on farmers have been cited in a case filed today by the Delhi Police that alleges an overseas “conspiracy” and an attempt to “promote enmity between groups”. The teen climate campaigner, unfazed, tweeted that she “still” stood with farmers and “no amount of threats” would change that.
BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi speaks on climate and environmental activist Greta Thunberg, over her tweet on #FarmLaws. She said Greta proves farmers protest are a foreign plan against India and then condemns Greta for being nominated for Nobel Peace Prize. 🤦♂️ This lady, a BJP leader, blames Sweden, actress Kangana Ranaut blames China, other BJP leaders blame USA and Pakistan, yet none of them realise that farmers just want to get paid for their crops and live their life in dignity.
Dr Kamal Arora in reference to Kangana Ranaut’s tweets said, “ I wrote my PhD dissertation on a genocide. And spent a lot of time thinking about what exactly a genocide is. This is genocidal language. It advocates for eradicating a category of people. Please report her tweet.”
Twitter then deleted Kangana Ranaut tweet as it encourage genocide after thousands of complaints.
Twitter owner Jack Dorsey ‘likes’ tweet asking for an emoji for the #FarmersProtest Hashtag. Among the tweets ‘liked’ by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was one by Washington Post journalist Karen Attiah.
Huge numbers of people notice how Bollywood and cricketer tweets have the same structure and in many cases the same words. YouTube videos are shared which show how BJP IT cell pays celebrities to tweet their talking points.
World Sikh Organization (WSO) release a major report on how India targets Sikhs in Canada. WSO President Tejinder Singh said today, “The report “Exposed: India’s Disinformation Campaign Against Canada’s Sikhs ” exposes Indian interference and disinformation campaigns targeting Sikhs in Canada. In the aftermath of the farmer protests in India, we are seeing escalated attempts by actors in India to push disinformation, particularly about Sikhs here in Canada. The report reveals that a standard methodology has developed to push false narratives with respect to Sikhs in Canada. There is also evidence to now suggest that India’s intelligence agencies are active in Canada and actively target Canadian politicians and media. “
Thousands of farmers from Singhu border do a peaceful candle March to remember the approximately 200 farmers who have become Shaheed (martyred) in their fight for justice. They include Navreet Singh who died on his tractor while attempting to storm police barricades.
Thousands of people from every community of Sangat are attending the last prayer of Shaheed Navreet Singh at village Dibdiba, Uttar Pradesh. Tributes were paid to him from stages at Singhu Ghazipur and Tikri border and Priyanka Gandhi, the last dwindling hope for a very irrelevant Congress party, visits his family.
The nails inserted on roads at Ghazipur are being removed. Police did not comment on the new development. This is the power of international attention. Let the world know about human right abuses in India against farmers.
Youngsters are taking out a march at Mayad Toll Plaza in Hisar.
Experienced journalist Surinder Singh, who is now based in USA, has made a series of exposes on his YouTube channel “Talking Punjab” about Balbir Rajewal, Surjit Dhallewal and Rajinder, and their approach Deep Sidhu and Lakha Sidhana. While we do not want to get into personalities, the last two videos he asks the 3 farmer leaders direct questions about their behind the scenes hotel meetings.
A joint video statement from Toronto Gurdwaras sends a strong message to farm leaders to stop speaking negatively about youth and start to work in harmony with them. They said that further discussions with BJP must include a full release of the Sikhs arrested in the morcha (protest).
The mayor of Fresno, California Jerry Dyer, states his support for farmers in India. The City of Fresno has passed a full Resolution in support, and will announce a Proclamation from the City .
Advocate Amardeep Singh Dharni and two other senior advocates met the family members of 7 farmers who are in Tihar at the moment. These families belong to village Bhangi Nihal Singh. Necessary formalities for filing release/bail applications in Punjab/Haryana high courts was taken. Dharni has also met the farmers in Tihar and said convinced the families that the farmers belong to entire world now. Dharni said that families are stressed due to lack of information. Out of the seven, three farmers have brothers in Indian army.
Eleven football supporter groups from across the leagues unite in support of Indian farmers; Fans to unveil banner to show unity with farmers who are protesting against agricultural reform; One group has raised more than £10,000 for a charity providing assistance.
American football league NFL star Juju Smith Schuster today (4th February) said he would chip in towards medical assistance for the farmers who have been camping out in the chilly cold Delhi weather since late November 2020. “Happy to share that I’ve donated USD 10,000 to provide medical assistance to the farmers in need in India to help save lives during these times. I hope we can prevent any additional life from being lost. #FarmersProtest” he tweeted.
BBC shows more news coverage on the farmers protest today.
Tv celebrity Adil Ray tweeted, “Britain owes Punjab. Without Punjab and it’s workforce Britain would not be what it is today. Punjabis represent one of our largest communities. If our politicians and the media wish to be inclusive now is not the time to be silent: India farmers protests.”
Saving Punjab asks everyone to watch the documentary “Toxification” on Netflix to understand the real cost of the rice on your plate.
Thank you to everyone who heard our call to make female activist Nodeep Kaur famous today. Hundreds of thousands have been shared on social media about her. The latest information on her is Nodeep Kaur’s next hearing is on 8th February. Nodeep’s family alleges she was fired from her job because of her activism, arrested, sexually harassed in custody and denied bail twice because the farmers and workers’ unity became problematic for the Kundli Industrial Assc. and the Haryana government. Kundli Industrial Associations chief denied Nodeep’s employment. Gupta said, “You should check her background, with what I know, she is not a worker at any of the factories here. She is one of those who did sloganeering at Shaheen Bagh last year,” he said. Nodeep has been denied bail twice because of a range of charges slapped against her, including Section 307 – attempt to murder. The next bail hearing is scheduled for February 8. She will complete 26 days in custody on 8th February. In reality all she did was speak for farmers and workers rights.
Lastly please read the tweet by former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju. He responds to those celebrities who say this is an internal India matter and demonstrates the fascism in Indian BJP thinking.
February 3rd 2021
Five farmers passed away today. Sukhdev Kaur (70) from village Mahesari Sandhuan passed away at a hospital in Moga after she was rushed from Tikri Border where she was participating in the #FarmersProtest.
Gurjant Singh (68) of Cheema Mandi area passed away at around 6:30pm at Tikri Border. Gurjant Singh was a part of the protests since Jan 3rd 2021. His entire family was at Tikri. The family went back to Punjab for last rites.
Bhan Singh age 65 years old of Patti District Tarn Taran fell ill, then went to the hospital and died.
Surjeet Singh of Sukarchak Cheema Tarn Taran has passed away after reaching home. He went home due to fever and has passed away this morning. He is survived by two daughters.
A farmer from village Chananwal in Barnala passed away at Singhu border this afternoon. Jasmail Singh was part of the protests since December 2020. The body has been sent to his village. Heart attack is the cause of death.
Announcement of Union Leader Rakeshti Kait from Ghazipur border: “The headquarters of the farmer’s movement will remain the Singhu border. A 40 member committee will operate. We have to learn a lot from Punjab people.”
The Singh stage collapsed with Rakesh Tikait and Balbir Rajewal standing on it. Too many people were standing on the stage. Both are apparently unhurt.
Massive crowds in Jind gave a warm welcome for farmer leaders Rakesh Tikait & Gurnam Singh Churani.
World Sikh Parliament and 167 North American Gurdwaras sent a joint statement to the Kisaan morcha leaders. It asks farmer leaders, youth and elders to work together and not put statements out against each other.
Times of India states that Haryana leaders Rakesh Tikait and Gurnam Singh Churani are on an all time high, but Punjab leaders are infighting.
“Delhi cannot become Tiananmen Square.” -Amod Kanth, ex-police Commissioner, Delhi.
The police are stopping langar (Sikh communal kitchen service), medication, toiletries, water, electricity and internet getting to the protest sites. For many days the Supreme Court of India said farmers have a right to protest, but Delhi Police are turning it into a concentration camp against their own farmers.
As many langar (Sikh communal kitchen service) sevadaars (selfless servants) are elderly, they are struggling in carrying food through the 1.5km walk from the police barricades to the protest sites. They are feeding up to 25,000 daily on some sites.
NDTV- Delhi Police announce a Rs. 1 lakh reward for leads that could lead to the arrest on farmers protest figure Deep Sidhu and three others. A reward of Rs. 50,000 was announced for any information that could lead the police to arrest four others; Jagbir Singh, Buta Singh, Sukhdev Singh and Iqbal Singh.
Nand Kishor Gujjar and all identified BJP -RSS goons roam free after calling for farmers to be killed. This is what is happening in India.
US senator Robert Menendez writes to Indian Ambassador with concerns for farmers.
Rep Jim Costa from USA tweeted, “The unfolding events in India are troubling. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I am closely monitoring the situation. The right to peaceful protest must always be respected.”
USA National Farmers Union tweet in favour of Indian farmers.
#Farmersprotest trends No1 in India despite the constant takes down of hashtags linked to protests.
NDTV- “Indian Government orders Twitter to comply with order to remove content / accounts linked to Farmers protests.”
Reports that Twitter India employees are being threatened with seven year jail sentences for not deleting tweets and content for farmers.
Human Rights Watch tweet in favour of farmers. They said democracy is dead in India and the government of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is presiding over a dangerous regression in free speech rights in pursuit of its Hindu nationalist agenda.
Rihanna, John Cusack (again) & Greta Thunberg tweeting in favour of farmers has had Modi and BJP IT Cell in a spin… so last night, they got the usual paid celebrities to respond. This included Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, Ajay Devgun, Karan Johar, Sachin Tendulkar, and others. All used the same talking points – some even used the exact same tweets – and the same hashtag. The response is similar to attacks on Pakistan. These celebrities tweet for BJP govt when required to influence public opinion. Many speculate the BJP IT cell pay for these scripted tweets.
Jazzy B calls out Akshay Kumar, asking where he has been for the last two months of farmers morcha (protest).
Celebrity BJP Twitter terrorist, Kangana Ranut, who is devoted to Modi, tweets more hate to Rihanna and dubiously links her to Canadian NDP leader Jagmeet Singh.
BJP mobs came out with racist comments about Rihanna’s skin colour.
India’s right wingers flood Rihanna’s post with images of her notorious assault, glorifying and trending culprit Chris Brown. The depravity of the Modi supporters including Kangana is next level.
BJP govt was so rattled by the Rihanna tweet that the India Ministry of External Affairs made a public statement on the matter.
Greta Thunberg calls BJP a fascist regime and gives farmers a 5 point plan.
US Vice President Kamala Harris’ niece Meena Harris tweets in favour of farmers.
NBA basketball star Kyle Kuzma from LA Lakers tweets in favour of farmers.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweets- “Modi style of governance- Shut them up, Cut them off, Crush them down.”
BBC – “India’s war like fortifications against farmers.”
UK MP Neil O’brien writes to UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Rabb with concern about treatment of farmers in India.
Vogue article – “We Have To Fight”: Why It’s Women At The Forefront Of India’s Farming Protests, And How To Help.
Washington post article – India is at war with itself — and even Rihanna is noticing.
Metro article on farmers issue – Why is Rihanna tweeting about Indian farmers and how can you help them? The article widely quotes Saving Punjab.
Delhi police book a case against social activist and anti-rape activist Yogita Bhayana as she tweeted in favour of farmers. It’s a policing of silencing the public.
At around 6pm today, police personnel posted at Singhu border, refused entry to Newslaundry reporter @NidhiSuresh_ . A police official said this wasn’t an ‘official ban’ but only journalists with ‘national media authorised press cards’ would be allowed to enter.
‘No Compensation For Families Of Farmers Who Died During Protests’: BJP Agriculture Minister Narinder Singh Tomar.
Agriculture Minister Tomar then said that barricading & internet ban is a local admin issue & that centre has nothing to do with it.
This is factually incorrect as Delhi police functions under HMO. Observers say Tomar lies in the Parliament and stays silent on curbing dissent of farmers.
“Fight China & Pakistan, not our farmers” said Gulam Nabi Azad in Rajya Sabha. He raised concerns on innocents being held in jail after Jan 26th Republic Day. He demanded an inquiry into it and also said that journalists are targeted by the state to curb dissent.
Suspension of internet & mobile dongle services along with bulk SMS to continue in Kaithal, Jind, Rohtak, Sonipat and Jhajjar until 5pm tomorrow.
A Petition was filed in India’s Supreme Court yesterday about suspension of internet in protest areas and also about the hate speech by mainstream media against Sikhs. The petition was filed by Sanpreet Singh Ajmani and Pushpinder Singh. Singh said that they are “aggrieved by the propaganda & hate news being published by some of the news channels (like AajTak, Republic Bharat, ABP news etc.) and over sites (like Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram etc.) spreading hate against the entire Sikh community.”
On bail journalist Mandeep Singh Punia says govt should release other journalists arrested, including Siddique Kappan. Punia leaves jail ready to continue his journalism having written notes on his leg on his situation.
Female Punjab activist Nodeep Kaur spends another night in Tihar Jail. Already covered in bruising, we (Sikhs) ask everyone to remember her and the over 200 Singhs in custody and many others missing.
February 2nd 2021
A 31 year old farmer has passed away at Tikri Border. Jagdeep Singh from Rampur Fanna village had come to Tikri on 1st February on his tractor. He passed away this morning. Heart attack is cited as his reason of death.
Another farmer named Bant Singh of village Bhari Panecha has passed away today. He was part of protests since December 5, 2020. Heart attack is also said to be his reason of death.
The Indian Metrology department has issued an alert for severe cold weather for 3rd and 4th February, the cases of illnesses and deaths among sitting farmers are likely to increase. Some old men and unwell people have been sent home from Tikri.
So many observers commentating, if you consider the many layers of the barricades put up yesterday, that if this had been Hong Kong or Russia, it would be main news in UK and USA. But these media outlets are silent. This shows how trade deals take precedent over democracy.
Nodeep Kaur’s bail plea has been rejected. The judge said that more evidence will be presented by police. This is how the Indian nation treats its women activists. If a female speaks out for Dalits in India, they face the most obstacles in a caste-focused BJP regime. She is a young lady and has already faced physical assault by the police.
Journalist Mandeep Punia has been granted bail after paying 25000 rupees.
DSGMC team led by Mr Sirsa has visited Tihar Jail with warm clothes for the farmers held by police with and without charges. All Singhs are in Chardi Kala and are continuously chanting naam.
As many as 120 persons have been arrested in connection with the farmers’ agitation and have been kept at the Tihar jail, claims a list released by the Lawyers For Farmers, the formal standing counsel for the farmers.
The Delhi Police, meanwhile, said 44 FIRs had been registered and 122 persons arrested til now, whose details were available on their website.
As many as 300 advocates have formed a group to fight for the persons who have been arrested, illegally detained or have been missing during the farmers’ protest at Delhi.
Of the 120 arrested persons — 39 have been booked at the Nangloi police station, 34 at the Alipur Outer North police station, 15 at the Paschim Vihar West police station, nine at the Mukherjee Nagar police station, seven at the Najafgarh police station, six at the Uttam Bagar police station, five at the Mundka Outer District police station and three each at Seemapuri and Baba Haridas Nagar police stations. Veteran advocates HS Phoolka and Navkiran Singh are part of the legal team representing farmers.
A separate team of lawyers from the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee is also fighting the farmers’ cases. Both Lawyers for Farmers and DSGMC president Manjinder Singh Sirsa have appealed to missing persons’ relatives to approach them. The Lawyers for Farmers, which has set up a desk at Singhu, today filed a writ in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, questioning the suspension of internet in many Haryana districts.
“We have so far received calls from at least 300 families. However, the number of persons traced so far is 120. We are trying to ascertain how many are exactly missing. At least 120 persons have been lodged at the Tihar jail,” said advocate Hakam Singh, a member of the Farmers for Lawyer. “We are going to file a petition in the Delhi High Court on Tuesday regarding the life and liberty of peaceful protesters. We are also working to file petitions to demand a medical board for a thorough check-up of the arrested,” he said.
Delhi High Court has rejected a petition that questioned the role of Delhi police in 26th January violence against farmers and also sponsored violence at Singhu border. The petition was rejected without listening to a single word. This is Judiciary in India.
The Premier of British Columbia, a major Canadian province, calls on the Indian government to respect the democratic right to peaceful protest. “Many British Columbians come from farming families in India and it’s been stressful for them to witness reaction to farmers’ peaceful protests. I understand their anguish & hope everyone is safe. I strongly believe in the democratic process & hope a peaceful solution is found soon.”
200 pairs of shoes were displayed at BC Parliament in Victoria, to remember those farmers who died and the 200 in jails.
Ranvir Singh from ITV tweeted, “Indian government arresting journalists who expose BJP activists as behind the suppression of rightful #FarmersProstests .. this state violence is not just anti-Sikh, it is anti-workers. Covid cancelled Boris’s trip to India (I was due to go too) but this must be condemned.”
Claude Webb MP for Leicester East tweeted,”I have received trolling, death threats, rape threats, threats of sexual violence, misogyny, anti-black racism, outright lies, gaslighting, false allegations, malicious reporting, smear campaigns, everything really -I stand for human rights #IStandWithFarmers #FarmersProtest”.
Haryana Govt has extended the ban on internet, bulk SMS services and all dongle services etc, except the voice calls in Kaithal, Panipat, Jind, Rohtak, Charkhi Dadri, Sonipat and Jhajjar until 5 pm on 3rd February.
People in Haryana’s Jind have blocked the national highway to protest against the internet ban.
Thousands of farmers have gathered at Landhadi toll plaza in Haryana.
India sends the fifth highest number of takedown requests to Twitter of any country, a report says (Japan, Russia, South Korea and Turkey are the top 4). India led the world in government-targeted internet shutdowns in 2020, targeted sites of protest and insurgency. (Time magazine)
India has reneged its UN mandated ‘Responsibility to Protect’ its farmers who have suffered violence from police and mobs since India’s Republic Day on 26th January 2021. This Responsibility to Protect was undertaken by member states at a 2005 UN Global Summit. UNITED SIKHS wrote today to the UN following police brutality against these farmers whilst they were holding a tractor parade to mark India’s Republic Day on 26th Jan 2021 and it continued when mobs and police attacked farmers at their protest sites. UNITED SIKHS wrote to: Michele Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Nazhat Shameem Khan, President UN Human Rights Council and Special Adviser on Responsibility to Protect, Karen Smith. (Issued by Mejindarpal Kaur, International Legal Director, UNITED SIKHS)
Capt Amrinder Singh tweeted, “Punjab Government has already arranged a team of 70 lawyers in Delhi to ensure quick legal recourse to farmers booked by the Delhi police. I will personally take up the issue of missing farmers with MHA & ensure these persons reach home safely.
Notably as Capt Amrinder helps farmers with legal support, an attack happens on Sukhbir Badals car. Many seasoned observers see this as a staged attack. The BJP center government with Badals will now make out there is a law and order issue in Punjab. They will use this to collapse the Capt Amrinder government and start direct rule from Delhi. Over the last 50 years, direct rule from Delhi has happened every time Punjab stands up against Delhi rule. If direct rule start then there will be a severe crackdown on farmers families and food supply lines will stop. Badals want it as it may bring them back into power. As always Punjabis and sikhs suffer.
Bathinda Sikhs protested in large numbers in favour of those who were victims of the oppression of the government in Delhi during the farmer’s struggle, their release and the lawsuits filed against them, to take action against the murderers of Shaheed Navreet Singh.
Sanjay Raut has met Rakesh Takait at Ghazipur border. Raut said that Shiv Sena stands with farmers and their movement. He said tht Shiv Sena appreciates decisions of Union leaders & will continue to support from outside because now political opposition has to put pressure as well.
International pop star Rihanna who has 100 million social media followers asks on her social media, “Why are we not speaking about #FarmersProtest?” while linking a CNN article.
BJP celebrity Twitter terrorist Kangana Ranaut responds to Rihanna stating the farmers are terrorists helping China take over India. Her response shows that the justification of fascism is so pathetic.
Already some BJP nutcases are tweeting that she is being paid by Khalistanis, other one said she is after Canadian citizenship. 🤣
Sting videos show how Bollywood celebrities and cricketers get paid by BJP for tweeting in the favour of BJP policies.
Brit Asia TV – Twitter crashes as the farmers thank Rihanna for raising the farmers issue globally.
Police at Ghazipur border had barricaded the road to stop farmers from marching towards Delhi. Now it has dug 10 ft deep trench to stop farmers from taking alternative route.
Jasveer Singh from Sikh PA speaks on BBC radio about the Farmers Protest.
A UK petition about the protest reached 100,000 signatures, meaning the issue will be scheduled for discussion in Parliament.
Baaz news – The @WorldSikhOrg, @sikh_coalition, @SikhRI, and @PoeticJFdn have issued a joint letter calling on major press freedom organisations to speak out regarding recent attacks on the free press in India, including arbitrary detentions and censorship.
February 1st 2021
The trenches India authorities have dug have had spikes put in so it will puncture the tyres of any vehicles that come to the morcha (protest) site. This reduces langar (Sikh communal kitchen service), medication and vital supplies getting in.
Water supply to farmers has been stopped. Previously DJB tankers were used bring water to farmers.
Toilets are on the other side of barricades put up around protesters. Now Farmers are not being allowed to access those toilets. Farmers don’t have any option except to go in open or to wait in long queues outside a local petrol pump.
Farmers used to take baths on a roof of a petrol pump’s building. Now farmers are not allowed to go to the petrol pump and take baths there.
Ghazipur Border turned into police fortress. Area covered with a total of 21 layers including concrete, barricades, razor wire and fencing, similar to what happened at Singhu and Tikri.
@TwitterIndia has withheld various Twitter accounts in India associated with the #FarmersProtest, including @Kisanektamorcha and @Tractor2twitr.
Govt of India is suspending and withholding accounts of journalists and activists. National Forensics team has submitted list of accounts to Delhi police. Among withheld as of now are @Kisanektamorcha and @thecaravanindia.
Internet suspension to continue in Kaithal, Panipat, Jind, Rohtak, Charkhi Dadri, Sonipat & Jhajjar districts until 5pm tomorrow.
Internet suspension to continue until 2nd Feb 2021 on the borders of Delhi (Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur). While we are outraged about internet blockade on borders of Delhi, please note that Jammu-Kashmir has been without high speed internet since August 2019
Farmers leaders announce Chakka Jam for 3 hours on 6th Feb.
Update on Nodeep Kaur- Her sister says that the family was not aware about Nodeep’s detention for a day. She maintains that there are wounds on Nodeep’s body and that she has been physically and sexually assaulted in custody. Her court date is tomorrow.
A journalist from Times of India, alleged that since he published a story about the allegations, he had been threatened through social media, calls and texts and that his phone had been put under surveillance.
The World Sikh Organization of Canada has written to Foreign Affairs Minister MarcGarneau, calling on Canada to condemn the violent attacks on farmer protestors in India.
With Internet curbed Centre Govt is pressing hard on protestors and leaders. 15 more look out notices have been sent by Delhi police against Farmer leaders. This takes the total look out notices to 59. Airports and seaports alerted with the list of these farmer leaders as well.
Locals confirm BJP goons who attacked farmers were from out of town. They said out water in our village has been cut off so we do not give water to farmers.
@SavingPunjab tweeted “Earlier today Delhi police started playing patriotic songs on a DJ at #SinghuBorder Songs from Border movie were played out aloud. Police is playing dirty tactics. The purpose is to incite locals by projecting farmers as anti soldiers or anti police.”
Elder Sikh farmer whose wrist was broken by BJP goons and police returns to morcha with his injuries.
Farmers at Singhu and Tikri have created security room with around 200 youth who have created circles to guard the protest sites against miscreants. The team is prepared to handle everything from stone pelting to petrol bombs. The youth work on duties at night and day.
Three trains to Delhi which carried more farmer protesters have been re-routed to Mumbai causing significant issues for the poor farmers. They are harassed by BJP supporters on these routes.
On the Navreet Singh death case, which media reported was the only death at the Republic Day rally caused by a tractor accident, according to The Guardian, “Dr Basil Purdue, a pathologist registered with the UK Home Office who examined the video footage and postmortem, said: “To me this is one gunshot wound, possibly two, unless proved otherwise.””
Last year govt had announced to spend 5.1 percent of budget on agriculture. This year govt will spend only 4.3 percent of budget on agriculture.
BJP supporters and Hindu lobby in UK are targeting Sikh MPs who have spoken out for farmers in India. The Global Hindu Federation is targeting British Labour Parliamentarians such as Liam Byrne, Tan Dhesi, Preet Gill. They are complaining how these MPs have time to comment on Farmers in India when their constituencies have high levels of Covid.
One unnamed Singh went to the house of Dharmender and Sunny Deol to complain about them not speaking for Punjab. Sunny Deol is the BJP MP in Punjab but has done nothing for his constituency.
Farmers are asking villagers in Punjab to stand against any police raiding these villages looking for Sikh youth from Punjab.
Pictures of Jagsir Singh Jaggi, who went viral for an image of him bloodied after being attacked by police with a smile on his face despite his head injury, received grand welcome as he returned back to his village Pandher in district Barnala of Punjab.
Fresh arrest of protester Akash Preet Singh (25) has come to notice. He has been arrested by Delhi police. He is accused of attacking CISF personnel with a sword on 26th.
Delhi Police has released a list of 120 people arrested from various locations based on analysis of videos and ‘evidence’.
Addressing the petition filed by the Member of Parliament Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Manjit Singh GK, Delhi High Court today issued a notice against Indian mainstream news Channel Aaj Tak, the Press Council of India, and the union government of India, over the fake news telecast by the controversial channel, that spread hate against the Sikhs and vilifying them.
The Guardian – “At least nine senior Indian journalists are facing criminal charges for reporting allegations that Delhi police fatally shot a farmer in the head during protests last week, despite the authorities claiming no shots were fired.”
Baaz Opinion | The BJP Are Experts In Political Gaslighting, from @iJasOberoi “Prime Minister Modi continues to use gaslighting to make Indian voters doubt their memory of his past actions, refute known facts and discard historical events.”
To demonstrate their nationalism some farmers carried a 500m long India flag today.
An old picture of the RSS hoisting their flag at Red Fort has gone viral. Many are asking, is this not going to cause a national crisis for Godhi media? This is questioned after the mass hysteria around the Nishaan Sahib (Sikh flag) was raised at the same site this week by protesters.
