Farmers Movement Archive

Opposition corners government over farm agitation

Tribune News ServiceNew Delhi, February 4Hitting out at the government over its “failure” on various fronts, including the ongoing farmers’ agitation, Opposition members in Rajya Sabha today asked the ruling NDA leadership to stop “monologue” and instead “initiate dialogue with the protesters”.Kaun hain ye videshi kalaakar (Who’re these foreign artistes)? — Rakesh Tikait on foreigners backing stir Greta tweet leads to firThe Delhi Police have filed an FIR against the “pro-Khalistan” creators of a “toolkit” shared by climate activist Greta Thunberg in a tweet backing the farmers’ stir, alleging it aimed to wage a “social, cultural, economic war against Govt of India”.Chakka jam on feb 6Protesting farmer outfits have been mobilising people for their ‘chakka jam’ slated for February 6. During their three-hour protest, the unions plan to block highways.NBA star backs stirUS National Footbal league (NFL) star Juju Smith Schuster has donated $10,000 to protesting farmers while NBA forward Kyle Kuzma has also extended support to the stir.Why isn’t PM talking to farmers, why fences?When the PM says he’s only a phone call away, who is coming between him and farmers... Why have fences been built, toilets removed, Net blocked? — Deepender Hooda, CongressOpening the second day of discussion on a motion thanking the President for his address to the joint sitting of Parliament at the start of the Budget session, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said the government had “lost the patience to hear and any criticism was painted as anti-national”.“With folded hands, I request you to please understand the pain of farmers. In harsh winter you stopped water supply and toilet facilities, dug trenches, put barbed wires and installed spikes,” the RJD MP said. “Such aggressive approach wasn’t even heard of towards the neighbouring nations who came inside (the Indian territory),” he added.On a tweet by pop star Rihanna on the farmers’ protest, Jha said the democracy would not be weakened by a tweet, but by the approach of the government.In a veiled reference to cold storage chain and godowns built by private corporates, Jha said, “Your backbone is the farmer…. 303 (seats won by the BJP in last General Election) did not come from cold storage or godowns, but from these very people.”Hitting out at the government, TMC MP Derek O’Brien said, “Today we are very touchy about remarks coming from outside on the farmers’ agitation. But who said this ‘Abki baar Trump sarkar’. And now we are talking about interference?”As he rose to participate in the discussion earlier, the TMC MP said, “Such are times... we should be thankful for small freedoms. Freedoms like being allowed to speak without the microphones being muted, or the television feeds censored or MPs not being escorted out by marshals.”

The Tribune

2021-02-05