Farmers' protest news highlights: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar backs Modi govt on farm laws

Farmer Union protesting against the three new agriculture laws have welcomed PM Narendra Modi's invite to end their stir and have asked the Centre to fix a date for the next round of talks. The protesting ryots were however angered by his 'Andolan Jeevi' remark and hit back at the PM. Meanwhile, Twitter has said it had blocked some accounts in the country over comments on mass farmers' protests, but the social media giant refused to shut down others despite the threat of criminal action by the government. Stay tuned for more updates.

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Govt ready for talks, can amend farm laws if needed: Rajnath Singh

The Union government is ready to discuss the new agriculture laws with farmers' leaders with an open mind and even to amend them if necessary, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said here on Thursday.

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Bihar CM Nitish Kumar backs Modi govt on farm laws, hopes for a resolution soon

Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar on Thursday backed three contentious farm laws, saying these legislations are in the interest of farmers and not against them.

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Farm Laws: Farmers improve facilities, infrastructure to prepare for prolonged protest at Singhu border

With a resolution of the stalemate over the new farm legislation seeming unlikely anytime soon, the agitating farmers at the Singhu border have started strengthening the infrastructure at the protest site to prepare for a long haul.

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Following Rihanna and Thunberg, Trevor Noah shines spotlight on India's farmers protest in 'The Daily Show'

Stand-up comic and late-night show host Trevor Noah is the latest international personality from the entertainment industry to highlight the ongoing farmers agitation.

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Centre vs Twitter: All you need to know about the rift

Amid the ongoing farmers' protests against the Centre's three farm laws, the government and Twitter have been engaged in a tussle about the 'freedom of expression' on the microblogging site. This has also brought into light India's alternative for Twitter, the Koo app, with prominent Union Ministers joining it to send messages to Twitter.

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Don't make it a prestige issue, repeal farm laws, Sachin Pilot tells Centre

Urging the Centre not to make the agri laws a "prestige issue", senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Thursday asserted that the government must let go of its "stubbornness" to immediately repeal the legislations, and said that when the BJP could not convince its allies like the Akali Dal and the RLP on the issue, how can it expect the farmers to accept the laws.

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Cong leader Sachin Pilot asks Centre to repeal farm laws, not making it 'prestige issue';says draft afresh after consulting farmers, states.

BJP could not convince allies like Akali Dal on farm laws, how can it expect farmers to accept them: Sachin Pilot

I'm a farmer myself & understand their difficulties. Only farmers can bring winds of change in country. Therefore, the empowerment, self-reliance & prosperity of our farmers is the prosperity of our country: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during 'Jal Abhishekam' program

(ANI)

The Uttar Pradesh Police has booked RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary and over 5,000 others who attended a major farmers' meeting in Aligarh district two days ago under the Epidemic Diseases Act for allegedly violating Covid-19 protocols.

The FIR, lodged around 9:30 pm on Tuesday, names only 22 individuals, including Chaudhary, while the others are unnamed.

(PTI)

Ravi Shankar Prasad slams Twitter over 'double standards'

In a veiled attack on Twitter, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad slams the "micro-blogging platform" for displaying "double standards" in their handling of the farmers' protests.

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DU students allege police violence

Students of the Delhi University were allegedly manhandled by police on Wednesday during a solidarity march to support the protesting farmers.

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Ashok Gehlot targets PM Modi over farmers' issues, says govt must give up stubborn stand

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the farmers' issues, saying the government should give up its stubborn stand.

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Farmers participate in ‘Kisan Panchayat’ in support of their agitation against Centre's farm reform laws, at Sohna Anaaj Mandi, in Gurugram, Wednesday, February 10, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

Comply with laws in India, take strong action against campaigns aimed at creating unrest: Govt to Twitter

The government on Wednesday expressed "strong displeasure" over Twitter's delay in taking prompt action against accounts and hashtags spreading misinformation and provocative content around the farmers' stir, as the IT Ministry made it clear that the company must comply with the country's laws irrespective of the platform's own rules.

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Farmers announce fresh protest plan; to remember Pulwama martyrs on Feb 14

Farmers' union on Wednesday announced an intensification in their agitation against the contentious farm laws by organising a series of programmes, including throwing open toll plazas in Rajasthan and organising candlelight marches across India in honour of soldiers martyred in the 2019 Pulwama attack.

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Farmers still agitating because Modi govt has failed to give 'alternative' to farm laws: SKM

Farmers are still agitating because ministers of the Modi government have failed to present any "alternative" to the three new agri laws, the Samuykta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of 41 farmer unions, said on Wednesday.

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Agitating farmers not for change in power at Centre but solution to their issues: Tikait

BKU leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday asserted that the agitating farmers were not aiming at any change in power at the Centre but a solution to their problems as he said many of their leaders will tour different parts of the country to spread the movement.

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Farmers announce fresh protest plan; to remember Pulwama martyrs on Feb 14

Farmers' union on Wednesday announced an intensification in their agitation against the contentious farm laws by organising a series of programmes, including throwing open toll plazas in Rajasthan and organising candlelight marches across India in honour of soldiers martyred in the 2019 Pulwama attack.

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Modi's heart beats only for billionaires: Priyanka

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on prime minister Narendra Modi for calling the agitating farmers 'terrorists'' and said that his heart ''beats only for the billionaires''.

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Govt, Parliament have great respect for farmers, says PM in Lok Sabha

Taking a dig at Opposition parties for their stand on farm laws, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the central government and the Parliament have great respect for the farmers who are voicing their views on the three farm bills.

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Protesting farmers demanding 'minimum' support price unlike maximum by corporates: Cong

The Opposition on Wednesday targeted the government during the discussion on Budget in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday with Congress's Kapil Sibal claiming that the government is promoting crony capitalists and one is seeing the "footprints of one big boy" in every sector while ignoring the "mann ki baat" of farmers.

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Farmers raise slogans during their protest against new farm laws, at Ghazipur border in New Delhi, Wednesday, February 10, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

Good morning readers, welcome to DH's live coverage of the farmers' protests.