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BIG STORY February 05, 2021 | The Indian Eye 4

farmers protest

fOreign hand?

a twitter storm caused by foreign celebrities. indian government ordering a probe

into a conspiracy to “defame” india. national icons jumping into the controversy.

how did it all become such a huge mess?

Our Bureau
New Delhi/Washington, DC

t started as a small protest
in a corner of north India.
IThen it grew on the streets
of Punjab. Later, farmers from
Haryana and UP joined the
movement. Now, farmers from
at least four states are camping
– for months – on the border of
national capital. And the world
watches as the movement and
its tussle with the government
turns violent and ugly.
On Saturday, protesters
blocked the Delhi-Amritsar
National Highway in Amritsar
on a chakka jam call by farmers
from 12 noon to 3 pm in pro-
test against the newly enacted
farm laws. Earlier, amid the na-
tionwide call for chakka jam by
the farmer unions, Delhi Joint
Commissioner of Police Alok
Kumar said that police person- BkU leader rakesh Tikait addresses the farmers during an ongoing protest against the new farm laws, at the
nel have been deployed at stra- Delhi-Ghazipur border in New Delhi on saturday. (ANI)
tegic locations on the borders of
the national capital. they have given time to the cen- minimum support price (MSP) new farm laws on hold for about
Farmers have been protest- tral government till October of crop procurement. 18 months.
ing at different borders of the 2 to resolve the ongoing farm The farmers’ unions con- This week, the issue took a
national capital since Novem- laws issue, adding that farmers ducted a three-hour ‘chakka global turn as a tweet by pop
ber 26 last year against the three will not return to their homes jam’ across the country today icon Rihanna on farmers agita-
newly enacted farm laws: Farm- unless their demands are heard between 12 noon and 3 pm. tion in India kicked up an Inter-
ers’ Produce Trade and Com- and the three new farm laws are Police had intensified their net storm. The international su-
merce (Promotion and Facili- repealed. security measures and deployed perstar was later joined by other
tation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Speaking at the Ghazipur personnel at all important celebrities like climate activist
Empowerment and Protection) protest site, Tikait said, “We points in Delhi and other states Greta Thunberg and US Vice
Agreement on Price Assurance have given time to the govern- to maintain law and order. President Kamala Harris’ niece
and farm Services Act 2020 ment till October 2 to repeal Eleven rounds of talks have Meena Harris
and the Essential Commodities the laws. After this, we will do been held between the govern- Rihanna’s tweet on Tuesday
(Amendment) Act, 2020. further planning. We won’t hold ment and the protesting farmer linked to a news story about the
Also, Bharatiya Kisan discussions with the govern- unions over their demand for internet blockade at the protest
Union (BKU) leader Rakesh ment under pressure.” He also repealing farm laws. The gov- sites and soon went viral, gain-
Tikait on Saturday said that demanded to make a law on the ernment had offered to put the Continued on next page... >>

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