Farmers protest

Women protesters have been stitching thousands of black flags for a nationwide protest on May 26 organised by farmers' union Samyukta Kisan Morcha to mark six months of the agitation against the three controversial farm laws enacted by the Central government. They say the coronavirus pandemic is not a threat to them, so they don't need masks.

The 25-year-old woman later died due to a Covid-19 infection at a Delhi hospital, according to police. Six persons including the two main accused have been named in the FIR.  The police said that they are after the accused men and have formed a team to look into the matter after the victim's father filed the FIR. 

Unveiling its plan for the next two months, the SKM, an umbrella body of 32 farmer groups, said that it will organise the 'FCI (Food Corporation of India) Bachao Diwas' on April 5 that will be marked by the 'gherao of FCI offices across the country. The foot march will be joined not just by farmers, but also by women, unemployed individuals and labourers who have been supporting the protest, the SKM has said.

BJP legislator Arun Narang was injured after he was attacked by a group of unruly men. His clothes were allegedly ripped off by the protesters, who also threw black ink on him as soon as he arrived there. The BJP leaders left the spot in a huff, alleging that the Congress government in the state was behind the incident.

The protesters carried posters and banners, showed bangles while accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of 'killing democracy'. Rani Chaubey, national president of the JAP said that the way public representatives, including women legislators, were beaten inside the House was unacceptable.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), Gurugram had said that all shops and markets will remain shut on Friday in support of the agitating farmers, who are completing four months of their protest at Delhi's borders. According to the SKM, the 12-hour bandh will be observed between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. However, ambulances and other essential services will be allowed.

The farmers blocked the National Highway 24 that connects Delhi with Ghaziabad. The farmers sat on the highway demanding the repeal of the three farm laws. Delhi Traffic Police in a tweet said: "Traffic movement is closed on Ghazipur Border NH-24 (Both carriageway), Kindly avoid the stretch."

"Due to protest of Kisan Andolan, Nainital highway No. 9 and NH-24 is closed at the point of UP Gate. Traffic is heavy in both carriageways. The diversion has been given from Delhi towards Ghaziabad," tweeted the Delhi Traffic Police.

The farmers remain adamant to their demand to rollback these laws but the Central government seems reluctant to accept this. In such a situation, it is difficult to predict that how long this fight will last, because in this country, there has been such a movement of farmers that lasted for 44 years.

Following the leads from the Disinfo Lab report, an investigation done by a leading Greek news website has decoded the Ankara connection to the entire propaganda being peddled against India, especially during the ongoing farmers protest.