DDMA Bans Public Celebrations Of Ganesh Chaturthi Amid Covid

Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Wednesday issued an order that the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations will not be allowed at public places here in view of COVID-19. As per the directive, people were advised to celebrate the festival at home.

Ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, the DDMA order stated that the celebrations may not be allowed in public places.
“No idol of Lord Ganesha shall be set up in the Tent, pandal, public places, nor any kind of permission shall be granted for the procession and the public shall encourage or advised to celebrate the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival at their homes. The crowd should not be gathering in any religious, social places in any manner,” said a statement released by DDMA.

“It is also directed that District Magistrates and District DCPs shall convene meeting with religious/ community to maintain the law and order and harmony and also to sensitise public for compliance of guidance, instructions issued for combating COVID-19 by the government from time to time,” said in the issued order.

According to DDMA, appropriate actions will be taken including imposing fines for violating the order by the concerned authorities. (ANI)

‘LGBTQ Pride Continues To Grapple With Prejudice’

Harpreet Singh, 46, a literary editor from Mumbai, says LGBTQIA+ relationships continue to be judged by same old yardstick, in spite of getting legal sanction three years back

The word ‘pride’ is often associated with the LGBTQIA+ community. Perhaps we should also add ‘prejudice’ to the mix. The LGBTQIA+ community finds itself constantly moving between ‘Pride & Prejudice’ (of feeling pride one moment and fighting prejudice the next) and not really feeling settled. One must have thought that the 2018 verdict decriminalising homosexuality (annulment of Section 377) might have given the LGBTQIA+ community wings and the sky, but people are still prejudiced against us more than three years later, even though the judiciary tells us that there is no rhyme or reason for doing so.

Until and unless we become part of mainstream, until the legal judgement seeps into the social ethos, we cannot truly say that change has arrived. We continue to be othered and bothered, misunderstood and silenced by the majority of people. There is no sense of belongingness and we feel secluded, kept away and marginalised.

LGBTQIA+ people rarely feel completely safe and free to love. Barack Obama brought in the legislation for same-sex marriage in the most progressive country in the world and Trump weakened its provisions. At home, in 2009, a Delhi High Court bench gave a verdict in our favour, which was overturned in 2013. So you never know which way the wind would blow the next moment as far as one’s sexuality and thus one’s life is concerned.

Many moods of Harpreet Singh

There is no solid ground on which we can stand and examine our identity, our feelings and emotions even 3 years later. The power is always in someone else’s hands. In case of same-sex couples, it is still the next of kin rather than the partner who can make important decisions when it comes to matters of life and death (say someone wanting to be taken off life support as a last wish).

Love can never be unnatural, and while we are on the topic of nature, I would say climate change issues are a reflection of our othering of nature. We take her for granted, much like we take people with different sexual orientations, identities and interests for granted. Sex education and conversations around sex have still not been given due importance, while our population proliferates. Dialogue is necessary between different sections of society if we want to go further than token change.

I am an optimist and love celebrating small changes, which might become big over time. At least those aware of their rights in big cities can no longer be mistreated by cops. The social media explosion in the past 3-4 years has meant that many people from the LGBTQIA+ community have found a voice, a social support structure (even if only virtual) and a small scope for discussion in a civil manner.

Around a decade ago, one had Dostana, a neither here nor there film on homosexuality, but now we have Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan which knows what it is talking about and doesn’t do so in hushed tones. That, to me, is change. To me Axis Bank introducing joint account for same-sex couples is also a win.

Whenever new people come in contact with us, they see our sexual orientation first and our hearts and values later. Shouldn’t it be the other way round? Or maybe it should not even matter. How we express our love to our beloved in private is our personal matter.

My family is one of the most liberal families you will come across. It is full of inter-cultural marriages. My dad, a Sikh, married my mother who is a Parsi, and yet he couldn’t not understand my idea of love. I came out at 16 to my mom and at 19 to my family. I was beaten every day by my father since I was 13 and till I turned 17. Our relationship remained fractured till his death in 2018. I was lucky however that my mother stood rock solid behind me and even took part in many a pride marches.

Love for your partner, family, society, country and world at large needs a series of adaptive actions and compromises from everyone. I am a man of love and I can see beyond gender, skin colour, caste, religion, nationality etc. and straight to the heart of a person. Hope someday the community will also be seen for their hearts rather than just their bodies. My best friend is a woman named Poonam who loves me unconditionally and truly sees me for who I am. Soon there will be more and more Poonams… I continue to hope.

As Told To Yog Maya Singh

Women Will Be Allowed In NDA: Centre tells SC

The Central government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that a decision has been taken to allow the induction of women into the Armed Forces through the National Defence Academy (NDA).

A Bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said that it was extremely glad to know that Armed Forces themselves took decisions to induct women in NDA.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati appearing for Centre told the Bench that Centre took the decision yesterday after consultation with three service chiefs.

“There is a piece of good news. A decision has been taken at the highest level of forces and government that women will be inducted for Permanent Commission through the National Defence Academy. The decision was taken late evening yesterday,” ASG Bhati submitted.

The Bench said it would like the Defence forces to take a “more pro-active approach towards gender equality” instead of the court directing them to do so.

“We have been periodically nudging the authorities to do it themselves. We do believe they are best suited to evolve rules. It’s not a happy situation for us. Armed forces are respected forces of this country but on gender equality, they have to do more,” said Justice Kaul.

The apex asked ASG Bhati to put the statement on record through an affidavit and adjourned the matter for two weeks and posted the matter for hearing on September 22.

“We are extremely glad to know as ASG submits that armed forces have taken a decision to induct females in NDA and other issues are being examined. They would like to place developments and future plans before us for which time is sought,” it said.

The court was hearing the plea seeking to allow women to take part in the NDA exams.

Earlier, the top court had in an interim order allowed women to take the NDA exam which was scheduled for September 5, and had also slammed the Indian Army for the decisions that are based on ‘gender discrimination’.

Today, ASG said that the women will be admitted to the NDA and apprised the Bench that the exam was postponed to November 24, 2021.

Bhati urged the apex court that the status quo be maintained with respect to the NDA admissions for the current academic year.

“Consider granting status quo for this examination and let it continue, as it will need policy, procedure, training, and infrastructure changes,” the ASG submitted.

The Bench asked ASG to place on record the developments through an affidavit.

The top court had earlier, allowed female candidates to sit for the NDA exam on September 5 but said that the admissions will be subject to the outcome of the petition. It had also slammed the government and army for not allowing women to take part in NDA exams.

“It’s a policy decision which is based in gender discrimination. We direct the Centre and army to take a constructive view of the matter…, the Bench had said expressing displeasure on ‘regressive mindset’,” said in the top court.

The petition was filed in the apex court seeking directions to allow eligible female candidates to join the NDA and the Indian Naval Academy (INA) at par with the men.

The plea filed by advocate Kush Kalra stated that denial of opportunity to women candidates to enroll at the NDA is violative of Articles 14, 15, 16, and 19 of the Constitution.

Earlier, the Bench had also issued a notice in an impalement application by a woman candidate Anita, who was denied an opportunity to enroll at the NDA. Anita had said that she had to give up her aspirations to join the Armed Forces.

“The eligible and willing female candidates being denied the opportunity of entry to the National Defence Academy on the basis of their sex and thereby systematically and categorically excluding eligible female candidates the opportunity to train at the premier joint training institute of the Indian Armed Forces which, at a later point of time, becomes a hurdle in the career advancement opportunities for Female Officers in the Armed Forces,” stated in the plea.

The petition was filed in light of the directions issued by the top court on the extension of Permanent Commission to Short Service Commissioned women officers of the Indian Army.

“After the passing of the judgment in the matter of Secretary, Ministry of Defence vs Babita Puniya by this Court, Permanent Commission has been extended to the Women Officers of the Army. However, there is still no mode of entry available to female candidates to join the Armed Forces as Permanent Commission Officers. In the present state of affairs, female candidates have to apply through the appropriate mode of entry into the Armed Forces as a Short Service Commissioned Officer and after serving for a certain period of time, have the option to opt for Permanent Commission,” the plea said.

It added that granting Permanent Commission to the Short Service Commission Women Officers is only half a measure to restore equality of opportunity in the Army.

“The categorical exclusion of women to train at the National Defence Academy and get commissioned into the Armed Forces of the Country as Permanent Commissioned Officers solely on the basis of their sex is a denial of the Fundamental Right to Practice any Profession and it is not justifiable within the contours of the Indian Constitution,” it added.

“The government allows unmarried male candidates having adequate 10+2 qualification to take the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination, however, eligible and willing female candidates are not allowed to take this Examination on the sole ground of their sex and without any reasonable or justifiable explanations,” the petitioner contended. (ANI)

Rajasthan: Rajnath, Gadkari To Inaugurate Emergency Landing Facility At NH-925A

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate Emergency Landing Facility on Satta-Gandhav stretch of National Highway (NH) 925A in Rajasthan’s Barmer, on Thursday, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways informed on Wednesday.

This is the first time that the National Highway will be used for emergency landing of aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had developed a three kilometers section of the Satta-Gandhav stretch of NH-925A from Km. 41/430 to Km. 44/430 as an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) for the Indian Air Force, which is part of the newly developed two-lane paved shoulder of Gagariya-Bakhasar and Satta-Gandhav Section having a total length of 196.97 kilometers and costing of Rs 765.52 crores under Bharatmala Pariyojana.

“This project will improve connectivity between villages of Barmer and Jalore districts located on the international borders. The stretch is located in the western border area will facilitate the vigilance of the Indian Army as well as strengthen the basic infrastructure of the country,” said the official statement.

Apart from this Emergency Landing Strip, 3 helipads (size 100 x 30 meters each) have been constructed in Kundanpura, Singhania and Bakhasar villages in this project according to the requirements of the Air Force/Indian Army, which will be the basis for strengthening the Indian Army and security network on the western international border of the country.

The ELF was constructed in a time span of 19 months. The work for this ELF was commenced in July 2019 and was completed in January 2021. The work was carried out by GHV India Pvt. Ltd under the supervision of IAF and NHAI.

“During the normal time, the ELF will be used for smooth flow of road traffic. But during the operations of ELF for Indian Air Force orders, the service road will be used for smooth flow of road traffic. It has been constructed in 3.5 Km length. This landing strip will be able to facilitate the landing of all types of aircraft of IAF,” said the ministry.

The development of roadways as key infrastructure has led to the construction of high-quality highways and expressways that could be utilised as runways along with some modifications and construction of limited additional infrastructure for the operation of various types of aircraft during emergencies. (ANI)

U’khand Govt Approaches HC Seeks Resumption Of Chardham Yatra

The Uttarakhand government on Tuesday approached the High Court in Nainital seeking the resumption of the Chardham Yatra.

On Tuesday, Advocate General SN Babulkar and Chief Standing Advocate Chandrashekhar Rawat, appearing before the division bench of Chief Justice RS Chauhan and Justice Alok Kumar Verma, orally requested to lift the ban on Chardham Yatra by saying that the livelihood of thousands of people is linked to the Chardham Yatra.
The High Court stated that “As long as the matter is sub-judice in the Supreme Court, the High Court cannot consider lifting the stay.”

Earlier, The High Court on June 28 had put a stay on further orders on the basis of lack of health services in Chardham Yatra districts, lack of adequate preparations to control COVID-19 infection, shortage of doctors and the report of the district administration.

However, in July, the state government had filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court.

The Chardham Yatra, which includes a visit to the Kedarnath temple, attracts lakhs of tourists and devotees every year from across the country and abroad. (ANI)

Delhi New Covid cases

37,875 New COVID-19 Cases In Last 24 Hrs

India reported 37,875 fresh COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday.

India’s active caseload now stands at 3,91,256
The total number of cases of COVID-19 infection in the country has reached 3,30,96,718.

Out of the fresh cases recorded across the country, Kerala has recorded 25,772 in the last 24 hours.

As many as 369 people have succumbed to the COVID-19 infection in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 4,41,411.

So far, India has reported 3,22,64,051 recoveries including 39,114 people recovering from the infection in the last 24 hours.

The recovery rate currently stands at 97.48 per cent.

Meanwhile, the daily positivity rate in India stands at 2.16 per cent.

India has substantially ramped up its COVID-19 testing capacity wherein 53.49 crore tests have been conducted so far.

As a part of the ongoing nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive in the country, India has administered 70,75,43,018 COVID vaccine doses so far, including 78,47,625 doses in the last 24 hours. (ANI)

Afghanistan: US Won, West Lost; Pak Profited, India Adrift

The United States attacked Afghanistan to achieve some specific objectives including: 1) Kill Osama bin Laden; 2) topple Taliban regime and install a cooperative Afghan government; and 3) establish influence in the region.

The withdrawal of the US after a 20-year war under NATO banner has led to many interpretations. All different positions appear to be supported by good arguments. Many see it as a failure and defeat. Others fear that the region will become a nest-bed for ‘terrorists’ again. However, it seems that the US entered Afghanistan with a broader plan and it achieved all its objectives despite these contradictory statements even by some eminent people. Pakistan and Iran appear to have benefitted while it seems India may have been left adrift without friends in the region.

The conflicting narratives whether the United States won or lost emerge under three types of human activity and nature:

  1. Sensitive individuals adopt independent approach towards specific situations or outcomes either because of the facts that they know or because they don’t compromise on their integrity. There are many examples of people who repent after wars and have written stories of the miseries of people under attack.
  2. The western world enjoys freedom of expression and therefore opinion writers get full benefit of independence to express their own stance irrespective of the government’s reservations.
  3. According to conspiracy theory, sometimes a few individuals are planted by the secret agencies themselves to create a debate going against the national narrative to create confusion.

When the US toppled the Taliban government without any reasonable resistance, the circumstances further encouraged and facilitated the US to influence the regional geo-strategic overture in its favour. It influenced the shape of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, and other regional issues

The USA planned to counter China’s increasing influence in Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia. Therefore US designs were manifold and a very prudent policy was required to achieve all these objectives.

While the USA was pursuing its policy, India had become somewhat optimist and was obstructing Pakistan by establishing its bases within Afghanistan and promoting militancy in the western and central areas of Pakistan. Pakistan seemed to be squeezed down to a nonentity. However, India’s policy would appear to have been somewhat irrational as it failed to consider deeper natural relationships based on racial, religious, territorial and political bonds. These seemed to have been overlooked by both Indian and US policymakers.

Pakistan took counter initiatives to survive through this period. It cooperated with the international community and took measure against terrorism and extremism in the region. Pakistan opened the Kartarpur Corridor and even sought significant changes in the education syllabus as desired by the minorities living in Pakistan. Laws regarding religious matters of the minorities were introduced to boost up their sense of integration and respect in the society.

ALSO READ: The Afghanistan Papers Uncover A Dirty War

Pakistan remained with the international community despite an aggressive Indian policy against Pakistan and huge investment in Afghanistan. The Indian government opened its educational institutions for Afghan students. India set up training camps in different cities of Afghanistan and infused anti-Pakistan sentiments which damaged peace in KPK, Baluchistan and Punjab.

In all this, the United States however had a parallel policy while India seems to have put all its eggs in one basket or approach.

Consequently, the fall of Ashraf Ghani’s government and the recapture of Kabul by the Taliban has been devastating for the BJP government. BJP underestimated the sanctity and strategic importance of ‘neighbourhood’ despite facing its practical implications when interfering within the internal affairs of their small neighbouring countries.

Despite all odds and lapses, the stark reality is that Pakistan and Afghanistan cannot be separated, being neighbours and racially and religiously connected. This dimension also explains why BJP government failed in its Middle East policy. It has had to bear loss of close neighbourhood ties with Iran, Afghanistan, China and Pakistan. The Taliban’s declaration to support the Kashmiri Muslims has further stamped the failure of the BJP policy in Afghanistan.

On the other hand, as far as the US is concerned, it has won the war because it achieved its objectives and moved ahead with a well worked out policy. The USA killed Osama Bin Laden, toppled a hostile Taliban government, damaged CPEC and influenced Iran, Afghan groups, Pakistan, China and other countries. It deftly and  simultaneously carried on its aggressive activities as well as backdoor diplomacy with Taliban. This strategy not only maintained US terror on the Afghans but also encouraged them to reach an agreement with the US.

US policymakers seemed clear about the impotency of the Afghans but on the other hand they were also aware of the religious potency and might of Taliban. Therefore through backdoor diplomacy Americans settled all issues with Taliban and left as promised in August 2021. What these promises are will become clearer in the next few years. The new Taliban is a much different Taliban in that it seems amenable to American ‘friendship’.

During the last 20 years, Taliban forces did not face any kind of scarcity of modern weapons, food, technology and backdoor channel diplomacy. The West can best reveal from where Taliban were being facilitated.

ALSO READ: 1947 & 2021 – Two Exits In Perspective

The US appears to have won because it got its objectives and evacuated its armies. It also got promises from Taliban to respect international pressure and UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Taliban also assured that Afghanistan would not let terrorists act against US and its allies. It is most likely that the US has also got assurances from Taliban to curtail if not stop the drug trade.

The US will now be able to balance its finances that were being drained in Afghanistan and instead concentrate on other interests and threats. Many wrote critical opinions and gave speeches criticizing the abrupt and unannounced departure of the US army from Afghanistan. They have deemed it an utter and humiliating defeat of the US. Yet the US showed its military might by reappearing in Afghanistan at will to evacuate its ambassadorial staff and other personnel. How many defeated armies are able to go back unhindered and recover their people, even with the cooperation of so called winners! Commentators seem to miss this point. This is clearly not a black and white win or loser scenario.

If Taliban fulfil all the promises, it will be a victory for the US, Pakistan, Iran and the region. Therefore the reemergence of Taliban with the help of the US and with consent of Pakistan and Iran affirms the success and very smart policy of the United States who managed it all behind the curtain. The US has killed thousands of Afghans. Despite that, the Taliban have desired to have cordial relations with them because common sense guides that all international forums, institutions and aggressive as well as peace diplomacy revolve around the US.

China cannot counter the US because both have different domains in world politics. China penetrates through commercial designs and modes while US asserts through aggressive diplomacy. Therefore, there is possibility or competition of a US-China conflict in contrast to the previous US-Soviet Union cold and proxy wars. The Soviet was ideologically competing with the US for dominance.

China is not interested in ideological competition. This confirms the US as an unchallengeable might in the battlefield while China has no match in the economic sphere. China as world power has UN veto and enjoys high and influential stature as an effective world player

The US ties with India are important but the recent developments in Afghanistan, especially engineered by the US, appear to show no favours or gains for India. It is highly unlikely that India knew of America’s deeper and secretive policies. It seems it may have been caught unaware and on a backfoot.

The withdrawal of the US from Afghanistan and agreement with Taliban is a wise decision as it has achieved all of American strategic goals. Its influence remains and it still marshals events in the region. Unfortunately, India may be the only looser in the Afghan game while Iran and Pakistan will gain special role in the coming years in the region.

Afghanistan To Have Sharia Law: Taliban Supreme Leader

The Taliban’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada said that Sharia law would be in force in Afghanistan as the outfit announced its caretaker government in Kabul on Tuesday, Sputnik reported.

“In the future, all issues of governance and life in Afghanistan will be governed by the laws of holy Sharia,” Sputnik reported quoting a statement from the Taliban chief.

Akhundzada said that the Afghan authorities will take serious steps to protect human and minority rights “within the framework of Islam”.

On Tuesday, the Taliban announced its new caretaker government ending days of speculation and reports of infighting within the group, which reportedly delayed the announcement of the new dispensation in Afghanistan.

Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund, chief of the Taliban’s powerful decision-making body ‘Rehbari Shura’ will head the new “caretaker” government in the country, which it had seized control of on August 15.

Addressing a press conference in Kabul, the Taliban’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that the group’s co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar will be the acting deputy Afghan leader.

Also, Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the proscribed Haqqani network has been named the new interior minister.

According to Sputnik, Akhundzada further said in the statement, “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will use all its resources for economic power, prosperity and development, in addition to strengthening security. It will manage domestic revenues appropriately and transparently, provide special opportunities for international investment and various sectors of trade, will effectively fight unemployment.” (ANI)

Old Guard Dominates Taliban Govt, Mullah Hassan Is PM

Taliban on Tuesday announced the caretaker government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, naming Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund as interim prime minister and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the group, as his deputy.

Mullah Yaqoob, one of the deputy leaders of the Taliban since 2016 and the son of Taliban founder Mullah Omar, will act as caretaker Defence Minister. Abdul Salam Hanafi has been made the second deputy to Prime Minister Akhund.
No non-Taliban figures were immediately announced- an indication that the outfit had not bowed down to domestic and international pressure to create an inclusive regime, NBC reported.

During a press briefing, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid announced that Mullah Hassan, the chief of the Taliban’s powerful decision-making body ‘Rehbari Shura’ will head the country’s new “caretaker” government.

The lesser know Taliban leader who is on the UN terror list hails from Kandahar and was among the founders of the armed group. He worked for 20 years as head of Rehbari Shura and remained close to Taliban chief Hebatullah Akhundzada

He had served as foreign minister and deputy prime minister during the Taliban’s previous government in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001

Mullah Baradar, who headed the Taliban’s political office in Doha, will serve as his deputy. The appointment came as a surprise as Baradar was being considered for the top post.

Baradar has been the Taliban’s most visible face in recent years as the group’s chief, Haibatullah Akhunzada, largely stays out of the public view.

The Taliban co-founder represented the group in negotiations with the United States in the Qatari capital, Doha, signing an agreement with them on February 29, 2020.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, in turn, has been given the post of acting foreign minister in the new Afghan Cabinet.

Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the notorious Haqqani network, has been named as interior minister, chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said at a press conference on Tuesday. The network is a US-designated terror group aligned with the Taliban and al Qaeda. Haqqani has a USD 5 million US bounty on his head.

He is suspected of organising a series of bombings in Kabul in 2008 and plotting the assassination of then-Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

The announcement of key figures in the caretaker government comes weeks after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan.

The group’s spokesperson also revealed key figures who will lead the economic and financial departments of the government, with Qari Din Mohammad Hanif taking over as acting economy minister, Mohammad Idris as head of Afghanistan’s Central Bank, and Hedayatullah Badri appointed acting finance minister.

Mawlawi Abdul Hakim Sharie has been named acting minister of justice, and Abdul Haq Wasiq has received the post of acting director of intelligence. Ahmad Jan Ahmady will serve as the acting director of the Administrative Office of the President.

Sheikh Mawlawi Noorullah has been awarded the office of acting education minister, while Abdul Baqi Haqqani will be filling the role of the country’s minister of higher education. Mullah Khairullah Khairkhah, in turn, will become acting minister for information and culture.

Taliban had promised to put together a more inclusive government, unlike the last time. The Taliban ruled the country from 1996 to 2001.

However, the new cabinet does not have any signs of inclusivity.

This is the second stint in power of the Taliban.

They had ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001 and in those five years, they imposed Sharia Islamic law in the country, introducing punishments in line with their strict interpretation of the law – publically executing convicted murderers and adulterers and carrying out amputations of those found guilty of theft. Men were required to grow beards and women had to wear the all-covering hijab.

The outfit was thrown out of power by US forces following the 9/11 terror attacks and since then the Taliban had been gradually regrouping across the border in Pakistan and has led an insurgency against the US-backed government in Kabul for nearly 20 years. (ANI)

Protesting Farmers Reach Karnal Mini Secretariat

Protesting farmers gathered around mini secretariat here in support of their demands after break down of talks with the district administration over their call for action against officials allegedly involved in lathicharge on August 28.

They announced that they will continue their sit-in at the mini secretariat till the government talks to them over their demands and accepts them.
“We have captured the gate and want to take some rest. It is up to the government now as to when they want to talk. We are sitting here peacefully till then,” said BKU leader Rakesh Tikait.

Farmers breached police barricades as they reached the mini secretariat.

Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav said they will continue their protest till the government accepts their demands.

“Despite various obstacles, we have ‘gheraoed’ the mini secretariat and will continue our protest peacefully till the government accepts our demands. Our fight is with the government not with the police officials,” he said.

“Today we had three meetings with the district administration but no fruitful discussion took place,” he added.

The protesting farmers had gathered at Karnal for mahapanchayat over their demands.

Rakesh Tikait said in a tweet that police had taken him custody but had to release him in view of the enthusiasm of the youth. “I am present at the secretariat with the farmers, the fight will continue,” he said.

The protesting farmers faced police deployment while heading to the mini secretariat.

Earlier Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had expressed hope about reaching a solution through talks.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which is leading the agitation against three new farm laws, had given a call for ‘gherao’ of the secretariat on Tuesday demanding registration of an FIR against officials who had allegedly ordered a lathicharge on agitators during their protest against a BJP event in Karnal on August 28.

Mobile internet and SMS services have been suspended in Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind and Panipat till September 7 midnight to curb the “spread of inflammatory material and rumours” during the protest.

Security had also been beefed up in the new Anaj Mandi area in Karnal. (ANI)