Thursday, January 7, 2021
THREE journal publishers have filed a case in Delhi High Court for blocking Sci-Hub and Libgen in India. These two websites provide free downloads of research publications and books to research scholars and students. This is not an attack on pirate sites, as the publishers claim but a war against students and researchers in India, who do not have access to these high-priced journals. The case has been filed in Delhi by knowledge monopolies who have locked the results of science—both natural and social sciences—behind their paywalls, and now insist that everyone pay through their nose for access.
One of the four mercenary soldiers granted a pardon by Trump is Nicholas Slatten, who was sentenced to life imprisonment after exhaustive investigations by the US agencies and the Iraqi government. The killing by Blackwater mercenaries was made public by Private Chelsea (Bradley) Manning, through the release of logs of military reports to WikiLeaks.
A set of three laws on agriculture passed by Parliament in September has led to thousands of farmers staging protests on the outskirts of Delhi over the past two weeks. Most of these agitating farmers are from Punjab and Haryana as they are the biggest beneficiaries of the government's minimum support price (MSP) regime.
Several Indian-American protests were held in support of the farmers, with rallies being held outside Indian consulates in San Francisco, Chicago, Indianapolis, New York, Houston, Michigan, Atlanta, and Washington, DC. Several American Congressmen from both the Republican and Democratic parties voiced support for these protests, including Josh Harder, TJ Cox, Doug LaMalfa, and Andy Levin. In December 2020, seven Congresspersons wrote to the Secretary of State, asking him raise the issue of the farmers' protests with India
The 2020 Indian farmers' protest is an ongoing protest against the three farm acts which were passed by the Parliament of India in September 2020. The acts have been described as "anti-farmer laws" by many farmer unions, and politicians from the opposition also say it would leave farmers at the "mercy of corporates". The government, however, maintains that they will make it effortless for farmers to sell their produce directly to big buyers, and stated that the protests are based on misinformation.
Amid tight security, thousands of farmers today started their tractor-march from protest sites near Delhi border points against the three agriculture laws. Bharati Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) chief Joginder Singh Ugrahan said that farmers participated in the march with over 3,500 tractors and trolleys.
A day before the government’s eighth round of talks with the protesting farmer leaders, SAD leader and former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the Centre has lost the trust of the entire farming community and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should directly talk to farmers who are registering their protests at the doorstep of the national capital, news agency PTI reported.
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
The 'Delhi Chalo' farmers' protest at border points of New Delhi has entered the 43rd day today. Thousands of farmers, especially from Punjab and Haryana, are staging a sit-in protest along Delhi borders. The protest started on November 26. The farmers are demanding a complete rollback of the new farm reform laws and a guarantee on the Minimum Suppo
Security was increased along the borders of the national capital ahead of a tractor rally of farmers on Thursday morning. The farmers will hold the rally at 11am at four borders of Delhi in protest against the Centre's agriculture laws.
Tractor march live updates: Farmers hold rally in Haryana's Palwal - The Times of India: Security was increased along the borders of the national capital ahead of a tractor rally of farmers on Thursday morning. The farmers will hold the rally at 11am at four borders of Delhi in protest against the Centre's agriculture laws.
The farmers are adamant that they will not accept anything less than a repeal of the laws. They also want a law that guarantees the minimum support price. The government, which says the laws will benefit farmers by removing middlemen and enable them to sell crops anywhere in the country, has blamed the opposition for the protests, saying they are inciting farmers.
Camping on the highways at the Haryana-Delhi border for over 40 days, braving severe cold and rain, farmers have said their protest will only intensify in the coming days. The rain came amid a cold wave in the National Capital Region last week, taking temperature down to 1.1 degree Celsius, the lowest in 15 years in January.
The Delhi Traffic Police has been tweeting updates on which roads to avoid. It said Singhu, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari, Saboli and Mangesh borders are shut for traffic. "Please take alternate route via Lampur Safiabad, Palla and Singhu school toll tax borders. Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba and GTK road. Please avoid Outer Ring Road, GTK Road and NH-44," the traffic police tweeted.
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