Farmers protest live updates: Maharashtra govt to probe celebrity tweets on farmers protest

Traffic stalled for three hours along arteries in the heartland of the farmer agitation on Saturday, but farm groups enforcing the chakka jam across Punjab and Haryana ensured there were no palpitations over law and order at any of the protest sites. In Rohtak, commuters stranded in the three-hour highway standstill were given sweets, snacks and tea at various protest sites to lessen their torment.

Fissures have emerged among constituents of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha over the happenings during the Republic Day ‘Tractor Parade’ in Delhi, leading to the suspension of two leaders — Azad Kisan Committee Doaba president Harpal Singh Sangha and Bhartiya Kisan Union Krantikari president Surjit Singh Phool. SKM leadership said the two had violated the conditions agreed upon with Delhi Police for the rally by going to the Outer Ring Road.

Canada-based Poetic Justice Foundation (PJF) has issued a statement claiming that it neither coordinated any protest activities within India nor coordinated with Rihanna, Greta Thunberg or any other celebrity to make them tweet in support of the farmers' protests. PJF is being investigated by the Delhi Police for being part of an alleged conspiracy to create disharmony and for creating the toolkit shared by Greta Thunberg.

“We give time to the Centre till October to take back the farm laws and ensure guaranteed MSP. If our demands are not met, we will plan and intensify our agitation elsewhere in the country from October 2,” said farmer leader Rakesh Tikait. "We will not talk under duress. Talks this time will be conditional. Apart from repealing of farm laws, we will also focus on guaranteed MSP for farmers," he said, asked about dialogue with the Centre.