March 8: Nodeep Kaur and other activists attacked in Delhi on #WomensDay

1. Right-wing Akhil Bhartiya Vishwa Parishad (ABVP) tried to disrupt a program being attended by activist Nodeep Kaur at Delhi University on the occasion of International Women’s Day. They attacked her and her colleagues. ABVP is the student wing of the RSS, and it is utilized to silence opposition to BJP in universities. Advocate Vasu Kukreja said Nodeep is dragged and pulled. She has suffered bruises, and her sister’s glasses were broken. The Advocate himself suffered injuries to his eyes.
2. According to The Caravan journalist Mandeep Punia, “ABVP people attacked the International Woman’s Day program at Delhi University and started tearing up posters. When the girls stopped them, they tore the girls’ clothes and abused them. In this program, many courageous women like Nodeep Kaur had come.”
3. Video shows ABVP’s @ShivangiSpeaks going up to the stage and interrupting the speech. Labour Rights Activist Nodeep Kaur and Mothers of Butana rape victims and Mausi of Gurhmandi rape victim were present as speakers.
4. During the Delhi Kisan Morcha, BKU Ekta (Ugraha) held a huge women conference on the occasion of Women’s Day, in which 50,000 women from Punjab and Haryana participated with full enthusiasm. Floods of women in Gadri Gulab Kaur Nagar settled near Pakora Chowk on Tikri Border burned new soul in the ongoing front. This huge conference was conducted by women and addressed by female speakers. The conference started with a tribute to the women who martyred during the farmer s’ struggles on the National Liberation Movement, in whose memory a two-minute silence was kept. Addressing the conference, BKU Ekta (Ugraha) Women Wing leader Harinder Kaur Bindu and Paramjit Kaur Pitho said that women’s role is exemplary during the ongoing farmer s’ struggle as women are already facing the most hit of the agricultural crisis And women have recognized this new corporate attack. Joining the struggle of this stage with the ability to endure the most suffering within society is a powerful aspect of the struggle that needs to be moved further. He said that during the last decade of public struggles in Punjab, farm laborers and farmer women have also created a strong foundation for the women’s rights movement. The environment for women’s rights is created.
5. In today’s conference, two important resolutions were passed by women farmer leader Kuldeep Kaur Kusa. A resolution demanded the release of all democratic rights activists, including women activists thrown in jail. Through the second resolution, brave journalist women were saluted for exposing the truth of the communal hanging attack of the fascist Modi government. Meanwhile, the play ′′ Je Abbhi Na Bole ′′ was presented by the conscious theater Mohali under the direction of Anita Shabdish.
6. Times of India article on USA Agriculture sector after it brought in same reforms that Modi has done. “The US farmer’s share of the retail price has declined from 50% in the 1950s to less than 15% today. Debt has touched $425 billion, just shy of the all-time high reached in the recession of 1981. Loan default rates and bankruptcy filings are up, so call to the suicide prevention lines. Farmer suicide rates today are 4-5 times the national average. We heard about a farmer calling a suicide helpline, seated alone in his empty kitchen with the lights out and a loaded gun in his hand. We heard about a local bank officer who killed himself when forced by his management to recall loans and bankrupt farmers — folks he had personally known for years.”
7. Baaz News – Monika Sidhu: Brampton Rallies In Support of Punjab’s Farmers and Women. A day before International Women’s Day, KisaanRally.Brampton and others chose to show solidarity with farmers, women, and the intersection between them.
8. Large Farmers’ rally in Haldwani, Uttarakhand today.
9. In UK, Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi MP pushed for this debate on farmers’ protests after over 114,000 UK citizens signed a petition for it. It was the first of many debates that petitions have demanded. While Tanmanjit Singh and other MPs spoke about the human rights abuses towards farmers and the abuse they suffered from BJP trolls. Theresa Villers MP spoke what sounded like a scripted BJP response.
10. It was notable on International Women’s Day that Charlotte Webb MP, who has been very vocal on farmers’ issues, was not given time to speak. Neither was Preet Gill MP.
11. MP Zara Sultana tweeted, “I’m disappointed not to be called in the Indian #FarmersProtest debate in Parliament. It’s one of the largest protests in history, with farmers fighting back against Modi’s attempt to open-up farming to big corporations, devastating their livelihoods. Solidarity to the farmers!
12. Over 2000 viewers were watching the streaming of the #FarmersProtest debate.
13. The conclusion was diplomatic lip service as expected due to Brexit and UKs desperation for a trade deal. However, with G7 coming up, this matter will get much louder in the UK.
14. Despite unhappiness by many farmers supporters at lip service by UK Conservative Govt, the debate was highly embarrassing for Modi Govt as more learn about its fascist nature.
15. Sikh and Punjabis worldwide need to call for RSS and its 40 affiliate groups to be banned in Western countries. These RSS groups have been involved in attacks on the Sikh community in western countries, feeding false narratives into media, threatening and trolling activists.
16. Punjab Assembly Budget today.
17. 1186cr ₹ loan of 1.13 lac farmers to be waived off in first phase & 526crore loan of landless farmers to be waived off in the second phase under crop loan waiver scheme.
18. Punjab Sugarcane Research Development Institute to come up in Kalanaur; Gurdaspur and Batala sugar mills to be upgraded, and Rs 300 crore to be set aside for buying sugarcane.
19. 29 new schemes for improving canal systems. Rs 897 crore proposed for strengthening the canal irrigation system. This is very important given the rate at which the water table is depleting in Punjab, according to Amaan.
20. Rs 200 crore set aside for crop diversification.
21. Rs 7,180 crore to go as a free power subsidy for farmers.
22. Lastly, a farmer is an artist who paints the earth 🌍🌾#FarmersProtests

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