3 "- C"5 96855;650:5 %;650:50 VRGR $"#(!#1')VCEBRS WWT!Pa!RT%&!$"#1$# 1./<)%1$'2 , , 0 2,5 6,51 / 8E5 +,),&E ),@)!E/,1/),".$.-.F !$.$, ",-+.-!/&# $+&-$+!$,1#) /&1/.,/, /).1.1&G,)+,-+1/), 1!).1,)1 )/+.).!) /+".')+ ",+)"! +F",)$"G.BF#" -/ "); 110' D1 6%,9::68 = & >! ! " # " ,#",-+. ! " ,#",-+. bilities after the elections in case the BJP gets more number n no mood to accept the he ambition of LJP chief of seats than the JD(U). It is ICentre's controversial farm TChirag Paswan to emerge as expected that since Kumar is Bills, the Congress has asked a major player in Bihar may facing serious anti-incumben- its State Governments to con- change the political landscape cy his strike rate will be much vene a special Assembly ses- of the State as the Lok Janshakti lower than the BJP. The pres- sions to pass a Bill to defer Party (LJP) on Sunday decided ence of LJP candidate will also implementation of the NDA to go it alone in the Assembly harm the prospects of JD(U) Government's farm laws polls starting month-end. candidates. The LJP is likely to cleared by Parliament during "Due to ideological differ- field a number of JD(U) rebels the Monsoon Session and ences with the Janata Dal and strategically utilise caste approved by President Ram (United) JD(U), a member of factors to inflict maximum Nath Kovind last month. the alliance at the national damage on the JD(U) candi- The draft version of the level and in the Assembly polls, dates. In such a scenario, Nitish farm related Bills sent to the the LJP has decided to fight the may struggle to retain his chair Congress-ruled States allows elections in Bihar separately post-elections even if the NDA the State Governments to from the alliance," a party were to form a Government in decide on the date of imple- statement said after its parlia- the State. "Given the situation, mentation of the Centre's laws mentary board meeting chaired the JD(U) will be far behind and ensure that contract farm- by Chirag. the BJP, and that will open ing between the farmer and any The decision is seen as a interesting possibilities," said a company, or aggregator, cannot laws" and said the Congress and that the Government will "surgical strike" on Chief BJP leader from Bihar. take place below a minimum would repeal them when in buy food grains at that price. Minister Nitish Kumar since However, he warned that the support price (MSP). power and on Sunday he Farmers, however, remain the LJP will field its candidate confusion among the cadre of The Modi Government's protested in Punjab. unconvinced and have called against every single JD(U) can- the BJP and the JD(U) and dis- new farm Bills have triggered The Congress, along with for clauses that guarantee MSP didate while contesting close to # $ " trust at every level could also massive protests across the other Opposition parties, has and protect weaker members of 140 seats in the 243-seat State ! %& hurt the prospects of the country by the Congress, launched countrywide protests their community against the Assembly contest. alliance and may help RJD-led Opposition parties, farmers’ against the Bills. The Congress dangers of contract farming. The LJP said it will remain a few weeks. Sources said the 65A %6A5/9 Mahagathbandhan on several associations. Significantly the sources said the party will also Congress chief Sonia part of the NDA and its win- LJP will remain a part of the seats. Bills passed by the States will request the States to pass the Gandhi recently asked party- ning candidates will help form NDA at the Centre and Ram -B:59"% In 2015, the LJP had con- also have to be cleared by the new Bills where it is in alliance ruled states to "explore possi- a BJP-led Government in Bihar. Vilas will retain his position in 6:95$B?'5$ tested 42 seats and won two. President of India, who can in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. bilities to pass laws... which “We will not accept Nitish the Union Cabinet. 6559B"2!3 :6/%>655 The JD(U) was then part of the either approve or refuse to "Besides we will also request allows state legislatures to... Kumar as Chief Minister at any In the resolution, the LJP 8:585 6 ::559$B Opposition alliance which give them his assent . States ruled by non-Congress negate the anti-agriculture cen- cost," said an LJP leader. said it will not fight the election decisively defeated the NDA. The proposed Bills address and non-BJP Governments tral laws". The move will give better under Kumar's leadership of -B59 859B"2!38%6 Chirag sent an unmistak- the two of the Congress griev- such as Kerala and West "This would enable the bargaining power to the BJP the ruling alliance in the State, 6965596 %5B"2!3 able message on Saturday about ances about the new laws — it Bengal," said the AICC sources. states to bypass unacceptable post-elections and may but insisted its MLAs will work 6 his future move when he post- disallows MSP for farmers and The Centre has already anti-farmers' provisions in the adversely impact its relation- to strengthen the hand of B"!$B565 69 ed a message on a social media, opens them up (particularly the clarified that the laws give three draconian agricultural ship with the BJP if Ram Vilas Prime Minister Narendra 95B)(>+ 56 saying, "I am proud that I got more vulnerable small and farmers the ability to sell their laws... would also alleviate the Paswan were to continue as a Modi. The meeting was chaired an opportunity to work as an marginal farmers) to the preda- produce at markets and prices farmers from the grave injus- Union Minister in the Cabinet. by its president Chirag. possible without tacit support want to remove Kumar post- MP with a Prime Minister tory instincts of corporates of their choosing. Prime tice done by the Modi govern- Ram Vilas has undergone heart A section of the JD(U) of the BJP. "How can Chirag elections," said a JD(U) leader. whose skillful leadership is and large-scale private players. Minister Narendra Modi has ment and BJP," the Congress surgery in the national Capital leaders suspect that Chirag's dare to do this without the sup- Chirag's decision will known across the world. Former party chief Rahul verbally assured farmers they said in its statement. and will remain hospitalised for decision may not have been port of the BJP? It's clear they throw open interesting possi- Continued on Page 4 Gandhi hit out at the "black can continue to avail of an MSP Continued on Page 4 ! # & ' $ ## "" % " #&' " ! " "#$% %5 ( 5 %56 # $% " " $ * " " + # 51 %56 " & R 8 "96 ,#",-+. /+".')+0&' Covid, while also blaming it for :5:5;:5 "snatching land and bread from %5559995.1' ++)1 him Army chief tanding up for the farming the farmers". 5 BChandrashekhar Azad on Scommunity in their agitation That was not all. Rahul also 65:: : round 700-800 people on Sunday travelled to Hathras to against the Centre's three con- went on to dub the BJP-led 8%6558 ASunday held a caste-based meet the family of the 19-year- tentious farm laws, Congress Central Government "a kath- 5 ;; meeting at the residence of for- old gangrape victim just a day leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday putli (puppet) Government mer BJP MLA Rajvir Singh after Congress leaders Rahul hit out at the BJP-led Central whose strings are in the hands Pehalvan here on the issue the Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Government, while declaring of the Adanis and Ambanis". & death of a Dalit woman after visited Uttar Pradesh. that the "anti-farmer" legisla- Addressing a rally, Rahul ' ')$% 5 she was sexually assaulted. Meanwhile, police lath- tions would be revoked if the said, "I guarantee you, the day "565$ 6 The meeting was held a icharge Samajwadi Party and Congress was voted to power. the Congress Government is :5:55: 655 day after UP Chief Minister RLD workers for defying the Rahul, who joined formed (at the Centre), these 59:55 Yogi Adityanath ordered a CBI curfew orders imposed in the Punjab's farmers in the heart- three black laws would be :665596 probe into the incident. Heavy village. Azad, who has been rais- land during the ongoing scrapped and consigned to 588 police force was deployed in the ing his voice against the inci- protests on Sunday as a part of wastepaper basket." He added, >$ %559 vicinity of the former BJP dent, marched toward the dis- his three-day tractor rally "And if farmers are happy with 665%5 MLA's house, located around trict this afternoon along with 'Kheti Bachao Yatra', minced these laws, then why are they 5 6;959$ 8-9 kilometres from the vic- his supporters but was stopped no words to blame that the agitating across the country? '( ) * " ! ::58/8 tim's village. One of the organ- about 20 km before Hathras. Narendra Modi Government Why is every farmer of Punjab +$ , , )-* ! %& "68 :5:5 isers of the meeting and The Bhim Army chief was wanted to destroy the three pil- agitating?" :59 :5) 65 Pehalvan's son Manveer Singh, later allowed to meet the fam- lars of Indian agriculture — "What was the need to farmers. If it's the case, why food to the country, you are the Congress party will not let :5?(95 however, denied that the gath- ily. “I demand ‘Y security’ for MSP, food grain procurement implement these laws amid didn't you discuss openly in the backbone of our country.