March to Delhi to save Yamuna called off

The Yamuna Muktikaran Padyatra was till yesterday facing a crisis with several activists and participants pulling out of the agitation. On Thursday, they celebrated an announcement which till yesterday they considered a betrayal. At 10.30 p m Wednesday night, the Union minister for water resources, Harish Rawat, met the protesters camping at Ali Gaon on the outskirts of Delhi and promised the release of additional water into the river.

Sadhus and farmers march to Delhi to liberate Yamuna from pollution

Holy men gathered for Kumbh festivities in Allahabad last month had expressed grave concern over pollution in the Ganga and the Yamuna. Some of them living in the holy cities of Mathura and Vrindavan have now marched to Delhi along with thousands of farmers and others living in towns and villages along the river, demanding that Delhi clean up its act. Those taking part in the Yamuna Muktikaran Padayatra are currently camped at the outskirts of Delhi.

Government hikes minimum support price of paddy by 16 per cent

Budget: Thumbs down from farmers and GM industry

Though Pranab Mukherjee in his budget has pumped in money in agriculture more than last year, it has failed to make farmers happy. The Union finance minister increased the plan outlay for the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation from Rs 17,123 crore in 2011-12 to Rs 20,208 crore in 2012-13.

Protesting villages under siege

Three days after violent clashes broke out between police personnel and farmers in Bhatta and Parsol villages in Greater Noida near Delhi, the residents of the villages were under virtual house arrest. The two adjoining villages in Gautam Budh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh was cordoned off by police personnel of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and the Rapid Action Force (RAF); media-persons were not allowed to enter the villages. Three fire-tenders lined the entrance of the villages. One tender was being used to douse flames in a charred building.