Farmers removed, Red Fort locked; Amit Shah to review situation

A section of farmers protesting against the Centre’s new farm laws have reached central Delhi after pulling down security barricades, right after the Rajpath witnessed a majestic display of India’s military might on the occasion of 72nd Republic Day.

Several of them were seen at Red Fort and a clash broke out between them and police at ITO when they tried to march towards Lutyen’s Delhi, despite being denied permission for it. At several places including ITO, Chintamani Chowk, Nangloi Chowk and Mukarba Chowk, police used tear gas shells and lathicharge against them.

Despite having allowed the farmers to hold their tractor parade, police were prompted to use force against them because of a sudden change in the parade route. The farmers had also started their march much before the allotted timing of 12 PM-5 PM.

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The police fired at least 95 teargas shells at Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar. Water cannons were also used to disperse the protesters. Some farmers riding horses waved swords at the police. Police said this route was not approved for the march. Chaos prevailed at Tikri and Singhu borders as huge mobs were seen marching with flags, many of them on tractors.

Also read: Farmers R-Day tractor parade: Tableaux to depict protest against agri laws

Earlier, the police used tear gas shells on farmers coming along Delhi-Karnal Highway from Ghazipur. Dumpers were being used to stop the farmers and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee leaders from proceeding towards Delhi. They breached the barricades installed at the Singhu border and were removing containers and buses used to block the road.

SS Yadav, joint commissioner of police, said: “The farmers have cooperated with us and we want to cooperate as well. We request that they follow the pre-decided route.”

The Delhi police have allowed ‘tractor parade’ of farmers protesting against the three farm laws from noon to 5 pm and farmer unions issued detailed instructions on Monday (January 25) for the participating farmers about conducting the rally. The representatives of several unions were seen asking the farmers swarming around police barricades to maintain calm.

On the eve of the ‘tractor parade,’ farmer unions hardened their position, calling for a march to Parliament on February 1 to coincide with the Union Budget day.

The two sides have held 11 rounds of talks without reaching an agreement. The Agriculture Ministry in its previous round of talks told the farmers protesting against the three farm laws that its offer of suspending the laws’ implementation for a year-and-a-half was “the best it had” and that the farmers should drop the demand for repealing the laws.

“The farmers who have arrived for the rally parade will not return and will join the protest march to Parliament on February 1. The agitation will continue till our demands are met,” said Darshan Pal, president of the Krantikari Kisan Union. He was joined by Samyukta Kisan Morcha leader Kavitha Kuruganti.

Also read: Not all quiet on western UP front for BJP due to farmers’ stir

Delhi police have warned against elements who are suspected to create a law-and-order situation. “Over 300 Twitter handles were generated from Pakistan during January 13 to 18 to disrupt the tractor rally by farmers by misleading people,” a senior police officer said.

Following police clearance, around 3.50 lakh tractors reached Singhu and Tikri borders from Punjab and Haryana, farmer leaders said. The farmer unions have deployed around 3,000 volunteers to maintain discipline during the parade.