The farmers’ tractor rally on Republic Day in New Delhi that was meant to be peaceful and a platform to express their demands, took a violent turn as a section of protesters broke through police barricades and entered parts of the national capital not permitted for their protest. The path taken by this section reportedly deviated from the route that farmers’ unions had agreed upon in their talks with the Delhi Police.
Soon, there were clashes between the protesters and cops, during which several people were injured and vehicles overturned.
The police resorted to lathicharge and fired teargas shells to disperse the protestors, but to little avail.
Protesting farmers trying to remove a police barricade near the red Fort on Tuesday
The protestors continued breaking through police barricades and several of them stormed into the Red Fort, waved and hoisted their flags from its ramparts.
The leading farmers’ unions have condemned the violence and dissociated themselves from those involved in it.
India is celebrating its 72nd Republic Day on Tuesday. In this image, cadets are seen marching along Rajpath during the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi on January 26,
Haryana farmers welcome farmers of Punjab moving towards Delhi to take part in the Republic Day tractor rally.
The national capital is set to witness a massive tractor rally led by farmers on Republic Day on Tuesday. The farmers’ union has reached an agreement with the Delhi Police to carry out the tractor march peacefully on Republic Day.
The rally will be held from Delhi’s three border points — Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur — and adequate security will be provided to it, police said. Hundreds of farmers from western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh will arrive in the tractor parade.
Tractor rally to be 250 kilometers long As per officials, the rally at Ghazipur border will be about 50 kilometers long, 100 kilometers long at Singhu border and 125 kilometers long at the Tikri border. In total, the tractor rally will be 250 kilometers long.
Dharmendra Malik, national media in-charge of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), says that in addition to the border areas, farmers across India will also carry out the rally in their respective districts.
“Two and a half million tractors are arriving in Delhi. The large number of tractors is a response to some leaders who said that only 60 thousand tractors took part in the rehearsal rally on January 6 whereas there are about 40 lakh registered tractors in the country. Hence, in this rally, farmers will show their strength to the government,” he said,
So far there are no reports of celebrities joining the tractor rally. Each tractor will carry a tricolour and there will be folk music and patriotic songs.
“The tractor rally at Ghazipur will go up till Akshardham Temple and return back. The speed limit has been fixed at 10 kilometers per hour. No outsider will participate in the parade, only the registered tractors will be allowed,” said BKU chief Rakesh Tikait.
Farmer unions beef up security A private agency has been roped by the farmers in to keep security arrangements in check during the tractor rally. The number of volunteers has been increased from about 150 to 500. The number of CCTV cameras is also being increased from 8 to about 20. They will be deployed at different posts.
A war room has been set up at each protest site to ensure effective coordination during the parade. There will be 40 members, including doctors, security personnel and social media managers, in each of these rooms, the SKM member said.
Around 40 ambulances will be stationed along the route to attend to any medical emergency, reported PTI.
Another farmer leader said around 3,000 volunteers have been deployed to ensure that the parade remains peaceful and no untoward incident takes place. The volunteers have been given badges and identity cards.
A team of ex-servicemen participating in the protest will also keep an eye on the security situation. A team of mechanics has also been created to repair tractors if the need arises, reported PTI.
R-Day tableaux to depict farmers’ protest
The Republic Day tractor parade by agitating farmers will feature a number of tableaux from across states depicting village life, the protest against the Centre’s contentious farm laws, and hailing their courage, according to organisers.
“The rally will start at 11 am after an ‘ardas’ (prayer),” said Jitendra Singh Jitu, spokesperson for farmers.
Farmer unions issue instructions
“Never before in history have the people of this Republic been part of a parade of this nature on the Republic Day. Through this parade, we have to tell the country and the world about our plight. We have to bring forth the truth about the three Anti-Farmer Laws. We’ve to take care that this historical parade is not stained at any cost,” said an official statement from Sanyukt Kisaan Morcha (SKM).
SKM has come up with some unanimously agreed instructions for the parade and has also issued helpline number 7428384230.
Preparations before the parade by SKM
Trolleys will not be allowed in the parade. Only Tractors and other vehicles will be allowed. Trolleys with special tableaux may be exempted.
Pack 24 hours of ration and water with you. Make sure you have proper arrangements for protection from cold. It might be required if you are stuck in a traffic jam.
Sanyukt Kisan Morcha appeals that every tractor or cart should be fitted with the flag of the farmers’ organizations as well as the national flag. There will be no flag of any political party.
Do not carry any weapon with you, not even sticks or Do not use banners with any provocative or negative slogans.
If you wish to inform of your participation in the parade, give a missed call on 8448385556.
Instructions to be followed during the Parade (issued by SKM):
The parade will be led by cars with farmer leaders. NO car/tractor shall overtake that car. Please follow the directions of our volunteers dressed in green jackets.
The route for the parade has been pre-decided and marked. Police and traffic volunteers will guide you. Any car/tractor found deviating from the route will be acted against.
SKM has decided that if any car/tractor halts/occupies an area without any reason, that car/tractor will be removed by volunteers. All the cars/tractor in the parade will return to the starting point after completing the parade.
A maximum of 5 people including the driver can ride on one tractor. No one will ride on the bonnet, bumper or roof of tractors.
All tractors must proceed in a line and there will be no overtaking throughout the Parade. Please don’t overtake the vehicles of farmer leaders leading the parade.
Please don’t play music in the tractor. This will ensure that all announcements are heard by everyone in the parade without any hindrance.
Use of any drugs before or during the parade is prohibited. Any one found in possession/consuming drugs will be reported to the traffic volunteer.
Please remember that our intent is to gracefully carry out the Parade and win hearts of our fellow citizens. The policemen are also part of us, we must not indulge in any quarrels. Representatives of all news channels must be respected.
Please do not pollute the surroundings by throwing garbage on roads. You are kindly advised to carry a bag for disposal of waste.
Guidelines for emergency (issued by SKM)
Ignore any rumors. If you want to check something or verify something, then have a look on the Facebook Page of Kisan Ekta Morcha to verify the truth.
Ambulances will be in the vicinity of the parade. Arrangements have been made with hospitals. If there is a medical emergency, call the helpline number or tell the nearest volunteer.
In case of any issue with the tractor or the car, place it on the side and contact Volunteer or call the helpline.
Helpline number of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha will be open for 24 hours for this parade. If you have any question or want to inform something, please call immediately.
If there is any unfortunate incident, then you can report it to the police control room at number 112.
Delhi Police on alert “We have five-six long discussions with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and told them about our security arrangements. We repeatedly said that there should be no disturbance as this [Republic Day Parade] is an event of national pride,” Special Commissioner of Police (Intelligence), Delhi Police, Dependra Pathak said.
“We have reached an agreement that the farmers’ rally take place peacefully and with rules in place. Barricades will be removed from Tikri border and a route of 52-63 km will be opened, a route of another 60 km will be cleared from Singhu border and a route of 46 km will be opened from Ghazipur border,” Special CP Dependra Pathak told media outlets on Sunday. The parade will cover more than 100 km inside Delhi’s borders.
Haryana officials issue advisories Authorities in Haryana have also issued advisories against unnecessary travel towards Delhi over the next couple of days, reported PTI.
The Haryana Police said there would be disruptions in vehicular movement on the national highway from Karnal and Rohtak towards Delhi during January 25-27.
“Traffic on KMP-KGP expressway will also be impacted and interchanges at Kundli, Assaudha and Badli will not be accessible to traffic movement on these dates,” a police advisory said.
“Therefore, all commuters are being advised not to use these routes on these dates to avoid any inconvenience,” it added
Route, timings of Jan 26 tractor parade According to the Delhi Police, the first route will begin from Singhu border and will move from Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar to Bawana. Similarly, the second route will pass through Nangloi-Najafgarh and Jharoda after originating from Tikri border. The third route will lead to Apsara border and Hapur after starting from Ghazipur. All of these processions will converge at Kundli Manesar Palwal Expressway (KMP).
“Three routes, originating from Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur border points, have been finalized for the march,” Gurbachan Singh Chabba, spokesperson of the Kisan Sangarsh Committee said.
Those starting from the Singhu border will traverse Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar, Bawana, Qutabgarh, Auchandi border and Kharkhoda toll plaza. The entire route will be 63 kilometers long.
The 62-km long second route, starting from the Tikri border, will pass through Nagloi, Najafgarh, Jharoda border and Rohtak bypass and Asoda toll plaza, the farmer leaders said.
Tractors starting from Ghazipur will drive through Apsara border, Hapur road and Lal Kuan. Covering 68 kilometers, it is the longest route for the march.
The farmer leaders will be at the front in their cars.
‘Pakistan-based Twitter handles’ The Delhi Police also said that it received inputs between January 13 and January 18 about efforts underway to create disturbance during the tractor rally on January 26.
“Timings, arrangements and safety of the rally are important. As many as 308 Twitter handles originating from Pakistan are conspiring to create trouble during the rally,” Delhi Police said.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, the Special CP Dependra Pathak went on to add, “Pakistan-based terror outfits have their eyes on the tractor rally. All security arrangements will be made.”
Tractor rally in Mumbai Thousands of farmers from across Maharashtra reached Mumbai on Sunday evening to participate in a rally at the state capital on Monday against the Centre”s three new farm laws.
Police have stepped up security at Azad Maidan, the rally”s venue in south Mumbai, and personnel of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) have also been deployed there. Drones will also be used to keep an eye on the event, a police official said.
