Even as India celebrated its 72nd Republic Day, tens of thousands of farmers atop tractors broke barriers, clashed with police, and entered the national capital to lay siege to the Red Fort and unfurled flags on Republic Day on Tuesday.
The national capital witnessed violent scenes as police fired tear gases and lathi charge. While one protestor lost his life, over 80 police personnel suffered injuries.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha distanced itself from the violent elements and stated that their otherwise peaceful movement was disrupted by anti-socials.
The Delhi Police, later in the evening, said that the protesting farmers violated the conditions finalised for the tractor rally leading to extensive damage to public property.
Neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab have stepped up vigil and issued a high alert.
The tractor rally comes after two whole months of relentless protests by farmers who want the central government's contentious farm laws to be scrapped.
'Saddened by what has happened in Red Fort today. I have already cleared on Twitter earlier that me and my family have no connections with Deep Sindhu,' the BJP M wrote on twitter.
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— Sunny Deol (@iamsunnydeol) January 26, 2021
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"Those who resorted to vandalism in the capital are not farmers but they are enemies; this incident is the part of a conspiracy. We have learned a lesson from this hooliganism and will ensure in the future that no such anti-social element enters into the movement. We will run it in a peaceful manner," said All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) General Secretary Hannan Mollah.
(READ FULL REPORT HERE)
"The entire Haryana cabinet, through its special meeting, humbly appeals to all farmers of this agitation to return to their homes. The strong need of the hour this time is that together we defeat the designs of the anti-social elements," Chief Minister M L Khattar said.
(READ ARTICLE HERE)
Karnataka: Congress workers lodge a complaint against state minister BC Patil at High Grounds Police Station in Bengaluru for allegedly calling agitating farmers in Delhi as terrorists. https://t.co/lLyj2NviHS pic.twitter.com/1i34VCvsef
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2021
The decision to deploy additional paramilitary personnel was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava among others.
(READ FULL REPORT HERE)
(Photo | PTI)
Mobile internet services were suspended in three Haryana districts of Sonipat, Jhajjar and Palwal until 5.00 pm Wednesday, the state government said Tuesday evening, as violent protests by farmers rocked neighbouring Delhi.
(READ FULL REPORT HERE)
Traffic Alert
— Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) January 26, 2021
Traffic movement is now normal from Shastri Park to ISBT, Mukarba Chowk to Singhu Border, Loni Border, Chintamani Chowk, Barapulah & DND.
(Inputs from ANI)
Media outlets are reporting clashes between New Delhi Police & protesting farmers in parts of Delhi. US govt personnel have been advised to avoid these areas, stay at home, & exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large groups, protests, or demonstrations: US Embassy in India
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2021
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also shared a video in which a protestor is purportedly seen throwing away a national flag handed to him from the crowd as he climbs a pole to hoist a different flag.
(READ FULL REPORT HERE)
JUST IN | After violence in parts of Delhi, internet services suspended in Sonipat, Jhajjar and Palwal in Haryana until 5.00 pm of January 27: Officials confirm
"Violence impacts any kind of protest in a wrong way. I cannot say at the moment who did it and who did not, but prima facie it looks like it has been done by the people that we kept out of the farmers' protest," Yadav said.
(READ FULL REPORT HERE)
Describing as "most unfortunate" the incident of a protesting farmer hoisting a flag at the Red Fort, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said he supported the farmers' protests from the start but cannot condone "lawlessness".
(READ FULL REPORT HERE)
Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called off Kisan Republic Day Parade with immediate effect &appealed to all participants to immediately return to their respective protest sites. SKM announced the movement will continue peacefully& further steps will be discussed & decided soon:SKM
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2021
"We strongly condemn the violence seen in today's protest. It is regrettable that the Central government allowed the situation to deteriorate to such an extent. The movement has been peaceful for the last two months. Farmer leaders have said that those who indulged in violence today were not part of the movement and were external elements. Whoever they were, the violence has certainly weakened the movement which was going on so peacefully and in a disciplined manner," the Aam Aadmi Party statement said.
Thousands of #Farmers from across Karnataka entered Bengaluru & took a rally from KSR Railway Station to Freedom Park, in support of the #FarmersProtest in Delhi. #TractorRally
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) January 26, 2021
Express Photo | @MeghanaSastry @XpressBengaluru @santwana99 pic.twitter.com/MUhMsCulvS
In view of the violent incidents in several areas during the ‘Farmers Tractor March’ in Delhi on Republic Day, Director General of Police of Haryana, Manoj Yadava issued a ‘high alert’ directing all district police chiefs to be extremely vigilant: Haryana Police
BREAKING | Amid reports of several policemen being injured during the #TractorRally by #Farmers, Delhi Police orders #lockdown in #Delhi till 31st January. #FarmersProtest https://t.co/ViewvlUbIu
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) January 26, 2021
Additional companies of Paramilitary Forces are likely to be deployed in Delhi. These would be over and above 15 companies which were sent yesterday. Five companies were on standby today: Govt sources
Passengers who are not able to reach stations & catch trains in Delhi area stations due to Kisan agitation are requested to apply for full refund of all trains departing from all stations of Delhi area upto 2100 hrs today through TDR & e-TDR for e-tickets: CPRO, Northern Railway
The time and the routes for the tractor rally were finalised after several rounds of meetings. But farmers drove tractors off the routes and before the fixed time, leading to vandalism in which many police personnel were injured. Public properties have also been damaged. I appeal to the protesting farmers not to indulge in violence, maintain peace and return through the designated routes: Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava
#WATCH | Farmers break police barricades at Peeragarhi Chowk and move towards Punjab Bagh in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/H2VqOKTaqh
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2021
Karnataka agriculture minister BC Patil charged that Congress and Pak-supported terrorists in the guise of farmers were behind the incident of storming into Red Fort in New Delhi. He was speaking after unfurling the national flag to mark 72nd Republic Day celebrations.
It’s not jawan against kisan. It’s not RW vs LW. It’s Indian against Indian. It’s you, me, all of us battling those who spurn #InclusiveIndia. On TV, on the streets, everywhere. On a day we shouldn't have witnessed what we had to, let’s remember: United we stand, divided we fall.
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 26, 2021
Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh held protest in a disciplined manner but govt didn't take them seriously. As restraint ended, the tractor march was taken out. Centre's responsibility was to keep law & order in control but they failed. Nobody will support whatever happened today but the reason behind it cannot be ignored either. Those sitting calmly grew angry, the Centre didn't fulfill its responsibility. Govt should act maturely & take the right decision: NCP Chief Sharad Pawar
Shocking scenes in Delhi. The violence by some elements is unacceptable. It'll negate goodwill generated by peacefully protesting farmers. Kisan leaders have disassociated themselves & suspended #TractorRally. I urge all genuine farmers to vacate Delhi & return to borders.
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) January 26, 2021
#tractorParade
— Subash_TNIE (@S27chandr1_TNIE) January 26, 2021
Farmers organisations on Tuesday took part in the #TractorMarch in Davangere to express solidarity with the farmers who are against new farm laws at #Davangere.@santwana99 @ramupatil_TNIE @XpressBengaluru @NewIndianXpress @bcpatilkourava @CMofKarnataka pic.twitter.com/HGky0yvV5C
“We strongly condemn the violence seen in today's protest. It is regrettable that the Central govt allowed the situation to deteriorate to such an extent” says @AamAadmiParty in a statement issued on the #FarmersProtest @NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard
— siddhanta mishra (@siddmh_TNIE) January 26, 2021
Union Home Minister Amit Shah takes stock of law and order situation in Delhi from senior Home Ministry officials: Sources
Scenes from #RedFort.
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) January 26, 2021
Express video | @parveennegi1.#FarmersProtest #FarmersProtests pic.twitter.com/jmPLSilGqA
Thousands of farmers, who had arrived in Mumbai from parts of Maharashtra to protest against Centre's farm laws, left for their homes after elderly woman protester hoisted national flag at Azad Maidan: AIKS
#Farmers from all parts of #Karnataka rally from KSR railway station to Freedom Park.@NewIndianXpress @XpressBengaluru @santwana99 @shibasahu2012 @vinodkumart5 #FarmersProtest #FarmersTractorRally pic.twitter.com/15mkZPcXQr
— Meghana Sastry (@MeghanaSastry) January 26, 2021
Tear gassing & lathicharging Kisans is unacceptable. Why, after the Delhi Police & Samyukt Kisan Morcha agreement? Why is the government provoking a confrontation. They must allow the peaceful, agreed tractor parade to continue.
Khalsa flags inside #RedFort. #FarmersProtest #TractorParade pic.twitter.com/PepgkkRz3d
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) January 26, 2021
Internet services temporarily suspended in the areas of Singhu, Ghazipur, Tikri, Mukarba Chowk, Nangloi and their adjoining areas till 23:59 hrs on January 26: Ministry of Home Affairs
We thank farmers for the unprecedented participation in today's Farmers Republic Day Parade. We also condemn and regret the undesirable and unacceptable events that have taken place today and dissociate ourselves from those indulging in such acts. Despite all our efforts, some orgs & individuals violated route & indulged in condemnable acts. Anti-social elements had infiltrated the otherwise peaceful movement. We've always held that peace is our biggest strength& any violation would hurt the movement: Samyukta Kisan Morcha
Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, Prahlad Patel on Tuesday condemned the actions of a section of farmers who entered the Red Fort as part of their tractor rally and said it violated the symbol of dignity of India's democracy.
In the morning at Ghazipur border, two police officers - Additional DCP East Manjeet and a probationer IPS Officer — received injuries as they tried to stop the farmers from breaking the barricades: Delhi Police
Police remove protesting farmers from Red Fort premises, resort to mild lathicharge
Internet services snapped in some parts of Delhi-NCR in view of the prevailing law and order situation.
Tear gas fired at Nangloi near Tikri border.
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) January 26, 2021
Express video. #FarmersProtests #KisanParade pic.twitter.com/B4U0PUVAmk
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— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 26, 2021
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Since morning we had been appealing to farmers to go by pre-approved route but some of them broke police barricades, attacked police personnel. Appeal to farmer unions to help maintain peace. This isn't a peaceful protest on Republic Day: Shalini Singh, Jt CP, in Nangloi, Delhi pic.twitter.com/zVIw2CaQGB
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2021
We know the people who are trying to create disturbance, they are identified. There are people from political parties who are trying to malign the agitation: Rakesh Tikait of Bharat Kisan Union when asked that there are allegations that protests have gone out of the hands of farmer leaders
One farmer dead during #FarmersProtest at ITO in New Delhi.
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) January 26, 2021
Express photo | @Shekharyadav02.#KisanTractorRally pic.twitter.com/byHtiOkAPN
The Delhi Police on Tuesday appealed to the protesting farmers to not take law in their hands and maintain peace as clashes between the force and protesting farmers broke out at a number of places in the national capital, PTI reported. The police also asked the farmers to head back to their pre-decided routes for the tractor parade. "We request to the protesting farmers to not take law in their hands and maintain peace," Additional PRO Anil Mittal said.
#WATCH Protestors enter Red Fort in Delhi, wave flags from the ramparts of the fort pic.twitter.com/4dgvG1iHZo
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2021
"The insensitive policies of the Modi government have created an unprecedented atmosphere in the country where our farmers are forced to take out a tractor parade on Republic Day to protest against the new agricultural laws," Gehlot said in a tweet.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday said a peaceful conduct of the proposed tractor parade in Delhi will be the "harbinger of a huge victory for our farmers". He said he was confident that the tractor parade by farmers in the national capital on Tuesday will be a totally peaceful event. "Peace is the top priority for everyone and the participants in the farmers' struggle so far have demonstrated an unprecedented and commendable discipline. This has made this movement one of the most unique democratic events in recent history," Badal said in a statement issued here.
The entry and exit gates of more than 10 metro stations in central and north Delhi were temporarily closed on Tuesday following clashes between police and protesting farmers at a number of places in the national capital. Police used tear gas on groups of farmers and resorted to baton charge as protestors broke past barricades at different border points and did not take the pre-decided routes for their tractor parade in the national capital.
