advertisement
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called off Kisan Republic Day Parade with immediate effect and appealed to all participants to immediately return to their respective protest sites.
The SKM announced the movement will continue peacefully and further steps will be discussed and decided soon.
Extra paramilitary forces are likely to be deployed in the national capital, following the meeting between Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Home Secretary and Delhi Commissioner of Police, after violence broke out during Tractor Rally on 26 January.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)
The Congress in Delhi will welcome the farmers' tractor rally on 26 January, on the rally route, to pledge solidarity with the farmers demanding the repeal of the three farm laws. The Congress workers have been asked by the party to welcome the rally on various points in the capital.
The Congress said the farm laws, if implemented in the present form, will be a total sell-out of the farm sector to a few chosen corporates supporting the BJP, therefore the farmers demand repeal of the laws.
Chowdhry Anil Kumar, President of the Delhi Congress unit said, "The farmers have been protesting on the borders of Delhi for over the past 60 days, braving the bone-chilling cold weather, demanding the repeal of the anti-farmer laws, and over 100 farmers have already become martyrs to the cause, and I will personally welcome the tractor rally."
The Ghazipur police have withdrawn the orders issued by two police stations, asking petrol pumps to stop giving fuel to tractors, in view of the proposed tractor rally on 26 January as part of farmers' agitation.
The Samajwadi Party had shared a news report on Twitter that said farmers are being kept under house arrest by the UP Police in order to restrain them from participating in the rally.
Superintendent of Police, Ghazipur Om Prakash Singh, said he was shocked when he learnt about the orders issued by the in-charges of the Suhwal and Saidpur police stations and has asked ASP (rural) to probe the matter.
He also made it clear that no such restrictions have been imposed in the district.
Even as he termed their Republic Day tractor rally a testimony to the celebration of the Indian Republic and its constitutional ethos, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday appealed to the farmers to ensure that the event remains peaceful, just as their anti-farm law protests have been so far.
He urged the Centre once again to heed the troubled voice of the farming community in the true spirit of the Indian Republic.
"Peace has been the hallmark of your (farmers') democratic protests all these months, and should remain integral to your agitation in the days ahead, including the R-Day tractor rally into the national capital," said the Chief Minister, in his Republic Day eve message.
After getting the permission to organise a tractor rally in Delhi on Republic Day, the farmers' union has issued guidelines so that the parade is carried out in a peaceful manner.
The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) said: "We are going to create history. Till date, such a parade has never been carried in the country on Republic Day. We have to keep in mind that this historic parade doesn't gets maligned. The peaceful parade will mark our victory. We have to remember that we are not going to conquer Delhi, rather we are going to win the hearts of the people of the country."
As farmers from different parts of Delhi are gearing up for the tractor rally, a large number of them, along with their tractors, are seen heading towards the national capital, according to visuals by ANI.
According to ANI, protesting farmers have broken through the police barricading at the Delhi-Haryana Tikri border.
Karnataka farmer leader Kodihalli Chandrashekhar has said that the police are seizing tractors in districts around Bengaluru. Further, teams have been formed to search and seize tractors ahead of the Tractor Rally.
Farmers' Republic Day tractor rally in protest against the three farm laws has begun at Delhi's Dhansa border, according to ANI.
The tractor rally from Singhu border has left for Delhi.
DCP East Delhi told ANI that they have deployed drones for security surveillance at the Ghazipur border.
Large groups of protesting farmers participate in the tractor rally starting at the Tikri border.
The route they will be taking is: Tikri border-Nangloi-Baprola Village-Najafgarh-Jharoda border-Rohtak bypass-Asoda toll plaza.
Tractor rally from the Tikri border has entered Delhi, reported ANI.
The tractor rally from the Singhu border has reached Delhi’s Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar, according to ANI.
It will proceed towards DTU-Shahbad-SB Dairy-Darwala-Bawana T-point-Kanjawala Chowk-Kharkhoda toll plaza.
Farmers who arrived in tractors were stopped by the police in Chikkaballapur district, on the outskirts of Bengaluru.
Protesting farmers participating in a tractor rally were welcomed with flowers on their arrival near Delhi's Karnal bypass.
Farmers are carrying out a tractor rally at Ghazipur border amid high security deployment, according to ANI.
The route they will be taking: Ghazipur border-Apsra border-Hapur Road-IMS College-Lal Kuan-Ghazipur border.
Police used teargas shells on farmers at Ghazipur area, according to NBT Dilli.
Police are using tear gas and lathi-charging protesting farmers attempting to break barricades at Delhi borders, according to NDTV.
According to ANI, police used tear gas to disperse farmers on the Singhu border in Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar.
According to ANI, stating that the protesting farmers and the police were cooperating with each other in order to hold a peaceful demonstration, SS Yadav Joint Commissioner of Police at the Singh border tells ANI that “It is our request that they continue to follow the route they are currently on.”
This comes after Satnam Singh Pannu of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee had said: “We've to move towards Ring Road but the police is stopping us. We've given them 45 minutes to speak to their seniors. We're carrying out a peaceful parade. The route they are asking us to follow wasn't agreed upon.”
According to ANI, protesters were seen on top of a police vehicle, removing police barricading at Mukarba Chowk in Delhi.
A huge crowd of farmers have gathered at the Tikri border, as they begin their tractor parade, according to ANI.
Protesting farmers were seen pushing through police barricading on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway near Pandav Nagar, according to ANI.
Ghazipur protesters have now breached route, passed Akshardham and are presently at Sarai Kale Khan.
Protestors at Karnal bypass have broken police barricading to enter Delhi as farmers tractor rally is underway in the national capital, according to ANI.
Farmers chant ‘Jo Bole So Nihal’ as they march towards the Karnal Bypass.
Punjabi singer Kanwar Grewal and lyricist Harf Cheema are present at the tractor rally.
Protests took place at Cuddalore, Kovai, Salem and members of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) were detained by the police for protesting without permission.
Protesting farmers from Ghazipur crossed over dividers on their tractors in order to reach ITO.
The tractor rally from Ghazipur was heading from Indraprastha to Rajghat, but owing to police barricading, the tractors had to attempt crossing over dividers and get to the other side of the road.
According to ANI, the protesting farmers also broke police barricades and vandalised a DTC bus in ITO.
According to media reports, there was also a clash between protesting farmers and the police, with the police lathi-charging, and using tear gas on the protesters.
According to PTI, Delhi Police resorted to lathicharge at Chintamani Chowk in Shahdara near Ghazipur border.
Rakesh Tikait, Spokesperson, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), on being asked about incidents of violence at some locations, told ANI:
“Rally is going on peacefully. I don't have any knowledge of it. We are at Ghazipur and are releasing the traffic here.”
Police is using tear gas shells to disperse the protesting farmers at ITO in Central Delhi, according to ANI.
Entry and exit gates of Indraprastha metro station along with those on the Green Line have been closed, reported ANI, citing DMRC. Other stations that have been shut down include Samaypur Badli, Rohini Sector 18/19, Haiderpur Badli Mor, Jahangir Puri, Adarsh Nagar, Azadpur, Model Town, GTB Nagar, Vishwavidyalaya, Vidhan Sabha and Civil Lines.
A Delhi Police personnel was rescued by protesters, even as another group demonstrators attempted to assault him at ITO in central Delhi, according to ANI.
Delhi Police personnel sit on road in Nangloi in order to block the area from farmers holding tractor parade have reached, according to ANI.
In Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore, farmers were seen carrying sickles and vegetables while staging a protest against the Centre's farm laws. Condemning Home Minister Amit Shah's actions, protesters raised slongans of "Don't affect the farmers who make the food for the country."
ITO turned into a battleground with the police using tear gas on protesters and were seen lathi-charging farmers amid clashes. Visuals of retaliation by protesters have also emerged.
While the police shells tear gas on the protesting farmers and lathi-charges them in ITO, some among the latter are retaliating by driving their tractors in an extremely fast pace towards the police. The situation in the area is tense, and visuals are often clouded by thick plumes of tear gas.
Protesting farmers from Ghazipur border have reached the Red Fort on their tractors. This is in deviation from pre-designated routes for parade.
A man died near the ITO metro station, after his tractor toppled. The incident took place outside Andhra Educational Society.
The man was driving on the road that leads to the BJP headquarters, when his tractor toppled.
The Delhi Police, according to PTI, appealed to the protesting farmers, urging them to not take law in their hands and maintain peace as clashes between the force and protesting farmers broke out at several places in the national capital.
The police also asked the farmers to head back to their pre-decided routes for the tractor rally.
"We request the protesting farmers to not take law in their hands and maintain peace," Additional PRO Anil Mittal said.
In a deviation from pre-designated routes for the rally, farmers from the Ghazipur border have reached Red Fort on their tractors.
Protests are underway in Bengaluru, with demonstrators being joined by members of the Kisan Ekta Morcha.
The police fired tear gas shells on protesting farmers in Nangloi area, according to ANI.
BKU’s Rakesh Tikait, according to ANI, has said they have identified people creating disturbance as those belonging to political parties.
The Delhi Traffic Police have asked people to avoid NH 44, GTK road, Outer Ring Road, Signature Bridge, GT road, ISBT ring road, Vikas Marg, ITO, NH 24, Nizammudin Khatta, Noida link road, Peeragarhi and Outer Delhi, East and West Delhi border areas due to ongoing farmer protests.
CPI Farmers’ Association President Palanisamy questioned why political parties in Tamil Nadu refused to stand up for farmers, amid widespread protests in national capital.
Entry/exit gates of all stations on Grey Line are closed amid farmers’ protest, announced Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
Amid farmers' Tractor Rally, the Ministry of Home Affairs temporarily suspended internet in Singhu border, Ghazipur border, Tikri border, Mukarba Chowk, Nangloi and adjoining areas from 12:00 hours to 23:59 hours on Tuesday, 26 January.
In an order, the government has cited “maintaining public safety and averting public emergency” as the reasons for suspending internet.
Entry/exit gates of Jama Masjid metro station, Dilshad Garden, Jhilmil and Mansarovar Park are closed, said Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), amid farmers’ protests.
Two police officers – Additional DCP East Manjeet and a probationer IPS Officer — were injured as they tried to stop the farmers from breaking barricades, said the Delhi Police.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha thanked farmers for unprecedented participation in the Tractor Rally, but also condemned the “unacceptable events” that took place.
“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,” said the Samyukta Kisan Morcha.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah takes stock of law and order situation in Delhi from senior Home Ministry officials, sources told news agency ANI.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said that they “strongly condemned” violence in today’s protest and blamed the Centre for allowing the situation to deteriorate.
"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 AAP said, in a statement.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh condemned the violence during Tractor Rally today and said that it will negate the goodwill generated by protesting farmers.
“Shocking scenes in Delhi. Violence by some elements is unacceptable. It'll negate goodwill generated by peacefully protesting farmers. Kisan leaders have disassociated themselves & suspended Tractor Rally. I urge all genuine farmers to vacate Delhi & return to borders,” the Punjab CM said.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced that normal services have begun in the grey line.
Entry/exit has been permitted through one gate in the following stations — Samaypur Badli, Rohini Sector 18/19, Haiderpur Badli Mor, Jahangir Puri, Adarsh Nagar, Azadpur, Model Town, GTB Nagar, Vishwavidyalaya, Vidhan Sabha and Civil Lines.
Delhi Police Spokesperson Eish Singhal claimed that protesters turned violent and many cops were injured.
Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava told news agency ANI that farmers drove tractors in different routes and before fixed time, which he claimed led to vandalism.
“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,” Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava to ANI
“Legal action will definitely be taken against those who assaulted the police personnel during the farmers' tractor rally today,” added Alok Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police.
Those passengers who missed their trains from any Delhi area stations due to violence amid Tractor Rally can apply for full refund of all the trains departing from all stations of Delhi area up to 21:00 hrs today through TDR and e TDR for e-tickets, the Indian Railways has announced.
Extra paramilitary forces are likely to be deployed in the national capital, following the meeting between Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Home Secretary and Delhi Commissioner of Police, after violence broke out during Tractor Rally on 26 January.
“Additional companies of Paramilitary Forces are likely to be deployed in Delhi. These would be over and above 15 companies which were sent yesterday,” government sources said.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called off Kisan Republic Day Parade with immediate effect and appealed to all participants to immediately return to their respective protest sites.
The SKM announced the movement will continue peacefully and further steps will be discussed and decided soon.
Internet and SMS services to remain suspended in Sonipat, Palwal, and Jhajjar districts of Haryana till 5 pm tomorrow to check misinformation, announced Haryana government on 26 January.
The US Embassy in India advised government personnel to avoid areas affected due to clashes between protesting farmers and Delhi Police.
“Media outlets are reporting clashes between New Delhi Police and protesting farmers in parts of Delhi. US government personnel have been advised to avoid these areas, stay at home, and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large groups, protests, or demonstrations,” US Embassy in India.
At least 83 Police personnel were injured after being attacked by agitating farmers in Delhi today, the Delhi Police claimed after violence broke out during Tractor Rally.
Four cases have been registered in connection with the vandalism in East Delhi during the farmers' tractor rally, said Delhi Police (Eastern Range), reported ANI.
Eight buses and 17 private vehicles were vandalized, the cops added.
DCP (North) Anto Alphonse said that 300 artists, including children, who were stranded in Red Fort due to Tractor Rally were rescued by Delhi Police.
“There were around 300 artists including children at the Red Fort. As the situation developed, we provided them with food and shifted them to a safe place, Daryaganj Mess,” he said.