PROTESTING FARMERS BREACH RED FORT
Farmers deviate from rally route; cops fire tear gas shells; one farmer dies and hundreds of protesters injured
India’s 72nd Republic Day was scarred by violence that erupted on the streets of Delhi as a large section of the protesting farmers who were participating in the tractor rally deviated from the agreed route, broke barricades, clashed with the police and stormed the historic Red Fort where they hoisted the Sikh flag, “Nishan Sahib”.
The national flag, which is a permanent fixture on the 17th century landmark, was not touched.
The police responded with firing teargas shells and lathicharge, resulting in injuries to hundreds of protesters. About 83 police personnel also suffered injuries.
One farmer lost his life after his speeding tractor hit a barricade near ITO in central Delhi. The protesters, however, alleged that the 25-year-old victim was shot dead by the police. They wrapped his body in a tricolour and kept it near the ITO flyover. After several hours, the body of the victim, identified as a resident of Uttar Pradesh, was sent for autopsy.
Eight buses and 17 private vehicles were also damaged in the clashes.
The large-scale violence, which took place mainly around ITO, Red Fort and Nangloi, forced the government to order temporary suspension of telecom services in border areas of Delhi from 12 noon to 11.59 pm. About a dozen-odd metro stations were also shut. All the entry points leading to central Delhi were sealed.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella organisation of protesting farmers’ unions, distanced itself from “violent elements” who, it said, had infiltrated the otherwise peaceful movement.
The violence and chaos in some areas overshadowed the peaceful tractor rally that passed through other parts of Delhi. In some areas there were heartwarming, never-seen-before moments as thousands of people who had gathered by the roads and were perched on rooftops and balconies to watch the tractor parade showered flower petals, offered food and water and greeted farmers with supportive slogans and cheers. Many bystanders termed the farmers as their brothers and guests who were fighting for their rights.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has been supporting the farmers’ agitation, condemned the violence and blamed the Central government for “allowing” Delhi’s law and order situation to deteriorate from bad to worse. In a statement, the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP said the violence has weakened the farmers’ protest.
Crowds began swelling at Delhi borders at around 8 am. Chants of “Kisan kanoon wapas lo” (Take back the farm laws) rent the air at borders where some tractors were playing patriotic songs such as, Aisa desh hai mera and Sare jahan se achcha.
The protesters were expected to start their tractor rally at noon to avoid interfering with morning Republic Day celebrations in central Delhi. The tricolour and flags of different farmers unions fluttered as marches began from Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur border points, much ahead of the time decided for the tractor parade.