Tractor Rally Updates: Tractor rally in Rajasthan peaceful, leaders condemn violence in Delhi

The tractor rally taken out by the farmers from Shahjahanapur border in Rajasthan's Alwar district towards Delhi on Tuesday remained peaceful, the farmer leaders said while condemning the violence that erupted in the national capital.

"The violence in Delhi is quite unfortunate and we strongly criticise it," said Sanjay Madhav, spokesperson for the Rajasthan chapter of Samyukta Kisan Morcha.

However, it should not be misunderstood that the farmers wanted to belittle the country's image, he added.

At around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, the first tractor started its journey from the Shahjahanapur border by paying tribute to those farmers who lost their lives during the protest. Till 2 p.m., over 3,000 vehicles were seen on the roads which included tractors as well as jeeps and cars. All these vehicles were going towards Manesar.

After crossing the Shahajanapur border, the farmers entered Haryana where the police permitted them to continue their rally till Manesar which is 65 km from Shahjahanapur.

As per the scheduled programme, the farmers were supposed to return after hoisting their flag at a government school in Delhi. However, owing to long traffic jams on the highway, many farmers failed to reach Manesar and had to return mid-way.

Farmers from Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat took part in the rally which passed off peacefully, Madhav said.
 

Farmers' violence on R-Day a well-planned conspiracy: BJP

The BJP on Tuesday said there was a well-planned conspiracy behind the farmers' tractor parade turning violent in the national capital, leading to disturbance in the law and order situation.

According to BJP leaders, a violent demonstration was planned on the occasion of the nation's 72nd Republic Day to tarnish the image of the country, and the farmers' leaders will have to take full responsibility for this violence.

The party said the government is ready to meet the legitimate demands of the farmers, but the farmers' leaders do not want a solution.

"The police had repeatedly warned of the possibility of violence. It also appealed to the farmer leaders not to take out the tractor parade, but no one listened. Now since violence has taken place Delhi in the guise of an agitation, some farmers' leaders are just shrugging off responsibilities," Bharatiya Janata Party national spokesperson Gopal Krishna Agarwal told IANS.

"Mere condemnation (by the farmer leaders) will not work... Individuals like Rakesh Tikait and Yogendra Yadav will have to take responsibility. The violence was a part of a well-planned conspiracy," he said.

Agarwal said despite the violence earlier in the day, the Delhi Police acted with patience and restraint for which the force deserves congratulations.

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said: "Whatever has happened in the name of tractor parade at Red Fort on Republic Day is a matter of shame. The entire country is sad today. In the name of tractor parade, hoodlums tried to crush the policemen. People who insult the tricolour cannot be farmers. "

Punjabi actor summoned by NIA posts live video from Red Fort hoisting pennant

Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu, who was summoned by the National Investogation Agency (NIA) last week in connection with the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) case, was among the group of farmers who entered the Red Fort on Tuesday and hoisted flags in the 17th century monument, even as violent clashes broke out in several parts of the national capital as the tractor rally by the agitating farmers went awry.

Hundreds of farmers riding on tractors, motorcycles and cars entered into the premises of Red Fort on Tuesday afternoon with the tricolour and flags of the farmers' unions in their hands.

The farmers, who outnumbered the security forces and police personnel, soon climbed on the ramparts of the monument and hoisted their flags there.

Sidhu also did a Facebook live while hositing the pennant from the ramparts of the Red Fort. In the video, Sidhu said in Punjabi, "We have only hoisted the Nishan Sahib flag on the Red Fort while exercising our democratic right to protest."

Last week, the NIA had summoned Sidhu to appear before it in connection with its probe into the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) case it had registered on December 15 last year.

Even the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) distanced itself from Sidhu and accused him of leading the farmers to the Red fort. The SKM said that Sidhu appeared on a stage on Monday night and gave a provocative speech promoting separatism to sabotage the farmers' protest.

Known to be close to Gurdaspur MP and Bollywood actor Sunny Deol, Sidhu was the election in-charge for the BJP leader during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In December last year, Deol had distanced himself from Sidhu. Even the farmers' unions had banned Sidhu last year.

At least 83 police personnel and several farmers were injured in the violent clashes that erupted at different parts of the national capital on Tuesday.

One farmer also lost his life after the tractor he was riding overturned after hitting a barricade near the ITO intersection in the central Delhi.
 

22 injured in farmer-police clash in hospital, two cops critical

The condition of two police personnel who were admitted to Lok Nayak Hospital following clashes with some farmers near the ITO crossing in central Delhi on Tuesday has turned critical.

A doctor supervising the emergency ward told IANS: "The two police officials have sustained injuries on their heads and are currently in the trauma ward. If their health deteriorates further, we will transfer them to the intensive care unit (ICU)."

Meanwhile, the tally of injured people in the clashes at the ITO wherein some farmers deviated from the route of their tractor rally and drove into the city, has risen to 22. Of them, 11 are farmers and rest are the police officials.

However, five of them have been discharged after giving the first aid. "Three policemen and two farmers were discharged following the first aid treatment," said Dr Ritu Saxena, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Delhi government-run hospital.

Saxena had earlier told IANS that few of the admitted people have received serious injuries in the clashes.

"Some have fractured their legs, hands and also suffered blows on their heads. We are treating them in an emergency ward," she said.

Dramatic scenes were witnessed on Tuesday after the agitating farmers clashed with the Delhi Police near ITO, with the police firing the tear gas shells and carrying out baton charges to disperse them.

The farmers, who started their 'Kisan Gantantra parade' much ahead of their scheduled timing entered the national capital defying the agreement of the scheduled time of tractor rally and creating multiple fronts at Karnal Bypass, Mukarba Chowk, Transport Nagar, Akshardham, Gazipur and Tikri border and some farmers armed with swords were also seen clashing with the police.

As soon as the farmers reached the ITO intersection and tried to move towards the Red Fort, many of the farmers clashed with the police personnel and attacked them with sticks and iron rods. The farmers also damaged several vehicles with their tractors.

How the situation turned ugly at Red Fort

The farmers movement that had been peaceful for the last two months turned violent on Republic Day on Tuesday after scores of protesters deviated from the designated route for the proposed tractor rally.

After a clash between the farmers and the police at the ITO intersection where hundreds of protesters were seen chasing police personnel with sticks and ramming their tractors into the buses, they headed towards the Red Fort at around 1 p.m.

Hundreds of farmers on their tractors with flags raising 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisaan' slogans reached central Delhi from different parts of the national capital and ultimately made their way to the Red Fort after breaching all the barricades on the way.

The farmers swarmed the Red Fort at around 1.45 p.m. and waved flags from the ramparts of the 17th century monument. They even hoisted the Nishan Sahib flag on a flagpole inside the Red Fort, while some Nihangs were seen waving their swords from the dome of the historic monument.

Later the police were seen removing the flag while trying to disperse the protesters from Red Fort, resorting to lathi-charge which resulted in clashes between the two sides.

There was complete mayhem at the site as the agitators refused to budge and continued to raise slogans in support of the farmers' cause, often indulging in clashes with the police, which seemed to be outnumbered by the protesters.

At around 3.30 p.m., hundreds of protesters were seen chasing the cops with sticks and rods which left several police personnel injured. The protesters were also seen pelting stones at the police personnel besides destroying public property.

The protest went out of control for some time but later heavy deployment of the CRPF brought the situation under control to some extent. The protesters finally started to vacate the spot at around 5.15 p.m., after laying siege at the iconic monument for over two hours.

Soon after the unexpected scenes at the Red Fort, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farmers' unions protesting against the three Central farm laws, issued a statement, distancing itself from the 'violent elements'.

The farmers' union said, "We condemn and regret the undesirable and unacceptable events that have taken place today and dissociate ourselves from those indulging in such acts."

The farmers were supposed to remain in the areas adjoining the Delhi borders and not venture towards central Delhi, but they violated all the agreements and guidelines given to them.

Delhi Police caught off guard by breach of trust by protesters?

When the Delhi police entered into an agreement with the protesting farmers, little did they realise there were chances of the agreement being violated by the protesters.

When the protesters broke barricades and entered Delhi as the R-Day parade at Rajpath went on, the policemen knew that the situation would turn bad.

The appeals by the police to maintain calm and follow the designated routes were ignored as thousands of protesters soon marched towards Delhi, clashing with the men in uniform at various points. Soon, TV channels started airing visuals of the protesting farmers with heavy sticks and even swords.

The protesting farmers around afternoon on Tuesday swarmed the Red Fort during a 'tractor rally' amid police attempts to block them from proceeding towards central Delhi.

They barged into the 17th century monument, climbed up the ramparts and waved farmer union flags and banners and even hoisted a pennant.

"The farmers violated the guidelines and the agreement they entered with the police regarding the tractor rally. They not just damaged public property but also tried to run over police personnel on duty endangering their lives, we are going to take legal action against the violent protesters," said Alok Kumar, Joint CP, Delhi Police.

The police were caught off guard when the farmers opened multiple fronts at Karnal Bypass, Mukarba Chowk, Transport Nagar, Nangloi, Akshardham, Ghazipur and Tikri border.

Speeding tractors were seen on Delhi roads and one of them even met with an accident in which one farmer died at ITO.

Clashes between police and protesting farmers were witnessed at ITO as a section of farmers tried to break through the security cordon by Delhi Police in the heart of the city. More than 50 police personnel were injured in the violence.

The Delhi Police in a statement said that though it acted in a professional manner and in accordance to the guidelines agreed upon, the protesters took out the march before the designated time which led to the disturbances.

Police are now gathering inputs to identify the protesters involved in the violence.

High alert in Haryana after violence in Delhi

Terming the violence during Tuesday's tractor rally in the national capital as unacceptable, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar ordered high alert in the state.

He directed Director General of Police Manoj Yadav to ensure that law and order in the state is not disturbed at any cost. Khattar took this decision after reviewing the situation at a high-level meeting with the state's top functionaries here.

Official sources told IANS that prohibitory orders have been imposed in Faridabad district adjoining the national capital as a precautionary measure.

As per sources, the authorities have suspended internet and SMS services in three districts -- Sonipat, Jhajjar and Palwal -- till 5 pm on Wednesday in order to check the spread of misinformation.

After violent clashes with police, farmers swarm Red Fort

In unexpected developments, hundreds of protesting farmers swarmed the historic Red Fort on Tuesday as their 'Kisan Gantantra Parade' turned violent at several places in the national capital.

A large group of farmers riding tractors and motorcycles thronged the Red Fort carrying the tricolours and farmer union flags in their hands. A few youths even climbed up the flagpole on the 17th century landmark and put up a saffron-coloured pennant.

Visuals from the spot showed farmers swarming the Red Fort even as hundreds of others played a cat-and-mouse game with Delhi Police personnel near the ITO intersection in central Delhi, which witnessed chaos as security personnel were clearly outnumbered by the protesters.

Other video clips showed farmers chasing away policemen on foot as well with tractors, and trying to remove a DTC bus parked across the ITO road stretch by pushing it out of way with a tractor.

The police fired tear-gas shells and lathi-charged the protesters on multiple occasions as farmers remained adamant to move towards the Red Fort.

Later, Rapid Action Force was also deployed at the ITO intersection.

Also Read| A Timeline of how things turned violent in Delhi on R-Day

The farmers, after confrontation with police that lasted for around 40 minutes, moved towards Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, which houses the offices of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Delhi Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Gurugram police block NH-48 near NSG campus

In view of the farmers' tractor rally, the Gurugram Police erected concrete barriers and containers on both sides of the Delhi-Jaipur expressway (NH-48) near the NSG campus to stop the farmers from entering the national capital.

A number of trucks were stationed on the Delhi-Jaipur expressway between the NSG campus and Manesar Women's Polytechnic College.

Gurugram administration have also deployed huge force including Rapid Action Force, Haryana police commandos, traffic personnel along with water cannons, special purpose vehicles and fire brigade.

Convener of Gramin Kisan Mazdoor Samiti, Ranjit Singh Raju told IANS that a huge number of tractors were heading towards Gurugram from the Haryana-Rajasthan border and Masani barrage in Rewari which were lined up for around 12 kilometres.

"A huge number of farmers from Rajasthan, Haryana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Kerala have also joined the agitation. The proposed rally was also joined by some local supporters," Raju said.

Meanwhile, the truck drivers claimed that they have forcefully stopped since Monday night.

"I was heading towards Jaipur laden with industrial materials but when I reached near NSG campus on the Delhi-Jaipur expressway the police deployed here stopped me and snatched my keys. I didn't eat anything since last night," said truck driver Manpreet Singh.

Apart from this, a huge number of police personnel armed with sticks and riot gear were on the stretch to keep a vigil on the farmer's movement.

"The farmers' tractor rally has begun from Rewari. The Gurugram police are fully prepared to deal with them. The farmers' union have already claimed that the march will be peaceful but we will keep a vigil on them and nobody is allowed to disrupt the law and order situation across the district," said ACP Hitesh Yadav.

Various Delhi Metro stations shut as farmers turn rogue

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Tuesday closed the entry and exit gates of various metro stations on the yellow, green, violet and blue lines in wake of the farmers' tractor rally running amok in the heart of the national capital.

Thousands of tractors rolled into Delhi even as the 72nd Republic Day parade was underway. Vandalism was reported from ITO where the Police Headquarters are situated. Police was caught completely unaware.

The DMRC took the crucial step and tweeted: "Entry and exit gates of Samaypur Badli, Rohini Sector 18/19, Haiderpur Badli Mor, Jahangir Puri, Adarsh Nagar, Azadpur, Model Town, GTB Nagar, Vishwavidyalaya, Vidhan Sabha and Civil Lines are closed." These stations are on the yellow line.

Besides this, entry and exit gates of all stations on green line have been shuttered.

Violet line's Lal Quila metro station and Blue line's Indraprastha metro station were also shut.

Chaos and ruckus was reported from various parts of the border areas of Delhi on Tuesday as the protesters entered Delhi defying agreement of the scheduled time for the tractor rally.

Thousands of farmers marched into the national capital on foot and riding tractors, even as the paramilitary forces and Delhi Police personnel kept a wary eye on the evolving situation.

The police had to resort to tear gas shells firing and mild lathi-charge to contain the situation. However, within the hour it was the farmers running the show, with tractors menacingly running at crazy speed towards police platoons, who were forced to take cover.

Several policemen were injured as they were chased with swords.

Earlier, the Entry for the various green line stations was closed which including Brigadier Hoshiar Singh, Bahadurgarh City, Pandit Shree Ram Sharma, Tikri Border, Tikri Kalan, Ghevra, Mundka Industrial Area, Mundka,Rajdhani Park, Nangloi Railway Station and Nangloi.

Hundreds of farmers on tractors and foot have now occupied ITO. A tractor even ran over a police officer's legs. The farmers carried out a coup of sort from multiple fronts trying to make their way towards India Gate and Rajpath.

The Delhi Police has been appealing for maintaining of peace and order.

Farmers throng ITO, try to move to Rajpath amid tear-gas shells

Hundreds of farmers riding tractors thronged the ITO area in New Delhi after breaking through police barricades and faced tear-gas shells fired by police which tried to prevent them from moving towards India Gate and Rajpath in central Delhi.

Clashes between police and protesting farmers were witnessed at the ITO as a section of farmers tried to break through the security arrangements made by Delhi Police in the city heart.

Security was already beefed up at strategic locations at the Raisina Hills as farmers swarmed the ITO.

Ruckus was also reported from various border areas of Delhi as the protesters entered the national capital in violation of an agreement on the time they could take out their 'tractor rally' at the end of the official Republic Day celebrations. Chaos prevailed at the Karnal Bypass, Mukarba Chowk, Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar, Akshardham, Ghazipur, and Tikri border.

Thousands of farmers earlier in the day marched into the national capital on foot and on tractors, even as paramilitary forces and Delhi Police personnel kept a wary eye on the evolving situation.
 

Farmers open multiple fronts as violence marks tractor rally

Chaos and ruckus was reported from various parts of the border areas of Delhi on Tuesday as the protesting farmers entered the national capital defying the agreement of the scheduled time of tractor rally and creating multiple fronts at Karnal Bypass, Mukarba Chowk, Transport Nagar, Akshardham, Gazipur and Tikri border.

Thousands of farmers marched into the national capital on foot and riding tractors, even as the paramilitary forces and Delhi Police personnel kept a wary eye on the evolving situation.
 

The police had to resort to tear gas shell firing and mild lathi-charge to contain the tractor rally and the protesters who have defied the agreement with authorities and police of three states -- Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Several policemen and protesters were also injured in the tractor rally that turned violent on Tuesday.

Visuals of men riding horses were seen at the Karnal Bypass as visuals of protesters breaking barricades at Singhu, Gazipur and Mukarba Chowk emanated.
 

The Delhi Police, who had made elaborate security arrangements, were caught off guard as the protesting farmers went berserk breaking the window panes of the trucks and trolleys kept by police to restrict the movement of the farmers inside the national capital.

On Sunday, Delhi Police had allowed the tractor rally after the annual Republic Day parade.

Earlier, during the talks with the police, the protesters were told they could not disrupt the celebrations at Rajpath even as the farmers insisted their parade would be "peaceful".

However, going back on their promise, the farmers broke barricades and started the rally much before the scheduled time.
 

Police fires tear-gas shells on farmers at two places in Delhi

Delhi Police fired tear-gas shells on a section of farmers near Akshardham temple and Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar here on Tuesday as they entered Delhi ahead of their planned 'Kisan Gantantra Parade'.

The agitating farmers, comprising mostly youths, earlier broke through the barricades set up by police near Ghazipur entry point on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border and Singhu and Tikri points on Delhi-Haryana border.

AS soon as they reached near the Akshardham intersection on the Delhi-Meerut Highway, police fired tear-gas shells. The farmers then indulged in stone-pelting to break windscreens of passing trucks as well as DTC buses parked on the road to stop them from moving inside Delhi.

A similar situation prevailed at Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar as police fired tear- gas shells on farmers who moved in from the Singhu border.
 

The Delhi Police had permitted the farmers to enter Delhi once the official Republic Day parade was over.

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh have been protesting on the Delhi borders since November 26 last year to demand the repeal of three new central farm laws and ensure legal guarantee for minimum support price for their crops.

Eleven rounds of talks between the farmers and the central government have remained fruitless.

Farmers break barricades at Ghazipur, enter Delhi

In Ghaizpur, agitating young emembers from the farmer protest groups the police barricades at the Delhi-Uttar Prades border to enter the national capital, hours ahead of the their planned 'Kisan Gantantra Parade'.

Hundreds of farmers, comprising mostly the youths removed the barricades forcefully even as senior members in the groups were seen persuading them not to take matters into their hands and protest in peaceful manner.

The youths also defied the conditions put by the farmers unions as they played loud music and rode their tractors at high speed on the highway that connects Delhi with Uttar Pradesh.

Delhi Police have made adequate arrangements for the security on the occasion of the Republic Day.

In violation of an agreement with authorities on the timing of the 'Tractor Rally' to be taken out after the Republic Day parade, a section of farmers at Singhu and Tikri borders on Tuesday morning broke through barricades and entered Delhi ahead of the agreed time.

Thousands of farmers marched into the national capital on foot and while riding tractors, even as paramilitary forces and Delhi Police personnel kept a wary eye on the evolving situation.

A senior police officer said that farmers began their rally before the scheduled time between 12 pm and 5 pm once the "official" Republic Day celebrations was over.

Thousands of farmers gathered on eight points on the Delhi-Haryana and Delhi-Uttar Pradesh borders on Tuesday, ahead of the tractor march to protest the three new central agricultural laws.

The Delhi Police had on Sunday allowed the tractor rally subject to certain conditions to be followed by farmers. The protesters were told they can't disrupt the celebrations at the Rajpath even as the protesters insisted their rally would be "peaceful".

A farmer leader told IANS: "A few farmers removed the barricades at the Singhu and Tikri borders and started their march into Delhi. However, the 'official' tractor parade is yet to start."

Kisan Congress Vice Chairman Surender Solanki, who is leading a protest by farmers at the Tikri border, told IANS: "Thousands of farmers have been assembling at the Tikri border since 3 am today for the tractor parade."

"Around 6 am, we began our tractor parade with hundreds of tractors. And we also removed the barricades put at the Jharoda border."

On Monday, leaders of the protesters and Delhi Police officers had agreed to a list of guidelines to be strictly followed during the tractor rally on Republic Day.

The Delhi Police have made it clear that any deviation from the agreed set of over three dozen guidelines is seen, the permission for the tractor rally would stand cancelled. This has put the onus on the farmers to ensure peaceful conduct of their tractor rally and return to the designated spots after traversing the agreed route distance.

According to the consensus reached by the two sides, not more than 5,000 tractors and 5,000 persons would be permitted to participate in the tractor rally that is slated to start once the Republic Day celebrations in the national capital end.

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh have been protesting at several Delhi entry points since November 26 last year to demand the repeal of the three farm laws and legal guarantee on minimum support price.

The 11 rounds of talks between the central government and the protesting farmers have remained inconclusive.