Farmers’ tractor rally Live Updates: One person killed at protests in ITO; farmers enter Red Fort
Farmers’ Protest Live Updates: Groups of protesting farmers, meanwhile, reached Red Fort after breaching police barricades, attacking personnel and even vandalising a bus at ITO. One person was killed at protests in ITO after his tractor turned turtle after being shot at.
The chaos unfolded despite the police giving farmers camping at Delhi’s three borders — Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur — permission to hold rallies on specific routes, only after the official Republic Day parade at Rajpath. As per the agreement, farmers were to remain in the adjoining areas of the borders and not venture towards Central Delhi. At Singhu, amid the chaos, the police resorted to lathicharge and tear gas to control the protesters.
The tractors rally will mark the completion of two months of protest against the Centre’s contentious farm laws by farmers camping at the borders of Delhi. Farmer leaders also announced a plan to march on foot to Parliament on February 1, the day the Union Budget will be presented.
Meanwhile, senior farmer Balbir Singh Rajewal said farmers were following the pre-decided route. No one from the Sankyukt Kisan Morcha went to the Outer Ring Road. “We condemn violence against farmers, appeal to all to maintain peace,” Rajewal told PTI.
Farmers’ Republic Day tractor rally today: Farmers reach Red Fort, central Delhi; Tear gas, lathicharge at ITO, Singhu, Ghazipur border; Protesting farmers break police barricades Delhi borders; Delhi Police maps three routes for rally; Maharashtra farmers protest at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan in solidarity. Follow the latest news on tractor rally below
Tractors at Ghazipur border for the farmers’ Republic Day march, in New Delhi on Saturday. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)
The Haryana Police said there would be disruptions in vehicular movement on the national highway from Karnal and Rohtak towards Delhi from Jan 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
Farmer leaders had earlier said a group of 500 tractors-trolleys left Amritsar and several others batches from Phagwara, Hoshiarpur and other places of Punjab also moved towards the national capital to take part in the tractor parade.
They also appealed to those participating in the Republic Day tractor march to carry enough ration for 24 hours and ensure that the rally remains peaceful.
“The ones who have reached Red Fort are also farmers. We appeal them to maintain peace,” said Manjit Singh Rai, President BKU Doaba – Kisan Ekta Union. (Raakhi Jagga reports)
Traffic was affected in several parts of the national capital on Tuesday due to the ongoing farmers’ tractor rally. The Delhi Traffic Police took to Twitter to give information about the situation. “Traffic is very heavy on GTK road, Outer Ring Road, Badli road, KN Katzu Marg, Madhuban Chowk, Kanjhawala Road, Palla Road, Narela & DSIDC Narela roads. Please avoid these roads. Traffic is very heavy on Wazirabad road, ISBT road, GT road, Pushta road, Vikas marg, NH-24, Road no. 57, Noida link road. Please avoid these roads,” it tweeted.
Underlining that violence is not the solution to any problem, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appealed to the Centre to repeal the farm laws
Deviating from pre-designated routes for the parade, protesting farmers enter Red Fort (Picture source: DSGMC)
One person was killed at protests in ITO on Tuesday. His tractor turned turtle after being shot at.
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. The police also asked the farmers to head back to their pre-decided routes for the tractor rally parade. “We request to the protesting farmers to not take law in their hands and maintain peace,” Additional PRO Anil Mittal said.
“There are some youngsters that have reached ITO and Red Fort area. They are farmers like us from Punjab and Haryana. Our effort is to maintain peace and there are several tractors at the borders itself right now. We are trying to speak to them and ensure that people are on the assigned route” Ruldu Singh Mansa, Punjab Kisan Union told the Indian Express (Amil Bhatnagar reports)
Farmers have now reached the Red Fort
In ITO, tractors evade blockade and chase Delhi cops
In case you are just joining us, here’s a quick recap of all that has happened till now
The Delhi Police had given permission to farmers protesting the three farm laws to hold their tractor parade on selected routes only after the official Republic Day parade on the Rajpath concludes. However chaos ensued as the farmers were were adamant of heading towards central Delhi.
A clash broke out between police and protesting farmers after the latter reached ITO in the national capital and tried to move towards Lutyen’s Delhi, prompting the force to use lathicharge and tear gas shells against them. The protesters were seen chasing police personnel with sticks. The police men also resorted to lathicharge and fired teargas shells to disperse the crowd. (Jignasa Sinha reports)
Entry/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: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
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Groups of protesting farmers broke police barricades to force their way into the national capital and reached Central Delhi on Tuesday. The farmers broke barricades, attacked police personnel, and vandalised a police bus at ITO.
Protesting farmers vandalise a DTC bus in ITO area
The Delhi Police Tuesday resorted to lathicharge and tear gas at the Singhu border after protesting farmers breached barricades set up to thwart them from entering the national capital. The police had given farmers permission to enter the city after the official Republic Day parade at Rajpath.
Since tractors for the tractor rally are stuck at the Tikri border, several farmers have parked themselves on the road.
In Sonipat, on the other hand, the situation remained peaceful with the youth singing revolutionary songs on their tractors and jeeps. The heavy traffic jam along the route to Delhi has prevented the farmers from moving ahead. They have switched off their tractors and other vehicles for the time being. (Sukhbir Siwach reports)
Visuals from Badmalik village, 7 km before Delhi border
“Most of the farmers want a peaceful movement to Delhi. There are some elements who want to disturb the peaceful movement. But we won’t succeed them. They tried to provoke some farmers Monday evening too,” Satnam Singh Sidhu, Vice- President, Indian Farmers Association, Punjab said. (Sukhbir Siwach reports)