After days of deliberations between farmers’ unions and the Delhi Police, the proposed tractor rally by farmers on the occasion of Republic Day has been allowed by the police on Saturday, farmers’ leaders have said, while Delhi Police said that farmers have not given them anything in writing regarding the proposed route of their march planned as the next step in the farmers’ protests. Farmers have been allowed to enter Delhi and travel up to 100km distance on each route, farmer leader Darshan Pal said.

Farmers protesting the central government’s new agricultural laws have been planning to hold a 100-km tractor rally in the national capital on Republic Day.

The tractor march on Republic Day was planned for a long time but it hit a roadblock after the Centre approached the Supreme Court through Delhi Police against the march, claiming that it would dishonour the country’s pride if protesters attempt to disrupt Republic Day parade. The unions assured that they would not disrupt the Republic Day parade.

The Supreme Court left the decision on whether to allow farmers’ tractor march or not on the Delhi Police which held several rounds of discussion with union leaders on the issue of the tractor march.

Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests

Farmers, as they have been preparing for long, have planned to enter the Capital on that day displaying their tableaux of tractors belonging to different states. But Delhi Police initially did not agree to allow them to enter the Capital apprehending disruption in law and order situation. Instead, the farmers were asked to hold their tractor march on the Kundli border, which the union leaders did not accept and remained stuck to their plan of holding the march on the Outer Ring Road.

On Friday, the Delhi Police proposed a route map for the tractor march on which discussions were held on Saturday following which farmers have been allowed to take their march up to 100km inside Delhi.

Police had earlier proposed a route for tractor rally

The Delhi police on Friday had proposed a route map to the farmers where they could hold a tractor rally on January 26. Police officers did not share details of the proposed route but earlier the farmers had been told to take out the rally on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway on the periphery of the capital.

Also Read: Components of the farm laws- their harmful impacts on Agriculture

The farmer groups confirmed that they had received a proposal from the police but had said that they would respond only after holding a meeting on Saturday. They had planned the rally on the Outer Ring Road and had assured the police that it will be completely peaceful and that the protesters will not try to reach other areas in the city.

Until Friday night, it was not clear if the police had proposed a route inside the national Capital or on the highways connecting Delhi. Senior police officers held talks with the farmers protesting against the three contentious farm laws over their planned tractor rally. Talks were held daily since January 18.

But, finally, the tractor rally for January 26 was allowed, given that there would be no chief guest this year in the Republic Day parade (first time in 55 years), the cornered central government & the wide and massive support received by the farmers.