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Around 200 protesters detained and 25 FIRs have been registered after the chaos on R-Day

Farmers protests

Around 200 protesters have been detained by Delhi Police on charges of rioting, damaging public property and attacking police personnel, a day after violence during the tractor rally in the capital. Police have so far registered around 25 FIRs in the matter.

Police said that more than 300 police personnel were injured, most of them during clashes at ITO and Red Fort. “We are making arrests after conducting proper verification. We are also looking into CCTVs near Red Fort, ITO, Nangloi and other areas where the violence erupted,” the police said.

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

On Wednesday, security was beefed up in several parts of the city, with paramilitary forces stationed in several places like Red Fort, central Delhi and the three farm protest sites. Anil Mittal, Additional PRO (Delhi Police), said, “We have registered 22 FIRs in connection with Tuesday’s violence where hundreds of policemen were injured.” A 27-year-old farmer, Navreet Singh, died during the chaos at ITO when his truck rammed barricades and overturned.

Also See: An overview of Farmers’ protests-role of Charan Singh

On Sunday, police and farm union leaders had come to an agreement that the protesters will march from the borders to KMP Expressway and KGP Expressway. However, on Tuesday, thousands of protesters from the Singhu border and Ghazipur borders changed their route and moved towards Akshardham. The march then went to Central Delhi’s ITO and Red Fort, where police resorted to teargas shelling and lathi charge while farmers vandalized public property and attacked police personnel. At Red Fort, a section of protesters climbed poles and walls and hoisted their Nishan Sahib flag. Police said that CRPF personnel also sustained injuries in the clashes and their vehicles too were damaged.

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At UP gate, the farmers’ leaders assert that the rioters were outsiders

Farmers-protest

At UP Gate, Farmers’ leaders, spearheading the protests, have distanced themselves from incidents of violence reported on Republic Day in Delhi, claiming that the people who indulged in these incidents were “outsiders”. They said that the protests will continue as usual at the sites.

Rakesh Tikait, farmer leader and national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), said that the people who indulged in violence were “trying to sabotage” the protest. He arrived at UP Gate at around 3pm after his tractor rally.

“It is not in my knowledge if any flag was put up at the Red Fort. I will enquire if such a thing has happened. We suspect that there were some outsiders who got into our rally and were not obeying our repeated requests. They were trying to sabotage our protest. However, our tractor rally went on well and our protest will continue at the UP Gate site,” he said.

“Many of the protesters who had come to attend the rally have gone home while others will stay on at UP Gate and carry on our protest,” he added.

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

On Tuesday evening, the protesters brought in the body of the 25-year-old man who was killed allegedly due to an accident his tractor met with near ITO in Delhi.

Rajkishor Singh, one of the spokespersons for the UP Gate farmers’ committee, said that the man, identified as Ravneet Singh, had gone to Delhi in his tractor.

“His body was brought to UP Gate and will be handed over to his family. He was from Bilaspur in Rampur district,” he added.

Police personnel at the site in Delhi said that the man was allegedly driving the tractor rashly before the vehicle rammed into a barricade and overturned. The farmers, meanwhile, claimed that the man sustained a hit on his head allegedly by a teargas shell, as a result of which he died, but they refused to go ahead for an autopsy.

Also See: An overview of Farmers’ protests-role of Charan Singh

On Tuesday morning, some of the farmer-leaders stood at UP Gate till 11am while many of the protestors, including those upon tractors, broke open the barricades at the border and entered the national Capital.

“Those who created a ruckus with tractors and indulged in violence were quick in their actions and their body language revealed their intentions, and the fact that they could not be farmers,” BKU’s national press co-ordinator Shamsher Rana said in a statement issued on Tuesday night.

“We will continue our protest till the three laws are repealed. I have never seen such a big protest in my life and the government will be impacted by this agitation. From now on, they will think 100 times before taking any decision,” said 69-year-old Shankar Singh, who joined the protest from Iglas in Aligarh and took part in the 24-hour relay fast at UP Gate.

For the tractor rally, officials of the Ghaziabad administration as well as the Uttar Pradesh police had held several rounds of talks with farmers’ leaders during the past couple of days. Even the local intelligence wing from Ghaziabad was active on a day-to-day basis.

“The Delhi Police issued their press release about the route and plan and we also received communication on Monday. There is no intelligence failure on the part of Uttar Pradesh; besides, there has been no law and order issue in our area and many farmers have returned,” said Kalanidhi Naithani, senior superintendent of police, Ghaziabad.

Also Read: Components of the farm-laws: impacts on the agriculture & farmers

After incidents of violence in Delhi came to light, hundreds of tractors that were part of the rally made a hasty retreat as many returned to the UP Gate protest site, while others took to the Delhi-Meerut Road and NH-9 to rush to their hometowns.

Officials of the traffic police said that tractors followed the designated rally route in Ghaziabad. The officials, however, said that they did not have figures for the number of tractors which entered the district on Tuesday and added that the figures were not readily available.

“Many of them entered the Ghaziabad district from Apsara border side and went to Hapur road, and took up the designated route to UP Gate. In wake of the situation, we have our traffic personnel deployed. The Delhi Police have barricaded four of our border points including the one at Kaushambi and Surya Nagar,” said Ramanand Kushwaha, superintendent of police, Ghaziabad (rural).

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Farmers’ protests took a violent turn from ITO- one person killed-farmers entered Red Fort-police managed to remove farmers from Red Fort-Rahul Gandhi pleaded for peace

RED FORT

The farmers’ protests had taken a vigorous turn, specifically after the violence at the ITO.

Groups of protesting farmers reached Red Fort after breaching police barricades, attacking personnel, and even vandalizing 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.

Also See: An overview of Farmers’ protests-role of Charan Singh

Various farmers’ groups began the tractor rally before the time allotted by Delhi police. There had been differences in opinions regarding when to take out the rally. Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee had stated that they would not stick with the pre-decided routes.

“We came here to deliver a message to the Modi government, our job is done. We will go back now,” one of the farmers told an NDTV-correspondent at the Red Fort. “We managed to reach the Fort even though they tried to stop us. We will not stop till we reach our goal, the repeal of the three farm laws,” another farmer said.

Police gradually managed to remove Protesters from Red Fort.

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.

The development comes in contrast to the promise held by the protesters to keep the rally peaceful, especially after the message given by the Punjab CM-Capt Amarinder Singh.

Rahul Gandhi pleaded for peace

As protesting farmers clashed with police at several places in Delhi on Republic Day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that violence was never the solution to any problem and appealed to the Centre to scrap the three contentious farm laws.

Taking to Twitter, Gandhi said, “Violence is not the solution to any problem. If anyone gets hurt, the damage will happen to our country. Take back the anti-farmer law for the benefit of the country.”

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ITO violence erupts in farmers’ protests on Republic Day-farmers reach Red fort

ITO violence erupts in farmers’ protests

The situation in Delhi, in the context of the farmers’ protests, appears to be spiralling out of control as farmers reneged on their promise of a peaceful rally and resorted to violence as police tried to stop their entry into roads that were not part of the agreed route.

Various farmers’ groups began the tractor rally before the time allotted by Delhi police. There had been differences in opinions regarding when to take out the rally. The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee had stated that they would not stick with the pre-decided routes. The violence broke out when the farmers took out the rally before the pre-decided time.

Visuals showed a tense situation at the ITO intersection as thousands of farmers tried to move ahead despite no permission from the Delhi Police. In fact, Indian express reported at 13:42 hours that protesting farmers have also reached the Red fort.

Also See: An overview of Farmers’ protests-role of Charan Singh

The routes for the tractor rally were pre-decided. But farmers today deviated from the agreed-upon routes, leading to a violent confrontation with the police.

The development comes in contrast to the promise held by the protesters to keep the rally peaceful, especially after the message given by the Punjab CM-Capt Amarinder Singh.

Meanwhile, senior farmer Balbir Singh Rajewal said that farmers were following the pre-decided route. He also added that no one from the Sankyukt Kisan Morcha went to the Outer Ring Road. “We condemn violence against farmers, & we appeal to all to maintain peace,” Rajewal told PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Punjab CM called the Tractor rally a symbol of constitutional ethos-Rajasthan CM said that the country stands with the farmers

While the farmers at the Delhi borders are into their tractor rally, they receive support from various parts of the country, especially from CMs of various states. Unsurprisingly, chaos erupted at various places in and around Delhi during the tractor rally.

Captain Amarinder Singh: Tractor parade testimony to celebration of Republic, constitutional ethos

Calling the tractor parade on Republic Day 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 it remains peaceful, just like their anti-farm law protests.

“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,” the chief minister said in his Republic Day eve message.

“The sight of your (farmers’) tractors on Delhi roads tomorrow will underline the fact that the ethos of the Indian Constitution and the essence of our Republic is inalienable and uncompromisable,” he said.

Also See: An overview of Farmers’ protests-role of Charan Singh

He said that the farmers’ “arduous battle” for survival will always remind people of this truth, and it will always help them remember that the principles on which stands the edifice of India cannot be destroyed or demolished on the whims of a few. On Monday, many farmers marched from Haryana’s Sonipat to participate in Delhi’s tractor parade.

Entire country stands with farmers, said Rajasthan Congress ahead of tractor parades

Rajasthan Congress leaders on Monday said that the entire country and the party is with the farmers protesting against the Centre’s three farm laws. Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra said that it will be a historic day when farmers take out the tractor parades in the national capital on Tuesday. The Congress stands united with farmers, Dotasra said.

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

Rajasthan Transport Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said that the entire country is with the farmers who are ‘disappointed due to an autocratic government at the Centre’. “Tomorrow will be a historic day for the self-respect of farmers. It will be a day of raising voice for the victory of farmers. The whole world will see how shameless the government is at the Centre. It is taking votes from the poor and farmers and kicking them on their stomach today,” Dotasra said on Monday in a scathing attack on the centre.
“Thousands of farmers from Rajasthan have also left for Delhi with tractor trolley. The Congress stands with the farmer. Tomorrow will be a historic day, a day for demonstrating power of farmers,” he said.

Chaos erupts on R-day in Delhi

The Delhi Police on Tuesday used tear gas on a group of farmers after they broke barricades, attacked police personnel, and vandalized a police bus at ITO in Central Delhi. Earlier this morning, chaos prevailed at Delhi’s borders as groups of protesting farmers camping at Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur border points of the national capital broke police barricades to force their way into the capital, before the time allotted by the Delhi Police for their tractor parade. The police used lathicharge and tear gas at farmers in Singhu and Ghazipur.

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Karnataka protest: A rally taken out from Kutta to Bangaluru by coffee planters & farmers demanding support price

Karnataka protest

Urging the Central government to shelve the new farm laws and demanding support price for coffee, farmers and planters from Kodagu took out a tractor rally from Kutta, the border of Kodagu to Bengaluru, on Monday.

Gathering in large numbers, the farmers and planters from Kodagu took out a tractor rally from Kutta, the border of Kodagu to Bengaluru, on Monday. The farmers, gathering in large numbers, along with their family members, including children, battled the cold weather and lashed out at the Central government. The farmers seated in the tractors and jeeps raised slogans against the Central and state governments. They also demanded a minimum support price for coffee and pepper. Probably for the first time in Kodagu, farmers, coffee planters, elected representatives from various political parties and labourers were part of the same protest.

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

The rally was held under the leadership of Raitha Sangha district president Kadyamada Manu Somaiah. Speaking on the occasion, Kodava Federation president Kallichanda Vishnu Cariappa said that the farmers in the district have been toiling hard for the last three years.

But, the crops have been destroyed in the recent untimely rainfall. Having no other choice, the farmers have got down to the streets, demanding support from the government, he said. Rajya Raitha Sangha president Badagalapura Nagendra said that the farmers have decided to take to the stir to claim their rights. Farmers from the district should be provided with a major share in the compensation announced by the Central and the state governments as they have incurred huge losses, he said. MLC Shantheyanda Veena Achaiah said that the government should give up its stubbornness and should listen to the farmers’ issues.

Also See: An overview of Farmers’ protests-role of Charan Singh

The rally comprising tractors, jeeps, cars and bikes travelled to Mysuru via T Shettigeri, Hudikeri, Ponnampet, Gonikoppa, Titimati and Anechowkuru.

A protest will be held in front of Freedom Park in Bengaluru on January 26.

ZP member Mukkatira Shivu Madappa, Lt Col Baleyada Kalaiah, Codava National Council president N U Nachappa, former MLC C S Arun Machaiah and others were present.

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Farmers in Karnataka have planned a tractor rally on Republic Day in support of the protests at Delhi

Karnataka farmers

The farmers’ protests got another dimension of support from the farmers in a BJP ruled state. In a show of support to their counterparts protesting against the farm laws in New Delhi, farmers in Karnataka have planned a massive tractor rally in Bengaluru on Republic Day.

Kodihalli Chandrashekhar, leader of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), a farmers’ movement, said that there would be over 10,000 tractors participating in the parade on January 26. “Around 25,000 farmers will enter Bengaluru and reach Freedom Park through the main roads of the city via Yeshwanthpur and Malleswaram. The parade will be held from Nelamangala to Bengaluru, with farmers arriving in more than 10,000 tractors and other vehicles. The parade is planned to begin soon after the chief minister hoists the national flag,” he said.

“Farmers from Mysuru and other districts will also take part in the rally. Irrespective of the organizations that farmers are affiliated to, the rally will be a united movement,” Chandrashekhar said.

He added that the protesters would refrain from violence, and hence, “there is no reason for the police and authorities to deny us permission”.

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

Meanwhile, around 100 farmers from Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Hassan have left the state to take part in the tractor parade planned by farmers in the national capital on Republic Day. The delegation, led by farmers’ leader Manje Gowda, is expected to be joined by another 100 to 200 people, according to Karnataka State Sugarcane Farmers’ Association president Kurubur Shanthakumar. “While the first group has left in four vehicles with 50 kg of rice, 40 kg of vegetables, coconuts, and medicine, the second group is expected to leave the state by train,” he added.

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

This development comes in close succession to the protests carried out by congress workers and farmers in Bhopal. Earlier hundreds of farmers joined Congress workers in rallies across Bengaluru to express solidarity with their counterparts on the fringes of Delhi, who have been holding protests for close to two months now, demanding the withdrawal of the contentious farm laws.

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Farmers’ protests: Farmer unions urge for peace as the tractor rally of Farmers scheduled for January 26 is allowed

tractor rally

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.

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Farmers’ protests: Water cannons and tear gas used to counter protests over farm-laws in Bhopal- Congress workers and farmers assembled in protests

The farmers’ protests took a vigorous turn in Bhopal where the Congress workers and farmers joined their forces on Saturday.

The Madhya Pradesh Congress’s  two-week-long programme in support of the farmers protesting against three Central laws came to a rather chaotic end in the capital of MP, Bhopal as the police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the party’s march towards Raj Bhawan. What began as a mass of party workers led by former Chief Minister Kamal Nath waving and cheering ended utterly muddled as the police finally resorted to a baton-charge. Some Congress functionaries and a few police personnel were injured in the clash.

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

Hundreds of Congress workers first gathered at the city’s Jawahar Chowk area a little before noon, planning to march to and gherao Raj Bhavan, the official residence of Governor Anandiben Patel. Mr. Nath had said earlier that the Congress’s movement ought to be viewed as an awareness drive. Visuals showed him, along with other senior Congress leaders atop a bus, leading the party workers in the event.

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

As the rally approached Raj Bhawan, the police began to sound out warning notes. As the marchers began wrestling the barricades, senior officials announced on loudspeakers that force will be used to deter them. Soon they used water cannons on the Congress workers and followed it up with tear gas canisters.

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Farmers reject the proposal of GOI to hold the three farm-laws for 1.5 years-homage paid to 143 farmers martyred during the protests

Farmers in the protests, which have been going on for almost two months, have decided to reject the Centre’s new proposal of putting the three new farm laws on hold for 18 months while negotiations continue with a fresh committee. On Wednesday, the government had put forward the proposal at the 10th round of negotiations with the farmers’ unions. The next round of meetings has been scheduled for January 22.

In a full general body meeting of Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of the 40 protesting farmer unions, the members reiterated a full repeal of the three laws and enacting of a legislation for remunerative MSP as the pending demands of the peasants’ movement.

The Supreme Court has already ordered to put a stay on the three laws till further notice and a committee of experts has been formed to resolve the deadlock. The committee has been asked by the Apex Court to submit its report within two months after consulting all stakeholders.

Also Read: Components of the farm bills 2020- what harmful impacts can they bring on agriculture

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha paid homage to the 143 farmers who have been martyred in the ongoing protests so far. “These companions are separated from us while fighting this mass movement. Their sacrifice will not go in vain and we will not go back without the repealing of these farm laws,” Dr. Darshan Pal said.