Farmers Tractor Rally: Farmers protesting at Delhi borders over the Centre's farm laws kicked of their tractor rally amid Republic Day celebrations on Tuesday. Now, the farmers who started marching from Ghazipur border have broken barricades and are moving towards Red Fort. Police is using tear gas to control the situation. The protestors have taken a different route which was not approved by the Delhi Police. The protest seem to have gone unruly across the national capital marring the Republic Day celebrations. Also Read: Republic Day FAQs: Order Of Salutes, The First Celebration; Everything You Have Been Asking For Answered
Here are key updates on the farmer protest.
1. Protesting farmers are trying to move towards Rajpath where the 72nd Republic day celebrations ended few hours ago under four layer security. Farmers tractor rally reached near ITO, Sarai Kale Khan from Ghazipur border.
2. Protestors have broken windshields, windows of the police jeeps, police is still trying to control the situation to stop them from going Rajpath. Farmers and Police are arguing regarding the passage over tractor parade at Nagloi Chowk. Meanwhile protestors at Karnal bypass have broken the police barricading to enter Delhi as farmers tractor rally is underway in the national capital. Even as protesting farmer unions opposing the three contentious farm laws said their parade will not enter central Delhi, it seems thay are not abiding by their statements with farmers breaking the barricades and marching towards Red Fort. They have said earlier their parade will start after the official Republic Day parade concludes.
3. On the other hand, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said he is still in Ghaziabad and is following the route which they submitted to the police on Monday and has no knowledge of the violence.
4. Police has resorted to a sit in protest to prevent the farmers breaking barricaded via JCB machines. Protesters break barricade, attack police personnel and vandalise police vehicle at ITO in central Delhi, as per ANI.
5. Police is continously using tear gas at ITO to disperse the farmers. The Delhi Police said that the first route will begin from Singhu border and will move from Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar to Bawana. Similarly, 62-km long second route will pass through Nangloi-Najafgarh and Jharoda after starting from Tikri border. The third route will lead to Apsara border and Hapur after starting from Ghazipur. All of these processions will converge at Kundli Manesar Palwal Expressway (KMP). However, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee has insisted on taking out a march on Delhi's Outer Ring Road, despite not having the permission. The organisation's general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said, "We respect the other unions, they have every right to carry out their parade wherever they want, we also have the right to conduct it where went want".
6. Police has started lathi charge to stop the protesting farmers. Security in Delhi and neighbouring regions have been heightened given the Republic Day celebrations and farmers’ proposed tractor rally. Earlier today, visuals showed farmers marching towards Delhi to take part in the tractor rally. Around 5,000 farmers have already been on a sit-in protest near Singhu border against the three farm laws.
7. Farmers have now left their tractors and moved back from ITO after the police used tear gas sheels and lathi charged the protestors
8. Protesting farmers also break police barricades placed opposite Delhi Police headquarters, as per ANI. As per the Delhi Police, barricades and other security arrangements were supposed to be removed and the farmers had to enter the national capital at around 12 pm protesting against the three controversial farm laws.
9. Police, farmers clash at Noida Mod. Farmers push through police barricading near Pandav Nagar, and remove police barricading at Mukarba Chowk, as per ANI.
10. Entry/exit gates of Indraprastha metro station and all stations on the Green Line are closed