Protesting Farmers Threaten To Hold Tractor Parade In Delhi On Republic Day 'If Demands Not met'

The representatives from farmer bodies spelt out a fresh agitation agenda which includes “rehearsal” for the Jan 26 tractor parade.

(PTI Photo/Kamal Singh)(PTI13-12-2020_000218A)

Two days ahead of the meeting with Centre, protesting farmers' unions on Saturday said they will enter the national capital on January 26 on the occasion of Republic Day, and carry out a tractor parade if their demands for a repeal of three farm laws are not met by then. Addressing the media in Delhi, a seven-member team of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (a platform of farm unions) said time has come for “decisive” action as their demands have not been addressed by the government yet. The representatives from farmer bodies spelt out a fresh agitation agenda spanning 15 days from January 6. This includes picketing Raj Bhavans, onward marches from six blockade sites on Delhi’s borders and a “rehearsal” for the Jan 26 tractor parade. As reported by PTI, farmer leader Darshan Pal Singh said their proposed parade will be called "Kisan Parade" and it will be be held after the Republic Day parade. On Friday, the agitators said that if the government does not agree to repel the new farm laws in the meeting, which is scheduled on January 4, they “will take a decision”. "It seems govt is taking farmers lightly. They were able to disperse Shaheen Bagh protestors and were thinking they can do the same with us. But such a day will never come. If the government does not make a decision on January 4 then farmers will have to make a decision," Yadhuvir Singh said. As the deadlock between the farmers and the government continues, the farmer unions warned that if the government fails to end their meet, they will shut down malls and petrol pumps in Haryana.