Farmers' Protest: Leaders Plan 100 Km Tractor Parade On Republic Day, Claim Delhi Police Has Allowed The March

Hundreds of farmers from Punjab and Haryana set out in their tractor-trolleys and other vehicles to take part in the proposed tractor parade on January 26 in Delhi.

 Farmers protesting against the new Farm Laws by the Centre said on Saturday that they have received permission to enter Delhi for their tractor rally that is slated to be staged on Republic Day. Delhi Police has given permission for the tractor parade on January 26, claimed farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar after protesting unions met the police, according to news agency PTI. 

The routes for the march have not been finalised yet but according to reports, the tractor parades will start from the Ghazipur, Singhu, and Tikri border points of Delhi

However, Delhi Police Additional Public Relation Officer Anil Mittal said, "We are in the final stages of talks with farmers."

Another farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni said as thousands of farmers will participate in the parade, there will be no single route. Farmer leader Darshan Pal said barricades set up at Delhi border points will be removed on January 26 and farmers will take out tractor rallies after entering the national capital.

The announcement came after a day the farmers did not agree to the government to defer the three Farm Laws for one and half year years. Farmers reiterated their demand to repeal the Farm Laws completely while the government was firm on their stand and said that it is the only best offer they can give to the farmers.

Farm leaders had said hundreds of thousands of farmers from neighbouring states including Haryana, Punjab and western Uttar Pradesh plan to drive tractors through New Delhi on January 26, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join a parade of the armed forces.

While some former government officials had expressed concern that the protests could turn violent, the leaders said they would remain peaceful and urged the police to grant permission for the convoy to enter the capital.

At many places in Punjab and Haryana, tractor marches were taken out on Saturday to mobilise more people for the tractor parade. 

Thousands of farmers from Punjab and Haryana have been camping at Delhi's borders for several weeks, demanding the repeal of the farm laws and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price for crops. They claim that the new laws will weaken the minimum support price (MSP) system while the centre says the laws will bring new opportunities for the farmers.