Major Highlights of the Farmer’s Tractor Protest Rally and chaos that has been unfolded after that. 

The shocking violence that broke out at the Republic Day in the National Capital splattered the country with a hue of outrage

We all are aware of the massive tractor rally that was held on Republic Day, 26th January 2021. The rally is in line with the ongoing farmers protest against the three Agricultural-Farm Laws that were passed back in September 2020, by both the houses of the Parliament. Farmer trade unions and their members urged the removal of the laws. As their union won’t accept anything related to it. 

The confusion prevailed even when the police issued farmers permission only for the 3 borders of Delhi i.e. Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur. The permission was given only for these specific routes once the official Republic Day parade in Rajpath is done. The farmer union specified that their parade will be ‘Peaceful’. 

Read more: The Constitution of India: Preamble Glossary that you should know

Let’s have a look and talk about the major events that happened and took place during the Farmer Protest Tractor Rally. To know and understand what exactly happened during the rally. 

1. Farmers who have been protesting at the various borders deviate from the specified routes to reach Central Delhi. Tear gas, lathi charge were done at Singhu, Ghazipur borders which caused an enormous traffic jam at the Tikri border 
2. Violating and crushing barricades the protesting farmers started to move towards Delhi from Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar. Farmers snatched and took the lathis and shields from the police. 
3. Farmers have a clash with police personnel at Akshardham intersection. The farmers started to damage the vehicles and the DTC buses that were parked on the road. 
4. The protesting groups of farmers on Tuesday, 26th January 2021 made their way and entered the Red Fort after destroying and breaking the barricades, attacking the people in duty, pelted stones and even vandalised an ITO bus. 
5. Farmers with their tractors start opposing Delhi Police at the ITO. A protestor died as he was shot and the tractor he was driving lost its control. A policeman was also injured at the Red Fort.
6. After clashes between the protesting farmers and security staff, the Union Home ministry ordered the temporary suspension of telecom operations at the frontière areas of Delhi, Singhu, Ghazipur, Tikri, Mukarva Chowk and Nangloi from 12:00 pm to 11:59 pm on 26th January 2021. 
7. The head senior farmer Balbir Singh Rajewal said that farmers followed the pre-decided pathway and none of the members of the Sankyukt Kisan Morcha moved to the Outer Ring Road. He further said, “We condemn violence against farmers, appeal to all to maintain peace.” 
8. Police deported protesting farmers from the Red Fort premises as the farmers were deviating from the scheduled path for the tractor parade and hoisted their flag at the historical monument in National Capital. 
9. Lathi-charge was performed by the police to vacate the premises of Red Fort. Constant announcements were called upon and made asking the protesters to leave the premises and compound of the building peacefully. 
10. Situations got worse and out of control at Nangloi. Protesting farmers in revolt climbed up on police vans and carriers. They smashed one of them with lathis. Even after the continuous firing of tear gas bombs. 
11. Farmers from all over Karnataka also supported the protest against the agricultural bills. They reached Bengaluru by their tractors to take part in ‘Jana Ganarajyotsava Parade’ and are now moving ahead towards Freedom Park in Central Bengaluru. 
12. Due to the ongoing protests the Delhi traffic police has closed and restricted the movement from Yudhistir Bridge to Seelam Pur. The entire traffic is being diverted towards Geeta Colony and Signature Bridge. The Chief Minister of Punjab Mr Amarinder Singh requested Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi to consider the demands of the farmer and repeal the new Agricultural-Farm Laws as they are “completely wrong”. 
13. Samyukta Kisan Morcha issued a statement which said that farmers have distanced themselves from the violence that took place. The entire Samyukta Kisan Morcha is thankful for the support and participation of farmers in today’s Farmers Republic Day Parade. We also criticise and feel guilty about the unwanted and unjustifiable events that occurred today. And we also distance and disassociate ourselves from those who committed such acts. 
14. DMRC announced the closure of the grey line. All the entry and exit gates of metro stations on the grey line were closed.
15. The General Secretary of Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee Sarwan Singh Pandher requested the farmers to maintain peace and calm. He asked the protesters to move back to the Ring Road and protest at Kundali border only. 
16. Farmers continue with their protest at Delhi-Jaipur Expressway in Manesar.m against the Agricultural Farm Laws. 
17. Speaking on allegations that are being levied on the farmers the spokesperson of Bharatiya Kisan Union said that, “There are people from the political groups who want to defame the protest. We know the people who are doing this intentionally to create a disturbance. We have marked and identified them.” 
18. On Republic Day only the sacred Tiranga should aloft the Red Fort. Shashi Tharoor who was in support of the farmers further tweeted: “Most unfortunate. I have supported the farmers’ protests from the start but I cannot condone lawlessness. And on #RepublicDay no flag but the sacred tiranga should fly aloft the Red Fort.” 
19. Gautam Gambir, BJP MP from North-East Delhi further said that “Violence and vandalism will lead us nowhere. I urge everyone to maintain peace & honour agreements. Today is not the day for such chaos.” 
20. Delhi police requested the protesting farmers not to take rule of law into their hands. They requested the farmers to maintain peace as conflicts broke out in several parts of Delhi between police and protesting farmers. 
21. A high-level meeting is to take place at the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Where the Home Minister will be briefed about the entire incidents that took place on 26th January 2021. The Home Secretary and Delhi Police Commissioner will also be attending the meeting. 
22. Farmers in Mumbai in solidarity with the ongoing farmers protest in Delhi also protested against the Agricultural Farm Laws at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan. 
23. Haryana government further stated that Internet and SMS services will remain suspended in three districts of Haryana i.e. Sonipat, Palwal, and Jhajjar. Till 5 pm on 27th January 2021. To check and prevent the spread of misinformation and fake news. 
24. Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police, Alok Kumar said that Legal action will be taken against those who took the entire law into their hands and assaulted Police during the duty at the farmers protest tractor rally. 
25. NCP chief Sharad Pawar further said that Farmers all over Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh held protests in a peaceful and disciplined manner. But the government ignored the fact and did not take them seriously. As a consequence of which Tractor rally was planned. The Center had the responsibility to keep the law and order in control, in which they failed.

Now let us have a look at the latest updates that are happening after the tractor rally of 26th January. 

• To assist the Delhi Police, five additional CRPF companies have been called. In addition to the 115 companies already present. Fifteen of these companies came into duty soon after the chaos held on 26th January 2021 
• The day after the Republic Day chaos, All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination leader V M Singh and his committee withdrew themselves from this protest. He further said that “’We can’t carry forward a protest with someone whose direction is something else.” 
• Leader of Bharatiya Kisan Union Bhanu Pratap Singh also dissociated and parted their ways from the farmers’ protests, condemning the chaos and violence that was created on Republic Day. 
• The spokesperson of Congress Randeep Singh Surjewala Wednesday, 27th January 2021 accused the central government of maligning the protest by the farmers over the violence created on Republic Day. He further asked and demanded Home Secretary Amit Shah’s resignation for not preserving legislation and order in the national capital. 
• On Wednesday the Aam Aadmi Party claimed that the BJP has sent actor Deep Sidhu to Delhi. To create nuisance and chaos at the Farmers’ Tractor rally held on Republic Day. Raghav Chadha, the spokesperson of Aam Aadmi Party displayed several images allegedly from the actor with several BJP leaders during the press conference as he challenged the connection between Sidhu and BJP. 
• At the border of Chilla, some farmers were seen taking their tents off at the Chilla border after the president of Bharatiya Kisan Union, Thakur Bhanu Pratap Singh announced that the union is ending and withdrawing their side from the protest after the violence created during the farmers’ tractor rally on 26th January 2021. 
• 20 villages in Rewari empty the areas on Masani barrage and move back to Haryana-Rajasthan border. After the ultimatum was given by the Panchayat to the protestors. 
• The protesting farmer leaders are considering the postponement of their foot march to Parliament on February 1 against the three farm laws in the wake of violence in the national capital during the tractor parade on Republic Day. 
• A senior most farmer leader of Samkyukta Kisan Morcha is calling off and is willing to postpone the Foot March to Parliament on February 1 2021. Due to the violence that was created on Republic Day. Whereas the official decision will be dependent on the Samkyukta Kisan Morcha.

• Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava on Wednesday, 27 January 2021 said that the Farmers Leaders were also involved and were an active participant during the violence that broke out during the tractor rally held on Republic Day injuring over 394 police personnel. Shrivastava further said the farmer’s unions did not comply with conditions which were set for the tractor rally which was meant to be held around 12 pm to 5 pm. Those who were engaged in tractor rally violence will not be spared even the farmer leaders will be questioned and challenged. 
• Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “The ways that violence took place in Delhi are condemned more, and the less they are. Action should be taken against those who incited others. How Tricolor was insulted at the Red Fort won’t be tolerated by India.” 
• Union minister Prakash Javadekar spoke for the opposition. Javedkar said that the Congress minister Rahul Gandhi not only supported the protest but also induced it. The same thing happened during the CAA, Congress organised protests and rallies, it encouraged people to march in the streets and the violence began the very next day. The same happened during this chaos. The Union Minister also scrapped actor Deep Sidhu’s link with the BJP. Sidhu is accused of bringing the Mobs to the Red Fort. Jadhav said that the Congress and Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the country’s people. 
• From Jan 28 until Jan 31 the Red Fort will remain closed to the general public and tourists. 
• 200 detained, 22 FIRs were registered. Yogendra Yadav, Rakesh Tikait were named in FIRs. Also, the security has been increased in Delhi after the Farmers Tractor Rally violence 
• In connection with the Red Fort incidents, the Delhi police named actor Deep Sidhu and Lakha Sidhana, a gangster-turned activist, into the FIR on 27th January 2021 in connection with Red Fort incidents. The Delhi Police has entered the case into Kotwali North District Police Station in compliance with the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Public Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and other rules, they have said. 
• FIR against Rajdeep Sardesai, Shashi Tharoor, and six others for tweeting on the death of the farmers. They have been accused of promoting violence and prompting protests via social media during the Farmer rally protests on the Republic Day. 
• The Police have filed 25 FIRs and have charged over 30 farm leaders as part of the discussion.
• The FIR was reported in an FIR at the Samaypur Badli police station in Outer Delhi, which was based on a complaint filed by Inspector Anil Kumar, and included 37 farm union leaders along with six spokespersons of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha.

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