Farmers on the rampage in Delhi |
In Breaking news… India marked its 72 nd Republic Day in true democratic fashion. The Government allowed 13,000 tractors with nearly 50,000 farmers to roll through the capital of Delhi but instead of the promised peaceful rally farmers turned violent. At least 50,000 farmers ran amok on their 10,000 tractors entering Delhi from different parts and literally taking over the historic Red Fort. In what was clearly evident as a planned operation, hundreds of tractors with farmers scaled the walls of the fort, reached the point where usually the flag is unfurled on Independence Day and were trying to hoist their own different flags. And, farmers leaders who promised restraint and were seen earlier in the day asking farmers to maintain peace and remain lawful were not to be seen as violence erupted. Farmers broke barricades, clashed with the police. The Police responded with charging with batons and lobbying tear gas shells. Meanwhile, hundreds of tractors kept rolling through adjoining states and lining the border of Delhi. Eyewitnesses from Haryana border said that perhaps as many as 100,000 people were waiting on tractors, in cars and open vehicles to get into the capital. The outskirts of Delhi had seen tens of thousands of farmers camping along three major borders of the National Capital Region for nearly 2 months now since the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi got Parliament to pass 3 landmark Bills for historic reforms in the agriculture sector. While pro-liberalization pundits support the Bills, certain farmer unions supported. by left wing and Congress party are protesting. The Indian government has suspended implementation of the new laws for 1.5 years, and the Supreme Court has set up an expert panel to examine and mediate between the government and farmers. But, in what is now seen unreasonable, certain farmer unions are demanding a repeal of laws and otherwise refuse to leave their protesting grounds. To make their point, the farmers demanded they parade on tractors right after the Republic Day parade. The ceremonial annual parade route was cut short to accommodate the farmers rally. The Republic Day parade was not yet done when some farmers at the Singhu and Ghazipur borders Delhi, started to clash with the police while trying to enter the main city. Several police vehicles were damaged at the Singhu border at around 11 a.m. when police tried to stop protesting farmers from deviating from their permitted route. At the Singhu border, thousands of farmers got into both carriageways of the GT Karnal Road. They were trying to enter the central parts of the national Capital. At Ghazipur too, police started cane-charging the farmers. Tear gas shells were fired at both the borders. Senior police officers were spotted at the borders trying to pacify the farmers and stick to the permitted route near the borders to hold the rally. Around 40,000 police and paramilitary personnel were posted along the three borders to stop farmers from entering the central and New Delhi areas.
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