During a press conference, on Saturday, Samyukt Kisan Morcha leaders said “Protesting farmers will hold a parallel tractor parade in Delhi on Republic Day if their demands are not met.”
Darshan Pal, president, Krantikari Kisan Union said “We call on all nearby farmers to come to Delhi with their tractors and farm vehicles. The dress rehearsal for this tractor parade in Republic Day will be held on January 6, through a tractor rally on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal expressway. This will be done if our demands are not met during the talks with the government on January 4 and the SC hearing on January 5.”
Mr. Darshan Pal said “This is the plan of action until January 26. There will be a fortnight-long nation-wide campaign to counter the government's propaganda called “Desh Jagriti Abhiyan” during January 6 to 20, which will include rallies, conferences and dharnas all over the country. Lohri/Sankarnati will be marked as Kisan Sankalp Diwas by burning the copies of the three laws that farmers want repealed.
“January 18 will be celebrated as Mahila Kisan Diwas to underline the role of women fatmers. Azad Hind Kisan Diwas will be marked on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary on January 23 by protesting outside Governors' official residence in all State capitals.”
“We intend to be peaceful and we told long ago to the Government of India during our talks that it has only two options – either repeal the 3 central farm acts or use force on us to evict us. We intend to stay peaceful, we will not engage in any confrontation. But if govt choose to use police, that is their choice,” said BKU-Rajewal leader, Balbir Singh Rajewal.
Mr. Rajewal said “No plan as of now to apply for police permission to enter Delhi on Republic Day.”
The parallel farmers parade will take place after the official Republic Day parade.
Other farmers will hold parallel parades on Republic Day in State capitals and district headquarters.