NEW DELHI: The home ministry moved the Supreme Court on Monday seeking to restrain protesting farmers from taking out a tractor rally on Republic Day and said it would be a huge embarrassment to the nation if the constitutional ceremony was disrupted in any manner or a law and order situation arose.
The application, filed through joint commissioner of Delhi Police Jaspal Singh, said activities relating to Republic Day started with the rehearsal of parade by the armed forces a few days before January 26, ending with the Beating the Retreat ceremony on January 29 and Martyrs’ Day on January 30. “Any disruption or obstruction to the said functions would not only be against law and order, public order, public interest but would also be a huge embarrassment for the nation,” it said. The SC is likely to hear the application on Tuesday.
“It has come to the knowledge of the security agencies through various sources that a small group of protesting individuals has planned to carry out a tractor/trolley/ march on Republic Day. The proposed march is slated to disturb and disrupt the august celebrations of the nation on Republic Day and would be bound to create a massive law and order situation,” the ministry said.
“The security apparatus is on high alert during such national celebrations due to the very vital significance of this occasion. It is submitted that the said proposed march/protest seeks to disrupt and disturb such celebrations which is bound to create a serious law and order situation and will cause an embarrassment to the nation,” it said while attaching photographs of earlier tractor rallies organised by farmers.
The government said the right to protest was always subject to public order and public interest. Requesting the SC to restrain farmers’ unions from holding tractor rallies on Republic Day, the Centre said, “as the SC is seized of the issues, it is constitutionally imperative that the court pass an appropriate prohibitory order."