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Farmer Tractor Rally LIVE Updates: Hoisted Nishan Sahib flag at Red Fort, didn't remove Tricolour, claims actor Deep Sidhu

Farmers Protests Live updates: In a video posted on Facebook, actor Deep Sidhu said protesters hould not be given any communal colour or dubbed as fundamentalists or hardliners. “To symbolically register our protest against the new farm legislations, we put up ''Nishan Sahib'' and a farmer flag and also raised a slogan of Kisan Mazdoor Ekta,” he said

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Farmer Tractor Rally LIVE Updates: Hoisted Nishan Sahib flag at Red Fort, didn't remove Tricolour, claims actor Deep Sidhu

Farmers break the police barricades at the Ghazipur border as move towards Akshardham during their tractor rally on Republic Day in New Delhi on 26 January. PTI

Highlights

LIVE NEWS and UPDATES

Jan 26, 2021 - 23:28 (IST)

'Return to your homes'

 

The Haryana cabinet held a special meeting on Tuesday evening under the chairmanship of Chief Minister M L Khattar in the wake of the events that unfolded in the National Capital during the tractor parade and appealed to all protesting farmers to return to their homes. Khattar said farmer unions had assured a peaceful tractor rally in the National Capital.

"But the events which unfolded today make it clear that this agitation is now not under the control of these farmer leaders. And the command of this agitation is now in the hands of such anarchic elements whose ideology is different from the farmers'' interests," he said. The chief minister issued a statement asking the farmer community to ponder over where their agitation was headed.

"The entire Haryana cabinet, through its special meeting held today, humbly appeals to all farmers of this agitation to return to their homes. The strong need of the hour this time is that together we defeat the designs of the anti-social elements," Khattar said.

Jan 26, 2021 - 22:30 (IST)

'Didn't remove Tricolour'

 

Amid massive outrage over protesters hoisting a religious flag at the Red Fort during the tractor rally on Republic Day, actor Deep Sidhu, who was among those present during the incident, on Tuesday sought to defend their action, saying it was a symbolic protest and they did not remove the National Flag.

In a video posted on Facebook, he said that they should not be given any communal colour or dubbed as fundamentalists or hardliners. “To symbolically register our protest against the new farm legislations, we put up ''Nishan Sahib'' and a farmer flag and also raised a slogan of Kisan Mazdoor Ekta,” said Sidhu.

The flag represents the country's “unity in diversity”, he said while pointing towards the ''Nishan Sahib'', a symbol of Sikh religion seen at all Gurdwara complexes. He stated that the National Flag was not removed from the flagpole at the Red Fort and that nobody raised a question over the country's unity and integrity.

Jan 26, 2021 - 22:10 (IST)

86 police personnel injured in clashes

 

The Delhi Police on Tuesday said protesting farmers violated the conditions pre-agreed for their tractor parade and indulge in violence and vandalism, leaving 86 of its personnel injured. In a statement, the police also claimed it did all due diligence in following the conditions for the rally, but the protesters began their march much ahead of the scheduled time and extensive damage to public property was caused during the violence by them.

The police statement came as the National Capital witnessed clashes between protesters and police during the tractor parade by farmers to press their demand of repealing the three new agri laws. "The protesters violated conditions fixed for the rally. The farmers began tractor rally before the scheduled time, they also resorted to violence and vandalism,"

Delhi Police PRO Eish Singhal said. "We followed all conditions as promised and did our due diligence but the protest led to extensive damage to public property. Many policemen were also injured during the protest," Singhal said.

Jan 26, 2021 - 22:08 (IST)

Farmers begin returning to protest sites

After hours of chaos during their tractor parade in Delhi against the Centre's new agri laws on Tuesday, thousands of protesting farmers including those at the Red Fort and Mukarba Chowk, started returning to their sit-in sites at the Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders.

Wielding sticks and clubs and holding the Tricolour and union flags, tens of thousands of farmers atop tractors broke barriers, clashed with police and entered the city from various points to lay siege to the Red Fort and climb the flagpole on Republic Day. A protesting farmer died at Delhi's ITO after his tractor overturned. The farmers draped the body in the tricolour and kept it at the ITO crossing, not allowing the police to send it for post-mortem. Police also had to use lathicharge and teargas shells to control unruly protesters at multiple locations in the city.

"There is no protesting farmer at ITO crossing and the situation is under control," an official said.

Jan 26, 2021 - 20:58 (IST)

Mumbai law student writes to CJI, urges him to take cognisance of violence in Delhi

A Mumbai-based law student Tuesday wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) S A Bobde urging him to take suo motu cognisance of the violence that took place at the Red Fort during the farmers' tractor march on Republic Day. The letter, written by Mumbai University student Ashish Rai, claimed that the tractor march event has been terrorized by some anti-social elements".

It requested that a Special Investigation Committee be formed on this entire matter to conduct a rigorous inquiry against the anti-social elements involved in this unconstitutional activity and to punish the accused

Jan 26, 2021 - 20:54 (IST)

Mobile internet suspended in 3 Haryana districts for 24 hours

Mobile internet services have been suspended in three Haryana districts of Sonipat, Jhajjar and Palwal until 5 pm Wednesday, the state government said Tuesday evening, as violent protests by farmers rocked neighbouring Delhi. Haryana's Home Secretary Rajeev Arora said the order is issued to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in the districts. The order comes into force immediately and will remain in effect till 5 pm of 27 January, he said.

Jan 26, 2021 - 20:49 (IST)

Traffic movement returns to normal at protests hit roads

Traffic movement has resumed per normal standards at Shastri Park to ISBT, Mukarba Chowk to Singhu Border, Loni Border, Chintamani Chowk, Barapullah and DND, the Delhi Traffic Police said. Roads leading to NH-24, NH9 towards Ghaziabad, Peeragarhi Chowk, and Punjabi Bagh Chowk have also been unclogged. 

Jan 26, 2021 - 20:41 (IST)

Extremists in garb of food providers, says Sambit Patra

As a tractor parade by farmers protesting against three contentious farm laws turned violent, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said those who were seen as 'annadata' (food providers) for so many days have turned out to be extremists. 

"Those we had been calling annadata (food providers) for so many days have turned out to be extremists. Don't defame annadata, call an extremist an extremist only," Patra tweeted as a section of protesting farmers broke the agreement with Delhi Police and indulged in hooliganism. 

He also tweeted a video in which a protestor is purportedly seen throwing away a national flag handed to him from the crowd as he climbs a pole to hoist a different flag. Firstpost could not independently verify the veracity of the visual clip in Patra's tweet, which has been attributed to PTC News

Jan 26, 2021 - 20:36 (IST)

SP has a narrow escape as farmers ram tractors into police barricade

The Palwal police chief and another officer had a narrow escape Tuesday as some protesting farmers allegedly drove their tractors dangerously and tried to break barricades to force their way into Delhi through a non-designated route at Palwal-Faridabad border, police said.

A Palwal police official said some farmers drove their tractors dangerously on the Agra-Mathura-Delhi Highway, endangering the lives of police personnel on duty, which prompted the police action. Some farmers were injured in the incident. Palwal SP Gahlawat told PTI

Jan 26, 2021 - 20:09 (IST)

I feel ashamed, Yogendra Yadav takes moral responsibility for violence 

The tractor march meant to highlight farmers' demands devolved into anarchy on the streets of the National Capital as hordes of rampaging protesters broke through barriers, fought with police, overturned vehicles and delivered a national insult -- hoisting a religious flag from the rampart of Red Fort, a privilege reserved for India's Tricolour.
 
Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav said he felt "ashamed" of the way the farmers' tractor parade turned out on Tuesday, and took responsibility for it. "Being a part of the protest," he said, "I feel ashamed of the way things proceeded and I take responsibility of it." 

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Farmer Tractor Rally LATEST Updates: In a video posted on Facebook, he said that they should not be given any communal colour or dubbed as fundamentalists or hardliners. “To symbolically register our protest against the new farm legislations, we put up ''Nishan Sahib'' and a farmer flag and also raised a slogan of Kisan Mazdoor Ekta,” said Sidhu.

 

The Delhi Police on Tuesday said protesting farmers violated the conditions pre-agreed for their tractor parade and indulge in violence and vandalism, leaving 86 of its personnel injured.

The order was issued in view of the potential law and order situation on account of events which unfolded during the farmers' tractor parade in the national capital

The letter, written by Mumbai University student Ashish Rai, claimed that the tractor march event has been "terrorized by some anti-social elements". It requested that a Special Investigation Committee be formed on this entire matter to conduct a rigorous inquiry against the anti-social elements involved in this unconstitutional activity

Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav said he felt "ashamed" of the way the farmers' tractor parade turned out on Tuesday, and took responsibility for it. "Being a part of the protest," he said, "I feel ashamed of the way things proceeded and I take responsibility of it."

News reports have said that the police in both Punjab and Haryana -- the states where the farmers' agitation is arguably rooted at -- have declared high alerts following the violence in Delhi today

Prominent opposition leaders including Mamata Banerjee, Sharad Pawar and MK Stalin today held the Centre responsible for pushing the situation this far, and adopting a regrettable attitude towards farmers

The Delhi Police had told PTI earlier in the day that the tractor of a farmer had overturned in the chaos near ITO on Tuesday, killing him on the spot. The deceased has now been identified as Ranveet Singh from Bilaspur in Punjab

A group of farmers who had started there march from Tikri, and had clashed with police in Nangloi area have finally reached the Red Fort. Earlier in the day, the police had forcefully removed another group of protesters from the historic site after violence broke out.

The Delhi metro rail Corporation has said that normal service has resumed on grey line. Entry and exit has been permitted through one gate at several stations

The Delhi Police resorted to baton charge and firing of tear gas shells on farmers at Nangloi Chowk in West Delhi as they tried to deviate from the pre-agreed route to enter the national capital during their protest.

Distancing themselves from the violence during the farmers' march, Sanyukta Kisan Morcha has said that despite their efforts, some organisations and individuals violated route and indulged in condemnable acts

The internet services have been snapped in some parts of Delhi-NCR in view of the prevailing law and order situation, an order from the MHA said. The areas where internet is suspended include Singhu Border, Ghazipur, Tikri, Mukarba Chowk and Nangloi.

Residents of Punjab and Delhi took out rallies on Tuesday in support of those protesting the farm laws. Several people in the National Capital Region formed human chains and distributed food and water to the protesters.

Farmers have entered the Red Fort and their tractors are present outside. While few cops are sitting on chairs, others are trying to bring down certain flags which the protestors have hoisted.

According to media reports, some police personnel were beaten by the protesting farmers in the ITO area of the National Capital. The protesters had also vandalised a DTC bus earlier.

Violence continued at ITO in central Delhi with protesters being seen chasing police personnel with sticks. The cops resorted to lathicharge and fired teargas shells to disperse the crowd.

In view of the farmers tractor march in Delhi, some of the stations along the green line that have been shut are - Brigadier Hoshiar Singh, Bahadurgarh City, Pandit Shree Ram Sharma, Tikri Border, Tikri Kalan, Ghevra, Mundka Industrial Area, Mundka, Rajdhani Park, Nangloi Railway Station and Nangloi.

At Delhi's Mukarba Chowk, security personnel used tear gas on groups of farmers as they tried to break barricades and cemented barriers with tractors.

Groups of farmers camping at Singhu and Tikri border points of the National Capital broke through police barricades Tuesday morning as they attempted to enter the city to carry out a tractor rally.

The Delhi Police resorted to lathicharge and tear gas at the Singhu border after protesting farmers breached barricades set up to thwart them from entering the National Capital.

The police had given farmers permission to enter the city after the official Republic Day parade at Rajpath.

Groups of protesting farmers camping at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur border points of the national capital broke police barricades on Tuesday morning to force their way into the city, much ahead of the time they were granted permission by Delhi Police for their tractor parade.

Tractors bearing flags could be seen, along with men and women dancing on dhols, and locals on both sides of the road showering petals on cavalcades, as security personnel tried to convince farmers to stick to the decided plan of holding the tractor parade after the conclusion of the Republic Day parade at the Rajpath.

Farmers also marched on foot in large numbers holding flags of different farmer unions and raising slogans. Some were seen riding motorcycles and horses. People also perched atop their tractors and raised slogans and sang revolutionary songs.

Locals were also seen distributing food and water bottles to the protesting farmers who were part of the march.

A senior police officer who was at the spot said that a group of farmers entered the national capital after breaking the barricades.

"As per agreement, they were supposed to start their parade at the time specified but they forcefully entered Delhi and are currently peacefully sitting at Mukarba Chowk. They are supposed to head towards Bawana side as per the route but they are adamant that they want to go towards Outer Ring Road.

"The situation is peaceful and we are trying to convince them to go towards the designated route at the specified time, he said.

On Sunday, Delhi Police had allowed the tractor rally after the annual Republic Day parade. The protesters were told they can't disrupt the celebrations at Rajpath even as the farmers insisted their parade will be "peaceful".

"But some groups of farmers did not relent and started moving towards the Outer Ring Road breaking police barricades," an official said.

A member of the Sankyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of 41 unions, leading the protest against the three central farm laws at several border points of Delhi, said those who broke the barricades belonged to the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee.

He said the Sankyukt Kisan Morcha's tractor parade will start as scheduled after police give farmers way. The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee on Monday announced that they would hold their march on Delhi's busy Outer Ring Road on Republic Day.

The protesting unions have also announced a foot march to Parliament on February 1, when the annual Budget is being presented, to press for their demands, including a repeal of the three new agriculture laws.

Heavy security has been deployed in view of the 'Kisan Gantantra Parade' that will move into Delhi from the Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur border points.

Patrolling has been intensified at power substations in Delhi following a threat from the banned Sikhs for Justice outfit to disrupt the city's supply during the Republic Day celebrations.

An official said around 6,000 security personnel have been deployed to maintain vigil. Facial recognition systems have also been set up at vantage points for suspect identification, the official said.

The security personnel are keeping a hawk-eyed vigil over Rajpath, where President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be celebrating the occasion along with other dignitaries and thousands of people.

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been campaing at several Delhi border points since 28 November, demanding a complete repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee on minimum support price for their crops.

Updated Date: January 26, 2021 22:47:05 IST

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