New Delhi: Utter chaos was seen at Tikri border between Haryana and Delhi as farmers knocked down police barricades to enter the national capital. Farmers from Punjab and Haryana, among other states, are on Tuesday set to lead a tractor rally at Delhi borders to protest against the Centre’s farm laws on the occasion of 72nd Republic Day. The national capital turned into a fortress overnight with a heavy security cover and deployment of thousands of police personnel in and around central Delhi.
Follow LIVE Updates on the farmers’ tractor rally:
11.06 AM: Tear Gas, Lathicharge as Farmers Break Barricades to Enter Delhi
Policemen fired tear gas shells and used lathi-charge on protesting farmers at several areas in Delhi. Thousands of protestors joined the farmers’ tractor rally – Kisaan Parade – this morning against the Centre’s farm laws.
9.29 AM: What Delhi Police Says
We are in touch with the Uttar Pradesh Police and farmer leaders. We have deployed drones for security surveillance during farmers tractor rally: DCP East Delhi at Ghazipur border https://t.co/JcQUqlmc2k pic.twitter.com/b4wwWyZrka
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2021
9.22 AM: Utter chaos was seen at Singhu and Tikri borders as farmers break police barricades along their permitted routes to enter Delhi.
#WATCH Farmers tractor rally in protest against the Centre's farm laws gets underway at Tikri border
Tractor rally route: Tikri border-Nangloi-Baprola Village-Najafgarh-Jharoda border-Rohtak bypass-Asoda toll plaza#RepublicDay pic.twitter.com/yTr2gaHY7w
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2021
9.20 AM: Visuals from Dhansa border.
Farmers' #RepublicDay tractor rally in protest against the three farm laws begins at Delhi's Dhansa border pic.twitter.com/gZXfHSXhTl
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2021
Huge barricades were erected at all border points to stop tractors from entering as well as in the central parts of Delhi to avoid any kind of protest around the Rajpath area.
Delhi: Security tightened in the national capital; visuals from ITO, Yamuna Bridge and Subramaniam Bharti Marg areas.#RepublicDay pic.twitter.com/qxz6TlqIoC
— ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2021
#WATCH: Delhi police put up barriers on GT Karnal road.#RepublicDay pic.twitter.com/cRPksgDG1Y
— ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2021
The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee said they will take out their tractor parade from Singhu border on the Outer Ring Road in Delhi at 8 am. Meanwhile, the tractor rally from Tikri border is expected to begin at around 9 am.
#WATCH: A large number of farmers, along with their tractors, head towards Delhi, as part of their tractor rally on #RepublicDay today.
Visuals from Singhu Border (Delhi- Haryana). pic.twitter.com/zCe2amWts1
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2021
#WATCH: Delhi Police carry out barricading of road in Daulatpur area.#RepublicDay pic.twitter.com/NWmFIywzJ1
— ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2021
Only about 5,000 people on as many tractors have been given a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) by the government to participate in the parade in Delhi, and within the prescribed time slot of 12 pm to 5 pm today.
#WATCH: Farmers to hold tractor rally in Delhi today to protest against the Centre's Farm Laws; visuals from near Ghazipur#RepublicDay pic.twitter.com/LJlkQtUExl
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2021
Moreover, several routes have been temporarily shut by the Delhi Police. A temporary wall has been put up to seal Karnal bypass to stop vehicles from entering Delhi.
Earlier this morning, the Delhi Traffic Police alerted commuters to avoid GTK Road, Outer Ring road, Badli road, KN Katzu marg, Madhuban chowk, Kanjhawala Road, Palla Road, Narela & DSIDC Narela roads due to heavy traffic.
Delhi: Security tightened across the national capital on #RepublicDay . Visuals from North Avenue. pic.twitter.com/hvqOTdUnEI
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2021
Even on the Ghazipur border, farmers are set to take out their tractor parade. Farmers at Ghazipur border will follow the route from Ghazipur border-Apsara border-Hapur Road-IMS College-Lal Kuan-Ghazipur border.
Farmers' tractors with Tricolour ready for #RepublicDay tractor rally in protest against the Centre's Farm Laws; visuals from Chilla border on Delhi-Noida Link Road pic.twitter.com/h4CvZGLGdI
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2021
However, the rally is expected to be much bigger and protesting farmers may even deviate from their permitted route.
As per tradition, the National Flag will be unfurled at Rajpath followed by the National Anthem with a booming 21-gun salute. The Republic Day parade will commence with President Ram Nath Kovind taking the salute. The parade will be commanded by Parade Commander, Lieutenant General Vijay Kumar Mishra, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, General Officer Commanding Delhi Area. Major General Alok Kacker, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area will be the Parade Second-in-Command.