‘Violence not a solution’: Rahul Gandhi on farmer-police clashes

As protesting farmers clashed with police at several places in Delhi on Republic Day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said violence was never the solution to any problem and appealed to the Centre to scrap the three contentious farm laws.

Taking to Twitter, Gandhi said, “Violence is not the solution to any problem. If anyone gets hurt, the damage will happen to our country. Take back the anti-farmer law for the benefit of the country.”

????? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?? ?? ???, ??????? ????? ??? ?? ?? ?????

?????? ?? ??? ????-?????? ?????? ???? ??!

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 26, 2021

BJP MP from North-East Delhi Gautam Gambhir said, “Violence and vandalism will lead us nowhere. I urge everyone to maintain peace & honour agreements. Today is not the day for such chaos.”

Violence and vandalism will lead us nowhere. I urge everyone to maintain peace & honour agreements. Today is not the day for such chaos!

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) January 26, 2021

The violence at ITO unfolded despite the police giving farmers camping at Delhi’s three borders — Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur — permission to hold rallies on specific routes, only after the official Republic Day parade at Rajpath. As per the agreement, farmers were to remain in the adjoining areas of the borders and not venture towards Central Delhi. At Singhu, amid the chaos, the police resorted to lathicharge and tear gas to control the protesters.

Follow latest updates |Farmers tractor rally in Delhi

Police used tear gas on groups of farmers and resorted to baton charge as protestors broke past barricades with tractors at different border points. Farmers also entered Red Fort premises, breaching police barricades, attacking personnel and even vandalising a bus at ITO. The farmers also hoisted a flag on a flagstaff at Red Fort which was later pulled down by the police.

Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor said, “Most unfortunate. I have supported the farmers’ protests from the start but I cannot condone lawlessness. And on Republic Day no flag but the sacred tiranga should fly aloft the Red Fort.”

Most unfortunate. I have supported the farmers’ protests from the start but I cannot condone lawlessness. And on #RepublicDay no flag but the sacred tiranga should fly aloft the Red Fort. https://t.co/C7CjrVeDw7

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 26, 2021

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury called out the police for lathicharging the protesters. “Tear gassing & lathicharging Kisans is unacceptable. Why, after the Delhi Police & Samyukt Kisan Morcha agreement? Why is the government provoking a confrontation. They must allow the peaceful, agreed tractor parade to continue,” he tweeted.

Tear gassing & lathicharging Kisans is unacceptable.
Why, after the Delhi Police & Samyukt Kisan Morcha agreement?
Why is the government provoking a confrontation.
They must allow the peaceful, agreed tractor parade to continue.https://t.co/oVwpEdWF6S

— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) January 26, 2021

Union minister Prahlad Singh Patel said, “The Red Fort is a symbol of the dignity of our democracy, the agitators should have stayed away from the Red Fort. I condemn the violation of its dignity. It is sad and unfortunate.”

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— Prahlad Singh Patel (@prahladspatel) January 26, 2021

Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said, “Disturbing images of protest going out of control at the Red Fort. Tricolour disrespect is unacceptable. Any violence in a democracy is unacceptable. Law must be supreme. No side wins, the nation loses. Sad day for the Republic.”

Disturbing images of protest going out of control at the Red Fort. Tricolour disrespect is unacceptable.
Any violence in a democracy is unacceptable.
Law must be supreme.
No side wins, the nation loses. Sad day for the Republic.

— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) January 26, 2021

Lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan said, “It is unfortunate that some farmers on tractors have deviated from the pre agreed & designated route. It is extremely important for the farmers to go back to the designated route&above all remain totally non-violent. Any indiscipline or violence will seriously damage the movement.”

It is unfortunate that some farmers on tractors have deviated from the pre agreed & designated route. It is extremely important for the farmers to go back to the designated route&above all remain totally non-violent. Any indiscipline or violence will seriously damage the movement

— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) January 26, 2021

As per the latest reports, one protester has been killed near ITO after he was shot at and the tractor he was driving turned turtle.