One of the farmers who marched to the Red Fort told NDTV: “We came here to deliver a message to the Modi government, our job is done. We will go back now.”
Thousands of farmers protesting against the centre’s new farm laws stormed into Delhi with their tractor rally this morning that led to violence in different parts of the city. Hundreds of farmers among them poured into the Red Fort complex by afternoon, as visuals from the spot showed them climbing a flagpole below the ramparts of the iconic Mughal fort, from where the Prime Minister addresses the nation on Independence Day. However, after negotiations by the Delhi Police, these farmers agreed to move back to the places where they were protesting earlier.
As farmers broke barricades and entered Delhi in the morning, reports of violence started coming in from different parts of national capital. The section of farmers reportedly veered from the agreed upon route, which resulted into police using forcce to stop them. Videos from various spots showed them clashing with the police, throwing stones and using rods.
Vieos from the iconic Red Fort showed farmers hoisting a sacred flag of Sikhs at a second flagpole. Hundreds others, carrying national flags as well as farmer union flags, stood at the huge gates of the Mughal fort, as police were seen trying to control the crowd in vain.
One of the farmers who marched to the Red Fort told NDTV: “We came here to deliver a message to the Modi government, our job is done. We will go back now.”
Another farmer said: “We managed to reach the Fort even though they tried to stop us. We will not stop till we reach our goal – the repeal of the three farm laws.”
Granted permission to enter the periphery of the city for their tractor rally on the Republic Day after a court battle, farmer unions were supposed to carry a peaceful rally with a designated route that was agreed upon. However, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee said they would not stick to the course.
Even the the promised time to start the tractor march was tweaked, as crowds swelled at the borders at around 8 AM even before the parade started and thousands entered the national capital on foot, defying the agreement to not enter Delhi before the traditional Republic Day parade by the armed forces at Rajpath ended around 11.30 am.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
