NEW DELHI: Thousands of farmers protesting controversial farm laws broke police barricades and clashed with police at various locations in the national capital on Tuesday as they headed into the city to eliminate the proposed tractor rally on Day of the Republic.
Here’s a look at the main developments.
The protesting farmers entered the Red Fort complex and attempted to raise the flag from the monument’s walls.
Doors of several metro stations closed
The entry / exit gates of Samaypur Badli, Rohini Sector 18/19, Haiderpur Badli Mor, Jahangir Puri, Adarsh Nagar, Azadpur, Model Town, GTB Nagar, Vishwavidyalaya, Vidhan Sabha and Civil Lines are closed. The entry / exit gates of the Indraprastha metro station and all stations on the Green Line are closed, according to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.
Protesters cross the borders of Delhi to enter the city
Chanting ‘rang de basanti’ and ‘jai jawan jai kisan’, numerous farmers mounted tractors, motorcycles, horses and even cranes to cross the borders of the national capital into the city.
Locals stood on both sides of the roads at various locations throwing flower petals on farmers amid the rhythms of the drums.
Standing on flag-adorned vehicles, protesters danced to patriotic songs such as ‘Aisa desh hai mera’ and ‘Sare jahan se achcha’.
Protesters break barricades and clash with police
Protesting farmers break through barricades and clashed with security personnel at various locations in Delhi as they tried to enter the city.
At ITO, protesters broke through a police barricade, destroyed DTC buses parked in the middle of the road as barricades and clashed with security personnel in front of the Police headquarters. Protesters also broke through barricades at the Karnal turnoff and the Tikri border.
The rally goes peacefully, says the union leader
“The demonstration is going on peacefully. I have no knowledge of it. We are in Ghazipur and we are freeing traffic here,” said Rakesh Tikait, spokesman. Bharatiya Kisan Union when asked about incidents of violence in some places, during the tractor rally.
Strengthened security in Delhi in light of demonstration of peasant leaders
Security was reinforced in the national capital with police barricades set up at various important places in the city, including ITO, the Yamuna Bridge and other locations. This was done in light of the proposed tractor rally called by farmers’ unions on Republic Day against the recently enacted central farm laws.
On video: Tractor demonstration: clash between farmers and Delhi police at various points
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