(GNB Desk): Tens of thousands of Indian farmers have stormed the Mughal-era Red Fort complex in the national capital to demand the repeal of new farm laws, with the protest turning violent and resulting in at least one death, several media reports.
A “tractor rally” called by the protesting farmers in New Delhi on Tuesday saw them clashing with police who fired tear gas and launched a baton-charge as the protesters broke barricades to march to the heart of the city amid Republic Day celebrations.
1 lakh tractors…. Look at this row
— Being Ayan (@_beingayan) January 24, 2021…. #TractorRally #TractorMarch #TractorMarchDelhi #KisanTractorRally #RepublicDay2021 #KisanGantantraParade #KisanTractorRally #FarmersProtest #26JanDelhiTractorParade #KisanParade #tractorParade pic.twitter.com/sk8H6zQJ5v
Tens of thousands of them have been striking on the outskirts of Delhi since November, demanding the laws be repealed. They rejected a government offer to put the laws on hold last week.
This is one of the longest farmers-led protests India has ever seen, pitting the community against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) government.
Violence broke out in Delhi on Republic Day as protesters in farmers’ tractor rally marched into the national capital, breaking barricades and clashing with the police. The Delhi Police resorted to tear gas shells and lathi-charge to contain the situation. Deviating from the designated route, a section of farmers entered the Red Fort and hoisted flags, Indian media reports.
Home Minister Amit Shah is taking stock of the law and order situation in Delhi after groups of farmers deviated from their designated route and broke into the Red Fort premises to hoist their flag atop the monument. Home Minister Shah called an emergency meeting Tuesday over the violence.
The protesters were removed from the Red Fort area by the police. Internet services were suspended in parts of Delhi due to the violence, Indian media reports.
“Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh held a protest in a disciplined manner but the government didn’t take them seriously. As restraint ended, the tractor march was taken out. Centre’s responsibility was to keep law and order in control but they failed. Nobody will support whatever happened today but the reason behind it cannot be ignored either. Those sitting calmly grew angry, the Centre didn’t fulfil its responsibility. The government should act maturely and take the right decision,” says NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
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