Farmers protesting at Delhi borders over the Centre’s farm laws are all geared up to carry out a tractor march on Republic Day. The farmers’ union reached an agreement with the Delhi Police on Sunday to carry out the tractor march peacefully.
Farmers at Delhi’s three protest sites — Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur border points will also take out a massive tractor rally against the farm laws. The routes will cover over 100 kilometres of distance in the national capital.
Protesting farmer unions opposing the three contentious farm laws said their parade will not enter central Delhi and it will start only after the official Republic Day parade concludes. As per the Delhi Police, barricades and other security arrangements will be removed and the farmers will enter the national capital at around 12 pm.
The 3 routes of tractor march
The Delhi Police said that the first route will begin from Singhu border and will move from Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar to Bawana. Similarly, 62-km long second route will pass through Nangloi-Najafgarh and Jharoda after starting from Tikri border. The third route will lead to Apsara border and Hapur after starting from Ghazipur. All of these processions will converge at Kundli Manesar Palwal Expressway (KMP).
However, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee has insisted on taking out a march on Delhi’s Outer Ring Road, despite not having the permission.
The organisation’s general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “We respect the other unions, they have every right to carry out their parade wherever they want, we also have the right to conduct it where went want”.
Here are key things to know about Farmer’s tractor rally on Republic Day
- The farmers’ proposed tractor rally will start after the time period of the Republic Day celebration has ended, the police has said.
- The tractor parade by agitating farmers will feature a number of tableaux from across states depicting village life, the protest against the Centre’s contentious farm laws, and hailing their courage, according to organisers.
- Farmer leaders have appealed to those participating in the tractor march to carry enough ration for 24 hours and ensure that the rally remains peaceful. According to a farmer leader, around 3,000 volunteers have been deployed to ensure that the parade remains peaceful and no untoward incident takes place.
- No one should carry any weapon or drink alcohol. Banners carrying inciting messages are not allowed, reported news agency PTI citing a farmer leader.
- Three routes, originating from Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur border points, have been finalized for the march, said a farmer leader. Those starting from the Singhu border will traverse Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar, Bawana, Qutabgarh, Auchandi border, and Kharkhoda toll plaza. The entire route will be 63 kilometers long. The 62-km long second route, starting from the Tikri border, will pass through Nagloi, Najafgarh, Jharoda border, and Rohtak bypass, and Asoda toll plaza, the farmer leaders said. Tractors starting from Ghazipur will drive through the Apsara border, Hapur road, and Lal Kuan. Covering 68 kilometers, it is the longest route for the march.
- The farmer leaders will be on the frontline in their cars. All vehicles will have to return to the originating place. No one will try and stop midway without a valid reason, the farmer leaders said.
- Each tractor will carry a tricolor and there will be folk music and patriotic songs. Only five people per tractor will be allowed and strict vigil is being maintained to thwart any criminal activity, according to the farmer leaders.
- A war room has been set up at each protest site to ensure effective coordination during the tractor parade. There will be 40 members, including doctors, security personnel, and social media managers, in each of these rooms, said a member of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a joint front of the protesting farmer unions. Around 40 ambulances will be stationed along the route to attend to any medical emergency.
- A group of 500 tractors-trolleys left Amritsar and several other batches from Phagwara, Hoshiarpur, and other places of Punjab have moved towards Delhi to take part in the tractor parade, farmer leaders said on January 24. Several ‘khaps’ of Haryana are set to join the rally with thousands of these vehicles leaving various caste councils’ villages for the national capital on January 24. About 1,500 tractors from villages under the Kandela khap set out on the day for the ‘tractor parade’ in Delhi, Khap head Tekram Kandela said.
- Authorities in Haryana have issued advisories against unnecessary travel towards Delhi over the next couple of days. The Haryana Police said there would be disruptions in vehicular movement on the national highway from Karnal and Rohtak towards Delhi during January 25-27.
SAD chief says tractor parade will be ‘harbinger of a huge victory for farmers’
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday said the peaceful conduct of the proposed tractor parade in Delhi will be the “harbinger of a huge victory for our farmers”. He said he was confident that the tractor parade by farmers in the national capital on Tuesday will be a totally peaceful event.
“Peace is the top priority for everyone and the participants in the farmers’ struggle so far have demonstrated an unprecedented and commendable discipline. This has made this movement one of the most unique democratic events in recent history,” Badal said in a statement issued here. He urged the Centre “to ensure that the police and other law-enforcing agencies deal with the tractor march with utmost sensitivity and patience”. The SAD chief directed the party workers to take part in the tractor parade to act as “vigilantes for peace”.
The rally will mark the completion of two months of protest against the Centre’s contentious farm laws by farmers camping at the borders of Delhi. On Budget day, February 1, the farmers are planning a foot march to Parliament.
