Express News Service
NEW DELHI: The Centre on Wednesday defended its decision to install spikes at farmer protest sites on the Delhi-UP border, saying it is to prevent a repeat of the Republic Day violence.
“The barricades at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border were strengthened to prevent any possible repeat of the conduct displayed on January 26,” Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy said in the Rajya Sabha.
The minister said no road was dug up at the Delhi border in view of farmers’ agitation.
Thousands of protesters had clashed with police near Delhi’s ITO during the tractor parade called by various farmer unions on January 26, with a section storming the Red Fort and clashing with security. Over 300 police personnel were injured during the clashes.