Vox Populi
The country celebrates the 72nd Republic Day in the midst of a global pandemic-induced gloom, a ravaged economy and protests by farmers on an unprecedented scale against a controversial legislative exercise. The star attraction of the celebrations throughout the country is the magnificent parades by regiments of the Indian Army Navy Air Force, police and paramilitary forces at Rajpath in the national capital. This year, a tractor ‘parade’ by lakhs of aggrieved farmers is to be witnessed soon after the grand parade is over. The venue will shift from Rajpath to the Outer Ring Road in Delhi and the forces on duty at the Republic Day parade would be remobilised to keep a vigil on the tractor march. The organisers have assured the police the march would be held peacefully.
Mukesh Ranjan & Sukhmeet Bhasin
New Delhi/Bathinda, January 24
The Delhi Police on Sunday said they had taken an in-principle decision to allow farmers to hold a tractor parade in the national Capital on January 26.
Special Commissioner of Police (Intelligence) Dependra Pathak said: “The rally will be conducted amid tight security after the Republic Day parade is over. We have received intelligence inputs hinting at disturbance of the peaceful protest.” He said the parade would enter Delhi from Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur borders and return to its originating points.
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Noting that the limit to the number of tractors will be finalised soon, Pathak said: “We trust the farmers that they will not camp in the Capital.” Barricades and other security arrangements will be removed on January 26, the police said. Meanwhile, the Malwa hinterland is witnessing great enthusiasm for the tractor parade.
Pakistan has been conspiring to disrupt and hijack the Republic Day tractor rally by the farmers protesting against three agriculture laws at the borders of Delhi, police said on Sunday, adding that over 300 Twitter handles have been generated in the Islamic country to run a misinformation blitzkrieg.
Republic Day Tractor Rally: No Progress At Meeting Between Police, Farmer Unions Republic Day Tractor Rally: No Progress At Meeting Between Police, Farmer Unions Talking to reporters after the meeting, Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav said the police wanted the farmer leaders to take out their tractor rally outside the national capital.
Updated: January 21, 2021 3:21 pm IST
Farm Unions met the Delhi Police today over their plan to hold a tractor rally in Delhi on Republic Day
New Delhi:
The second round of meeting between the police and farmer unions regarding the proposed January 26 tractor rally by them remained inconclusive today as the farmers stuck to their demand of taking out the rally on Delhi s busy Outer Ring Road.
Tractor Rally: Police Suggest Route Outside National Capital, Farmers Stick to Original Plan
Sources told PTI that police had suggested the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway instead of the Outer Ring Road.
A farmer rests during a tractor rally to protest against the newly passed farm bills, on a highway on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, January 7, 2021. Photo: Reuters/Adnan Abidi/File Photo
Urban21/Jan/2021
New Delhi: The second round of meeting between the police and farmer unions regarding the proposed January 26 tractor rally remained inconclusive on Thursday. Farmers stuck to their demand of taking out the rally on Delhi’s Outer Ring Road.