DELHI IS IN TOTAL CHAOS AS PROTESTING FARMERS BREAK POLICE BARRICADES TO ENTER CAPITAL

Tue 26 January 2021:

Thousands of farmers knocked down barricades, clashed with the police and entered Delhi this morning on Republic Day as they took out a tractor rally against the government’s new agricultural laws. Chaos erupted at the borders of the capital as protesters were lathi-charged and tear-gassed by policemen. The disarray was caused after the protesters – allowed to hold the “Kisaan Parade” between 12 and 5 PM – began the march much before time and deviated from the agreed routes.

WATCH | #Protesting #FarmersProtest beaten by Indian Police on India’s #RepublicDayIndia (26 January)#Indianfarmers pic.twitter.com/Byc2YlZXxe

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) January 26, 2021

The clashes took place on Tuesday as farmers held a “tractor rally” to coincide with India’s Republic Day celebrations. They are demanding the repeal of three farm laws passed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government last year.

Protesters defied tear gas shelling and continued to march on the highway as they raised slogans against the government, forcing the shutting down of several metro stations in the city.

Earlier, the centre had opposed the tractor rally on Republic Day in an affidavit in the Supreme Court, stressing it will be “an embarrassment to the nation”.

Waving multicoloured flags and holding placards, the protesting farmers marched on tractors, cars, motorbikes, horses and on foot from the outskirts of the city, where they had been camping for two months.

WATCH | #Delhi is in total chaos as protesting #FarmersProtest break police barricades to enter capital #indiarepublicday #Indianfarmers #KisanTractorRally #KisanRepublicDay2021 #KisanGantantraParade pic.twitter.com/Bu3xLNyVTB

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) January 26, 2021

“We will not surrender. We will win or die” read a placard, reflecting a sentiment that has galvanised the farmers against the new laws, which they say will destroy their livelihoods by allowing private companies to control the country’s vast agricultural sector.

As the farmers marched, men, women and children served them packaged water, fruits, juice and biscuits to them. People were seen recording the protest on their mobile phones.

WATCH | Indian Police Brutality against Protesting #FarmersProtest on India’s #RepublicDayIndia (26 January)#Indianfarmers pic.twitter.com/e6vP7m51KU

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) January 26, 2021

Many student groups also came out in support of the farmers.

The chaos erupted early today, just before the annual Republic Day parade in Delhi. The farmers had been allowed to enter Delhi for their tractor rally around noon, but they breached barricades at various points on Delhi’s borders and entered before time. Sections of farmers also deviated from the routes agreed upon when they were granted permission for the protest.

Multiple rounds of negotiations between the government and the farmers’ unions have failed. Farmers have also rejected the government’s offer to suspend the laws for 18 months.