Protesting farmers to enter Delhi after 2 months at borders
New Delhi: After nearly half a dozen marathon meeting between the Delhi Police and the protesting farmers in quick succession, the farmer unions protesting the Centre's three farm laws are all set to enter the National Capital for their Republic Day tractor rally — right after the main event in the heart of the city is over.
The farmers will enter the Capital exactly two months after they were first stopped at the city's borders with excessive force and the use of water cannons and tear gas shells. They have been sitting in at the borders since.
The Delhi Police formally announced that they have finally granted permission for the farmers' tractor march inside the Capital and that the farmers would take out the rally on the three alternate routes proposed by the city police.
Millennium Post had first reported that the Delhi Police had finally come halfway after maintaining that they would not let the tractors enter Delhi. On January 23, this newspaper had reported that cops had agreed to let the farmers enter the city but suggested that the rally be held in Outer Delhi.
The tractor rallies will enter Delhi from Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur borders, and return to their originating points. The routes will cover over a 100-kilometre distance in the national capital.
The Singhu tractors will enter the city through the Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar, and pass through Kanjhawala, Bawana, Auchandi Border, Kundli-Manesar-Palwal expressway before turning back, covering a stretch of around 62-63 kms. The Tikri tractors will pass through Nangloi, Najafgarh, Jharoda and before heading back to the Tikri border. Furthermore, the rally from the Ghazipur border will pass through the Apsara Border, Hapur Road and come back to Ghazipur after covering a stretch of 46 kms.
Deependra Pathak, Special Commissioner of Police (Intelligence) said, "The rally will be held amid tight security with full dignity and honour." At different borders, there are approximately 12,000 to 13,000 tractors with tens of thousands more on their way to join them for the rally from different states.
Even in Maharashtra, a huge farmers' rally of tens of thousands was undertaken, with protesters marching to Mumbai in protest against the new farm laws.
As per the Special CP, around 7,000 to 8,000 tractors are already at Tikri, 5,000 at Singhu and around 1,000 at Ghazipur border.
As soon as the rally will start, the barricades and other security arrangements, which were put in place since the protest, will be removed and the farmers will enter the Capital.
The city police are also coordinating with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh Police officers on how it will be conducted conveniently. When asked, the senior officer told reporters that the farmers had assured them of sticking to the prescribed routes and return to their originating points.
More meetings between the police and farmers are expected in the days leading up to the march for logistical planning and senior officers will be in constant touch with farmer leaders until the march is conducted peacefully.
Security arrangements have been tightened and police officials have been asked to design deployment in a way that no nook or cranny along the routes are left unoccupied. They have also been told that in case the rally meanders out of its route, the police should keep shepherding them back to the route - but without any physical contact, politely and respectfully.
In a set of instructions issued for participants of the tractor rally, the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha has clearly said any car or tractor found deviating from the decided route will be acted against. "SKM has decided that if any car/tractor halts/occupies an area without any reason, that car/tractor will be removed by volunteers. All the cars/tractors in the parade will return to the starting point after completing the parade," the instructions said.
The professional assessment of these routes was done and then it was decided that farmers will be given these routes for the rally, the police said. The expected number of tractors will be distributed in a way that the rally will be concluded in a peaceful and disciplined way.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police in an internal message said that all officers and men, as well as CAPF and other forces deployed for Republic Day Parade security, should remain in a ready position to move at short notice for law and order arrangements.
"The officer should also ensure adequate rest after RDC arrangements and should remain in a ready position to move at short notice for law and order arrangement in connection with the tractor rally," the message read.
