One R-Day, 2 parades; farmers announce plan to march to Parliament on February 1
New Delhi: While the Capital is set to witness a "parallel" Republic Day Parade in what is expected to be a historic event as tractors get ready to take out a rally in protest of the Centre's three farm laws, tension among the police and farmers are palpable with many details still remaining sketchy.
While the Delhi Police have technically allowed the rally on three routes specifically designed for the farmers, the permission is only for 5,000 people and 5,000 tractors. But there are already over 13,000 tractors waiting to start the march on Monday from the Capital's borders.
Meanwhile, even as the farmers announced on Monday evening that they will begin the march at 8 am, the Delhi Police have insisted that the march be held between 12 pm and 5 pm after the main Republic Day Parade is over.
And even amidst these developments, traffic arrangements for the city during the rally, security arrangements are still being worked out. In addition, the police are also solidifying contingencies in case the rally meanders out of the prescribed route.
Sources said Monday morning started with a meeting between the top brass of the Delhi Police to chalk out the routes for the proposed rally. After finalisation, Joint Commissioner of Police (traffic) Meenu Chaudhary held a press conference. In between this, Delhi Police Commissioner reached bordering areas of Delhi-NCR to meet officers and take stock of security arrangements. Sources added that senior officials are in constant touch with farmer leaders.
Police deployment along the tractor rally routes had begun by Monday evening and Commissioner S N Shrivastava has directed officers to give their subordinates enough rest as the rally is expected to last for more than 12 hours.
At Ghazipur border, DCP (East) Deepak Yadav himself was checking security arrangements. He told Millennium Post that they have made proper security arrangements and will also deploy drones for surveillance on a need-basis. Plans have been prepared in such a way that they are deployed on the front and back of the parade like head and tail, the official added.
Meanwhile, in a significant judicial intervention, the Allahabad High Court has asked Uttar Pradesh authorities to explain why Sub-Divisional Magistrates issued notices to farmers with tractors asking them to furnish 'exorbitant personal bonds' in the wake of farmers protests, according to Live Law.
Sources said over 1,000 barricades are being used to secure the route. Moving on to Singhu Border, where police will use video cameras, CCTV cameras to record the parade, one official said: "We have made full proof of arrangements. If situations demand will also fly drones."
However, the focus remains on securing the routes with barricades. When asked how many barricades would be needed for the day, one official smiled before saying, "Countless".
Furthermore, signages regarding routes will also be placed and also arrangements of mobile toilets, water will be there. Significantly, farmer leaders have also made necessary arrangements for volunteers to assist police in controlling the crowd. They have also made arrangements for ambulances and issued emergency response guidelines for protesters.
From music to plays, Singhu saw heightened spirits on Monday evening as more and more tractors joined the protesters for the march. "There is no place to walk here as there are so many people," Kashmir Singh from Patiala said. He has been at the protest since December and has been waiting for the rally.
Preparations had already begun with tableaux from various other states. "We have been preparing for this march since the time it was announced. We have marched from faraway places to join the rally," Malkan Singh from Punjab added.
And outlining their plans for the protests after the tractor rally, farmer leaders on Monday also announced that they planned to march to Parliament on Budget day (February 1) and surround it in protest against the laws.
The Delhi Police's permission to the farmers added that they would still need to seek approval from the land-owning agency, fire department, BSES and NDPL. Police have added that they have also deployed armed policemen at strategic locations so that no untoward incident takes place.
