Farmer unions to go ahead with Republic Day tractor march

New Delhi: Farmer unions protesting against the Centre's farm laws said on Sunday that they will go ahead with their proposed tractor parade in Delhi on Republic Day.

Addressing a press conference at the Singhu border protest site, union leader Yogendra Yadav said, "We will carry out a tractor parade on the Outer Ring Road in Delhi on Republic Day. The parade will be very peaceful. There will be no disruption of the Republic Day parade. The farmers will put up the national flag on their tractors."

Earlier, the authorities had moved the Supreme Court seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor march or any other kind of protest by farmers which seeks to disrupt the gathering and celebrations of Republic Day on January 26. The apex court is likely to hear the petition on January 18 along with other pleas relating to controversial farm laws and the ongoing farmers' protest at Delhi borders. SC may take into account the matter of recusal of a member of the committee set up by it to resolve the impasse.

Meanwhile, a farmer union leader, Darshan Pal Singh, alleged that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is filing cases against those who are part of the protest or supporting it.

"All farmer unions condemn this," Pal said, referring to the NIA summons reportedly issued to over three dozen people in a case related to the banned Sikhs For Justice outfit, which advocates Sikh secessionism and is allegedly aiding the protesters.

Labelling the NIA notices as harassment, farmer unions said that it could create a hurdle in ongoing talks. According to a media report, unions have also decided that those who have received notices will not appear before the NIA.

Farmer leader Baldev Singh Sirsa and Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu are among around 40 people summoned by the NIA for questioning.

Earlier on Saturday, Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that attempts are being made to threaten farmer leaders through notices by agencies like the NIA. Congress too alleged on Sunday that probe agencies are now being used against farmers, who will not be cowed down by their notices. Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala questioned the government's intention behind sending notices to farmers from agencies meant to probe terrorists, after it attempted to dub them as separatists, Naxals, terrorists and agents of China and Pakistan.

The tenth round of talks between the government and the protesting farmer unions is scheduled for January 19. On the same day, the Supreme Court-appointed committee to resolve the impasse will hold its first meeting.

The previous nine rounds of formal talks between the Centre and 41 farmer unions have failed to yield any concrete results to end the long-running protest at Delhi's borders as the latter have stuck to their main demand of a complete repeal of the three acts.

The Supreme Court had on January 11 stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse.