Published 12:23 IST, January 27th 2021
Delhi farmer rally riot condemnable; Red Fort scenes an insult to freedom fighters: RSS
RSS condemned violence during farmers’ tractor parade & said unfortunate act at Red Fort was an insult to those who sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom
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The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Tuesday condemned the violence during the farmers’ tractor parade in Delhi and said the ‘unfortunate act’ at the Red Fort was an insult to those who sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom. The RSS appealed to all countrymen to rise above political and ideological differences and strive for peace as a priority.
'The violence is sad & condemnable'
"The violence that took place in Delhi on Republic Day is sad and condemnable," RSS general secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi said in a statement. "Especially what happened in Red Fort is an insult to the freedom fighters and those who laid down their lives for the integrity of the nation. There is no place for such anarchy in a democracy," he added.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has registered 22 FIRs so far in connection with the violence that broke out during the farmers' tractor parade in the national capital leaving over 300 policemen injured, officials said on Wednesday.
22 FIRs registered by Delhi Police
The tractor parade on Tuesday that was to highlight the demands of the farmer unions to repeal three new agri laws dissolved into anarchy on the streets of the city as tens of thousands of protesters broke through barriers, fought with police, overturned vehicles and hoisted a religious flag from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort.
Additional PRO (Delhi Police), Anil Mittal, said 22 FIRs have been so far registered in connection with Tuesday's violence. "More than 100 policemen have been injured in the incident," he said.
The Sayunkt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which comprises various farmer organisations, had proposed a "Kisan Tractor Rally" on Republic Day. The SKM had held several rounds of meetings with the Delhi Police in connection with their tractor parade. They had given an undertaking to the police to take out a peaceful rally as per the proposed plans on four agreed-upon routes. However, on Tuesday around 8.30 am, 6,000 to 7,000 tractors assembled at the Singhu border, police said, before matters got completely out of hand.
Instead of going on the pre-decided route, they insisted upon going towards central Delhi and despite repeated requests, the farmers, led by Nihangs on their horses and equipped with swords, kirpans and fursas, had charged at the police and broke through several layers of barricades, which were erected between Mukarba Chowk and Transport Nagar, the police had said.
Similar incidents were reported from Gazipur and Tikri borders. The farmers at the Gazipur border broke through the barricades at several points and headed for ITO, where they were joined by the farmers who had come from the Singhu border. At Red Fort, they broke the gates and entered its wells. A section of the crowd also managed to climb atop the rampart of the Red Fort where they hoisted their organisation's flag, the statement had said. Police had managed to remove the crowd from the rampart.
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(With agency inputs)
12:23 IST, January 27th 2021