Delhi Police gives nod to farmers’ RD tractor parade

The Delhi Police Saturday granted farmers permission to carry out their tractor parade in the national capital on the occasion of Republic Day on January 26. Farmers will have to confirm to the police the route of their parade tomorrow.

Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav said the farmers have been allowed to enter Delhi. “Farmers will take out ‘Kisan Gantantra Parade’ on January 26. Barricades will be opened and we will enter Delhi. We (farmers and Delhi Police) have reached an agreement on the route, final details are to be worked out tonight,” he was quoted saying by ANI.

Yadav also said the parade would have no effect on the official Republic Day event or its security arrangements. Other farm leaders also appealed to those participating in the parade to maintain discipline.
Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting at various border points of Delhi for over a month now against the recently-enacted agricultural laws. Apart from those already present, hundreds of farmers, with the Tricolour and balloons on their tractors, are heading to Delhi to join the protest against the three controversial legislations.

Farmers are expecting representation of at least 20 states in their parade. They had earlier said the national flag would be put atop vehicles and no flags of any political party would be allowed. They also plan to display tableaux of different states during their R-Day tractor parade.