Protesting farmers breach barricades at Delhi border to start tractor ahead of time

NEW DELHI: As India’s capital city Delhi gears up for Republic day celebrations, thousands of agitating farmers at the Tikri and Singhu borders entered Delhi today, breaking down barricades and marching in with flags and banners.

Security personnel have been deployed at several border points in Delhi ahead of the tractor rally by the protesting farmers. The Delhi police and government allowed the farmer's rally to be held after the Republic Day parade at Rajpath.

However, visuals from early morning at the border showed farmers entering the city on tractors, while many marched holding flags ahead of the rally. The tractor rally, termed the Kisan Gantantra Parade, was expected to get under way after 12 noon. However, protesters in large numbers gathered at the borders from 8 am.

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According to reports, three routes have been cleared for the farmers to hold the parade―63-km route near Singhu Border, 62.5 km-long route from Tikri border, a 68-km long route from Ghazipur border that divides Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

The agitating farmers have been allowed to hold the tractor rally after the Republic Day parade at Rajpath that will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind, among other leaders. This year’s celebrations are a scaled-down affair due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Farmers have been in a sit-in protest at various border points in Delhi to protest against the controversial farm laws passed by the government since November. Several rounds of talks between the government and farmers’ unions have been held, but have failed to end the standoff.