Farmers Movement Archive

Route cause: From Singhu Border, they veer off course to reach Red Fort

NEW DELHI: After weeks of excitement and anticipation, farmers at Singhu border started their parade on Tuesday morning earlier than expected. However, despite their promise to be disciplined and follow the assigned route, the protesters veered off course. This led to a domino effect resulting in damage at Red Fort, several injuries and a death. When the farmers broke through the barricade earlier than their allotted time of 8am, the omen could be seen clearly. As soon as the serpentine queue of tractors arrived near Mukarba Chowk on GT Karnal Road, they were showered with flowers by the locals, many of whom had set up tents and refreshment counters along the designated route. At 10.40am, after a long argument with police, the farmers insisted on not turning right from GT Karnal Road towards Bawana Road and began removing the barricades. Police then resorted to lathi charge and lobbed teargas shells. The Nihang Sikhs atop horses charged ahead, while the farmers began uprooting the stone slabs by tying them to their tractors. In the next 30 minutes, the farmers used tractors, cranes and bulldozers to clear the blockade while tolerating lathis and teargas smoke. The scuffle ended when police backed out after seeing the farmers taking a left from GT Karnal Road towards Kashmere Gate ISBT. The tractors blaring music moved with little or no resistance through Jahangirpuri and Model Town before arriving near Kashmere Gate ISBT. Harjeet Singh, a protester from Tarn Taran, said, “We are moving with discipline towards Red Fort as that is where we want to place the Nishan Saheb, our sacred flag. Once we do that, only then will the government understand our plight and how they have treated us for two months.” Ajit Singh from Ranchi was injured during the fracas at Mukarba Chowk. Fortunately for him, he was treated by doctors in ambulances sent by Sarbat Da Bhala Trust of Patiala. “We have ointments and medicines and even stretchers in case someone gets injured,” said one of the doctors. Paramjeet Singh of Jai Kisan Andolan claimed that the farmers’ unions were following the route assigned by Delhi Police and going from Singhu border via Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar, DTU near Shahbad Dairy and Auchandi border before returning to their protest site. However, many farmers had already reached Kashmere Gate by the afternoon and refused to budge. “Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti, which broke through the barricades, is not a part of our Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, which has 32 farmers’ unions. They met police separately on Monday and we don’t know what was discussed,” said Paramjeet. When TOI went through the designated route till Bawana T-point, it found the roads empty and locals waiting for the tractors. Vijay Kumar, a resident of Shahbad Dairy, had placed chairs in a large tent and was preparing food for the farmers. “We will serve them when they come here so that they feel refreshed,” he said. But the farmers never arrived. Nor did they reach Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar as they took a detour at Mukarba Chowk and went to Red Fort.

The Times of India

2021-01-27

Delhi