How the farmers’ protest lost its way

There are completely different interpretations of the chaotic events that unfolded in parts of Delhi on Republic Day as farmers who’ve been camped at the Ghazipur border for over two months now, entered the metropolis, apparently in violation of agreements between police and farm union leaders.

While some observers stated the younger farmers lost their way on the Delhi-Meerut expressway in the absence of any barricades, others stated the concept of going to the Red Fort has been brewing for a while amongst the youthful protesters who grabbed the probability introduced to them. Others additionally level out {that a} part of farmers, drained and stressed of ready at the border for greater than 60 days now, wished to make a bigger level which the management did not have in mind.

Senior sources in the Bhartiya Kisan Union felt hoisting the flag of a specific religion at the Red Fort was towards the spirit of the protest motion and it could convey the farmers down from the excessive ethical floor they’d held vis-a-vis the authorities.

The occasions have additionally raised questions on the management answerable for the protest at the Ghazipur border. Over the previous few days, a sense has grown that the All India Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan (AIKMS) and different teams who’re protesting on the flyover have a thoughts of their very own although they’d accepted Rakesh Tikait of Bhartiya Kisan Union as their chief throughout negotiations.

Also learn: Protester dies as tractor overturns during Republic Day rally

“I have brought this up during meetings several times but the consensus was nobody would defy the common agenda,” stated a BKU chief requesting anonymity.

Rajvir Singh, BKU State vice-president stated all was effectively in the morning and the farmers had been purported to take the route selected Monday evening after the official Rajpath parade was over.

Also learn: Protesting farmers enter Red Fort, man climbs flagstaff to hoist flag

“But some of the farmers who had arrived in the last couple of days and were stationed on the flyover suddenly decided to start before the scheduled time after ostensibly they got information from the Singhu border to march towards Delhi. I admit some of our members were also among them and it is definitely a failure of our volunteers,” he stated.

He added lots of them weren’t effectively versed with the exits on the expressway and in the absence of any police, saved driving and as soon as they reached the ITO minimize, realised it was a chance to drive to the Red Fort.

Also learn: Police withdraw at Nangloi as farmers break through barricades during Republic Day tractor rally

Delhi Police Head constable Pradeep Kumar posted at the Ghazipur put up stated they didn’t have orders to cease tractors on Tuesday. “But the leaders failed to keep them on the route they agreed upon on Monday night,” he stated. Police sources in Ghaziabad stated farmers got freedom of motion for the Republic Day however they misused it.

“The borders were not sealed on the eve of Republic Day which is a usual practice. The number of tractors was so overwhelming that it was not possible. But their leaders betrayed them,” stated a senior officer.

In the night Rakesh Tikait, a senior chief of Bhartiya Kisan Union stated he “condemned the act of some unwanted elements in the parade and regretted the turn of events.”

In a launch, he held the Delhi Police/ administration liable for the clashes as they didn’t put barricades at factors the place the parade needed to take a flip.

“It resulted in some tractors losing their way and gave an opportunity to unwanted elements and groups to spoil the parade. BKU dissociates itself from such elements and would try to figure out those elements,” he stated, including the Union “didn’t believe in violent protests and denigrating the national symbols.”

He additionally promised that the concern could be mentioned in the coordination committee assembly and the accountability could be fastened.

At the border, Balwinder Singh who’s actively concerned in serving langar admitted hoisting the flag at the Red Fort was a mistake of some overzealous children.

“The demand of going to the Red Fort was raised during langars and casual discussions. We could understand that having waited for more than two months, youngsters who voted for the BJP wanted to make a point but they were told in clear terms that we have to stick to plan and agenda,” he stated. “It has weakened the movement. They did something for which we criticise the party in power,” stated Mr Singh who hails from Rampur.

When Rakesh Tikait reached the border to pay homage to Ranveet Singh, the farmer who died throughout the day when his tractor overturned after hitting a barricade, Rakam Singh an ex-soldier from Meerut shouted “how many more sacrifices would you ask for?”

Mr Tikait responded by saying that the motion “needed peace, not sacrifice”.