On the eve of Republic Day farmers clashed on the Red forts now the day after the protesters leader would be addressing them.
Punjab farmers 'leaders will address protesting farmers in one of Delhi-Haryana's key borders this morning, a day after the capital witnessed unprecedented violence when a Republican farmers' tractor rally protested at the centre's against the new agricultural rules. One farmer died on the way to Red Fort, police said. Eighty-six workers were injured in Tuesday's violence and 22 were registered, Delhi police said. The talk of the farm leaders at the Singhu border will be followed by a meeting of these leaders to plan the next course.
Union Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah held a high-level meeting on Tuesday evening to decide on the deployment of troops to Delhi. Punjab and Haryana have been placed under massive notice. The Internet has been discontinued in parts of the National Capital Region - including Delhi and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
Farmers have been given police permission to hold a rally on the outskirts of the city after a court battle. The rally - which will be more than 60-odd-km near the border of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur - was expected to enter the city on Wednesday only after the Republic Day exhibition ended at 11.30am. However, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh committee refused to adhere to the route. At 8 o'clock in the morning, thousands marched on the national capital on foot. A spectacular view has shown farmers violating at the boundaries of the Singhu border, which is the site of protests against farm regulations that began on November 26.
Violence erupted in the center of Delhi's ITO, where police headquarters are located. A farmer died when a tractor coming from Old City overturned, police said. A bus was damaged in nearby Akshardham, where police were protesting. Another flashpoint was Nangloi, where police used teargas shells. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has closed the gates to several metro stations.
An important pan-India farmers' group, Samyukt Kisan Morcha, has called off a tractor meeting, urging participants to return to the protests outside the Delhi border. The group also claimed that anti-social movements were "joining the peace process". "The long struggle for more than 6 months now, and the more than 60 days of protests at the Delhi border also seem to have led to this situation," he added.
Traffic in the capital has hit today as Delhi Road, ITO, where violence happened yesterday, was closed due to traffic. Morning commuters faced a dilemma after traffic police closed down barriers at the organization and asked people to take alternative routes.The violence was condemned by Punjab Prime Minister Amarinder Singh, Bengali Prime Minister Mamata Banerjee, Congressman Rahul Gandhi and Delhi's Aam Aadmi Party.
Eleven rounds of talks were held between farmers and the government but to no avail. Farmers have rejected the centre's final proposal that the rules be enforced for 18 months while the special committee is in talks.
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