Farmers Get Nod from Police to Take Out Tractor Parade on January 26

On Saturday, farmers' unions protesting against farm bill said they had found a breakthrough with the Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh police over the planned Republic Day tractor march. Samyukta Kisan Morcha said their representatives had been able to finalize routes for the Kisan Republic Day parade jointly.

Preparations for disciplined actions of the same are in full swing. The response from farmers and their supporters from all over the world were tremendous, the statement said.

There is, however, no formal confirmation so far from the Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh police on the same. The Delhi Police Commissioner said that farmers have not written their final route for the rally and will comment on it once they obtain it in writing.

Farmers' leader Abhimanyu Kohar said that they were granted permission by the Delhi Police for the tractor parade to take place on 26 January.

The tractor march is likely to begin from the border points of Ghazipur, Tikri, Singhu, but the specifics are still to be finalized.

The 'historical and peaceful parade' will have no effect on the Republic Day parade or the security arrangements, Swaraj India Chief Yogendra Yadav said. The Bharatiya Kisan Union's Gurnam Singh Chaduni also urged farmers to uphold discipline and obey the guidelines given by the committee.

After the Supreme Court said it would not take any call on the tractor parade and left it to the authorities, this development came in. The government said, citing the stance of the top court that it will leave it to the police to decide on the case.

In the meantime, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha said in its announcement that at least 151 people lost their lives in the unrest of the farmers.

'We extend our deepest condolences to all the martyrs. Farmers and staff from all over the world continue to come to Delhi. Arrangements for the Kisan Republic Parade declared by the Morcha are going on at various locations,' the statement said.