Republic Day Violence

The ongoing farmers’ protests on the three agricultural laws, known as the Farm Bills, caused tremendous violence and infighting during Republic Day celebrations in Delhi. The Delhi Police accused Union Leaders of instigating thousands of farmers to redirect their march route, pouring into the Red Fort along with their tractors. The police and security personnel were in riot gear, and resorted to the use of tear gas, water cannons and lathicharge on the protestors nearing the barricades. Internet services in parts of Delhi had been shut down. The city’s police commissioner S. N. Srivastava claimed that farm unions had failed to follow the terms and conditions laid down for the parades and that protest leaders made inflammatory speeches, leading to the violence that injured 394 police personnel. Prime Minister Modi has mostly dismissed the farmers’ concerns and agitation over the contentious legislation by insisting that it would benefit them by boosting production through private investment and has accused opposition parties of provoking them by spreading rumours. Even though the government has temporarily suspended the laws, farmers claim they will not stop protesting until they have been repealed