Farmer unions blame police for violence during Tractor Parade

New Delhi: The farmer union leaders have distanced themselves off from the hoisting of a flag at the historic Red Fort and blamed the Delhi Police of trying to create confusion among the farmers.

Speaking to IANS after returning from the tractor rally, BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said, "Whatever happened today was due to the negligence on the part of Delhi Police. They did not support us and they were unable to control the huge number of farmers."

He said the farmers had urged the Delhi Police on a number of occasions to change the plan, but they kept insisting on papers.

When asked about scores of protesters entering the Red Fort and hoisting a pennate on the ramparts of the 17th century monument, Tikait said, "I don't support such activity. We will take action against those who did this."

Hundreds of farmers clashed with the security forces at the Red Fort and hoisted a pennate on the ramparts of the monument. The farmers were later chased by the Delhi Police personnel.

Hundreds of farmers, who earlier in the day met with violence by the Delhi Police near the ITO intersection, have now returned to the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in Ghazipur.

A farmer also died during the protest after his tractor turned turtle after hitting a barricade near ITO.

The farmers have taken the body of the deceased farmer to the Ghazipur border.

The police fired tear-gas shells and resorted to lathi charge on several occasions to prevent the farmers proceeding to the national capital, where they wanted to stage a protest against the contentious farm laws.

The farmers took out the tractor rally before the scheduled time and also deviated from the route which was agreed upon, as the police failed to barricade the routes that were not allotted for the parade.

Based on agency feeds