As violence marred the so-named ‘Kisan Gantantra Parade’, realising its implications, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (United Farmers’ Front), a congregation of numerous organisations spearheading the movement against the 3 contentious farm laws, attempted to distance itself from the episode and place the blame on organisations saying these are not element of the umbrella body, even though nonetheless element of the ongoing protest.
“We thank farmers for the unprecedented participation in today’s ‘Farmers’ Republic Day Parade’. We also condemn and regret the undesirable and unacceptable events that have taken place today and dissociate ourselves from those indulging in such acts,” Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) stated in a statement.
Late in the evening, SKM named off the tractor parade and appealed the participants to straight away return to their respective protest websites.
It also attributed the violent incidents to the delay in locating a resolution as their protest has exceeded 60 days at Delhi borders.
“Despite all our efforts, some organisations and individuals have violated the route and indulged in condemnable acts. Anti-social elements had infiltrated the otherwise peaceful movement. We have always held that peace is our biggest strength, and that any violation would hurt the movement,” the umbrella body stated.
Farmers in tractors and vehicles, largely from Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, deviated from the permitted route, taking out the rally even just before commencement of the Republic Day parade with the veiled objective to disrupt the national function on Rajpath, and ultimately place a religious flag atop the pole at Red Fort from exactly where the Prime Minister addresses the nation on each and every Independence Day.
“The members of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee had misguided the farmers and were behind this (violence). The SKM is ready to take the onus if any of our members are involved in the violence. It was clear when these people had different opinion and did not accept the route plan prepared in agreement with police,” stated Darshan Pal, founding member of SKM. Without naming the other organisation, Pal stated “the government is aware of it.”
Condemning the incident, which brought shame on the whole movement, Pal also stated “not only it very much weakened the protest, even continuing it will be very difficult.” The incident occurred at a time when farmers had been hopeful of a resolution and it need to not have taken location, he added. Yogendra Yadav and Shiv Kumar Sharma, each working group members of SKM, also strongly condemned the violence as it occurred on the Republic Day.
But Rakesh Tikait, spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Tikait), blamed Delhi Police for blocking the authorized the rally route from the Ghazipur border, even as farmers reached Akshardham just before the completion of the Republic Day parade. “Police did not cooperate with us. It is a matter of enquiry why the agreed march route was blocked, who had ordered the four-layer barricading,” Tikait stated and added that farmers had been misguided to move on a distinctive route so that they attain Delhi. However, he exuded self-assurance that the incident will not have any effect on the protest, which will continue.