A tense situation prevailed at Delhi-Haryana border in Singhu after some people claiming to be "locals" threw stones at farmers protesting there and even tried to uproot their tents. The sudden violence at the protest site this afternoon, which has been tense, prompted the police to use tear gas shells and farmers to appeal for calm.
Delhi's border points at Tikri and Singhu have been under heavy police deployment since morning in the aftermath of the violence that broke out during a tractor parade by farmers in the national capital on Republic Day. Personnel of the Delhi Police, along with those of the paramilitary forces, have been deployed at the borders. Tense standoff was also witnessed at Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border at Ghazipur as farmers refused to budge as police tried to evict them. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait has declared that he is "ready to face bullets" if needed.
The government is trying to tackle misgivings over farm laws at the root of the agitation, President Ram Nath Kovind today told parliament. "Farmers recently carried out a tractor rally. However, there was violence during the protests and there were incidents of insulting that national flag at Red Fort on Republic Day. This was very unfortunate," President Kovind said while addressing a joint sitting of parliament on the opening day of the Budget session.
