Editor's Pick: A rally that went off-script

(The Editor's Pick is a new newsletter from The Hindu that provides a snapshot of the most important stories from today's edition of our newspaper, along with a note from our top editors on why we chose to give prominence to these stories.)

The planned tractor rally by farmers who have been protesting for months against the Centre’s three new farm laws went terribly off script on Republic Day in Delhi as various groups broke off from the planned routes and swarmed into the heart of the national capital, hoisting a farm union flag and a Sikh religious flag on the ramparts of the Red Fort. There were ugly clashes at several locations in the city between farmers and the police, who used tear gas, water cannons and lathi charges to try and stop them. They left a farmer from Uttarakhand dead and 83 police personnel and one civilian injured, according to the Delhi Police.

The umbrella group of 500 organisations spearheading the two-month-long sit-in at Delhi’s borders, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), suspended its tractor rally in the Capital following the violence. Farm union leaders condemned the violence, and distanced themselves from “anti-social elements” they claimed had infiltrated the protest, insisting that the vast majority of protestors remained peaceful. They vowed that their agitation demanding the repeal of three contentious farm reform laws would continue, but admitted that Tuesday’s violence could hurt them in negotiations with the government.

After intense negotiations, Delhi Police had given permission for three parade routes, staying near the border areas, to start from noon. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the joint front of all protesting unions, agreed to their conditions. The violence primarily ensued because of violation of scheduled timing and set routes so despite the claim of the movement being ‘infiltrated’ the unions bear the brunt of the responsibility. The government for its part, has indicated that despite the violent turn of events yesterday, it is still ready to continue talks. The feeling, however, is that when it offered last week to suspend the three laws for a period of 18 months, it was making its best possible offer. The farmers’ unions were fairly quick to reject the offer, continuing to insist on the complete repeal of the laws but the events and disturbing images from Republic Day will have put them on the back foot. Whether that allows for a compromise to now be reached remains to be seen. That’s what makes this story the top pick for the day.

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