Falling from grace!

The declared tractor march was meant for highlighting farmers' demands for repealing what they called the controversial farm laws. But the well organised and planned tractor rally ultimately turned into a worst type of vandalism and anarchy on the streets of the national capital on Tuesday, as hordes of rampaging protesters broke through barriers, fought with police, overturned vehicles and delivered a national insult — hoisting a religious flag from the rampart of Red Fort, a privilege reserved for India's tricolour.

Thousands of protesters clashed with police in multiple places, leading to chaos in well known landmarks of Delhi and suburbs, amid waves of violence that ebbed and flowed through the day, leaving the farmers' two-month peaceful movement in tatters. Farmers atop tractors, on motorcycles and some on horses, broke barricades to enter the city at least two hours before they were supposed to start the tractor march at noon sanctioned by authorities. Steel and concrete barriers were broken and trailer trucks overturned as pitched battles broke out in several parts of the city.

Some of the farmers were wielding deadly weapons. Leaders of farmers' associations have claimed that anti-socials created ruckus in the tractor rally. Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of 41 farmer unions, alleged that some antisocial elements infiltrated their otherwise peaceful movement. The union also condemned and regretted the ‘undesirable and unacceptable events as the parade turned violent after several groups of farmers deviated from the pre-decided route for the march.' Violent incidents on Republic Day have brought disrepute to the whole country. It is high time for the farmers and government to choose ‘white,' the symbol of peace.

The consequences are obvious. In the aftermath, as many as 37 farmer leaders, including Rakesh Tikait, Yogendra Yadav, Darshan Pal and Gurnam Singh Chaduni, have been named in an FIR in connection with the violence.

The FIR has been registered under various sections of IPC including 147, 148 (related to rioting), 307 (attempt to murder) and 120B (punishment of criminal conspiracy).

An official said multiple videos and CCTV footage are being scanned to identify farmers involved in the violence on Tuesday and that strict action will be taken against the culprits.

Now what culminated out of this unfortunate episode is the widespread sympathy and moral support from non-farming sections of people across the country has waned away.

This public sympathy was responsible for pushing the Government to back foot when it climbed down to hold these laws in abeyance for 18 months. This means, to a large extent, the protest has succeeded in making the government listen to the farmers' demands. The Farmers' unions have lost the sympathy of the people and trust of the government by indulging into violence and invading Red Fort and disrespecting the national flag.