India's 72nd Republic Day will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Apart from the deadly pandemic spilling over from the year before which led to the lack of a chief guest for the parade, the day will remembered for the violence that erupted in the capital as a tractor rally organised by protesting farmers led to clashes with the Delhi police.
While several leaders have shown sympathy with the protesting farmers and urged the central government to resolve the issues, some blamed the Opposition for inciting the violence. Others condemned the violent attacks and force utilised by both the farmers and the police.
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Let's look at some of the reactions of our netas to the events of the day.
Punjab CM Amarinder Singh
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh appealed to PM Narendra Modi to accept the farmers' demands, saying the new farm laws were "completely wrong" and also reiterated that his heart was with the farmers. The elderly farmers were sitting at the borders of Delhi not for themselves, but for their children and the future generations, he said.
"The farm laws are completely wrong as they are against federalism since agriculture is a state subject under Schedule 7 of the Constitution," said Singh, who unfurled the national flag in Patiala at Raja Bhalindra Singh Sports Complex.
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"Be peaceful and the country is with you," Singh said, noting that 122 British MPs had spoken in favour of the farmers and other countries had also supported the peaceful protests of the farmers so far.
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury
The CPI(M) lashed out at the Centre over the treatment meted out to protesting farmers during their tractor rally, and said tear gassing and lathicharging them is "unacceptable".
"Tear gassing & lathicharging Kisans is unacceptable. Why, after the Delhi Police & Samyukt Kisan Morcha agreement? Why is the government provoking a confrontation. They must allow the peaceful, agreed tractor parade to continue," CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said in a tweet.
Union Minister Prahlad Patel
Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, Prahlad Patel condemned the actions of a section of farmers who entered the Red Fort as part of their tractor rally and said it violated the symbol of dignity of India's democracy.
"The Red Fort is a symbol of the dignity of our democracy. The farmers should have stayed away from it. I condemn the violation of this dignity. It is sad and unfortunate," Patel said in a tweet.
BSP Supremo Mayavati
Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati alleged that had the Congress and BJP governments performed their "democratic duties", there would have been no poverty, unemployment and backwardness in the country. She also urged the BJP-led government to withdraw the three agri laws.
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“Today, Republic Day is being celebrated differently on Delhi borders. I appeal to the government to withdraw the contentious agriculture laws and consult farmers before bringing a new law. Had the government accepted the advise, this ‘new type’ of Republic Day celebration would not have been celebrated"
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot
Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot appealed to the protesting farmers to maintain peace and not resort to violence.
“The farmers' movement has been peaceful till now. I appeal to the farmers to maintain peace and not to commit violence. Violence has no place in democracy,” Gehlot tweeted.
He said resorting to violence will lead to the success of the forces that are trying to make the farmers' movement unsuccessful.
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(With PTI Inputs)
