MHA justifies Delhi Police action on protesting farmers

The home ministry has justified the action of the Delhi Police against protesting farmers during the tractor rally on Republic Day in Delhi. Replying to a question in Parliament, the home ministry said, "Farmers action left the Delhi Police with no option but to use teargas, water cannons and mild force to control crowd."It added that social distancing norms were not being followed during the farmers' protest and that farmers had gathered in large number without facemask amid Covid-19 restrictions.Minister of State (Home) G Kishan Reddy said this in response to a written reply in Lok Saha on Tuesday. The home ministry added that the Delhi Police has also informed it that one suicide case has been reported to them.

Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava said: "I am surprised that when tractors were used, police were attacked, barricades were broken on January 26, no questions were raised. What did we do now? We have just strengthened barricading so that it's not broken again" In a tweet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the government. "Build bridges, not walls!" he wrote and posted a couple of pictures.