In the wake of clashes between police and protesting farmers in Delhi on Tuesday as the tractor rally burst into the city, Opposition parties condemned the violence and called for calm. Some also attacked the government over the chaos in the national capital.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi, in a tweet, said: “Sheer anarchy, utter lawlessness, and an absolute mess! This government defines inefficiency, mismanagement, and transgression. The government has taught the world how to turn a peaceful protest into a mobocracy.”
Another Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergil, however, said the protest will weaken due to such acts. “Peace is the strength of any protest and gets weakened when you need to bank upon violence – urge both sides (protestors & police) to remain calm, follow the dharma of democracy because when lives are lost & national property is damaged then it is loss of entire Nation.”
Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said: “It is saddening that people are defending the sacrilege that we witnessed at the Red Fort, dear apologists there is only one flag and that is the Indian Flag that should fly high from the ramparts of our historic monument however strong a cause for protest one might have.”
Congress leader and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor expressed concern over the death of a protesting farmer. “Saddened to learn of the death of a protestor in police firing. Authorities must urge the police to observe restraint. Violence resolves nothing & resorting to it reduces the state to the level of its enemies. We must resolve this crisis through democratic means, not force,” he said.
Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Sitaram Yechury attacked the police for excessive force at ITO. “Tear gassing and 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,” he said in a reaction prior to the hooliganism at Red Fort.