An undated viral video of Rakesh Tikait, a farmer leader appealing to farmers that they be ready and 'armed with lathis' for the Republic Day tractor rally is making buzz on social media. In the video, Tikait, also the spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), is seen saying, "The government is in no mood of listening. Now, come along with the flags and sticks.”

Tikait, however, denied the claims and said that he had asked to farmers to get 'sticks for the flags'. "We said bring your own sticks. Please show me a flag without a stick, I will accept my mistake," Tikait was quoted as saying by leading media network.

The farmer leader on Tuesday condemned the violence and stated that those who made violence and unfurled flags at Red Fort will have to pay for their actions. “Uneducated people were driving tractors, they didn't know the paths of Delhi. Administration told them the way towards Delhi. They went to Delhi & returned home. Some of them unknowingly deflected towards Red Fort. Police guided them to return”, he was quoted as saying by ANI.

In a statement, The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesman also alleged that the Police had wrongly imposed barricades at some spots of the pre-designated routes of the rally.

REPUBLIC DAY RUCKUS

On Republic Day, huge protests broke out on the streets of Delhi as thousands of farmers, who were slated to follow a decided path for the tractor rally, broke out and made a ruckus on the streets. A group also hoisted a flag of farmers’ organisation at the Red Fort.