The vandalism of a small group that was never part of the 32 unions leading the protests on Delhi’s borders drew focus away from an unprecedented, peaceful and disciplined citizen’s Republic Day parade. An hour-by-hour photo story by Anustup Roy. 1/n

https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/tractor-rally-on-the-road-despite-disruption/

7:45 a.m. at the Singhu border. A group of farmers break down barricades and wagons before starting their tractors along the parade route. These breakaway groups launched their ‘rally’ earlier causing confusion amongst several who thought this was the new plan of the leadership.

“The main rally was to have started at 10 a.m.” says Karamjit Singh from the Kirti Kisan Union, one of the 32 Samyukta Kisan Morcha constituents. “But miscreants led by Deep Sidhu and Lakha Sidana [and others] – neither of them part of the 32-union SKM – caused a disruption. 3/n

Around 7:50 a.m. at the Singhu border: A group of farmers keep continuing breaking barricades, while police stand beside watching them. The path from Singhu to Delhi for the tractor parade was predetermined and approved by the police. But these groups took a different route. 4/n

Around 8:40 a.m., roughly 3 kms from the Singhu border: The bulk of the tractors moved along, with people carrying flags and raising slogans. Farmers belonging to the 32 collaborating unions followed the approved path and took their tractors on that prescribed route. 5/n

Around 9 a.m., roughly 5 kilometers from the Singhu border: A farmer acknowledges us with a smile and wave, the tractor he sits on decorated with coloured papers and ribbons. 6/n

Around 9:10 a.m., roughly 5 kms from the Singhu border: Some farmers walk along, spiritedly but peacefully, along the parade route beside the tractors. Farmers of all ages keep walking beside the tractors, raising slogans, keeping to the designated route. 7/n

Around 10 a.m., roughly 8 kilometers from the Singhu border: A group of farmers sing and play the dafli while moving on tractors along the designated parade route. 8/n

Around 10:10 a.m., roughly 8 kilometers from the Singhu border. A farm family on a tractor along the parade route, holding placards that say 'Save farmers, save nation'. 9/n

Around 11 a.m., at the GT Karnal Bypass, Delhi, roughly 12-13 kms from the Singhu border.

Around 11:10 a.m., at the GT Karnal Bypass, Delhi. 10/n

At the GT Karnal Bypass, Ashfaq Qureshi, 38, from Sadar Bazar, Delhi, stands beside the road to offer his support to the farmers, holding a banner with his friend which says 'Delhi welcomes you' 11/n

Around 12:15 p.m. at the GT Karnal Bypass, Delhi. A group of women from Delhi stand by the side of the road while the tractors pass by. They shout slogans and offer their support to the farmers. 12/n

Around noon at the GT Karnal Bypass, Delhi: A group of university students protesting on the road by singing songs and raising slogans, as their form of support to the farmers. 13/n

Around 2:15 p.m., at the GT Karnal Bypass, Delhi: A kid offers food to the farmers passing by, his parents stand beside cheering. 14/n

Around 2:30 p.m. at the. GT Karnal Bypass, Delhi: Babli Kaur Gill, 50 came from the Rohini locality of Delhi to offer her support, and water, to the farmers along the parade route. 15/n

The day after, January 27, around 11 am at the Singhu border: Karamjit Singh, 28, from the Kirti Kisan Union talks about how the farmers' movement was disrupted by small breakaway groups during the Republic Day farmers' parade.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), comprising 32 farm unions spearheading the protests on Delhi’s borders for over two months, has strongly condemned the violence and vandalism of the groups that entered Delhi breaking away from the prescribed route. [fin]

Farm unions have denounced their action as 'a deep-rooted conspiracy to knock down the peaceful and strong farmers' struggle.' On the whole, #TractorRally was a massive, peaceful, disciplined – and unprecedented exercise, a reclaiming of the Republic by ordinary citizens. [fin]