Farm bills: Congress scales up protests; tractor set on fire at India Gate, 5 detained by police

Amid growing protests against the contentious farm bills, protesters from Punjab set a tractor on fire at India Gate on Monday morning, the Delhi Police claimed.

Five people have been detained by the police following the incident. The police said that the identity of the persons involved is being ascertained.

Hundreds of youths including Punjab Youth Congress workers staged a protest near India Gate, marking the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh.

There was some speculation that the tractor was set ablaze by a group of Punjab Youth Congress workers; however, the connection between those who set the tractor on fire and the Punjab Youth Congress could not be established.

“Around 15- 20 persons gathered here [India Gate] and tried to set a tractor on fire. The fire was doused off and tractor was removed. Those involved are being identified. Probe underway,” DCP New Delhi was quoted as saying by the ANI.

Despite widespread protests, President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday gave assent to the three farm bills. His assent came a day after the oldest ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), quit the NDA over the farm bills.

Calling the President’s assent to the farm bills as “unfortunate and distressing”, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday said that his government is exploring all options, including possible amendments to the state laws, to protect farmers’ interests. The Congress CM is holding a sit-in against the bills.

Meanwhile, a state-wide bandh is being observed by farmers' organisations in Karnataka, supported by the Congress. The dawn-to-dusk bandh call is being supported by several pro-Kannada and other outfits besides the JD(S) – an ally of the Congress party.

In Uttar Pradesh, police detained chief of the UP Congress Ajay Kumar Lallu along with Congress activists for protesting against farm bill. Around 1000 Congress leaders and activists have been put under house arrest across the state.