Punjab youth Congress activists set ablaze a tractor at India Gate on Monday morning. The Delhi Congress workers, meanwhile, to undertake a Kisan-Mazdoor Nyay March from Rajghat to Raj Niwas to protest against the anti-farmer Bills passed by the Modi Government at the Centre, and submit a memorandum to the Lieutenant Governor.
The Delhi Police said five people claiming to be members of the Punjab Youth Congress have been arrested. The arrested persons have been identified as Manjot Singh (36), Ramandeep Singh Sindhu (28), Rahul (23), Sahib (28) and Sumit (28), all residents of Punjab, police said.
According to a senior police official, the incident took place in high security area just a few metres away from the President's House and the Parliament.
“Around 15-20 people carried a tractor on a truck to Rajpath, Man Singh Crossing. They unloaded the tractor from the truck and set it on fire,” he said.
“Fire department received information regarding the incident at 7.42 am and two fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The blaze has been doused off and tractor was removed,” said a senior Delhi Fire Service Official.
Meanwhile, sources in the Delhi Police claimed that they entered the Lutyens’ Delhi along with a Punjab Police gipsy.
Dr Eish Singhal, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), New Delhi said that an Innova car and a truck used for transportation of tractor have also been taken into police custody.
“A case under 3 Epidemic Act, 51(B) Disaster Management Act, 4 Damage to Public Property Act and other IPC sections has been registered at Tilak Marg police station and the five persons have been arrested,” the DCP said.
IYC media incharge Rao said activists of its Punjab unit demonstrated at the India Gate on the occasion of the birth anniversary of revolutionary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.
“Our country thrives on the blood and sweat of our farmers. From fighting the British to feeding the entire nation, our farmers are the nation's backbone,” the IYC tweeted.
"On #BhagatSingh's birth anniversary Youth Congress set ablaze a tractor in protest against the govt's anti farmer bills," it added.
Reacting to the incident, Delhi BJP media relations head Neelkant Bakshi tweeted that he would file a case against the "dangerous conspiracy to foment violence by spreading rumours".
The incident comes amid protests by farmers and the Opposition across the country over the three contentious farm legislations, which were passed by the Parliament last week and got presidential assent on Sunday.
Farmers have expressed apprehension that the laws would pave a way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big companies.