Protesting farmers unfurling the national flag at the Red Fort, holding the tricolour in one hand along with the religious symbols of the Sikhs in the other, have come as an embarrassment for the government. This may turn the tide against the government at a time when it has been hoping that the day-long violence and vandalism will discredit the farmers movement by exposing the anarchy and anti-national elements within it, resulting in loss of sympathy for them .
This has been the singular hope for the government in recent weeks that would pave the way for removing them from the protesting sites.
But the symbolic value of the tricolour and symbols being used at Red Fort cannot be missed as top security sources said it may result in a further surge in supporters and put the law enforcement agencies on the back foot during the ongoing negotiations between the two sides.
The police forces are now holding negotiations on the spot to ask farmers to vacate the Red Fort area after they have successfully anointed the national flag.
Another huge concern for law enforcement agencies is that the Khalistani symbols or narratives do not percolate at this juncture as it may result in huge embarrassment for the government and result in a worsening of the situation on the ground. There have already been intelligence reports of Khalistani elements instigating the movement but at this stage, the government does not want display of any such support.
While this may give a chance to the opposition parties to accuse the government of complete failure in handling law and order, the tinderbox is ready and waiting to explode.
With farm union leaders missing in action to pacify the protesters and silence from Raisina Hill as Delhi continued to burn, the “political deadlock” over the new farm laws brought huge embarrassment for law enforcement agencies of four states at least—Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh—as toppled tractors, bruised policemen, blood on streets and angry protesters marred the Republic Day celebrations.
Sources disclosed that the farm leaders and the Delhi and Haryana police had held closed door meetings where an agreement had been reached about the routes of protests, timing of their entry following which Delhi police allowed their entry up to the routes advertised by them for the general public .
But clearly, the police did not learn its lessons from the past experiences and saw protesters entering Delhi, breaching the agreement as the day began and outnumbered the police with their logistical support base. The protesters also managed to storm Red Fort since both central and state police forces could not control the surge in numbers from all borders.
As all police forces in the four states go on high alert till capital city remains under siege, security officials said police action alone would not be able to quell the protests anytime soon.
