The police statement comes after India’s Supreme Court on Wednesday declined a government petition to ban the rally. To up the ante, farmers wanted to drive tractors to the centre of New Delhi on Jan 26, the Republic Day national holiday when Modi will join a parade of military forces in the capital. “This will be a very challenging task but we decided upon it so that there is a peaceful and disciplined solution,” he told a news conference. The government - which says the agriculture reforms will boost farmer incomes - has agreed to suspend the laws, but the farmers have said New Delhi must repeal them. Talks between farmers and Modi’s government have so far failed to break the deadlock - landing Modi with one of his most significant challenges since he was re-elected in 2019.

Source: bd News24 January 24, 2021 15:22 UTC