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SC refuses to entertain pleas on tractor rally violenceThe apex court also refused to entertain two similar pleas related to the tractor rally violence
Ashish Tripathi
DHNS
Last Updated IST
Farmers gather at Red Fort during their tractor parade on Republic Day, in New Delhi. Credit: PTI Photo
Farmers gather at Red Fort during their tractor parade on Republic Day, in New Delhi. Credit: PTI Photo

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would not entertain a plea for probe into unsavoury incidents during the tractor rally on Republic Day but that does not mean it was condoning the violence.

The top court declined to consider a clutch of petitions, saying the government was inquiring into incident and would take appropriate action.

A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian said we have read statement of Prime Minister that law will take its own course.

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The court asked three petitioners to approach the government and make representation over there.

"We are sure that the government is enquiring into this and taking action. We heard in the press where the Prime Minister said that law will take its own course, we don't want to interfere in it. You can approach the government," the CJI said.

Petitioner-advocate Vishal Tiwari contended that on January 26 unfortunate incident happened, blames are on both side but people suffered. Another petitioner, advocate Shikha Dixit contended police personnel were beaten up in the violence on January 26 in Delhi.

The court also rejected another petition filed by advocate ML Sharma seeking direction to the media not to declare farmers as "terrorist" without any evidence. Another petition by Sanjeev Newar sought a direction for a probe by the National Investigative Agency (NIA) into the tractor rally violence.

On Republic Day, protesting farmers barged into the 17th century monument, climbed up its ramparts and waved farmer union flags and banners and even hoisted a pennant.

Police and other security personnel deployed at the Red Fort were seen baton charging the protesters even as they were clearly outnumbered by the farmers.

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(Published 03 February 2021, 13:12 IST)