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Centre sent vandals to desecrate Red Fort, conspiracy to malign farmers: Congress in Lok Sabha

The Congress called for a parliamentary probe

Sikhs wave the Nishan Sahib, a Sikh religious flag, as they arrive at the historic Red Fort monument in New Delhi on Tuesday | AP Sikhs wave the Nishan Sahib, a Sikh religious flag, as they arrive at the historic Red Fort monument in New Delhi on Tuesday | AP

Speaking at the Lok Sabha on Monday, the Congress leader of opposition Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged that there was a massive conspiracy behind the Red Fort incident on Republic Day and called for a parliamentary probe to uncover the truth. The Congress alleged in Lok Sabha that the government had sent "vandals" to the Red Fort to "desecrate" the monument and defame the ongoing farmers' agitation, news agency PTI reported.

On Republic Day, amid farmers' tractor rally, wielding sticks and clubs and holding the tricolour and union flags, tens of thousands of farmers atop tractors broke barriers, clashed with police and entered the city from various points to lay siege to the Red Fort. Over 80 police personnel were injured in the violence. A Sikh religious flag was also hoisted atop the Red Fort.

"With such a strong home minister like Amit Shah, how can some people reach the Red Fort, that too on January 26 when the highest level of security was in place in Delhi. Why isn't there a proper investigation into it? It is actually a big, well-planned conspiracy to defame the farmers. The fact is that you have sent some vandals to the Red Fort to create vandalism. Forces within the government are behind it," Chowdhury alleged.

The Congress leader said a JPC probe should be instituted so that it can go into the details of the alleged conspiracy and find out the truth. "You have trapped the farmers. You have filed cases one after another against the farmers. You want to create fear among the farmers."

Chowdhury said barbed wire and nails have been put in and around the sites of the farmer protests at Delhi's borders. "The whole world is discussing about India. Your action is bringing disrepute to India. Why are you so much afraid of an 18-year-old Greta [Thunberg]. Why are you making Greta persona non grata? You have misguided [former test captain] Sachin Tendulkar, [music legend] Lata Mangeshkar," he said, referring to Tendulkar and Mangeshkar's tweets.

Greta Thunberg had tweeted in support of the farmers, which resulted in domestic celebrities hitting back against foreign interference. 

-Inputs from PTI

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