Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel today visited the Red Fort  in the national capital and took stock of the situation and assessed the damage caused in the violence during the Tractor rally yesterday.

Mr Patel was accompanied by top officers from his Ministry and Archaeological Survey of India. Later talking to reporters Mr Patel said, he has asked the officials to prepare a report in this regard so that it can be sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Mr Patel also asked them to lodge an FIR in connection with the matter.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police has said that violence erupted during the Tractor Rally yesterday as the protesting farmers did not follow the laid down terms and conditions accepted earlier by them during the meetings. Addressing the media, Commissioner of Police S N Srivastava said, the Police excercised maximum restraint during the tractor rally despite the violent behavior by the protestors.

He said, more than 25 criminal cases have been registered in connection with yesterday’s violence. He said, 394 Delhi police personnel were injured and some of them are in ICUs at hospitals. Mr Srivastava said that 30 police vehicles were also damaged by the protestors along with other public properties. He also informed that 19 accused persons have been arrested while 50 others have been detained in connection with the incident. He said, those responsible for yesterday’s violence will not be spared.

Some of the farmers’ organisations have announced withdrawal of their support to the ongoing farmers’ protest.

V M Singh who is the National Convener of Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan has said that he can not carry on with the protest anymore with certain elements whose direction is different and hence the Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan is withdrawing itself from the protest.

Thakur Bhanu Pratap Singh who is the President of Bharatiya Kisan Union has said that he is deeply pained by whatever happened in Delhi yesterday and has also decided to withdraw from the protest.