Not A Traitor, I Am Very Much Near Delhi Border, 'Missing' Deep Sidhu Says In Facebook Video
Punjabi actor-turned-activist who has found himself embroiled in the controversy after the chaos in the national capital on Tuesday has resurfaced online.
In a video posted on his Facebook page, Sidhu who has been missing since Tuesday said he is still in the Delhi border.
Speaking in Punjabi, Sidhu rejected allegations leveled against him including inciting the mob into the Red Fort.
'Didn't lead the people'
"I didn¡¯t lead people to the Red Fort. This was the decision of the public who had come all the way from Punjab to protest. Nobody was leading them," he said while asserting that he was not a traitor as being alleged.
He also repeated his previous claims that the mob did not remove the national flag before hoisting the Nishan Sahib and a farmers' flag on the pole.
"The unfurling the farmer¡¯s and Khalsa flag at Red Fort was done as a symbol of unity because it was done only and only to mark our protest in this fight. The Tricolour was not disrespected, and there was no violence or destruction of the public property there," he claimed.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) had blamed the Central government, Sidhu and the Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee (KMSC) for the violence.
"Along with some individuals and organizations, like Deep Sidhu and Kisan Majdoor Sangarsh Committee led by Satnam Singh Pannu, the government made this movement violent. We clarify that we dissociate ourselves from violent actions which took place at Red Fort and other parts of Delhi," the SKM, the union of over 40 farmer unions. said in a statement.
The names of Sidhu and gangster Lakka Sadana have been included in an FIR registered by Delhi Police in connection with the violence at Red Fort in Delhi on Tuesday.
Chaotic and violent January 26
During the farmers' tractor rally on Tuesday, videos went viral on social media showing Sidhu handing over a flag to a man to hoist on the ramparts of the Red Fort.
After the Red Fort incident of rampage and flag hoisting, Sidhu posted a video on his Facebook page claiming that, "We have only hoisted the Nishan Sahib at the Red Fort while exercising our democratic right to protest."
SKM had earlier called the violence a conspiracy by the anti-farmer forces which tried to 'delegitimise the movement'.
"When the farmer organisations declared a programme of Kisan Parade on 26 January, anti-social elements like Deep Sidhu and others, along with the said farmer organisation attempted to torpedo the agitation," the union said on Wednesday.
Delhi Police names 37 farmer leaders
The Delhi Police have also named 37 farmer leaders, including Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav, social activist Medha Patkar and Bharatiya Kisan Union's Haryana unit President Gurnam Singh Chanduni, in the FIR filed in connection with the violence during the Republic Day tractor rally on Tuesday.
Avik Saha, Jai Kisan Aandolan and Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait along with Darshan Pal Singh, Satnam Singh Pannu, Boota Singh Burjgil and Joginder Singh Ugraha have also been named in a an FIR filed in Outer North Delhi.
The Delhi Police issued notice to farmer leader Darshan Pal asking him to explain why legal action should not be initiated against him, post violence during the rogue rally on the Republic Day.
More than 25 criminal cases have been registered, 19 people arrested and as many as 50 protesters detained so far.
