New Delhi: Opposition leaders condemned the violence during the farmers’ Republic Day tractor rally in Delhi against the three farm laws, but also criticised the Centre for not understanding the demands of the protesters.The farmers who have been protesting at the Delhi borders for the last two months were permitted by the Delhi Police to march into the capital on January 26. However, a group of farmers who deviated from the agreed route clashed with the police at several locations, leading to chaotic scenes in the capital. Some protesters stormed the Red Fort and hoisted a Sikh religious flag next to the tricolour.Meanwhile, leaders from the Opposition lashed out at the Centre for ignoring the over two-month-long peaceful protests by the farmers at the Delhi borders. CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted: “The situation has been brought to this pass by the Modi government. Farmers have been protesting peacefully in the cold for more than 60 days, not allowed to come into Delhi and more than 100 Kisans are dead.”Also read: Here’s What Really Happened During the Republic Day Tractor RallyWhile reiterating his support to the demand for repealing the farm laws, he added, “Violence in no form is an answer & is unacceptable. A govt which smears dissent, BJP’s troll army vilify those who ask for their rights, ministers make wild allegations, law officers make claims without basis in court – this is no way to deal with legitimate demands of our Kisans”The protests are for a legitimate demand of millions of our farmers from various states across the country. That remains the issue at hand, and must be resolved. The solution is clear – repeal these farm laws. (5/n)— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) January 26, 2021 West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee hit out at the Modi government saying it has been “extremely casual” in handling the demands of the farmers. She tweeted: “Deeply disturbed by worrying & painful developments that have unfolded on the streets of Delhi. Centre’s insensitive attitude and indifference towards our farmer brothers & sisters has to be blamed for this situation.”Deeply disturbed by worrying & painful developments that have unfolded on the streets of Delhi.Centre's insensitive attitude and indifference towards our farmer brothers & sisters has to be blamed for this situation. (1/2)— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 26, 2021According to PTI, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said that it has never happened in the history of the country that farmers had to protest so long to get their demands fulfilled. Like other opposition leaders, Gehlot also claimed that the enactment of the agriculture laws was faulty since the beginning.“The annadata is not being heard and their sentiments aren’t understood, this is unfortunate. In such chilly weather, they are protesting and taking out tractor rally,” Gehlot said, as per news reports.Also read: Farmers’ Protest Should Teach the Govt That Cleverness Doesn’t Pay: Arun ShourieCongress leader Rahul Gandhi said violence was not the solution to any problem, and asked the Centre to repeal the laws in national interest. “…No matter who gets hurt, the country will suffer a damage. Take back the anti-agricultural laws ,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.हिंसा किसी समस्या का हल नहीं है। चोट किसी को भी लगे, नुक़सान हमारे देश का ही होगा।देशहित के लिए कृषि-विरोधी क़ानून वापस लो!— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 26, 2021Congress MP Shashi Tharoor condemned the act of hoisting farmers’ flag on the Red Fort and said although he supports the farmers’ protest, he cannot condone lawlessness.“Most unfortunate. I have supported the farmers’ protests from the start but I cannot condone lawlessness. And on Republic Day no flag but the sacred tiranga should fly aloft the Red Fort,” Tharoor tweeted.Most unfortunate. I have supported the farmers’ protests from the start but I cannot condone lawlessness. And on #RepublicDay no flag but the sacred tiranga should fly aloft the Red Fort. https://t.co/C7CjrVeDw7— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 26, 2021Condemning the incidents of violence on Tuesday, National Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar said that the reason for the events could not be ignored either. According to news reports, he said: “Those [protesting farmers] sitting calmly grew angry, the Centre didn’t fulfil its responsibility. The government should act maturely and take the right decision. The way the agitation was handled today is regrettable.”Among other Opposition leaders, CPI general secretary D. Raja said the violence was avoidable had the government taken the farmers’ protest seriously. Rashtriya Janata Dal spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Manoj K. Jha asked for a probe into the violence and appealed to the media to not demonise the movement, which has been peaceful until Tuesday. “I do not buy the fact that those who braved Delhi’s harsh winters for 65 days would resort to such hooliganism,” he told The Hindu.In a written statement, CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, said that the Modi government must not be allowed to spin a narrative blaming and demonising farmers. He stressed on the fact that we should not allow the violence to divert from the main issue (the repeal of farm laws).Following the skirmishes with the police, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha – a collective of farmers’ unions negotiating with the Centre on the farm laws – issued a statement condemning the violence. It dissociated itself from groups which deviated from the decided route. Later, it also called off the tractor rally and urged protesters across Delhi to return to the protest sites at the Delhi borders. More than 200 people, including farmer leaders, have been detained.