When tanks move down Rajpath on January 26, the farmers protesting at Delhi’s borders will be attempting their own Republic Day “march-past” with their tractors to try and enter the national capital, a farmer leader said on Monday.

“There will be tanks on Rajpath on Republic Day. There will also be tractors at Delhi’s borders, trying to enter the national capital,” Rakesh Tikait, leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Tikait), told reporters at the Delhi-Saharanpur border in Baghpat district.

“While army, navy and air force personnel march down Rajpath, we will be parading on the highways leading to Delhi.”

Reminded that this could set up a confrontation with the police who have barricaded Delhi’s borders, Tikait said: “We shall be carrying the national flag and singing the national anthem. Let’s see how the police treat a group of patriotic, national-anthem-chanting farmers,” he said.