The situation at Delhi's Ghazipur border, one of the prominent sites where farmers have been protesting for two months, has turned tense with the Uttar Pradesh government issuing an ultimatum to protesting farmers: vacate UP Gate by Thursday midnight or else be prepared to be removed.

The “verbal” communication, routed through the Ghaziabad administration, comes a day after three unions pulled out of the farmers' collective that has been protesting against the three central farm laws over the violence in Delhi on Republic Day.

“Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey has communicated to the protestors camping at the UP Gate at Delhi border to vacate the spot by tonight or the administration will remove them,” a district official told PTI.

However, according to a report by ndtv.com, farmers have refused to move, while their leader Rakesh Tikait said he is ready to face bullets.

“The Supreme Court has justified the peaceful sit-in,” NDTV quoted Tikait as saying.

“There has been no violence on the Ghazipur border. Despite this, the government is adopting a repressive policy. It is the face of the Uttar Pradesh government,” he added.

Thousands of protesting farmers had clashed with the police during the tractor rally called by farmer unions to highlight their demand for repeal of the Centre’s three farm laws on Tuesday.

Many of the protesters, driving tractors, reached the Red Fort and entered the monument. Some protesters even hoisted religious flags on its domes and the flagstaff at the ramparts, where the national flag is unfurled by the prime minister on Independence Day.

The Delhi Police meanwhile said that its Special Cell will investigate the case. It has already registered several FIRs against farmer leaders, including Tikait.