Protesting farmers brave winter chill; traffic hit on arterial roads
New delhi: Thousands of farmers agitating against the three new Central agriculture laws stayed put at their agitations venues near Delhi, which is going through a harsh spell of winter, unrelenting in their demand of withdrawal of the legislations.
The farmers had reached Singhu border over a month ago.
The protesting farmer unions had on Saturday decided to resume their dialogue with the Centre, and proposed December 29 for the next round of talks.
They had also decided that a tractor march will be held on Kundli-Manesar-Palwal highway on December 30.
Security remained tight at the Delhi borders with hundreds of personnel deployed at Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri where the farmers have been camping.
The protests have also led to traffic congestion forcing police to divert vehicular movement.
Taking to Twitter on Sunday, the Delhi Traffic Police alerted commuters about the routes that remained closed owing to the agitation and suggested them to take alternative roads.
The Chilla & Ghazipur borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida & Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. People are advised to take alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anad Vihar, DND, Apsara, Bhopra & Loni
borders.
Singhu, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari, Saboli & Mangesh borders closed. Please take alternate route via Lampur Safiabad, Palla and Singhu school toll tax borders. Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba & GTK road. Please avoid Outer Ring Rd, GTK road & NH-44, it tweeted.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has heightened security in borders to ensure that no untoward incident took place. "We have increased security. So far situation is peaceful," official said adding that adequate force was deployed at the border.
Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava had visited the Singhu border, where farmers have been protesting against the Centre's new farm laws, and took stock of the law and order situation there.
"Visited Singhu border in north Delhi where Delhi Police and Central Police Forces are deployed for over one month. They are doing a good job regarding farmers' agitation. Suitable arrangements are in place for their food and protection against cold and Covid," he tweeted.
Enacted in September, the three farm laws have been projected by the Central government as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middleman and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the
country.
However, the protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of MSP and do away with the mandi system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.
The government has repeatedly asserted that the MSP and mandi systems will stay and has accused the Opposition of misleading the farmers.
(With agency inputs)
