Farmers Protest: Farmers are planning to resume their march to the nation’s capital as the Delhi Police has issued a traffic alert for commuters. This comes after four rounds of talks over a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops ended without a resolution.
Traffic Advisory Tweet
Due to limitations in light of the farmers’ protest, the Delhi Traffic Police has sent out a tweet advising commuters to avoid certain congested areas of central Delhi and to take other routes. “On February 21, due to special traffic arrangements, kindly avoid IP Marg in both the carriageways from IP Flyover towards A-point and vice-versa, ITO Chowk, DDU Marg, BSZ Marg, JLN Marg, Shanti Van crossing and Rajghat crossing from 9:30 am to 11:30 am,” the Delhi Traffic Police said in a tweet on Tuesday.
Border Security Measures
The police have erected barricades and iron nails at Delhi’s three border points— Tikri, Ghazipur, and Singhu— in an effort to stop the farmers from accessing the nation’s capital, so traffic movement is anticipated to be affected. In contrast, police indicated that commuters in Greater Noida would experience traffic alterations on Wednesday due to a protest march organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Tikait).
Knowledge Park Metro Station
Tractors and personal vehicles belonging to farmers are expected to gather around the Knowledge Park metro station. Afterwards, the police said, they would launch a march that would pass the India Expo Mart, Sharda University, LG roundabout, Moser Bear roundabout, and conclude at the Collectorate in Surajpur.
Police stated that diversions, if necessary, may be made from Galgotia Cut, Pari Chowk, LG Roundabout, Moser Bear Roundabout, Durga Talkies Roundabout, and Surajpur Chowk in order to guarantee smooth traffic movement given the current circumstances.
“Emergency vehicles will be allowed to pass safely during traffic diversions. Please use alternative routes to avoid inconvenience and in case of traffic inconvenience, you can contact the traffic helpline number 9971009001,” police said in an advisory.
February 13 ‘Delhi Chalo’ March
On February 13, hundreds of farmers set out on their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march; however, they were stopped by the police at the Punjab-Haryana border, sparking altercations. In order to scatter the demonstrators, police also used tear gas rounds. Since then, the farmers have conducted four rounds of negotiations with the government while camped up at the Punjab-Haryana border at Shambhu and Khanauri, but little real progress has been made.
The Centre suggested to the farmers during the most recent round of negotiations on Monday that they purchase cotton, maize, and pulse crops at MSP for a period of five years. The plan was rejected by the farmers, who declared that it was not in the “farmers’ interest” and that they would resume their protest on Wednesday at 11 a.m.
