Delhi on High Alert as Farmers Prepare 'Delhi Chalo' March Amid Intensified Security Measures
Talks Between Farmers and Centre Remain Inconclusive as Tensions Rise
After failed negotiations between agricultural leaders and the Center, security measures in Delhi, including multi-layer barriers, concrete blocks, iron nails, and walls of containers at border crossings, were stepped up on Tuesday to prevent farmers participating in the 'Delhi Chalo' march into the nation's capital.
Massive deployments of police and paramilitary forces with anti-riot gear have been made at the three border crossing locations, Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur. Per an official, temporary detention centers have been erected at "specific locations" in anticipation of the march.
A legislation guaranteeing a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops is among the requests that farmers will push the Center to embrace. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have stated that farmers would go to Delhi on Tuesday to make their demands known.
A farm representative said that the farmers would start their march early on Tuesday, after a fruitless five-hour discussion on their demands with two Union ministers in Chandigarh.
Tractor-trolleys began traveling to the demonstration on Monday from several locations in Punjab.
"We don't believe the government will abide by any of our requests. We believe they have no desire to comply with our requests. Following the conclusion of the meeting late on Monday, farm leader Sarwan Singh Pandher informed reporters, "We will march towards Delhi at 10 am on Tuesday."
In response to anticipated widespread anxiety and "social unrest" brought on by the farmers' march, the Delhi Police has enforced Section 144 of the CrPC for a month. This section prohibits the gathering of five or more persons, processions or rallies, and the entrance of tractor trolleys transporting people through the city.
Sanjay Arora, the commissioner of police in Delhi, has issued rules stating that gatherings and processions connected to religious events like as weddings and funerals must get prior permission from the relevant authorities.
Farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, held sit-ins at the three border crossings between August 2020 and December 2021 as part of their previous protest.
In 2020, when farmers moved in a convoy of tractors, the police had to quickly arrange the logistics of checking their admission.
According to a top Delhi Police official, strict security measures have been implemented this time around in order to learn from previous mistakes. To prevent the demonstrators from continuing their march into Delhi, the police have also blocked up rural highways that border Haryana.
According to the officer, obstacles have been placed so that farmers would find it difficult to dismantle them. This was disclosed to PTI. The cement boulders are sealed with concrete.
Ahead of the protest march, residents and store owners in Delhi's border neighborhoods are once again plagued by fears of financial loss and other misfortunes.
In light of the planned march, the Delhi Police warned commuters on Monday of limitations on vehicle movement at the three border locations via a traffic warning.
The advise states that interstate buses planning to travel on National Highway 44 and headed, among other places, towards Sonipat, Panipat, and Karnal should instead use the ISBT to Majnu ka Tilla, the Signature Bridge, Khajuri Chowk, Loni Border, and KMP via Khekra.
It is advised that heavy goods vehicles traveling on National Highway 44 in the direction of Sonipat, Panipat, and Karnal, among other places, take the second exit at the DSIIDC intersection, go over the Harish Chander Hospital crossing, go over Bawana Road, go through Bawana Chowk, and then go over Bawana-Auchandi Road, which will take them to the Auchandi border and then onto KMP via Saidpur Chowki.
"The heavy goods vehicles intending to go towards Bahadurgarh and Rohtak, etc, are suggested to take Outer Ring Road from Mukarba Chowk to Madhuban Chowk to Bhagwan Mahavir Road to Rithala to Pansali Chowk to Helipad to UER-II to Kanjhawala Road-Karala T-Point-Kanjhawala Chowk to Jaunti Village to Jaunti Border/Nizampur Border and enter in Haryana village Bamnoli and may go further go via Nahra-Nahari road to Bahadurgarh road," the warning read.
The first exit at the Alipur cut to Shani Mandir to Palla Bakhtawarpur Road Y-Point to the Dahisara Village Road two-lane stretch to MCD toll Dahisara to Jatti Kalan Road to Singhu Stadium to PS Kundali is advised for cars and light goods vehicles intending to travel to Sonipat, Panipat, and Karnal via National Highway 44.
A formula for resolving some issues through the formation of a committee was proposed late on Monday, according to Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, who attended the second round of talks with the farm leaders along with Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal. Most issues were found to be in agreement.
One of the main requests of the agricultural leaders, according to sources, is a legislative commitment to MSP for crops.
In addition to a legal guarantee for MSP, the farmers are demanding the following: the reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, withdrawal from the World Trade Organization, pensions for farmers and farm laborers, waiver of farm debt, police cases against and "justice" for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, and compensation for the families of farmers who lost their lives during the previous agitation, among other things.
Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Press Time staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.
