Roads and highways leading to the Delhi border are facing heavy traffic jams amid the farmers’ protests.
New Delhi:
Daily commuters are facing massive traffic jams between Delhi and Gurugram today after protesting farmers announced to continue their ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation.
Delhi Police, along with its counterpart in Gurugram, have made elaborate arrangements to prevent farmers from entering the national capital by setting up road blocks at various borders.
The move led to traffic chaos at places like Rajokri border, Sarhol border, Delhi-Gurugram Highway (NH-48) and Delhi-Bahadurgarh Highway during official timings from 7 am to around 11 pm.
Several videos were shared online of hundreds of vehicles stuck in traffic jams on Delhi-Gurugram and Delhi-Bahadurgarh roads due to restrictions on movement.
Multi-layered barricades have been installed at many places.
Meanwhile, after protesting farmers announced to continue their ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation, Delhi Police on Wednesday beefed up security in the national capital and directed its personnel to ensure strict vigil at Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur borders.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Jimmy Chiram said there is adequate deployment of forces, besides paramilitary forces, on the Delhi-Haryana borders.
The DCP said, “Our aim is not to disrupt traffic. Our main aim is to ensure safety, security and law and order. The teams deployed are checking all vehicles to ensure that farmers do not enter the national capital. “
The protesting farmers rejected the Centre’s proposal to purchase pulses, maize and cotton crops through government agencies at the minimum support price (MSP) for five years and announced to continue their agitation.
In the fourth round of talks with farmer leaders on Sunday, a panel of three Union ministers proposed that after striking an agreement with farmers, government agencies will purchase pulses, maize and cotton at MSP for five years. Farmer leaders rejected the proposal saying that it was not in favor of the farmers.
Delhi Police officials said security personnel deployed on all three borders have been asked to remain on alert on Tuesday. He said that passengers may have to face traffic congestion.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the “Delhi Chalo” march.
On February 13, a clash broke out between protesting farmers and Haryana Police personnel on the Punjab-Haryana border near Ambala.
The two border points of Delhi and Haryana – Tikri and Singhu – have been sealed with heavy deployment of police personnel and paramilitary forces and multi-layered barricades of concrete and iron nails. Two lanes of Ghazipur border have also been closed with multi-layer barricading and deployment of police personnel.
Another official said that Delhi Police is ready to stop the farmers at the borders of Delhi. He said security personnel have been instructed not to allow even a single protestor or vehicle to enter Delhi and a mock security exercise has been conducted.
Delhi Police has already collected 30,000 tear gas shells.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
