The Delhi Police has commenced the removal of cemented barricades positioned at the Delhi-Ghazipur border, offering a significant respite to commuters. These barricades, previously installed to prevent farmers from advancing towards the capital, had caused major traffic disruptions. To restore normalcy to traffic flow, the Delhi Police is swiftly clearing the barricades to facilitate commuter movement.
The decision to place barricades came in response to the farmers’ “Delhi Chalo” protest march announced in early February. Erected on both sides of the road beneath the flyover on the Ghazipur border, these barricades aimed to deter farmers from entering the national capital with their tractors during the protest.
Commuters traversing this route had been grappling with significant traffic congestion due to the barricades. Recognizing the inconvenience faced by citizens, the Delhi Police initiated their removal, thereby restoring accessibility to the road for commuters.
Meanwhile, the farmers, who have been protesting for nearly a month, intensified their agitation by staging a ‘rail roko’ protest across various locations in Punjab on March 10. Organized by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, the protest sought to exert pressure on the Centre to address their demands, which include a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce.
The farmers have presented a range of demands, including a legal assurance of MSP, withdrawal of police cases stemming from previous protests, provision of pensions for farmers and laborers, debt waivers, and a freeze on electricity tariff hikes.
During recent talks between the farmers’ delegation and a panel of three Union ministers on February 18, an offer was made to procure five crops—moong dal, urad dal, tur dal, maize, and cotton—at MSP for a period of five years through central agencies. However, the farmers rejected the proposal and opted to continue their protests.
As the standoff between the farmers and the government persists, the removal of barricades at the Ghazipur border marks a step towards alleviating the challenges faced by commuters while underscoring the ongoing tensions surrounding the farmers’ agitation.
