In a significant development aimed at alleviating commuter woes, the Delhi Police has commenced the process of dismantling cemented barricades erected on the Delhi-Ghazipur border.
These barricades, previously installed to thwart farmers from advancing towards the capital during their protests, had led to considerable traffic congestion in the area. The Delhi Police has stated its intention to normalise traffic flow for citizens by removing these barricades.
The decision to dismantle the barricades came after farmers announced their Delhi Chalo protest march in early February, prompting authorities to fortify the border with barriers on both sides of the road below the flyover at Ghazipur.
The objective was to prevent farmers from entering the national capital with their tractors. However, the resulting traffic congestion inconvenienced commuters, prompting the Delhi Police to initiate their removal to facilitate smoother movement on the road.
Meanwhile, farmers have continued their protest activities, staging a 'rail roko' protest in Punjab by squatting on railway tracks at various locations. This protest, organised by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, aims to exert pressure on the central government to address their demands.
Among the demands put forth by the protesting farmers are a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for their crops, withdrawal of police cases against them from previous protests, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, debt waivers, and no increase in electricity tariffs.
During recent negotiations with a delegation of farmers, which concluded late on February 18, the central government offered to procure five crops—moong dal, urad dal, tur dal, maize, and cotton—from farmers at MSP for a period of five years through central agencies.
However, this offer was rejected by the protesting farmers, who opted to continue their demonstrations at protest sites.
The removal of barricades on the Ghazipur border marks a significant development in the ongoing farmers' protest, offering a respite to commuters while underscoring the complex dynamics surrounding the farmers' demands and the government's efforts to address them.
The Delhi Police's initiative to ease traffic congestion by removing barricades underscores a pragmatic approach aimed at balancing public convenience with the need to maintain law and order amidst ongoing protests.
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