Delhi traffic has been severely affected by the ongoing farmers' protest as traffic moved at a snail pace at the GT Karnal road as restrictions have been imposed to prevent the farmers from entering the national capital. Despite the several appeals of the government to resolve the issue through dialogue, farmers have been steadfast and are not backing down even after the first two days were marred by violence and clashes with the police.
The farmers aim to march to the national capital to urge the Centre to address their demands, which include a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price of crops, implementation of the Swaminathan Committee report, and loan waiver, among others.
Earlier, General Secretary of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Sarvan Singh Pandher while speaking to the media said that the farmers wanted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a dialogue or else they should be allowed to protest peacefully.
He said, "We have a meeting with the Union ministers today. We want PM Modi to have a conversation with them so that we can solve our demands." Stating that India is a democratic country, he added, "We should be allowed to protest peacefully in the National Capital. The government should remove the blockades at all entry points."
Farmer leaders have said a meeting will be held with three Union ministers in Chandigarh on Thursday and they will decide the next course of action after it. For now, the 'Delhi Chalo' agitation by farmers from Punjab has been contained at the state's border with Haryana.
CBSE Board Students Advised To Leave Early
In light of the protest, students who will appear for the the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) board exams were advised to leave for their centre early as traffic as traffic movement has been hit in several areas, particularly in the city's border areas, due to restrictions in view of the farmers' protest. More than 5.8 lakh students will take the exams at 877 centres in Delhi from Thursday.
The CBSE in an advisory said that "as the examination starts at 10:30 AM, hence, all the students have been directed to reach their examination centres at or before 10 AM".