Delhi Farmers' Protest: Commuters Likely To Face Traffic Snarls Ahead Of 'Dilli Chalo' March

Commuters are likely to face traffic congestion in Delhi as the police have tightened security near borders, including Tikri and Shahdara, ahead of the protesting farmers' call for Delhi march today.

Commuters are likely to face traffic jams amid tightened security at the Delhi-Haryana borders.

Source : PTI

As the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) on Sunday called on the farmers across the country to reach the national capital on Wednesday for another protest march, commuters in the national capital are likely to face traffic jams. The tightened security measures along the Delhi-Haryana borders are likely to compound matters for commuters further. The call for the protest march was made by Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher, leaders of the umbrella bodies spearheading the farmers' protests. 

In view of the farmers' 'Dilli Chalo' march planned for Wednesday, security was tightened along the Delhi-Haryana Tikri border and Delhi's Shahdara border.

VIDEO | Farmers' protest: Security tightened at Delhi-Haryana #Tikri Border in view of farmers' planned Delhi march. #FarmersProtest

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/KJbQpqzDxT

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 6, 2024

VIDEO | Farmers' protest: Security remains tightened at Delhi's Shahdara border.

Earlier this week, the farmers had called to march towards Delhi from March 6 to press the government to fulfill their demands. pic.twitter.com/VceupxAsGV

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 6, 2024

A massive traffic snarl was already in the making along Delhi's Singhu border after farmers reportedly gathered there for the 'Dilli Chalo' march. The Delhi Police stated that it will keep a strict vigil at Ghazipur, Tikri, and Singhu borders as well as bus stands, metro stations, and railway stations, news agency PTI reported.

"We have stepped up security at all three borders. However, we are not shutting any border or route but vehicle checking will take place," PTI quoted an officer as saying. 

Jimmy Chiram, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer), stated that the force is already deployed at the Delhi-Haryana border and that the police are keeping a tab on the situation. 

Another officer stated, "We had temporally removed barriers for commuters at the Singhu and the Tikri borders. The deployment of police and paramilitary personnel is still there and (they) will ensure strict, round-the-clock vigil."

"Additional police and paramilitary forces have been deployed at railway and metro stations and bus stands as the farmers would also be coming in public transport like trains and buses. Section 144 has already been imposed in Delhi. We will not allow any gathering or assembly anywhere here," PTI reported citing another officer as saying. 

The officer also stated that security had been tightened at ISBT Kashmere Gate, Anand Vihar, and Sarai Kale Khan.

'Rail Roko' Agitation On March 10

Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher also called for a four-hour countrywide 'rail roko' protest on March 10 to press for a slew of demands from the Centre, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price for 23 crops.

The farmers began their march on February 13, but they were stopped from entering Delhi by the security forces at the Delhi-Haryana borders, resulting in clashes. A 21-year-old farmer was killed and a few others were injured in one of the clashes that happened between the protestors and security forces at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border in February. The farmers have, however, remained put at the Shambhu and the Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana.