New Delhi: In view of the ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by the farmer unions protesting against the Centre’s three farm laws on Monday, the Delhi Police intensified patrolling and deployed extra personnel at pickets in border areas of the national capital.
A senior police officer said adequate security arrangements will be made to maintain the law and order situation on Monday in view of the bandh.
READ: Farmers Hold Rally In Panipat Today Against Agricultural Laws, Announce Bharat Bandh On Monday
The officer added that no protestor will be allowed to enter Delhi from the three protest sites at the city’s borders.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), New Delhi, Deepak Yadav, said: “adequate security arrangements have been made as a precautionary measure” in view of the Bharat Bandh.
“Pickets at the border areas have been strengthened and all vital installations, including India Gate and Vijay Chowk, will have adequate deployment,” he added, PTI reported.
An officer said no input has yet been received regarding any protest being organised in the city but all precautionary measures are being taken to ensure no untoward incident takes place.
Another officer said the “security will be preventive”, adding the police is “fully alert”.
“There is no call for 'Bharat Bandh' in Delhi, but we are watching the developments and adequate number of personnel will be on ground,” he added.
The Delhi Police have intensified its patrolling and extra personnel have been deployed at the pickets, especially across the border areas. Every vehicle entering the national capital is being thoroughly checked, according to the police.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of over 40 farm unions spearheading the farmers’ agitation, had earlier appealed to the people to join the bandh.
“The SKM appeals to every Indian to join this nationwide movement and make the 'Bharat Bandh' a resounding success. In particular, we appeal to all organisations of workers, traders, transporters, businessmen, students, youth and women and all social movements to extend solidarity with the farmers that day," the Samyukta Kisan Morcha had said recently in a statement.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha had added the bandh will be held from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. during which all government and private offices, educational and other institutions, shops, industries and commercial establishments as well as public events and functions will be closed throughout the country.
All emergency establishments and essential services, including hospitals, medical stores, relief and rescue work and people attending to personal emergencies will be exempted.
The farmers mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been since November last year demanding that the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, be rolled back and a new law made to guarantee minimum support price for crops.
The farmers fear the three contentious farm laws would do away with the Minimum Support Price system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporations.
Several rounds of talks between the farmers and the government have failed to break the deadlock.