New Delhi: Delhi Police on Thursday beefed up security and deployed heavy force for checking vehicles in view of the "Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat" convened by farmers at the Ramlila Maidan to protest against the Centre's policies regarding the farming sector.
Police have also issued a traffic advisory for commuters to avoid the roads leading to central Delhi.
The Delhi Police has granted approval to the farmers to hold the event, under the condition that the gathering does not exceed 5,000 individuals, no tractor-trolleys, and no march to the Ramlila Maidan.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer organisations, has said it will hold a "Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat" at the Ramlila Maidan on Thursday where a resolution will be passed to "intensify the fight" against the BJP-led Centre's policies related to the farming sector.
Here are the key updates:
- The farmers raised slogans against the Union government at the protest venue.
- Harman Singh, a farmer from Punjab's Patiala, told PTI, "We want the Centre's policies to be pro-farmers. We also want that our demand an MSP (minimum support price) on crops be fulfilled."
- According to a statement from the SKM issued on Tuesday, the Delhi Police have granted them a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for conducting the mahapanchayat at Ramlila Maidan on March 14, ensuring arrangements for parking, water, toilets, and ambulance with the assistance of the Delhi municipal administration.
- Meanwhile, heavy traffic snarls were witnessed in central Delhi and Sarai Kale Khan, including traffic congestion at ITO, Delhi Gate, Daryaganj, and on National Highway-24 near Sarai Kale Khan, among other places.
- The Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory, alerting commuters about traffic regulations and route diversions. According to advisory, vehicular movement might be affected on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Barakhamba Road, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Tolstoy Marg, Asaf Ali Road, Jai Singh Road, Swami Vivekananda Marg, Sansad Marg, Netaji Subhas Marg, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Minto Road, Ashoka Road, the Maharaja Ranjeet Singh flyover, Connaught Circus, Bhavbhuti Marg, DDU Marg, and Chaman Lal Marg.
- The advisory also said traffic might be diverted from Delhi Gate, Mir Dard Chowk, Ajmeri Gate Chowk, Guru Nanak Chowk, Kamla Market, Paharganj Chowk, the Jhandewalan roundabout, the Maharaja Ranjeet Singh flyover from Barakhamba Road to Guru Nanak Chowk, Barakhamba Road, Janpath Road, the KG Marg crossing and the GPO roundabout (Gol post office) from 6 am.
- Meanwhile, the number of paramilitary personnel deployed at Delhi's borders was also increased as the farmers have been asked not to come to the capital with their tractor-trolleys, the officials said.
- Three border points of the capital -- Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur -- have been witnessing a heavy deployment of paramilitary personnel in view of a proposed farmers' march to Delhi. Hundreds of farmers have been sitting at the border points of Punjab and Haryana for the last one month.