Farmers on their way to cross Singhu Border and enter Delhi during 'Delhi Chalo' protest march against the new farm laws, in New Delhi, Friday, Nov. 27, 2020
New Delhi: In response to the ongoing farmers' "Delhi Chalo" march, the Delhi police have reopened service lanes at Singhu and Tikri border points with Haryana after sealing them two weeks ago.
A senior police officer mentioned, "The process took time as those barriers were made of concrete. Opening of these lanes will ensure vehicles will reach their destinations easily."
"We were in the process of opening service lanes at Singhu and Tikri borders from Saturday. Locals will not face problems while commuting," added the officer. Despite the reopening, the deployment of police and paramilitary forces will maintain strict vigilance around the clock.
On Sunday, the city police removed two substantial cement barriers to facilitate commuters using a small passage at the Singhu and Tikri borders. "The process took time as those barriers were made of concrete. Opening of these lanes will ensure vehicles will reach their destinations easily," the officer reiterated.
Singhu and Tikri points were sealed on February 13 when farmers from Punjab initiated their march to Delhi, pressing the Centre for demands such as a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops and farm loan waiver. Thousands of farmers have been stationed at Khanauri and Shambhu on Punjab's border with Haryana, along with their tractor-trolleys and trucks, after their march was halted by security forces.
Last Wednesday, farmer leaders temporarily halted the march after a protester was killed and around 12 police personnel were injured in clashes at Khanauri. The decision was made when some protesting farmers attempted to approach barricades.
Farmer leaders subsequently announced that protesters would continue camping at Khanauri and Shambhu points on Punjab's border with Haryana until February 29, when the next course of action would be decided.
Punjab farmers are also advocating for the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm laborers, no increase in electricity tariffs, withdrawal of police cases, "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation for the families of farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.