Farmers' Protest: Tractor Rally Hits Traffic Movement; Singhu, Tikri Borders Partially Cleared | Latest

Protesting farmers are holding a tractor march today along the Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar district (Noida), for which Police put up elaborate security arrangements that affected traffic movement. Traffic movement was hit at some roads leading to Delhi as farmers blocked portions of highways by parking their tractors on Monday.

Farmers planned to take out the tractor march along the Yamuna Expressway, Luharli Toll Plaza and Mahamaya Flyover.

To ensure no untoward incident takes place, the Delhi-Noida border was sealed with barricades for the tractor rally organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and a traffic advisory was issued over potential disruptions and diversions in the Delhi-Noida border region due to security checks.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 were also implemented at key entry and exit points of Delhi and Noida.

Farmers' Protest | Latest Updates

-Traffic Hit In Parts Of UP As Farmers Block Highways

Traffic movement was hit in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Baghpat, Hapur and Amroha as protesting farmers blocked the left lane of highways by parking their tractors as part of their tractor rally on Monday.

In Meerut, farmers and Bharatiya Kisan Union (Tikait) members jammed the National Highway (NH) 58 at Mohiuddinpur, a Hindustan Times report said. BKU's Rakesh Tikait on Monday said the tractor march is being carried out so that the Narendra Modi government listens to them and not forget the farmers.

“A programme to take out a 'Tractor chain' has been decided. Tractors will be parked on the highway that leads to Delhi, especially the divider highway...It was decided to register a different kind of protest so that the government would listen to us and not forget the farmers,” Tikait, who was at the forefront of the 2020-21 protestagainst the Centre's now-repealed farm laws, told ANI.

-Noida: Traffic Advisory Issued For Tractor Rally

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) called for a tractor march today along the Yamuna Expressway, from Mehndipur in Rabupura to Falaida.

The farmers' bodies planned to take the tractor march through the Yamuna Expressway, Luharli Toll Plaza, and Mahamaya Flyover.

As part of traffic restrictions and diversions issued by Noida Police for the tractor rally, vehicles traveling from Chilla border to Delhi can use the Sector 14A flyover via Golchakkar Chowk Sector-15, while those coming from the DND border can use the elevated route via the Film City flyover in Sector 18.

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Vehicles from Kalindi border can move through Mahamaya flyover via Sector 37.

For commuters using Yamuna Expressway, police have advised using alternative routes and use of metro to minimise inconvenience. Goods vehicles on specific routes will face restrictions, and drivers are advised to consider alternative paths to reach their destinations.

-Police Partially Remove Blockages At Singhu, Tikri Borders

As the farmers halted their proposed 'Delhi Chalo' march towards the national capital, the Delhi police on Sunday arranged a pathway for the commuters by removing a portion of blocks at the Singhu and Tikri borders.

"We are removing a portion of the barrier from Point-A to Point-B for the commuters. The deployment of police and paramilitary forces will ensure strict vigil round the clock. Force deployment will stay in place. Vehicle movement will not be allowed for now," a senior police officer said.

Delhi police removed two huge cement barriers on Sunday for those commuters who walk towards Delhi using a small passage at the Singhu and Tikri borders.

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Farmer leaders on Friday announced that their protest march is on hold till February 29 and that the future course of action regarding the stir will be decided on that day.

Hundreds of farmers, however, are still camping at mainly the Shambhu and Khanauri borders between Punjab and Haryana in a bid too proceed to Delhi.

The Delhi Police has directed the security personnel deployed at the city's Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur border points to stay alert. They also conducted mock drills.

Delhi Police officials said the security personnel deployed at the three borders were asked to stay on alert and to keep strict vigil.

-What Are Farmers Demanding

The protesting farmers are demanding a legal guarantee on minimum support price (MSP) for crops. The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha is spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' agitation along with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political).

ALSO READ | ‘Dilli Chalo': Why Are Farmers Protesting Again And What Are Their Demands?

Apart from MSP, farmers are advocating for the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and laborers, farm debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases, justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of farmers who died during the previous agitation in 2020-21.