A three-member team of Union ministers on Thursday arrived in Chandigarh to meet representatives of protesting Punjab farmers a week ahead of their planned ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest, scheduled to take place on February 13. The protest is called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.
The team includes Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Arjun Munda, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said before the meeting began in the evening.
Pandher said Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann coordinated with them for arranging the meeting with the central team.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had announced ‘Delhi Chalo’ march by more than 200 farmers’ unions on February 13 to press the Centre for accepting several demands, including enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
SKM (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Thursday evening said three central ministers will hold a meeting with them in Chandigarh. Chief Minister Mann will also be a part of the meeting, he said.
Meanwhile, massive traffic jams were witnessed on the Delhi-Noida border on Thursday as police personnel were deployed to check vehicles after a protest called by farmers in Noida and Greater Noida, officials said.
Motorists spent hours in the crawling traffic as the police personnel with heavy equipment were on alert to restrict movement on the road at the Delhi-Noida borders near Mayur Vihar, as the farmers tried to enter the national capital.
A senior Delhi Police officer at the border said that traffic was allowed but, if needed, the road will be blocked completely. “As of now, the Uttar Pradesh Police is dealing with them and hopefully they will not enter Delhi,” he said.
Long queues of vehicles choked the roads as several two-wheelers and four-wheelers were stuck in the jam at Sarita Vihar, officials said. “I am headed to Agra and cannot change route now because this is the only way which will take me to the highway. It’s not clear how much time it will take as the traffic is very slow,” said motorist Raj Sharma.
A heavy traffic jam was reported on the Delhi-Noida highway as well, officials said. Meanwhile, security has been stepped up in the national capital, especially on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border, in view of the protests by farmers, officials added.
At the Delhi-Noida border, heavy police force was deployed. Heavy duty bulldozers, backhoe machines, Vikraant logistic vehicles, riot control vehicles and water cannons were parked strategically to meet any eventuality in case farmers reached there.
Around 150 farmers have been stopped near the Mahamaya flyover in Noida by the Uttar Pradesh Police, officials said. Alternative traffic arrangements have been made and commuters were advised to avoid certain roads.
(with PTI inputs)
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