Tense scenes were witnessed on Delhi’s western borders on Thursday, as locals and villagers of Singhu and Tikri borders protested against the illegal blockading of national highways by the anarchists masquerading as ‘farmers’. The local police had to step in to defuse the situation, as the locals who are frustrated with the highway occupiers were more than determined to get the routes between Haryana and Delhi vacated. Carrying the tricolour and chanting slogans like ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, the locals of Singhu and Tikri are said to have caused a depletion of crowds due to their protests.
Stating that the traffic flow must resume between Delhi and Haryana, the residents announced the decision to hold a panchayat on Friday to decide the future course of action if their demand was not met. It must be mentioned that the illegal blockading of roads by the farmers of Punjab and Haryana is causing tremendous economic losses for people in the region, and many are even facing difficulties in maintaining a livelihood. Frustrated, they are now determined to have the highways vacated as soon as possible.
“Since last two months, this protest has affected us. We are not able to go to work” said one of the residents. Another local added, “What happened on January 26th was a direct attack on the Constitution and Democracy of India. One should speak up against what happened. They should rise above politics. What happened with Delhi Police is wrong.” Meanwhile, traders’ body CAIT had earlier stated that the ongoing farmers’ agitation in Delhi-NCR has caused a business loss of nearly Rs. 50,000 crores so far.
Since the January 26 violence and anarchy perpetrated by the fake farmers on the streets of Delhi, their agitation has been losing steam, as scores of people pack up and leave for their homes. The sense on the ground seems to be that the unions had a good deal coming their way from the Centre, where the Modi government had agreed to three main demands of the protestors except the one calling for a repeal of the laws. Had the unions accepted that proposal, they would have been saved the embarrassment on Republic Day, and the subsequent police crackdown against them. Now, they will be evicted from the protest sites by force if needed and will have to return to their home states empty-handed.
Delhi Police, meanwhile, has filed over 25 FIRs concerning the violence which was perpetrated in the national capital on Tuesday. 37 farmer union leaders have been named in the FIRs, and Delhi Police has issued notices to at least 20 farmers’ leaders including Yogendra Yadav for breaching the agreement with police regarding the tractor rally. The protesting leaders have been asked to reply within three days without fail.