Farmers protesting against the Center’s farm laws continued their sit-in on the Noida-Delhi border for a second day on Wednesday, leading to the closure of a key route connecting Uttar Pradesh with the national capital.
The Delhi Transit Police have advised travelers traveling to the national capital to avoid using the Chilla route and instead take the Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) or Kalindi Kunj highway.
Read also: With the government’s pro-farmer image under fire, BJP wants a friendly end to agricultural protests
“The Chilla border on the Noida link road is closed to traffic due to protests by farmers near Gautam Budh Dwar. People are advised to avoid the Noida interchange road to go to Noida and to use NH-24 and DND instead for Noida, ”the Delhi Traffic Police tweeted.
Hundreds of farmers affiliated with the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) and other groups had gathered at the UP border on Tuesday night. Strong security was deployed to prevent them from advancing towards Delhi to join Punjab and Haryana farmers in their protest.
Read also: Prime Minister Modi seeks to quell concerns over farm laws
Farmers protest against the three agricultural laws passed by Parliament in September. The three laws, which farmers say would make them vulnerable to exploitation by large corporations, are: the Agricultural Products Trade and Trade (Promotion and Facilitation) Act of 2020, the Farmers Agreement (Empowerment and Protection) on Price Assurance and Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020.
However, the government has remained firm in its position that the laws are beneficial to farmers. On his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio show on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “New dimensions are being added to agriculture and its related activities in India. The agricultural reforms of the last days have also opened new doors of possibilities for our farmers ”.
“These reforms have not only broken the chains of farmers, but have also given them new rights and opportunities. These rights began to mitigate the problems that farmers were facing in a short period of time, ”he added.
(with contributions from the agency)
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