New Delhi, Dec 15 (IANS) The Delhi Police on Wednesday paved the way for vehicles to ply through the Singhu border that had remained shut for over the past one year due to the farmers' agitation. On Tuesday, the police completely dismantled the barricades, erected a year ago to prevent the farmers coming to the national capital.
The development comes after the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organisation of farmer bodies, suspended the agitation after the Union government repealed the three farm laws and conceded its other demands. Subsequently the farmers started vacating the Delhi borders where they have been stationed for more than a year.
The farmers have now dismantled their settlements, removed tarpaulins, tied bales of clothes and are in the process of returning home.The Singhu border, which has remained the hotspot of the protests since the past one year, is almost cleared now. "All the concrete barriers and other obstacles have been cleared from the border," a police official said.
The traffic, from both sides, could be finally seen plying along the northern border of the national capital. Earlier in the day, famers camping at the Ghazipur border too vacated the place. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait was present on the occasion. Before leaving, the farmers held a 'havan' (a Hindu religious ritual) and expressed gratitude to all who stood with them in solidarity with the farm movement.
Tikait, along with other farmers, will reach their home in Sauram, via Sisauli, Modinagar, Meerut, Daurala Toll Plaza and Mansurpur, celebrating their victory. "I want to thank everyone, and particularly those who organised langars at the border," said Tikait while speaking to the mediapersons.He said, the agitation has been suspended, but has not ended.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday gave a clarion call for the establishment of a truly federal structure in the country, with genuine cultural, political and economic autonomy to states. It also announced to implement a Rs 50,000 per acre crop insurance scheme, besides commitment to revive the pre-2004 pension scheme for government employees.
In order to provide constructed houses to the economically weaker section (EWS) across the state, the Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday approved invitation of applications for allotment of 25,000 houses to be constructed by urban development authorities. The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Charanjit Channi here.
On October 3, eight people, including four protesting farmers, had died when a SUV belonging to Ashish Mishra had mowed them down on the outskirts of Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh. One local journalist had died in the ensuing violence.
Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) chief Amarinder Singh on Tuesday warned Punjab Police officials against intimidating his party workers at the behest of some local Congress leaders. The former Chief Minister was reacting to reports of Punjab cops stopping PLC workers, who were putting up posters in the Malwa region.
Before the account was restored, a tweet was shared with a URL on PM Modi's timeline which read, "India has officially adopted bitcoin as legal tender. The government has officially bought 500 BTC and is distributing them to all residents of the country."
Though farmers have suspended their agitation and have returned home, the BJP is still treading cautiously and opposition is leaving no chance to attack it on the issue. The farmers have returned to their homes after suspending the 15-month-long agitation, post the government repealing the three farm laws and agreeing to certain demands.
