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Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organisation of farmer bodies, suspended the agitation after the Union government repealed the three farm laws and conceded its other demands.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.
Stating that the BJP government should stop attempting to divide farmers even at this stage - two days after the three farm laws were repealed in the Parliament, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Wednesday on condemned the government's statement that it does not have data about farmers' death.
Leaked toxic Methyl IsoCyanate (MIC) gas from the Union Carbide of India Ltd (UCIL) factory started affecting the residents of Madhya Pradesh capital city Bhopal, especially those residing in the southeast direction from the factory, around 2 a.m. on the intervening night of December 2 and 3 in 1984.
The Indian government, before taking any final decision on the resumption of international flight operations, is "closely monitoring" the situation emerging out of the detection and spread of coronavirus' Omicron variant.
On Sunday, Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to stop international flights from regions witnessing a rise in Covid-19 cases. Meanwhile, Delhi government-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital has been designated to treat patients testing positive for the new Covid-19 variant Omicron.
Customs officials at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here seized 472.8 grams gold in paste form from seat pockets of a flight that arrived from Guwahati. Acting on specific intelligence, Customs sleuths recovered in gold paste form worth Rs. 23.33 lakh.
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Tuesday exhorted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to accept his proposal for complete waiver of farmers and farm labourers' debt, adding the state is ready to take over its share of debt burden along with the government of India.
