Farmers hold tractor rally in Delhi amid tight security

Braving severe cold and sporadic rains, thousands of farmers from Punjab and Haryana have been camping at several Delhi border points for the past 40 days

Shouting slogans and blaring horns, thousands of farmers on Thursday blocked a key expressway that skirts the national capital in a show of strength to press for their demand for repeal of the agricultural reforms.

The farmers' unions, who have been camping on Delhi's borders for 43 days, claimed Thursday's tractor rally as a rehearsal for a bigger tractor parade to cripple the national capital on Republic Day.

The tractor rally came a day ahead of the eighth round of talks the farmers' unions are scheduled to hold with Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday in an attempt to address the concerns of the farmers over the three farm laws passed by Parliament in September.

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“The farmers will fight and return only after the farm laws are repealed,” Joginder Ugrahan, of Bhartiya Kisan Union Ekta (Ugrahan) said.

The tractor march started from four different points – Singhu to Tikri Border, Tikri to Kundli, Ghazipur to Palwal and Rewasan to Palwal – blocking the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal expressway that skirts the national capital and serves as a key transport route.

Farmers fear that the reforms initiated by the government that allow food processors and big retailers to directly buy produce from them will eventually replace government-regulated wholesale markets that ensure them a minimum support price for their crops.

The last meeting between the farmers and the government remained inconclusive as the farmers stuck to their demand for repeal of the three laws. The government has ruled out repeal of the laws, but offered to make amendments to address specific concerns raised by farmers.

Meanwhile, Baba Lakha Singh, the chief of the Nanaksar Gurdwara in Punjab met Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar with a plea to find a solution to end the farmers' agitation.

“We will have a new proposal and find out a solution to the matter. We will try to resolve it at the earliest. The minister assured me that he is with us in finding a solution,” the cleric said after meeting Tomar.

A group of farmers from Haryana, under the leadership of former legislator Naresh Yadav, took out a march in the capital supporting the farm laws. The delegation led by Yadav met Tomar and handed over a memorandum supporting the farm laws.

In a series of tweets, it had said Singhu, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari, Saboli and Mangesh borders were closed for traffic movement.

"Please take alternate route via Lampur Safiabad, Palla & Singhu school toll tax borders. Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba & GTK road. Please avoid Outer Ring Road, GTK Road & NH-44.

"The Chilla and Ghazipur borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida & Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. Please take alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Bhopra & Loni Borders," the traffic police said.

It said Tikri and Dhansa borders are also closed for traffic movement.

"Jhatikara Border is open only for LMV (Cars/Light Motor Vehicles), two wheelers and pedestrian movement," another tweet read.

According to the traffic police, people travelling to Haryana can take the routes via Jharoda (only single carriageway), Daurala, Kapashera, Badusarai, Rajokri NH-8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam Vihar and Dundahera borders.