Farmers block the national highway at Delhi-UP Ghazipur border during their ongoing agitation against new farm laws.
Vehicular movement at Delhi-Meerut Expressway halted on Tuesday after farmers blocked all carriageways, news agency ANI reported. The Delhi Traffic Police confirmed about the closure of the carriageways at the Ghazipur-Ghaziabad border. The sudden blockade has prompted the police to divert traffic to alternate borders.
"Ghazipur border closed for traffic from Delhi to Ghaziabad. It was already closed for traffic from Ghaziabad to Delhi. Traffic diverted from Nizammudin Khattha, Akshardham & Ghazipur Chowk for onward journey via Anand Vihar, Apsara, Bhopra, DND," Additional CP Traffic, Outer Range, Delhi, said.
Commuters said that they are facing problems commuting from Delhi to Ghaziabad due to closure of both carriageways.
"This Expressway isn't being utilised for the purpose it was constructed. I've been stuck here due to jam," Gaurav Goyal, a commuter, told ANI.
Meanwhile, reports claim that farmer unions have called a key meet on Tuesday to discuss the Centre's latest offer to hold talks on the new farm laws. Farmers are also likely to finalise a reply to Union Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar's letter sent to 40 unions on Sunday. The ministry in its latest communication asked the unions to fix a new date for talks according to their convenience. Today is the 27th day of the stir.
Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, are currently staying put at Delhi's borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in protest against the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. They have expressed apprehension that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporations.
READ MORE: 'With folded hands...' PM Modi makes fervent appeal to farmers over farm laws; blasts opposition
However, the government has maintained that the new laws will bring farmers better opportunities and usher in new technologies in agriculture. The government argues that the three farm laws will remove the middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the country.
Farmers from Maharashtra leave for Delhi to join protests
Meanwhile, thousands of farmers from Maharashtra on Monday left for Delhi from Nashik to join the ongoing agitation by cultivators seeking the repeal of three agri laws passed by the Centre. The farmers, who started off in private vehicles, were led by leaders of the Kisan Sabha. A Kisan Sabha leader told PTI that farmers from 21 districts in Maharashtra are on their way to Delhi.
Addressing the gathering of farmers, Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha leaders Ashok Dhawale and Ajit Navale criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) over the agri laws. They alleged that the new farm laws were enacted with the sole purpose of benefiting select corporates at the cost of farmers.
READ MORE: Govt reaches out to protesting farmers again, asks them to choose date for next talks
