Farmers Movement Archive

Sigh of relief as Tikri border opens after 11 months

NEW DELHI: Sweet seller Vishal was visibly relieved on Saturday. As he watched the barriers that have blocked the road at the Tikri border for 11 months being removed, the 21-year-old said, “Now there is a glimmer of hope that my business will pick up pace.” The opening of the passage at the spot, where farmers had located their agitation against three central farm laws for 11 months, will allow employees of factories near the Tikri border and in Bahadurgarh to avoid detours. They will also allow emergency vehicles like ambulance, firebrigade vehicle to pass. However, no three-wheeler or heavy traffic will be allowed at the moment. The partial opening of the road was the result of meetings among the farmers and police after some tension on Friday evening, when police tried to remove the barriers themselves. The process was set off by the Supreme Court ordering on October 21 the opening of all traffic routes at the borders in Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur. When TOI reached the border on Saturday, a group of policemen could be seen waving to commuters and urging them to use the freshly opened road. A few of the agitating farmers too were also informing motorists about the same while others stood recording the scene on their phones. Kulwant Singh, who claimed to be a member of the farmers’ panel that met the government officials, said, “The carriageway was opened after three meetings with police. We never blocked the road; the cops put up the barricades and cement blocks.” Buta Singh Burjgill, president,BKU Ekta Dakaunda, disclosed to TOI, “It was decided that a 5-foot passage will be freed for two-wheelers, pedestrians and ambulances at Tikri border in view of the problems being faced by factory workers and two-wheelers.” At 1.49pm, an ambulance drove up to the barricades. After a short discussion, the protesters moved the barricades and allowed the emergency vehicle to pass through. While farmer Purushottam Singh Gill said the road would open between 7am and 8pm, DCP (Outer) Parvinder Singh said no such timing had been fixed. Sukhwinder Singh was among the farmers guiding people in this manner. “These factory workers have been supporting us and they are poor, so we agreed to open the road to aid them,” Sukhwinder said. When asked why bigger vehicles weren’t being allowed, the farmers cited the risk to the agitators, pointing out how three women protestors were killed by truck in Bahadurgarh on Thursday. Samyukt Kisan Morcha made it plain that a collective decision would be taken at an appropriate time on whether the farmers’ agitation would continue at the same site or moved to Delhi. SKM warned that if the government wanted to open the road fully, it would have to meet the farmers' demands. A few farmers weren’t convinced by the need to remove the road barricades. Mithu Kumar of Jalandhar said, “From Friday night, police have been using JCBs to remove the barricades. In the next few days, we will learn whether the opening of barricades was the right decision.” At the market near the protest site, Chotelal, who has a clothes business, exulted, “Now I can expect some people to make purchases at my shop. My business is down to 10% of my normal because the border was closed.” Anil, who owns a crockery and utensils store, too was cautiously optimistic. “I can't say for certain, but, yes, there is a chance that business will improve,” he said. Vishal, a sweet seller, muttered, “I can't even calculate my losses. I hope people will now come and buy sweets.” Meanwhile, DCP (Outer north) Brijendra Kumar Yadav said no barricades had been removed at Singhu border. “Motorists have been provided alternative routes,” he said.

The Times of India

2021-10-31

Delhi