Farmers Movement Archive

Crossing Tikri border a Herculean task

Tribune News ServiceJhajjar, November 11Men and women walking with luggage on their heads is the common sight at Tikri ever since the opening of the 5-ft path at the Rohtak-Delhi National Highway as there is no availability of auto rickshaws or other passenger vehicles in around 1-km stretch of the border connecting Haryana and the national capital.A considerable number of people, including migrant labourers, vegetable vendors, small shopkeepers and those residing nearby, daily cross the border on foot as protesting farmers are not allowing three and four-wheelers to ply there. Merely 2.5-ft-wide separate paths for commuting have been made by placing iron barricades at Tikri.“My uncle and I go to Bahadurgarh from Inderlok in Delhi daily to sell footwear in nearby areas. We reach Tikri by bus and then take an auto rickshaw for Bahadurgarh city after crossing the border on foot. The opening of border saves not only time but also money as we had to cover a long distance earlier when it was sealed,” said Suresh, who was carrying a load of footwear on his head.Ram Karan of Tikri village also carries vegetables on his head daily while crossing the border. “I daily buy vegetables from Bahadurgarh and sell these at Tikri and in surrounding villages. Since I don’t have a two-wheeler and the farmers don’t let three-wheelers cross the barricades hence I have no other option but to carry the vegetables on my head to go to the other side,” he added.Interestingly, security personnel deputed at Tikri have to remain more attentive as compared to earlier situation when the border was sealed completely. “We used to relax at petrol pumps and nearby places at Tikri but now we have to remain alert to keep a tab on people’s movement,” said a security personnel.The personnel have been deployed on the open path at the Tikri border in order to ensure hassle-free movement of two-wheelers. Activists of farm outfits also remain present there to curb the entry/exit of three and four-wheelers.The border was opened for pedestrians, two-wheelers and ambulances on October 30 after the Delhi Police removed the multi-layered barricading from one side of the highway.Farmers’ protestA considerable number of people, including migrant labourers, vegetable vendors, small shopkeepers and those residing nearby, daily cross the border on foot as protesting farmers are not allowing three and four-wheelers to ply there. Merely 2.5-ft-wide paths for commuting have been made by placing iron barricades at Tikri.

The Tribune

2021-11-13