The Delhi Police has imposed prohibitory orders and warned of traffic congestion ahead of the arrival in the city on Tuesday of thousands of activists of a farmers group, which is raising various welfare demands.
Thousands of activists of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) started Kisan Kranti Yatra from Haridwar and announced it would reach Delhi on Tuesday to coincide with the 149th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The BKU is raising various demands including a farm loan waiver, pension for farmers over 60 years of age and reduced electricity tariffs.
BKU national spokesman Rakesh Tikait claimed the Uttar Pradesh government and the Modi government had not fulfilled the demands of the farmers. "We have organised the march to press for implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, loans waiver and scrapping of a ban on plying of 10-year-old tractors in the national capital region among others," he said.
According to media reports, nearly 30,000 farmers are part of the Kisan Kranti Yatra. The BKU had earlier asked for permission to march to the 'Lutyens' area of Delhi where Central ministries are located.
The BKU march will pass through Ghaziabad (in Uttar Pradesh) and will proceed via Preet Vihar and Geeta Colony flyover in East Delhi on Tuesday. "A large number of protesters are likely to come to Delhi from bordering areas of east district. This may create law and order situation and may disturb the peace and tranquillity and endanger human life or property in the area of east district," Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Pankaj Singh said.
The protesters are proceeding towards Delhi with hundreds of tractor-trolleys and private vehicles, according to the order by the DCP (East). “They may also be carrying sticks/lathis/cans and possibility of them turning unruly on slightest provocation cannot be ruled out,” the police order said.
In East Delhi, the prohibitory orders would be in force until October 8. It covers Preet Vihar, Jagatpuri, Shakarpur, Madhu Vihar, Ghazipur, Mayur Vihar, Mandawli, Pandav Nagar, Kalyanpuri and New Ashok Nagar police station limits. In Northeast Delhi, the prohibitory orders were issued by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) Atul Kumar Thakur and will be in force till October 4.
The Delhi Police announced late on Monday vehicular movement had been affected on National Highway 9, Ghazipur Border and at UP Gate due to the BKU march.
The Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory asking motorists to avoid the Meerut Expressway.
"In view of the large-scale gathering of protesters on the Ghazipur border, people going towards Ghaziabad, Hapur, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Roorkee and Haridwar are advised to avoid the Meerut Expressway [Ghazipur Border] and take alternative routes as per their convenience," a Delhi Police advisory said.
(With PTI inputs)