New Delhi, Dec 15 (IANS) The Delhi Police on Wednesday paved the way for vehicles to ply through the Singhu border that had remained shut for over the past one year due to the farmers' agitation. On Tuesday, the police completely dismantled the barricades, erected a year ago to prevent the farmers coming to the national capital.
The development comes after the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organisation of farmer bodies, suspended the agitation after the Union government repealed the three farm laws and conceded its other demands. Subsequently the farmers started vacating the Delhi borders where they have been stationed for more than a year.
The farmers have now dismantled their settlements, removed tarpaulins, tied bales of clothes and are in the process of returning home.The Singhu border, which has remained the hotspot of the protests since the past one year, is almost cleared now. "All the concrete barriers and other obstacles have been cleared from the border," a police official said.
The traffic, from both sides, could be finally seen plying along the northern border of the national capital. Earlier in the day, famers camping at the Ghazipur border too vacated the place. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait was present on the occasion. Before leaving, the farmers held a 'havan' (a Hindu religious ritual) and expressed gratitude to all who stood with them in solidarity with the farm movement.
Tikait, along with other farmers, will reach their home in Sauram, via Sisauli, Modinagar, Meerut, Daurala Toll Plaza and Mansurpur, celebrating their victory. "I want to thank everyone, and particularly those who organised langars at the border," said Tikait while speaking to the mediapersons.He said, the agitation has been suspended, but has not ended.
A total of 40.8 per cent people have shown satisfaction with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the five states going to the polls next year, while 41.3 per cent showed dissatisfaction with him, as per the ABP-CVOTER-IANS BATTLE FOR THE STATES - WAVE 1.
According to the ABP-CVOTER-IANS BATTLE FOR THE STATES - WAVE 1, the goodwill of the Union government remains the same except in Punjab, which is up against the Centre over the three farm laws.
The survey found that overall, 13.3 per cent said the 'country is moving forward but not my life', 29.3 per cent said the 'country is moving forward and my life too', while 5 per cent said that 'life is improving but the country is in poor state'.
A day earlier, Customs officials had recovered 495 grams of gold valued at Rs 24.14 lakh from a passenger on his arrival from Dubai. The gold was concealed in various items like a blender, facial cream box, and sandals. A case for smuggling of gold was registered. Further investigation is in progress, an official said.
The survey, conducted in the five poll-bound states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur, revealed that about 51 per cent respondents in Punjab are not satisfied at all with work of the MLA of their respective areas.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took to Twitter regarding the spike in price of gas "The BJP government is increasing the price of LPG gas every month. The prices of petrol and diesel have been increased by 60-70 times in 3-4 months, but the price of sugarcane has not been increased in the past three years."
