Protesting farmers set up path for emergency services

Farmers camping at Delhi's borders in protest against three new agriculture laws of the Centre cleared one side of the highway at the Singhu border for giving passage to vehicles carrying oxygen supplies.

Singhu border (Haryana): Farmers camping at Delhi's borders in protest against three agriculture laws of the Centre cleared one side of the highway at the Singhu border for vehicles carrying oxygen supplies.

Even though the farmers have cleared the road, many drivers allege that the Delhi police is yet to clear the barricading causing them inconvenience.

The decision was taken after the leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farm unions that is spearheading the agitation, met officials of the Haryana government.

"At the meeting, it was decided to remove the barricades on one side of the highway at the Singhu border to give a free passage to oxygen, ambulance and other such emergency services," SKM leader Darshan Pal said in a statement here.

He said the protesting farmers will support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in every possible way and they are committed to causing the least inconvenience to the citizens.

The meeting was attended by the Sonipat superintendent of police, officials of the Chief Minister's Office and several SKM leaders, the statement said.

Darshan Pal dismissed the allegation against the protesting farmers of obstructing oxygen supply to Delhi as "baseless"

He alleged that the police were seen "misdirecting" the trucks carrying oxygen towards the protest sites, instead of guiding the vehicles towards the shortest route to the national capital.

The farmer leader further blamed the government for putting up barricades on the road that were obstructing the free passage of vehicles.

He said more farmers will start coming back to the protest sites from Friday.

A large convoy of protesters will be leaving for the Singhu border from Barwasni in Haryana's Sonipat district on tractor trolleys, he added.

AGENCY INPUTS