On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated that his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the national level has been actively engaged in formulating schemes aimed at the "advancement and welfare of farmers". His remarks surfaced amidst the ongoing second phase of farmers' protests, which commenced on the fourth day earlier in the day.
PM Modi conveyed his message to the public after participating in a foundation stone-laying ceremony at AIIMS Rewari. During his address, he took the opportunity to critique the previous Congress-led UPA government's tenure at the national helm.
Highlighting the initiatives undertaken by the central government, the Prime Minister emphasized that the farmers were extended the "assurance" of securing loans from banks, a privilege that was previously withheld from them. He underscored, "We provided Modi guarantee to farmers... Banks had denied them loans, but we ensured the farmers' access."
Meanwhile, farmers, predominantly hailing from Punjab, have been advancing towards Delhi since February 13, advocating for various demands, including the waiver of farm loans and legislation guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP), among others.
Despite a prolonged five-hour discussion between representatives of protesting farmer unions and three Union ministers, a resolution remained elusive. Post-meeting, farmers conveyed their intent to escalate their protest, reaffirming their commitment to the march towards the national capital.
In response to the escalating tensions, heightened security measures have been implemented along the Punjab-Haryana borders, as well as the boundaries of Delhi with neighboring states such as Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, in anticipation of the farmers' continued march towards the capital. To mitigate potential disruptions, internet services have been suspended in select districts of Haryana, while barricades and barriers have been erected to deter the farmers from breaching Delhi's perimeters.
The vehicular movement, especially at Delhi's borders, has been severely impacted since February 13, with social media platforms inundated with visuals depicting prolonged traffic congestion as commuters grapple with extensive delays and seek alternative routes to their destinations. Both the Noida and Delhi Police have issued advisories to assist citizens in navigating through the disrupted traffic flow. Additionally, Section 144, imposing restrictions on large gatherings, has been enforced in both Delhi and Noida to maintain public order and security.
