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By: Express Web Desk | New Delhi |
Updated: February 2, 2021 12:13:20 pm
The Congress has been demanding that the Centre should talk to the protesting farmers and repeal the three farm laws, against which they have been protesting.
(In picture: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi/ File Photo) In the wake of heightened security at the borders of the national capital amidst the ongoing farmers’ protest, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Tuesday advised the BJP-led central government to build bridges instead of walls.
Taking to Twitter, Rahul Gandhi wrote: “GOI, Build bridges, not walls!”, tagging pictures of barricades and nails being placed at Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri borders of Delhi, where farmers have been protesting for over two months against the three new farm laws.
GOI,
Build bridges, not walls! pic.twitter.com/C7gXKsUJAi
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 2, 2021
Earlier last week, Gandhi had accused the government of “beating, threatening and bullying” farmers, demanding that the three new farm laws should be repealed immediately. He further stressed that it would be wrong for the ruling coalition to think that the protests will end.
Gandhi also accused the Modi government of destroying the livelihoods of farmers and labourers.
The Delhi Police has beefed up security arrangements at the three protest sites placing barricades, boulders and barbed wires amid apprehensions of more farmers from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh joining the protesters.
Monday morning saw new additions to Delhi’s border with Haryana at Tikri as more than 2,000 iron nails were embedded in rows across the breadth of Rohtak Road, positioned to puncture the tyres of vehicles coming in from the Haryana side.
The iron nails were embedded on the road under instructions of the Delhi Police, carried out under the supervision of Mundka police station.
The Delhi Police has introduced stringent security measures after the violent events of January 26.
Besides blocked roads, drones are also being used to keep surveillance and intense checking is being carried out at the border areas.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the suspension of internet services at the farmer protest sites in Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri borders till Tuesday night.
Farmer unions on Monday announced a countrywide ‘chakka jam’ on February 6 when they would block national and state highways for three hours in protest against the Internet ban in areas near their agitation sites, harassment allegedly meted out to them by authorities and other issues.