Opposition leaders stopped at Ghazipur border

"Shocked to see the treatment being meted out to the annadaata. Farmers are barricaded behind fortress like concrete barriers and barbed wire fencing," MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal tweeted.

Opposition leaders reached the Ghazipur border on Thursday to meet the farmers who are protesting against the three farm laws since 70 days. The delegation of 15 opposition MPs representing ten political parties were stopped by the police at Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in Ghazipur. The MPs included Harsimrat Kaur Badal of Shiromani Akali Dal, Kanimozhi of DMK, Supriya Sule of Nationalist Congress Party and Sugata Roy of the Trinamool Congress.

Expressing shock at the treatment meted out to the farmers and the way they have been barricaded behind the fortress, Ms Badal tweeted, "Saw first hand the conditions created at Ghazipur border. Shocked to see the treatment being meted out to the annadaata. Farmers are barricaded behind fortress like concrete barriers and barbed wire fencing. Even ambulances and fire brigades cannot enter the protest site,".

After the Republic Day violence, police have tightened the security at the Ghazipur border and two other points,Singhu and Tikri, where farmers are protesting. The police have set up rows of concrete barricades along with barbed wire fences, fixed sharp nails on the road and dug up trenches in order to prevent farmers from forcing their way in. "We are here so that we can discuss this issue (farmers' protest) in parliament. The Speaker is not letting us raise the issue. Now, all the parties will give details of what is happening here," Ms Badal told the mediapersons.

Meanwhile, Congress MPs moved adjournment notices in the Lok Sabha backing the repeal of the three laws. Congress MP Manish Tewari said that thousands of farmers have been protesting against the laws since August 2020 and "there is enough ground for the government to set these laws completely aside." The Centre has extended the deployment of 31 CRPF companies by two weeks that includes 16 RAF companies for Delhi-NCR region. Borders that are closed for traffic movement are- Harewali border, Mangesh Pur border, Tikri border, Jharoda border and Dhansa border.