Farmers' protest: Metro services hit in Delhi, many stations closed - Check updates here

In view of a massive protest planned by farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the India against the new farm laws of the Centre, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Wednesday announced that metro services to several areas of the national capital will remain suspended till 2 pm on Thursday. 

The DMRC issued a statement saying no metro services will be available from Anand Vihar to Vaishali and New Ashok Nagar to Noida City Centre during this period. The metro services will also be suspended between Sultanpur and Guru Dronacharya metro stations.

"Line-1: Regular services from Rithala to Dilshad Garden and Major Mohit Sharma Rajendra Nagar to Shaheed Sthal New Bus Adda sections. No services will be available between Dilshad Garden to Major Mohit Sharma Rajender Nagar section of this line during this period," read the circular.

"Line-2: Regular services from Samaypur Badli to Sultanpur & Guru Dronacharya to HUDA City Centre sections. No services will be available between Sultanpur to Guru Dronacharya section of this line during this period," it added.

"Line-3/4: Regular services from Dwarka Sec-21 to Anand Vihar/New Ashok Nagar & Noida City Centre to Noida Electronic City sections. No services will be available from Anand Vihar to Vaishali and New Ashok Nagar to Noida City Centre sections of this line during this period," added the circular.

"Line-5: Regular services from Kirti Nagar/Inderlok to Tikri Kalan section. No services will be available from Tikri Kalan to Brig. Hoshiar Singh section of this line during this period. Line-6: Regular services from Kashmere Gate to Badarpur Border and Mewala Maharajpur to Raja Nahar Singh sections. No services from Badarpur Border to Mewala Maharajpur section of this line during this period," it also read.

The DMRC, however, added that regular services will remain available in the entire section of Line-7, Line-9, Airport and Rapid Metro Lines during this period.

"After 2 pm on Thursday, train services will resume on all Lines from end to end without loops regularly," it added.

The exit gates of Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan, Lok Kalyan Marg, Janpath, Mandi House, BK Road, RK Ashram Marg, Supreme Court, Khan Market, and Shivaji Stadium (Airport Line) may be closed at a short notice on receiving communication from Delhi Police. 

Earlier in the day, the Delhi Police said it has rejected requests received from various farmer organisations to protest in the national capital against the contentious laws on November 26 and 27. The police had on Tuesday said that legal action would be taken against the protesting farmers if they come to the city for any gathering amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Various farmer organisations have requested permission for protest in Delhi on November 26 and 27. We have conveyed to them in writing and through various media also that the protest is not permitted in view of the latest DDMA guidelines," Delhi Police PRO Eish Singhal said.

"REGARDING FARMER ORGANIZATIONS MARCH TO DELHI ON 26&27 NOVEMBER. All the requests received from various Farmer Organisations regarding the protest in Delhi on 26 and 27 November have been rejected and this has already been communicated to the organisers," the Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) tweeted.

"Please co-operate with Delhi Police in ensuring no gathering in Delhi amid coronavirus, failing which legal action will be initiated as per law," it said.

"When the condition is good, they can seek due permission and exercise their right to protest in Delhi. For now, they are requested to cooperate with Delhi Police and not indulge in any kind of protest. If despite our appeal they turn up to Delhi, the required legal action will be taken against them," Singhal said.

The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh and various factions of the Bharatiya Kisan Union have joined hands and formed a 'Samyukta Kisan Morcha' to press the central government to scrap the three farm laws.