New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: In what comes as a major relief for the commuters, the protesters at Shaheen Bagh opened one side of the Noida-Kalindi Kunj road on Saturday after 70 days of blockade due to anti-CAA protest sit-in. This comes hours after Supreme Court-appointed interlocutor Sadhana Ramachandran met a delegation of women protesters at the protest site alone for the fourth day for mediation.
Also Read: Key Noida-Faridabad road via Kalindi Kunj, closed again after few minutes of reopening
However, there is no clarity whether the road will remain open or not as a group of protesters opened the road number 9 but, another group closed it. A little later another group reopened a small stretch, the police said.
"A little earlier today, Road No. 9 was reopened by a group of protestors, but later it was closed by another group. Again, a group of protestors have reopened a small stretch, however, still, there's no clarity if all protestors have consent on this," DCP South East, quoted by news agency ANI, said.
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DCP South East: A little earlier today, Road No. 9 was reopened by a group of protestors, but later it was closed by another group. Again, a group of protestors have reopened a small stretch, however, still there's no clarity if all protestors have consent on this. https://t.co/liFuJoXEZz
— ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2020
During the mediation talks, Ramachandran told the delegation of women protesters that the road should be opened as the closure would not help them continue their two-month-long sit-in. "If the road isn't cleared, then even we would not be able to help you. We are not saying that Shaheen Bagh should be dismantled," she said.
While the protesters put several demands in front of her and asked her if there was any direction from the Supreme Court about their security. They also told her that cases against Jamia and Shaheen Bagh protesters should be withdrawn.
They also demanded that the proposed National Population Register should not be implemented and the action should be taken against ministers for their controversial remarks. The demands also include that the families of those who died or injured during the agitation should be given compensation and the government should promise security for the protesters.
However, Ramachandran, while leaving the protest site, said she would speak to Sanjay Hegde, the second interlocutor appointed by the top court, about her meeting with the protesters. "The agitation has been continuing for more than two months, putting at discomfort many people who live near the protest site," she said as reported by IANS.
On Friday, the key route linking Noida to Faridabad via Kalindi Kunj road near the protest site of Shaheen Bagh was reopened by the UP and Delhi police after being closed for 69 days. However, the relief was short-lived and the police again barricaded the route after few minutes of opening.
The Supreme Court had on Monday appointed senior lawyers Sanjay Hegde and Sadhna Ramachandran and former chief information commissioner Wajahat Habibullah to go and talk to protesters at Shaheen Bagh area to convince them to hold the agitation at an alternative site. The apex court has fixed the matter for further hearing on February 24.
Also Read: SC-appointed interlocutors meet protesters in Shaheen Bagh, say 'others too have rights'
Shaheen Bagh in Delhi has been the epicentre of the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Delhi since December last year. The road has been closed for 70 days and caused major problems for the commuters of Noida to Delhi and Faridabad.
(With agencies inputs)