By IANS,
New Delhi : Protests by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers, a religious procession and the India-Australia cricket match Saturday led to traffic snarls across the national capital.
The BJP workers demanding justice for 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims held protests around noon near Shyam Lal College in east Delhi, Janakpuri in west Delhi, Rani Bagh in northwest Delhi and Kalkaji in south Delhi.
“Protests resulted in traffic jams from 30 minutes to one hour in all these areas. It also had a spillover effect on all the major roads connecting these areas,” a traffic police official told IANS.
The anti-Sikh riots started after the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi Oct 31, 1984. Over 3,000 Sikhs were killed in the carnage which lasted three days.
Areas like Ashok Vihar, Azad Market and Chandni Chowk were affected due to a procession to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. The procession started from Gurudwara Sis Ganj in the heart of Chandni Chowk around 10 a.m.
The nearly 10-hour procession passed through Subash Marg, Red Fort crossing, H.C. Sen Marg, Town Hall, Nai Sarak, Fatehpuri, Church Mission Road, Lahori Gate Chowk, Pul Mithai, Azad Market, DCM Chowk, Rohtak Road, Rani Jhansi Road, Faiz Road, Baraf Khana Chowk, Mori Gate Chowk, Roshanara Road, Ghanta Ghar Chowk, Nangia Park, Swami Narayan Marg, Roop Nagar Chowk, GT Road, Ashok Vihar Flyover and Azadpur ‘H’ point.
“Minor traffic snarls were reported from most of the places. We had already advised road users to follow the directions given by the traffic personnel to ensure smooth movement and to minimise traffic dislocation and disruption,” the official added.
The third one-day international cricket match being played between India and Australia added to the traffic problem, as the stadium always falls short of parking space.