New Delhi/Chandigarh: Farmers on Saturday resorted to road blockades at several places across the country demanding withdrawal of the three contentious farm laws.
The call for ‘Chakka Jam’ (Road blockade), that began sharp at noon, was given by joint farmers’ union — Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM). The farmers’ body had on Friday said that the National and state highways across the country will be jammed from 1200 hrs to 1500 hrs.
According to reports arriving here, vehicular traffic was disrupted as farmers blocked the roads at many places. However, there was no report of any untoward incident received from anywhere so far.
Hundreds of farmers from Punjab and Haryana gathered at the Shambhu border, which witnessed the first scenes of farmers-police. Heavy police force was deployed along the border in the Haryana side, while, in contrast, there was very less presence of police personnel in the Punjab side.
“Enough is enough! The government should immediately roll back the black laws,” a protesting farmer told UNI at Ghazipur border which became the epicenter of the peasant’s protests after an emotional appeal by farmer leader Rakesh Tikait on January 30.
The National Highway 1 connecting the national capital with Chandigarh was blocked at Karnal while NH 44 was blocked near Ludhiana in Punjab.
The joint farmers’ body had said that the three-hour Chakka jam will remain peaceful and non-violent. “The protesters are instructed not to engage in any confrontation with any officers, employees or common people during the protest,” SKM said.
The Delhi police has taken strict measures like intensifying security at city’s border points to deal with any kind of violent situation emerging out of the ‘chakka jam’. Barricades wrapped with concertina wires have been placed at several places to keep off people on foot.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has temporarily closed ten Metro stations viz. — Vishwavidyalya (Delhi University), Lal Quila (Red Fort), Janpath, Central Secretariat, Jama Masjid, Khan Market, Nehru Place, Mandi House, ITO and Delhi Gate.
The Chakka Jam will conclude by the blowing of a vehicle horn for 1 minute at 1500 hours indicating the unity of the farmers.