The farmers of Haryana and Punjab intensified their protests and called for “Chakka Jam” on the 6th of February.
Thousands of farmers are continuing their protest against the three farm laws. They continued to camp at the three borders of New Delhi, the Singhu Border, the Tikri Border and the Ghazipur Border.
The Kisan unions called for a nationwide ‘Chakka Jam’ blocking all roads across India.
The mega rally was called against the internet ban by the Central Government and Monday’s Union Budget 2021-2022, which “ignored” the demands of farmers. Since the 26th January tractor rally violence, the Central Government suspended internet connection at the Tikri, Singu and Ghazipur borders of New Delhi.
In the wake of the ‘Chakka Jam’ call, the Delhi Police beefed up security, deployed additional forces at the borders, studded iron nails on the road and built walls for barricading as farmers try to enter the national capital.
Starting on the 25th of November 2020, the protests at three borders are likely to continue for long.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait, leading the agitation said the movement at Delhi’s outskirts could continue till October this year and would be supported by villagers.
Highlighting about the upcoming Chakka Jam protest, Rakesh Tikait said, it would not be done in Delhi but in other parts of the National Capital Region (NCR,) which comprises parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan.
Mr. Tikait said, “Dilli mein hum nahi kar rahe, wahan to raja ne khud qile-bandi kar li hai humare jaam karne ki zaroorat hi nahi hai (We are not going to do anything in Delhi, the king there has already fortified it, there is no need for us to do a blockade now.)” He further added, “There will be a three-hour blockade on roads. It won’t happen in Delhi but other parts of the country. The vehicles which will come and stop will be given water and food. Items like ‘chana’ and peanuts will also be distributed to these people and we will apprise them of what the Government is doing with us.”
The highways and roads would be blocked between 12 noon and 3:00 P.M.,3 on the 6th of February.
All major routes are expected to be blocked not just in the national capital but in India.
The farmers’ protest also gained support from political parties like, the Indian National Congress (INC,) the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK.)
Balbir Singh Rajewal, a farmer leader from Punjab, and part of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) stood in support of the 6th February’s Chakka Jam and said, “Our February 6 protest would also be against this harassment faced by journalists who are trying to report the truth from the ground and the Twitter restrictions.”
Meanwhile, upon the proposed Chakka Jam, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, extended the suspension on internet connection till the midnight of the 9th of February.
In addition, the Union Government and the Delhi Police are working hard to control the protest of the 6th of February.
The police tightened the security at the Ghazipur border between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
The trains are being diverted to prevent the farmers from reaching the protest sites in the national Capital from the neighbouring states.
The Delhi Police put up multi layer barricades, spikes on roads, concertina wires and also parked buses sealing the main entry points to prevent the movement of protesters agitating against the Centre’s farm laws.
The three farm laws which were proposed and passed by the Central Government in September 2020 witnessed criticism and protest from farmers.
Farmers across India, especially from Haryana and Punjab are demanding to scrap the three laws.
According to the farmers the three laws: Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, would take away Mandi System and Minimum Support Price (MSP) leaving them at the mercy of corporators.
Stay tuned for further updates.
