Farmers Movement Archive

Nine roadways buses diverted today, 4000 trucks stranded on highway

Jaipur: Nine roadways buses were diverted through Alwar’s Behror-Tatarpur-Khairtal route on Wednesday and nearly 3000-4,000 trucks are stranded as the Jaipur-Delhi national highway (NH-8) continued to remain sealed at Shahajahanpur on Rajasthan-Haryana border owing to farmers’ agitation.The roadways buses included one Volvo luxury bus and 8 Express buses. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, farmers from Kota, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Churu, Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh reached the border with tractors in support of the agitation which has been continuing for the last four days. The farmers have blocked the highway as they were not allowed to march towards Delhi in protest against the three farm laws passed by the Centre. On Wednesday, the gurudwara committees of Ganganagar and Kota made arrangements for their food (langar) and drinks. People from nearby villages have also extended their support by providing food items like - milk, vegetables, lassi, sugar, grains - to the farmers. “On December 20, villagers from 45,539 villages of Rajasthan will pay homage to 20 farmers who died during the ongoing agitation,” said Kisan Mahapanchayat’s Ram Pal Jat.“The jam continues from Jaipur itself. The small vehicles easily get diverted through Behror, but the trucks and heavy vehicles can’t go through that route. About 3000-4000 trucks are stranded on the Jaipur-Delhi national highway. These trucks carry goods and materials to Delhi, Haryana, Noida, Ghaziabad and other places. But now we are not able to deliver goods timely,” said Gopal Singh Rathore, state president, Jaipur truck transport operator chamber.“Those who are going via diverted route have to travel 150-200 km extra to reach their destinations. On the way, they are being harassed by police and locals. Also, if raw materials get destroyed due to the delay, drivers won’t get their payment. There is a net loss of Rs 400-500 crore each day. If this situation continues, we will be ruined. The drivers are also running away leaving the trucks on the highway,” he said.“We have written to the prime minister, chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar urging them to resolve the issue,” he added. The three farm laws that are being opposed by the farmers of Punjab and Haryana are — the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation); The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance; and Farm Services and The Essential Commodities (Amendment).

The Times of India

2020-12-17

Jaipur