Farmers Movement Archive

UP khaps block Delhi-Saharanpur NH with tents & food reserves in Baghpat

MEERUT: In support of the ongoing massive farmers' agitation against the three contentious farm laws, several members of the powerful khap panchayats from western Uttar Pradesh blocked the Delhi-Saharanpur National Highway [NH 709B] in Baghpat on Saturday. They even arrived with tents and food reserves. The khaps from the state's predominantly agricultural belt had earlier "unanimously" pledged to back the agitating farmers at the Delhi-NCR and the Delhi-Haryana borders. "We will sit here till the government takes back the controversial laws," Surender Chaudhary, head of Desh Khap, said. "And it's a unanimous decision." The NH 709B is a crucial UP highway to the national capital. Long queues of buses and trucks could be seen stuck. Heavy security force was also deployed in the entire area. Additional district magistrate Amit Singh told TOI, "We are in continuous talks with the farmer leaders and trying to convince them to call off the stir. Things are progressing in that direction as a complete blockade of this road will put travellers to a lot of inconvenience." "We hope to clear the highway soon," the ADM said. Led by BKU president and head of Balyan Khap Naresh Tikait, some of the members started from Muzaffarnagar and reached Baghpat on Thursday. He was joined by many more leaders, such as Desh Khap head Surendra Chaudhary. Chaudhary later moved towards the Delhi border. "This government is stubborn, which is not good. They should roll back these laws," Tikait said. Notably, khap panchayat leaders held a meeting in Soram village on Monday and decided to move towards Delhi in support of the farmers' agitation. On Thursday, as many as 10 chiefs of khaps such as Balyan Khap, Nirwal Khap, Battisa Khap, Hudda Khap, Beniwal Khap, Deshwal Khap, Lathiyan Khap, Gathwala Khap, assembled in Sisauli and started their journey towards the Delhi-UP border. Several khap panchayats in Haryana have already announced their support to the farmers movement against the three new farm laws.

The Times of India

2020-12-20

Meerut