Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers block Chandigarh-Delhi highway in response to chakka jam call

Farmers blocked the Chandigarh-Delhi National Highway number 44 at Kurukshetra, Karnal and Panipat in response to the three-hour chakka jam call given by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha from 12 noon to 3pm on Saturday against the internet shutdown at the protest sites. Police, deployed in large numbers, diverted traffic via link roads to avert a jam. The protesters said that arrangements have been made for food and water for stranded commuters on one of the busiest highways of the country. Nearly 40,000 vehicles cross this highway daily as it connects Chandigarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to national capital Delhi. Farmers also blocked the Panipat-Rohtak highway near Panipat, the Hisar-Chandigarh highway at Kaithal and Pehowa, the Karnal-Jind highway near Assandh.Earlier, the state authorities tried to convince the farmers not to block NH 44 that is an arterial highway, but in vain. With farmers adamant on blocking all major national and state highways in Haryana, the authorities decided to divert traffic from NH 44 on link roads. According to Rakesh Bains, the national spokesperson of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni), “We have mobilised block level coordination committees and locations for the protests have been finalised. Local farmers have been asked to ensure that the protests are peaceful besides allowing the movement of ambulances, marriage party vehicles and journalists.” Police to avert traffic jams on highway Haryana additional director general of police (ADGP), law and order, Navdeep Singh Virk has asked all district superintendents of police to make security arrangements at all traffic junctions and important roads by deploying the maximum number of personnel. The district administrations have made arrangements to avoid any faceoff with the farmers, who are likely to protest at several locations in the state, including the 11 sites on the highway in Karnal district alone. Karnal superintendent of police Ganga Ram Punia said the deployment has been made to avoid traffic jams. A traffic advisory so that commuters can take alternative routes. Traffic from NH 44 was diverted from Bastara toll plaza to Kutail and Gharaunda. The Kurukshetra district police also issued a traffic advisory.

Hindustan Times

06-02-2021

Chandigarh