Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab: Farm groups, police set for ‘chakka jam’

BATHINDA: Various farm organisations are going all out to ensure that the three-hour ‘chakka jam’ called on February 6 to put pressure on the central government for repealing farm laws is a success. The representatives of 32 farm organisations from Punjab and other states are mobilising activists and farmers to participate in the blockade and have identified points on various national and state highways for disrupting road traffic from noon to 3pm. The ‘chakka jam’ will conclude with one-minute continuous honking. Police forces in Punjab and Haryana are on their toes to ensure that nothing untoward happens and traffic flow is maintained. Sanyukta Kisan Morcha on Friday issued advisories for a peaceful ‘chakka jam’ and issued appeals asking the public to cooperate. The SKM said that only national and state highways across the country will be blocked from 12 noon to 3 pm and no one will stop emergency and essential services like ambulance, school buses . Protesters have been asked not to indulge in any conflict with any government official or ordinary citizens. Farmer leader Darshan Pal urged the public to honk at 3pm to express their support and solidarity with “annadatas”. BKU Ekta Ughrahan state secretary Shingara Singh Mann said the activists are gearing up for the road blockade at various places across 14 districts. “The activists in large numbers are ready to raise their voice against the central government for enacting three contentious laws and for fortifying the Delhi borders to cage protesting farmers as if they were citizens of some other country,” he said. BKU Lakhowal general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said farmers will reach various highways to show their annoyance against the attitude of the central government. In the meanwhile, the district administrations in Punjab have made alternative arrangements for traffic flow by planning diversions. Elaborate security arrangements too are being made for regulating the vehicular traffic, said a government spokesman. With focus on seven districts, Haryana police claimed to have made adequate arrangements to deal with the “chakka jam” call. Besides Sonipat and Jhajjar districts, which are considered most sensitive, additional deployment will be done in Rewari, Palwal, Jind, Ambala and Kaithal. Haryana DGP Manoj Yadava said this has been done to ensure that law and order situation remains under control and farmers also stay safe during the agitation. A troupe of 45 companies of Central forces will be deployed with Haryana Police personnel at all points across the state where farmers’ unions have decided to block roads. Haryana police has already ordered deployment of cops on non essential duties in the field. This is in addition to deployment of Haryana Armed Police reserves. “Special measures have been taken to ensure that those on agitation remain protected and no anti-social element creates any disturbance. Farmer unions have already assured a peaceful protest,” said Yadava.

The Times of India

2021-02-06

Amritsar