Farmers Movement Archive

Chakka jam: Farmers vow to stay off Delhi limits

NEW DELHI: The agitating farmers at the Singhu border are ready for Saturday’s chakka jam, or road blockade, and assured it would be a peaceful one, with no disruptions likely in Delhi. The protestors said they had no intentions of entering Delhi and the protest, which will be held pan-India, aimed at garnering support from the Indian states. The road blockade will mainly impact states other than Delhi, the farmers said. When TOI visited Singhu border on Friday, most protesters were upbeat and optimistic about Saturday’s nationwide protest bringing the farmers’ movement back on track after the unsavoury derailment of January 26. “It will be a peaceful protest on Saturday and we want all participants to maintain discipline and ensure the act’s success,” said farmer Sawarn Singh of Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab. “The chakka jam is only for three hours, from 12noon to 3pm but we want to maximise its effect as much as possible.” Sawarn Singh was sure Delhi was not likely to face any inconvenience with the event focusing on other states. Charanpal Singh of Rajpura, Punjab, said the farmers’ movement was being depicted as limited to Punjab and Haryana. “This is not just Punjab’s problem or Haryana’s problem. We want the government to see there is outrage in all states and the chakka jam is a way of exhibiting the scale of the problem,” he explained. Jagdev Singh, proudly sporting a Kisan Morcha badge, said the majority of the Indian population was standing with the farmers and the movement to have the central farm laws repealed needed their support. “Saturday is the day to stand up and prove that. Each state is ready to make us count,” said Jagdev Singh. The agitators insisted that the events of January 26 were anomalies. “The directions from the farmers’ unions for Saturday are clear. It will be a peaceful protest,” claimed Harchand Singh of Muktsar, Punjab. “There will be no attempt to create commotion or unrest. Farmers from all states need to step up and the common folk can join in too.” The farmer unions spearheading the over two-month-old protest could be seen on Friday discussing the way forward for Saturday. Langar sewa, for one, would be carried out as usual. Many of those camping at Singhu for over two months said Saturday wasn’t going to be any different for them. “Yes, there is a chakka jam, but this is our chakka jam and the day won’t be any different from normal for those already at Delhi’s borders. We only expect support from other states,” said Maninderpal Singh, a farmer from Ludhiana. Watch Will hold peaceful protest on 'Chakka jam': BKU leader Rakesh Tikait

The Times of India

2021-02-06

Delhi