Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers block Eastern Peripheral Expressway for hours to mark 100 days of protest

Meerut: To mark the 100 days of protest, farmers blocked Eastern Peripheral Expressway - a major route near Delhi - on Saturday. "This is a day of celebration for us. This government doesn't understand the strength of our resolve. We have weathered bitter cold. Now, we are bracing for heat as summer approaches. There is no question of slowing down," a farmer said. Hundreds of farmers accessed the expressway at Mavikalan village. They parked their tractor-trolleys on the road and blocked the traffic. The blockade continued for five hours. During this time they also raised slogans against the government and in favour of farm unions. "For five hours we have jammed the road here. We want to warn the government that for the next five months also, no one can end our protest. This government will have to take back the laws and bring in laws for MSP," Bhupender Tomar, a farm leader, said. According to reports, several parts of the expressway, also known as KMP (Kundli-Manesar-Palwal) Expressway, witnessed protests on Saturday. Before Baghpat, farmers could be seen blocking traffic at Duhai section of Ghaziabad. In Haryana, too, several parts of the expressway in Jhajjar, Sonepat, among others, were blocked. The blockade, called by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, was in place from 11am to 4pm. Bhartiya Kisan Union spokesperson, Dharmender Malik, said, "We all planned this protest on the occasion of 100 days of the farmers' movement. Farmers were asked to reach Greater Noida, Modinagar, Muradnagar, Baghpat, Hapur, etc. The event was peaceful and successful."

The Times of India

2021-03-07

Meerut