Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers block expressways on 100th day of protest

Gurgaon/Ghaziabad/Noida: Hundreds of vehicles were stranded for hours on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal and Eastern Peripheral expressways, the two speedways that form a ring around Delhi, as farmers blocked several stretches to mark the 100th day of their agitation on Saturday. On the KMP, traffic was thrown out of gear at Badli, Asaudha, Kharkhoda, Kundli and Palwal as the protesters, including women, waved black flags and stopped collection at seven toll plazas. The blockade continued for five hours from 11pm. Traffic from the city was, however, spared the woes as police diverted vehicles on the expressway itself. There was no disruption at the toll booths in Manesar and Pataudi, but vehicles moved at snail’s pace through the others. Commuters bore the brunt. “I am headed for Agra. Little did I know that farmers would block the expressway. Even the traffic police in Gurgaon or Palwal hadn’t issued any alert,” said Satish Kumar, a city resident. Farmers insisted the blockade was peaceful and that they made way for emergency vehicles. “At the toll plaza in Palwal, vehicles that had children and women were allowed to go. Even ambulances and cranes were not stopped. The rest turned back on their own after we requested them. We served tea, food and water to those who remained stranded,” said Mahender Chauhan, a farmer leader from Palwal. In Jhajjar and Sonipat districts, farmers parked their tractors in the middle of the expressway. “Our agitation against the three farm laws will continue until the Centre withdraws them. We are currently mobilising our strength. Farmers from across the state are joining us. Many of their tractor-trolleys have already reached the KMP,” said Vinod Gulia, who spearheaded the protest at the Badli toll plaza. In order to avoid a spillover in the city, police had deployed several teams on the Delhi-Jaipur highway, which connects with KMP. “All senior police officers were patrolling their respective areas. Hundreds of policemen had been deployed at strategic locations on the highways. Besides, a fire engine and an ambulance were also stationed at the spot to deal with any untoward situation,” an officer said. On the EPE too, farmers blocked the stretches in Dasna and Duhai for five hours from 11am. The queue of vehicles stretched several kilometres, but ambulances and other emergency vehicles were allowed to go. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait, however, claimed that the traffic disruption was because of the police putting up barricades. “We allowed ambulances and anyone in emergency to pass. We did not block the road. The police put up barricades at various places,” he added. He also criticised the government over rising LPG prices. “We will have to plan another round of agitation for the hike in price of cooking gas. We will place place gas cylinders in the middle of the road and start a protest,” the farmer leader said. In an oblique reference to the 2024 general election, Tikait said, “The problems will be solved in 2024.”

The Times of India

2021-03-07

Gurgaon