Farmers Movement Archive

Cops action sparks highway blockades

Bathinda/Kurukshetra/Karnal: Police action against farm activists protesting over Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar’s visit to Hisar on Sunday triggered highway blockades and protests across the state, and drew criticism from farm leaders. Soon after the incident, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha termed the action as a brutal act which would not silence farmers. Highways were blocked in at least five districts — Ambala, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Karnal, and Panipat. The protests in Ambala, Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar were organised on a call given by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni), while the ones in other two districts were held on a call given by SKM. In Ambala, farmers blocked NH 44 (GT Road) at Devi Nagar toll plaza on Shambhu border. In Kurukshetra, farmers blocked the road in front of Third Gate of Kurukshetra University for about two hours and then lifted the stir. Farmers also blocked the GT Road at Shahabad-Markanda for two hours. In Yamunanagar, farmers blocked NH 344 near Gurdwara Gobindpura Sahib at Sugriv Chowk, where three roads merge. About 7 pm, farmers lifted all blockades. SKM has, meanwhile, given a call for holding protests at all police stations in Haryana on Monday. Farmers have decided to hold parleys on Sunday night to prepare further strategy to deal with the situation. SKM leaders described Haryana government’s attitude as “confrontationist”, saying it was trying to provoke farmers to defame them. In Hisar, Rakesh Tikait said, “BJP must stop testing the patience of the farmers and that too in such a way. This type of action will not be tolerated and prove dear for the BJP government. The farmers will not sit back. Instead, they will come out in bigger numbers with renewed vigour to take on the BJP.”

The Times of India

2021-05-17

Chandigarh