Indian farmers block roads to Delhi as protest continues
Indian farmers, protesting the government's agriculture sector reform laws, today blocked highways at several places in Punjab and Haryana states. Security was beefed up at all border points of Delhi with thousands of security personnel deployed, following a call for nationwide road blockade agitation.
Farmers' unions had on Monday announced a countrywide "chakka jam" from 12 noon to 3pm local time today when they would block national and state highways in protest against the internet ban in areas near their agitation sites and alleged harassment by authorities.
Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan said they are holding road blockades at 33 places in 15 districts including Sangrur, Barnala and Bathinda in Punjab.
"Elders and youths have gathered here to participate in chakka jam. It will be peaceful," said a protester at the Punjab-Haryana border in Shambhu near Ambala. We want that the government to repeal these three laws as they are not in the interest of the farming community," said another protester.
Protesting farmers said emergency vehicles including ambulances and school buses will be allowed during the "chakka jam".
Thousands of farmers have been protesting since late November at Delhi's borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, demanding a rollback of the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
The protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporations.
However, the government has maintained that the new laws will bring better opportunities to farmers and introduce new technologies in agriculture.
The police have stepped up security and made all arrangements for traffic diversion, said officials, adding adequate police personnel were deployed in Punjab and Haryana.
Forces have also been deployed at key streets' intersections across the national capital, including the Mughal era landmark Red Fort, which had witnessed violence on January 26 during the tractor parade by the protesting farmers in which over 500 police personnel were injured and a protester died.
Police are also using drone cameras to keep a tight vigil at protest sites and multilayered barricades, barbed wires and nail-studded roads at the protest sites are also part of the precautionary measures taken by the police force.
The police will also be monitoring content on the social media to keep a watch on those spreading rumours against the force, officials said
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