Strike is now new normal issue in India. Reports of regular strikes in India against the contentious Farm bill are pouring in from everywhere.
“Chakka Jam” commenced from 12.00 pm today for three hours across the country except Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand and Delhi. This strike had been called by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM). Repealing the farmer’s reform bill is not new claim from farmers. Farmers have been camping since September 2020 against the farm laws. They are continuously protesting against this reform bill despite eleven rounds of talks with the government. Farmers unions have asked local farmers to make this strike peaceful,and allow emergency services like ambulance service, marriage parties and media.
According to police, farmers blocked Panipat- Rohtak highway near Panipat, Hisar- Chandigarh highway at Kaithal and Pehowa, Karnal- Jind highway near Assandh. National Highway 44 had been blocked at Kurukshetra , Panipat and Karnal districts in Haryana due to farmers’ protest. The authorities requested farmers not to block NH 44 as it connects three states-Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh- and union territories of Jammu Kashmir, Ladakh and Chandigarh with the national capital. But farmers unions leaders did not lend their ears to the request and blocked all major national and Haryana state highways. However, Haryana police diverted the traffic from NH 44 to an alternative routes.
Several metro stations are closed, mainly in north and central Delhi. The entry and exit gates of Mandi house , ITO, Lal Quila, Jama Masjid, Janpath, Central Secretariat, Khan Market and Nehru Place were closed as precautionary measures. Red fort is the main attention as it was the hot spot of the riot that which place on Republic Day.
The demonstrators said they had arranged for food and water for commuters who face traffic jams on the blocked highways, which is the busiest road in the country.
Haryana ADGP law and order Navdeep Virk asked all districts superintendent of police to take the all securities measures at all traffic junctions and important roads. The administration had arranged all possibilities to avoid any confrontation with farmers. They identified hundreds of locations including 11 in Karnal districts. Karnal SP Ganga Punia said, that police had been deployed to clear roads and divert traffic on the link roads where as highways were blocked.
Singhu ,the main place of protest, Tikri and Ghazipur borders are to remain closed.
Farmers leaders announced that Delhi would be free from road blockage though 50,000 traffic and security personnel were deployed. Drone cameras have been deployed for aerial view.
After the incident on January 26, another protest rally was marred and a riot ensued from Singu border to Delhi. A violent clash took place after police tried to disperse protesters.
More than 100,000 people are protesting since late November. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court ordered to make a mediation committee to help both parties negotiate but farmers’ leader rejected the proposal.
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