Chakka jam on Feb 6 against net ban

Protesting farmer unions on Monday called for blocking all state and national highways for three hours on February 6 to protest against the suspension of internet and heavy barricading at agitation spots and to push for the repeal of three agriculture laws.

The decision came on a day Twitter withheld from Indian users 250 accounts that allegedly used a controversial hashtag, and reversed its decision hours later. Twitter’s move came in response to a central government order “to prevent an escalation of violence” in the backdrop of the farm agitation, people familiar with the matter said.

The ministry of electronics and information technology (Meity) issued the directions after the ministry of home affairs (MHA) stepped in. “The home ministry said the tweets could lead to an adverse law and order situation,” one of the people quoted above said.

Among accounts affected was that of farm body Kisan Ekta Morcha, media outlet Caravan, Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar, activist Hansraj Meena, and CPI(M) leader Mohammed Salim.

The protest sites have turned into fortresses with parked DTC buses, concrete barricades, and concertina wires. At Ghazipur, a portion of the road was studded with nails and at Singhu, workers hooked iron rods between two rows of cement barriers on the main highway.

■ State exhibiting unsustainable debt patterns in recent years

■ Expenditure rising faster than receipts creating fiscal sustainability challenges

■ Long-term finances critically dependent on APMC reforms and rationalisation of free power

■ High subsidy burden leading to low capital expenditure

■ Key social and fiscal parameters deteriorating consistently