Will not enter Delhi, say farmers as police prepare for chakka jam
NEW DELHI/KARNAL: Farm unions agitating against three agriculture laws announced on Thursday that no protester will enter Delhi during a three-hour nationwide highway blockade on February 6 in a bid to avoid a repeat of clashes and violence witnessed on Republic Day.
Farmers in Punjab and Haryana drummed up support for the chakka jam, scheduled between 12pm and 3pm on Saturday, held village-level meetings and deputed special security volunteers to avert any clashes with security forces.
In Delhi, Union home minister Amit Shah met national security adviser Ajit Doval and police commissioner SN Shrivastava to review the security situation.
The Centre had already conveyed to Delhi Police that additional paramilitary forces are on standby. Currently, over 60 companies (6,000 personnel) of paramilitary forces are assisting Delhi Police at the borders.
Farm leaders said cultivators camping at Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur borders, and those who will join them by Friday, will carry out the chakka jam at their respective venues.
“Farmers will block the highways in their respective states and no attempt will be made to enter Delhi. In case anyone gets stuck during the chakka jam, they will be served water and food by the farmers. We will also explain to them the reason behind our protest and what the government is doing with us,” Bharatiya Kisan Union’s national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said at the Ghazipur border.
During this chakka jam – the first big event by the agitators after the Republic Day tractor rally went out of control and protesters ran riot on Delhi’s streets – farmer leaders assured that they will not stop ambulances and fire brigades.
Farmers held meetings in Punjab and Haryana. Response was enthusiastic in Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar as local people thronged toll plazas. “This agitation is at its peak and we need your support to win it,” said BKU (Charuni) chief Gurnam Charuni in Kurukshetra district.
Farmers at the Tikri border also said that they will avoid getting into confrontation. “Only anti-social elements resorted to violence on Republic Day. For the past two months, farmers had been protesting peacefully and the same will continue on February 6,” said Bijender Pal, a farmer from Mansa in Punjab.