New Delhi: Days after the Jan 26 Tractor Rally organised to protest against three contentious agri laws passed by the Centre, farmers on February 6 (Saturday) will hold ‘chakka jam’ across the country in support of demand to repeal the legislation. This will be the first major event organised by the farmers after the Republic day rally which turned violent. As per reports, the said ‘chakka jam’ will be held in all states of the country barring New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. ALSO READ | Farmers Protest: Amid Ruckus In Rajya Sabha, Narendra Singh Tomar Asks,” What Is Black In Farm Laws?”
According to Delhi Police, security at the city’s border points near the three protest sites (Ghazipur, Tikri and Singhu borders) have been tightened by deploying extra forces and putting up multi-layered barricades, barbed wires and nails studded on the roads ahead of the proposed ‘chakka jam’ by farmers.
Earlier in the day, Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava also held a meeting with the senior officers of the force and reviewed the security arrangements. The Police will also be monitoring content on the social media to keep a watch on those spreading rumours against the force.
What will happen during ‘Chakka Jam’ on Feb 6?
On February 6, agitating farmers said they would block national and state highways across the country for three hours in protest against the internet ban in areas near their agitation sites, harassment allegedly meted out to them by authorities, and other issues.
The ‘chakka jam’, has been called by Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of 40 farmer unions protesting the farm laws. Several farmers’ leaders have said that the move is in response to the Union Budget 2021 which allegedly ignores the demands of farmers and the internet ban imposed by the central government at various protest sites bordering the national capital.
Which areas will be affected?
Apart from Delhi, the blockade will take place in other parts of the National Capital Region (NCR), which comprises parts of Haryana and Rajasthan, and the rest of country including the southern states. Leaders have also informed that the chakka jam will not take place in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Bharat Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait — who has been leading the stir since November last year — said, “Dilli mein hum nahi kar rahe, wahan to raja ne khud qile-bandi kar li hai humare jaam karne ki zaroorat hi nahi hai (We are not going to do anything in Delhi, the king there has already fortified it, there is no need for us to do a blockade now)”
Chakka Jam duration
The proposed Chakka Jam will be held for three-hours on Saturday afternoon between 12 noon and 3 pm on roads and highways.
Other details about Chakka Jam
Farmers have said that those vehicle which will come and stopped will be given food and water.
These people will also be provided with snacks like ‘chana’ and ‘peanuts’ and will be apprised of what the government is doing with the farmers. In a special bulletin released today, the SKM announced that emergency and essential services like school buses and ambulances will not be stopped during the Chakka Jam.
The entire process, SKM said, will remain non-violent and completely peaceful. All protesters have been urged not to indulge in any conflict with the government officials or ordinary citizens. The ‘chakka jam’ will conclude at 3 pm by blowing vehicles’ horn continuously for one minute.
Security arrangements
On the backdrop of the proposed Chakka Jam call by farmers, Union Home Minister Amit Shah today had a meeting with Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava. National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval was also present in the meeting.
The Delhi Police has tightened security at the borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, where farmers have been stationed since November-end. Even Haryana Police have stepped up security measures in view of the protesting farmer unions’ call for a countrywide ‘chakka jam’ on Saturday.
The senior Police fficers have been asked to personally supervise security and traffic arrangements at vital junctions and roads while district police chiefs have been directed to ensure deployment of adequate personnel, news agency PTI reported. The Police Commissioners and district Police chiefs have also been asked to make all out efforts to liaise with local leaders of farmer organisations to ensure peaceful conduct of their proposed programme.
Why are farmers protesting?
Thousands of farmers, mainly from Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting since late November at Delhi’s borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, demanding a rollback of the three agri laws. 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 help introduce new technologies in agriculture.
