[WSMDiscuss] Farmers in India declare a three-hour country-wide ‘chakka jam’ [literally, ‘wheel jam’, or road blockade] [But] No ‘chakka jam’ in Delhi, says farmers’ body, and asks protesters to be peaceful during highway blockade

Sat Feb 6 02:12:47 CET 2021

Friday, February 5, 2021

India in movement…, Farmers in movement, Peasants in movement…, Resistance in movement…, Rights in movement…, Politics in movement… Democracy in movement…, History in movement…, Herstory in movement…

A countrywide road blockade or ‘chakka jam’ has been called by the protesting farmers on Saturday, February 6, in support of their demand to repeal three new farm laws that they describe as being “anti-farmer”. Scores of people on tractor-trailers have continued to pour into Ghazipur from the Uttar Pradesh side of the highway and many left for their native places with a resolve to make the mega rally a success in their regions.

Darshan Pal, a senior member of Samyukt Kisan Morcha, said the ‘chakka jam’ will be completely peaceful and non-violent, adding that the protesters have been asked not to indulge in any conflict with government officials or any citizen.

“There will [however] be no chakka jam programme inside Delhi since all the protest sites are already in a chakka jam mode. All roads for entering into Delhi will remain open except where farmers’ protest sites are already located,” the statement stated.

[Apologies, if that is required, for a third post on the same day on the farmers’ strike, but this latest news – announced late Friday evening – is hugely significant :

Farmers in India declare a three-hour country-wide ‘chakka jam’ [literally, ‘wheel jam’, or road blockade] on Saturday, February 6

[But] No ‘chakka jam’ in Delhi, says farmers’ body, and asks protesters to be peaceful during highway blockade

In a statement, the SKM also said emergency and essential services such as ambulance and school bus will not be stopped during the 'chakka jam' that is they have scheduled to hold between 12 pm and 3 pm on Saturday

Express Web Desk

New Delhi | Updated: February 5, 2021 10:15:48 pm IST

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/chakka-jam-delhi-farmers-protest-highway-blockade-7176331/ <https://indianexpress.com/article/india/chakka-jam-delhi-farmers-protest-highway-blockade-7176331/>

Police barricade at Ghazipur Border to stop farmers from entering the national capital during their protest against the new farm laws, in New Delhi, on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. (PTI Photo: Vijay Verma) 

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) – thẻ umbrella body of the 40 farmer unions protesting against the three farm laws -, Friday said there would be no ‘chakka jam’ <https://indianexpress.com/article/india/farmers-chakka-jam-all-you-need-to-know-about-tomorrows-bharat-bandh-7175886/> in Delhi except at the protest sites on February 6 while asserting that farmers in the rest of the country will block national and state highways for three hours but in a peaceful way.

In a statement, the SKM also said emergency and essential services such as ambulance and school bus will not be stopped during the ‘chakka jam’ that is they have scheduled to hold between 12 pm and 3 pm on Saturday.

“There will be no chakka jam programme inside Delhi since all the protest sites are already in a chakka jam mode. All roads for entering into Delhi will remain open except where farmers’ protest sites are already located,” the statement stated.

A countrywide road blockade or ‘chakka jam’ has been called by the protesting farmers on Saturday, February 6, in support of their demand to repeal three new farm laws that they describe as being “anti-farmer”. Scores of people on tractor-trailers have continued to pour into Ghazipur from the Uttar Pradesh side of the highway and many left for their native places with a resolve to make the mega rally a success in their regions.

This is the first big event being organised by the agitating farmers after the Republic Day tractor rally, which saw chaotic scenes as groups of protesting farmers broke off the planned parade route, entered the centre of the national capital, clashed with the police as well as hoisted a farm union flag and a Sikh religious flag on the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort.
The bandh is a response to the Union Budget 2021 that is said to have “ignored” the demands of farmers and the internet ban imposed by the central government at various protest sites bordering the national capital.

Darshan Pal, a senior member of Samyukt Kisan Morcha, said the ‘chakka jam’ will be completely peaceful and non-violent, adding that the protesters have been asked not to indulge in any conflict with government officials or any citizen.

Meanwhile, security have been beefed up at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders by deploying extra forces and putting up multi-layered barricades, barbed wires and nails studded on the roads. 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, officials said.

Delhi Police PRO Chinmoy Biswal said after the violence that took place on January 26, adequate security arrangements have been put in place by the Delhi Police at the borders so that miscreants are not able enter the national capital. “We are monitoring content on the social media to make sure rumours are not spread against the police. The protestors are camping at the borders of Delhi. We are in touch with the police force of other states also,” he said.

For those who want to know more about the road blockade action :

‘Chakka Jam’ on Feb 6 : All you need to know about road blockade by farmers

Express Web Desk <https://indianexpress.com/agency/express-web-desk/>
Updated: February 5, 2021 7:12:15 pm IST

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/farmers-chakka-jam-all-you-need-to-know-about-tomorrows-bharat-bandh-7175886/ <https://indianexpress.com/article/india/farmers-chakka-jam-all-you-need-to-know-about-tomorrows-bharat-bandh-7175886/>

____________________________

Jai Sen

Independent researcher, editor; Senior Fellow at the School of International Development and Globalisation Studies at the University of Ottawa

jai.sen at cacim.net <mailto:jai.sen at cacim.net> &  <mailto:jsen at uottawa.ca>jsen at uottawa.ca <mailto:jsen at uottawa.ca>
Now based in Ottawa, Canada, on unsurrendered Anishinaabe territory (+1-613-282 2900) and in New Delhi, India (+91-98189 11325)

Check out something new – including for copies of the first two books below, at a discount, and much more : The Movements of Movements <https://movementsofmovements.net/>
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