‘Chakka Jam’ called by protesting farmers has begun across India and will continue till 3pm as protesters sit on roads and block traffic.
At some places, like Bengaluru and Pune, the demonstrators have been detained to avoid any untoward incident.
Farmer organisations in Jammu too have staged protest on Jammu-Pathankot highway as part of the nationwide ‘chakka jam’. “We appeal to the govt to repeal these laws. We support the farmers protesting on the borders of Delhi,” says a protester.
According to reports, Delhi authorities have shut Mandi House, ITO, Delhi Gate and Khan Market metro station. Over
50,000 police personnel, paramilitary forces and drone have been deployed in and around Delhi-NCR.
An umbrella body of farmers have said that there will be no road block in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
The protesters have said it will happen only on national and state highways and nothing will take place inside Delhi, emergency and essential services are “exempted”, and it will be “totally peaceful and non-violent”.
Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said that they have evidence that few people would attempt to spread violence at certain place.
“So we have decided to not block roads in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. There will be no road block programme inside Delhi since all the protest sites are already in a chakka jam mode,” he further said, adding that farmers have been “kept on standby as they can be called to the national capital any time”.
Not taking the promises at face value, Delhi police had geared up for a law and order challenge in order to avoid a repeat of the violence on Republic Day.
According to a Times of India report, over 50,000 personnel, drawn from Delhi Police, reserve police forces and paramilitary, will be deployed at various points, including the border. Several companies of ITBP, CRPF and RAF will be out for maintaining law and order.
