Bharat bandh on Feb 6: As part of the ongoing protest against the three farm laws, farmer unions have given a call for a nationwide “chakka jam” on February 6 (Saturday). The Kisan unions have announced that they would create blockades at various national and state highways across the country for three hours on Saturday.
The ‘chakka jam’ will be enforced by farmer unions to protest against the ban on internet services which has been imposed in areas near their agitation sites by the government. The unions have called it harassment by authorities.
Addressing a press conference at the Singhu Border on Monday, kisan union leaders said that highways and roads would be blocked between 12 noon and 3 pm on February 6 (Saturday).
The unions said that the authorities were trying to kill off their agitation by cutting water and power supply to the protest sites. Further, mobile toilet blocks are also being taken away from the protest venues, they alleged.
The unions further claimed that the Union Budget 2021-22 presented yesterday “ignored” the farmers.
Delhi: Police personnel continue to be deployed at Singhu border where farmers' protest against three farm laws enters day 69; latest visuals from near the protest site pic.twitter.com/YH9kX0wihg
— ANI (@ANI) February 2, 2021
Addressing a press conference, farmer union leaders said that highways and roads would be blocked between 12 noon and 3 pm on Saturday, February 6. All major routes are expected to be blocked not just in the national capital but across the country.
The Bhartiya Kisan Union had announced that there would be a country-wide agitation on February 6 against the contentious farm bills.
The Samkyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of protesting unions, also alleged that the Twitter accounts of Kisan Ekta Morcha and a user named ‘Tractor2Twitter’ have been restricted.
Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav alleged the action against the Twitter account was taken on the “request of government authorities”, adding accounts of some private individuals, who have been very vocal against the movement, have also been restricted.
“Our February 6 protest would also be against this harassment faced by journalists who are trying to report the truth from the ground and the Twitter restrictions,” Balbir Singh Rajewal, a farmer leader from Punjab, and part of the SKM said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has already extended the suspension of internet services at the farmer protest sites in Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri borders till Tuesday night.
Internet services were also temporary suspended in some parts of Delhi on January 26, when large scale violence was reported during the farmers’ tractor rally.
