Farmers block the KMP expressway near Mandothi village in Jhajjar district on Saturday and protesters camp at the Rewasan toll plaza in Nuh. Sumit Tharan & S Chandan

Tribune News Service

Sonepat, April 10

Intensifying their stir against the Centre’s three contentious agricultural laws, farmers today blocked the 136-km Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) and Kundli-Ghaziabad-Palwal (KGP) expressways.

The call for a 24-hour blockade was given by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions spearheading the agitation. The blockade started at 8 am and will last 24 hours till Sunday morning.

Farmers, including women, carried flags of their organisations and raised slogans against the government. They squatted on the expressways while slamming the Centre for not repealing the farm laws.

As per the scheduled programme, hundreds of farmers gathered at the KMP and KGP zero point and then proceeded towards a toll plaza on the KMP e-way near Nahra-Nahri village where they staged a protest.

Farmer leaders Dr Darshan Pal, Jagjeet Singh Dallewal, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Surjeet Singh Phul, Harinder Singh Lakhowal and Baldev Singh Sirsa were also present at the toll plaza. They addressed farmers, appealing to them to maintain peace during the protest.

They also said the today’s blockade was a warning to the Centre.

Because of the road blockade, long queues of vehicles, especially commercial four-wheelers, were seen in Sonepat.

However, the SKM’s call for blockade did not evoke much response at Nuh, Manesar and Farukhnagar.

The blockade was scheduled to continue till 8 a.m. on Sunday. However, the Gurugram police had diverted traffic near Panchgaon and Farukhnagar and advised commuters to avoid travelling on the super expressway.

Suchha Singh of Phillaur said, “We have been camping at the Delhi Borders for the past four months, but the Centre did not pay heed to our demands.”

In Jhajjar, farmers blocked the KMP expressway at three points near Aasoda, Mandothi and Badli villages

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said, “It is a long battle, not against the Modi government but against the corporate sector. Farmers are ready for a long haul. They will continue their dharna until the three farm laws are repealed.”