Farmers blocked national and state highways for three hours at Ambala and Kurukshetra.
Tribune News Service
Ambala, February 6
On the call of a nationwide chakka jam given by farmer unions, farmers today blocked national and state highways for three hours at seven locations each in Ambala and Kurukshetra.
Farmers from Haryana and Punjab held a joint protest near the Shambhu toll plaza and raised slogans against the Union Government. Farmer leaders accused the government of making attempts to disturb harmony and not accepting farmers’ demands.
The farmers also blocked the highways near Devi Nagar, Saini Majra near Karasan and Hema Majra in Ambala, Rattangarh near Pipli, Teokar, Ladwa road and Karah Sahib in Kurukshetra.
united they stand
Earlier, we had planned to hold our protest at the Shambhu toll plaza, but a few farmers from Punjab suggested that we should hold a joint protest as it is an area on the border of Haryana and Punjab. It is also an attempt to give a clear message to the government that it should stop making attempts to create differences between Haryana and Punjab. —Gulab Singh, Farmer leader
Due to these blockades, the local police diverted traffic towards alternative routes. However, a large number of vehicles and roadways buses of Punjab preferred to wait till the blockades were lifted. Some people were also seen travelling on foot.
Harmit Singh, who was waiting near the Shambhu toll plaza, said, “I drive a commercial vehicle and after offloading some stock, I was on my way back to Punjab. I extend my full support to the farmers and I will keep waiting here till the blockade is lifted.”
Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) Ambala district vice-president Gulab Singh said, “Earlier, we had planned to hold our protest at the toll plaza but around three days ago, a few farmers from Punjab suggested that we should hold a joint protest as it is a bordering area of Haryana and Punjab. Following their suggestion, we held a joint protest. It is also an attempt to give a clear message to the government that it should stop making attempts to create differences between Haryana and Punjab. We have held a peaceful agitation, the government is under pressure and we are hopeful that our demands will be met soon.”