Farmers to block highways today

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 4

The farmers protesting against the three farm laws, passed by the Union Government, are all set to block state and national highways tomorrow (on Thursday) as part of the ongoing protest.

A chakka jam would be held for four hours — from 12 noon to 4 pm. However, farmer organisations had no plans to block vehicular traffic in the city, confirmed leaders here on Wednesday.

The protest by the 30 farm organisations has entered the 35th day today at various places in the district. The farmers are demanding a repeal of the three farm laws.

In the district, farmers are protesting at the Buttari railway station, the Gehri mandi railway station, outside the residence of BJP’s Rajya Sabha member Shwait Malik, at toll plazas and petrol pumps operated by Reliance Industries.

It has been learnt that the farmer organisations must give relaxations to petrol pumps which are being operated by private dealers and not directly operated by Reliance. “The protest outside the petrol pumps which are run by dealers and not directly operated by Reliance Industries can be lifted by Thursday evening,” said a farmer leader.

Earlier, the dealers associated with petrol pumps of Reliance Industries had opened a dialogue with the unions reasoning that their interests were being harmed without any fault of theirs.

Admn to keep vigil on law & order situation

• As the farmers’ protest is expected to affect road traffic, the district administration has made arrangements to divert traffic via alternate routes wherever possible to help people reach their destinations. The routes which would be affected most by the ‘chakka jam’ include the Amritsar-Jalandhar road, the Amritsar-Gurdaspur route and the Tarn Taran road.
• With private buses also remaining off the roads tomorrow, residents have already been advised by the farmer unions to avoid travel between 12pm and 4pm. “Our purpose is not to harass people or create a law and order problem. The protests would be completely peaceful and are aimed at drawing the attention of the government,” said a farmer leader, adding that they were forced to intensify the protest.
• DC Gurpreet Singh Khaira said the police and the civil administration would keep a strict vigil on the law and order situation.