BHUBANESWAR: Farmers on Saturday organized symbolic protests for two to three hours by blocking roads at several places across the state protesting farm laws and alleged harassment of farmers in Delhi. Traffic was partially hit at different places including NH16 passing through the capital city.
Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS) has blocked the National Highway-16 at Pahal here for over 30 minutes between 12 o’clock and 12.30pm. Traffic movement was affected from both directions. Police urged the protestors to clear the road and the stretch was cleared for vehicular movement later. This outfit has also conducted chakka jam protests at other places of the state.
“This protest is a reply to the Centre’s repressive attitude against the farmers. We cannot sit silently by noticing wrong things in the farm laws. We will go to the villages and sensitize farmers about the draconian farm laws. The Centre cannot stop us and this movement will continue till our demands are fulfilled,” said Seshadev Nanda, state coordinator of the NKS.
All India Krushak Sangathan Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), an umbrella organization of several farmer outfits, staged the chakka jam at Master Canteen square and Rajmahal Square showing solidarity to the nation-wide chakka jam protest. Some other farmer outfits staged a blockade at Lingipur in the city. These outfits have also organized protests at several places of the state.
Paschim Odisha Krushak Sangathan Samanwaya Samiti (POKSSS), an umbrella organisation of western Odisha farmers, observed the chakka jam at several places western Odisha districts protesting against the Centre's farm laws and alleged harassment of farmers at protest sites in Delhi. Vehicular traffic was partially affected in the region.
In Sambalpur, the farmers blocked the road at Talab Chowk on the Biju Expressway for around two hours from 12 noon to 2pm. However, in Bargarh district, the farmers blocked the road at Attabira, Rengali camp, Dussmile Chowk, Sohela, Salepali and Bartunda for three hours. Similarly, the farmers blocked the road at Purunagarh and Benjatinali in Deogarh district.
Different organizations in Ganjam district blocked roads at several important places including NH16 passing Berhampur in response to the call given by the farmers’ unions for a nationwide chakka jam between 2 o’clock to 3pm. Vehicular traffic was affected for around two hours when the members of the farmer outfits blocked the national highway near Lanjipalli in Berhampur. Road blockades were seen at Kukudakhandi, Ganjam, Digapahandi, Bhanjanagar, Aska and Sorada too.
Police said the stir passed off peacefully in the state. “No untoward incident has been reported from anywhere in the state during the chakka jam protest on Saturday,” said a senior police officer.