New Delhi, Feb 6 (UNI) The Samyukta Kisan Morcha-led nationwide chakka jam (halting movement of vehicular traffic), organised by the farmer unions and farm leaders across the country to press for withdrawal of the three new farm laws, evoked mixed response on Saturday.
The agitation evoked good response in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, while in several other states, it failed to make an impact.
In Karnataka, hundreds of farmers and Left activists were taken into custody after they blocked National Highways hours before the proposed time, leading to traffic snarls.
At many places, the agitators started lighting fire to cook in the middle of the Highways, to provide meals to the protesting farmers.
The protest was withdrawn in Kodagu District as the first Citizen of India -- President Ram Nath Kovind-- arrived to open the Museum in the birthplace of First Field Marshal General Cariappa and to visit TalaCauvery.
Union Minister for Chemical and Fertilisers D V Sadananda Gowda condemned the protests, saying the Narendra Modi government has implemented the recommendations of the Swaminathan Committee report to address the agrarian distress and farmers' suicide.
Nearly 50 protesters were detained at Shaheedi Park in the national capital.
In Maharashtra's Kolhapur, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghstana president Raju Shetty was detained after they blocked traffic by squatting on the road and shouted slogans against the central government.
In Puducherry, farmers affiliated to the Communist Party of India (CPI) put up a road blockade at the Anna square to express and disrupted vehicular traffic post which 25 persons people were detained.
In Punjab, the farmers belonging to various farmers unions held 'chakka jam' at over 70 places on National and State highways.
The farmers blocked the Highways at Amritsar, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Bathinda, Mohali, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Nakodar, Ferozepur, Ropar and Hoshiarpur.
More UNI Team SV RJ 1954