Singhu border peaceful, Internet suspended due to chakka jam: Police

Farmers block a road during their chakka jam protest against new farm laws, in Bhatinda on Saturday. Pic/PTI

Amid the continuing deadlock between the Centre and farmer unions and a countrywide ‘chakka jam' (road block) called by agitating farmers, the situation at Singhu border protest site in Delhi was peaceful even as Internet connectivity was suspended as a precautionary measure on Saturday. A senior Delhi Police official said, "The situation is peaceful here, however, security has been tightened. No one is allowed to enter towards the protest site (sic)."

In view of security, Delhi Police put up barricades around one-and-a-half km (at Singhola village) away from the protest site. A second line of barricades had been put up 500 metres further. More barricades had been put up 300 metres from the protest site at Singhu border. Mobile Internet connectivity has been snapped in the border areas. Media personnel were also not allowed to enter the protest site.

Highways blocked
Farmers on Saturday parked their tractor-trailers in middle of roads and raised slogans against the Centre during a three-hour-long ‘chakka jam' agitation across India. The agitation was announced to register protest against the internet ban in areas near their agitation sites, alleged harassment meted out to farmers by the authorities and other issues.

‘Peaceful satyagraha'
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said the peaceful "satyagraha" of the "annadatas" is in national interest as the farm laws are "harmful" for the country. "The peaceful satyagraha of annadatas is in national interest - these three laws are not just harmful for farmers-labourers, but also for the people and the country. Full support!" Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

50 detained in Delhi
Around 50 people were detained near Shaheedi Park in central Delhi on Saturday for allegedly holding a protest in support of the ‘chakka jam' call given by the farmers agitating against the Centre's new agri laws, police said. The Delhi Police has intensified security at all border points of the city as thousands of personnel including paramilitary forces have been deployed to deal with any situation emerging out of the ‘chakka jam'.

‘More budget to Agri'
Union minister Giriraj Singh said the budgetary allocation made by the Modi government for the agriculture sector during 2014-2020 was 438 per cent more than what it was during the previous UPA rule. The Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying was speaking to reporters here. "I want to stress on the budget [allocation] for the agriculture sector. The budget allocation for agriculture was Rs 88,811 crore between 2009 and 2014, which was increased to R4,87,238 crore between 2014 and 2020, registering a growth of 438 per cent," he said. "The Leftists and the ‘tukde-tukde gang' are defaming the achievements of the Modi-led government in the farm sector," he alleged.

‘Accept demands'
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the BJP-led government at the Centre should accept the demands of the farmers protesting against the three new agriculture laws. He alleged that the ruling BJP has brought these laws for the benefit of some corporates by ignoring the interests of farmers. "If the BJP thinks that the laws are in the interest of farmers, and they understand them better, then why doesn't it accept the farmers' demands?" he asked.

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