Tag: Samkyukta Kisan Morcha

  • Bharat bandh: Farmers block highways, roads in Punjab, Haryana; rail services hit; partial response elsewhere

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH: Road and rail traffic was disrupted in several parts of Punjab and Haryana during the Bharat bandh called by farmers on Friday as part of their nationwide protest against the three agri laws though there was partial response to it in other parts of the country.

    The Samkyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is spearheading the farmers’ stir, termed the bandh a “big success” and claimed that shutdown was observed in many parts of the country, including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Bihar.

    In a statement, the Morcha, an umbrella body of farmer unions protesting the three farm laws, alleged that several of its leaders and cadres were detained by the police in Karnataka and Gujarat during the 12-hour bandh from 6 am that marked four months of the agitation at Delhi’s three borders — Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri.

    Farmers blocked national highways and other key roads at many places in Punjab and Haryana, and squatted on railway tracks at several locations.

    A railway spokesperson said four Shatabdi trains were cancelled, 35 other passenger trains were detained and the movement of 40 goods trains was affected by the protests.

    “Barring some limited number of trains in Punjab and Haryana, the bandh has had almost zero impact across the nation. Other than in these two states, around five to six trains were delayed for some time. Less than 0.5 per cent of trains impacted nationally. Trains are running smoothly,” said Railway spokesperson D J Narain.

    Train movement was disrupted at 44 locations that fall under the Delhi, Ambala and Ferozepur divisions of the railways.

    Farmers belonging to the BKU blocked all the lanes of the National Highway-9 as part of their nationwide protest.

    They also obstructed traffic at Eastern Peripheral Expressway – a major road near Delhi.

    In Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia, as many as 20 activists of CPI (M-L), protesting in Sikandarpur township of the district, were taken into custody.

    Chamber Of Trade & Industry (CTI) chairman Brijesh Goyal said there was no impact of the bandh on markets and industrial areas in the national capital.

    Markets at Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Kashmiri Gate, Chandni Chowk and Sadar remained open.

    “Everything remained opened. The traders are in support of farmers’ demands but they have been accruing losses due to coronavirus. We appeal to the government to resolve the issue as industrial areas in Kundli, Manesar, Sonepat, Gurgaon etc have been affected due to the protest,” he said.

    The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had to briefly close the entry and exit gates of the Tikri Border, Bahadurgarh City and Brigadier Hoshiar Singh stations, but after a few minutes, the stations were opened for passengers.

    A farmer leader claimed that there were protests in Mayapuri and some other areas where people peacefully staged demonstrations.

    The SKM claimed that various farmer organisations, trade unions, student bodies, bar associations, political parties and representatives of state governments have supported the bandh call.

    In a statement, the SKM said that farmers at the protest sites around Delhi blocked roads and railway tracks.

    “Many other people’s organisations of Delhi along with trade unions and other associations protested inside Delhi. In Mayapuri, Kalkaji and other places, concerned citizens organised symbolic protests,” it stated.

    Shops remained closed at several places in Punjab.

    At a few places in Haryana too, shutters were down in support of the bandh.

    Public and private transport remained off the roads in Punjab.

    In neighbouring Haryana, State Transport Minister Moolchand Sharma told PTI that Haryana Roadways bus services will be suspended in those districts where it is felt that it is not conducive to operate them in view of the farmers’ protest.

    “Bus services are otherwise functional in Haryana,” he said.

    Since morning, farmers in the two states gathered at several highways and roads, including in Bathinda, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala, Mohali, Rohtak, Ferozepur, Pathankot, Jhajjar, Jind, Panchkula, Kaithal, Yamunanagar and Bhiwani districts.

    Farmer union leaders said they were allowing ambulances and other emergency vehicles as well as marriage processions to pass.

    In view of the ‘Holla Mohalla’ festival at Sri Anandpur Sahib, vehicles carrying devotees were being allowed to commute.

    The protesters have even arranged ‘langar’ for the devotees at the protest sites.

    Haryana BKU leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni, in a video message on Friday, appealed to the protesting farmers to ensure the smooth passage of essential supplies or even sick persons travelling in private vehicles or those travelling in neighbouring areas.

    “We have to protest peacefully,” Chaduni said. In other parts of the country, there was partial response to the bandh.

    Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur demanding a complete repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee to the minimum support price (MSP) on their crops.

    So far, there have been 11 rounds of talks between the protesting unions and the government, but the deadlock continues as both sides stick to their stands.

    In January, the government had offered to suspend the farm laws for 12-18 months, which was rejected by the farmer unions.

  • Bharat Bandh: Farmers gather near national highways, key roads in Punjab, Haryana 

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: Farmers gathered at several national highways, key roads and some railway tracks in Punjab and Haryana on Friday morning as part of their nationwide protest against the Centre’s new agri laws.

    According to the Samkyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the Bharat Bandh is being observed from 6 am to 6 pm to mark four months of the farmers’ agitation at Delhi’s three borders — Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri.

    Heavy police force has been deployed in the two states as part of security measures, an official said.

    The farmers have gathered at several highways and roads in the two states including in Bathinda, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala, Mohali, Rohtak, Jhajjar and Bhiwani districts.

    ALSO READ | Bharat Bandh: Traffic movement suspended on Ghazipur border 

    A group of farmers who were holding a protest in Zirakpur and Kharar towns in Punjab, both on the outskirts of Chandigarh, said they were allowing ambulances and other emergency vehicles to pass.

    Some of the protesters blocked the Ambala-Delhi highway near Ambala Cantt, police said.

    While another group squatted on a railway track near Shahpur village, around five kilometers from Ambala Cantt, due to which all the trains running between Delhi and Saharanpur were stranded, railway officials said.

    The farmers also blocked the Ambala-Rajpura Highway on the Haryana-Punjab border near Shambhu barrier, and the Ambala-Hisar Highway near Ambala City.

    Blockades on various state highways were also reported in Naraingarh and Mullana in Haryana, police said.

    The SKM, an umbrella body of protesting unions, appealed to protesting farmers to be peaceful and not get involved in any kind of illegitimate debate and conflict during the ‘bandh’.

    “All shops, malls, markets and institutions will remain closed under complete Bharat Bandh. All minor and big roads and trains will be blocked. All services will remain suspended except for ambulance and other essential services. The effect of Bharat Bandh will be observed inside Delhi as well,” SKM had said in a statement.

    Farmer leaders have said road and rail transport will be blocked and claimed that markets will also remain closed. They also claimed that trade unions from organised and unorganised sectors, and transport and other associations too have extended support to the call for Bharat Bandh.

    ALSO READ | Support farmers, but shops, factories will be open during Bharat Bandh: Delhi traders

    Meanwhile, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), apex religious body of the Sikhs, has also supported the nationwide protest.

    SGPC president Jagir Kaur had said on Thursday that its offices would be kept closed on Friday in support of the Bharat Bandh.

    Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur demanding a complete repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee for the minimum support price on their crops.

    The statement issued by the SKM claimed that various farmers’ organisations, trade unions, student organisations, bar associations, political parties and representatives of state governments have supported its call for a nationwide protest.

    ALSO READ | Rail, road transport likely to be affected in parts of country

    Apart from repealing of three farm laws, the demands of protesting unions include cancellation of all police cases against farmers, withdrawal of electricity and pollution bills, and reduction in prices of diesel, petrol and gas.

    So far, there have been 11 rounds of talks between the protesting unions and government, but the deadlock has continued as both sides have stuck to their stand.

    In January, the government had offered to suspend the farm laws for 12-18 months, which was rejected by the farmer unions.

  • ‘Bharat Bandh’: Rail, road transport likely to be affected in parts of country; Delhi Police ramps up security

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Rail and road transportation services are likely to be affected and markets may remain closed in parts of the country on Friday as farmer unions protesting against the three agri laws have called a complete ‘Bharat Bandh’, even as it will not be observed in four poll-bound states and Puducherry.

    According to the Samkyukta Kisan Morcha, the nationwide shutdown will start at 6 am and it will be in force up to 6 pm across the country on March 26 which marks four months of the farmer agitation at Delhi’s three borders — Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri.

    In a video message, SKM leader Darshan Pal said that supplies of vegetables and milk will also stopped by the protesting farmers.

    The Samkyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of protesting unions, appealed to protesting farmers to be peaceful and not get involved in any kind of illegitimate debate and conflict during the ‘bandh’.

    “All shops, malls, markets and institutions will remain closed under complete Bharat Bandh. All minor and big roads and trains will be blocked. All services will remain suspended except for ambulance and other essential services. The effect of Bharat Bandh will be observed inside Delhi as well,” SKM said in a statement.

    Senior farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said that road and rail transport will be blocked, claiming that markets will also remain closed.

    The Morcha said that the ‘bandh’ will also be observed in the national capital.

    ALSO READ | SGPC offices to remain closed on March 26 in support of Bharat Bandh call by farmer unions

    Rajewal said that trade unions from organised and unorganised sectors, and transport and other associations have extended their support for the ‘Bharat Bandh’ call of farmer organisations on March 26.

    “Farmers will block rail tracks in various places. Markets and transport services will be closed during ‘Bharat Bandh’,” Rajewal told PTI.

    He said that however, emergency services like ambulance and fire will be allowed during the nationwide shutdown.

    Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur demanding a complete repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee for the minimum support price on their crops.

    Confederation of All India Traders, which claimed representation of eight crore traders in the the country, said that markets will remain open on March 26 as it is not participating in the ‘Bharat Bandh’.

    “We are not going to participate in ‘Bharat Bandh’ tomorrow. Markets will remain open in Delhi and other parts of the country. The ongoing deadlock can be resolved only through dialogue process. There should be discussions on amendments in the farm laws that can make existing farming profitable,” CAIT’s national general secretary Praveen Khandelwal told PTI.

    The statement issued by the SKM claimed that various farmers’ organisations, trade unions, student organizations, bar associations, political parties and representatives of state governments have supported the bandh call of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha.

    Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar, who is also a senior member of Samkyukta Kisan Morcha, said that the major impact of the ‘Bharat Bandh’ will be felt in Haryana and Punjab.

    Kohar said that farmers have appealed to trader associations to close their shops during the nationwide shutdown as the three new agri laws will also affect them indirectly.

    The farmer leader said that in poll-bound Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal, Kerala and Puducherry, the Samkyukta Kisan Morcha has appealed to people to not observe ‘Bandh’ there.

    Apart from repealing of three farm laws, the demands of the protesting union include cancellation of all police cases against farmers, withdrawal of electricity bill and pollution bill and reduction in prices of diesel, petrol and gas.

    So far, there have been 11 rounds of talks between the protesting unions and government, but deadlock continued as both sides stuck to their stand.

    In January, the government had offered to suspend the farm laws for 12-18 months, which was rejected by the farmer unions.

    Delhi Police PRO Chinmoy Biswal said there will be intense patrolling to maintain peace in the national capital.

    “There will be adequate security arrangements in all police districts during the ‘Bharat Bandh’.”

    “The patrolling staff will roam in their area throughout the day and their focus will to maintain peace in busy marketplaces,” Biswal said.

  • Protesting unions writes to President seeking unconditional release of arrested farmers

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Samkyukta Kisan Morcha on Wednesday wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind demanding “unconditional” release of arrested farmers and withdrawal of “false” cases in connection with the stir against the agri laws.

    In its letter, the Morcha, an umbrella body of farmer unions agitating against the three central laws, also said that notices allegedly being sent by police and other investigating agencies to the protesting farmers should be stopped.

    “Under the banner of Samkyukta Kisan Morcha, farmers have been staging sit-in around Delhi for the last three months, but hundreds of farmers and agitation supporters have been lodged in jails by the Government of India and many state governments and false cases have been registered against them,” stated the letter shared by the SKM.

    It saidthat “innocent” farmers should be released from jails without any condition.

    The letter was sent to the President as protesting farmer unions observed the day as “Daman Pratirodh Diwas”.

    Meanwhile, the SKM welcomed the release of climate activist Disha Ravi, arrested by the Delhi Police in the toolkit case earlier this month.

    On Tuesday night, Ravi was released from Tihar Jail hours after a city court granted her bail.

    “SKM welcomed many observations made by judge Dharmender Rana in his orders,” it stated.

    “SKM demanded immediate action against the Delhi Police which flouted many norms and arrested Disha Ravi in an illegal and extra-constitutional manner,” the statement stated.

    Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at the three Delhi border points of Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri since late November to press for a complete repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price for crops.

    Scores were arrested when protesters taking part in a tractor rally on January 26 deviated from the path, clashed with the police and stormed the Red Fort.

  • Tomar’s remarks on farmers’ protests: Samkyukta Kisan Morcha, Tikait lash out at Centre

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Samkyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of protesting farm unions, on Monday accused Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar of “insulting” farmers by his remarks that mere gathering of a crowd does not lead to revocation of the three farm laws.

    In a statement, the Morcha alleged that the current protests are a consequence of “deep unhappiness” and anger that was allowed to build up in farmers’ minds by the government.

    On Sunday, Tomar had reiterated that the Centre was ready to talk to the farmers protesting against the new agriculture laws, and said that mere gathering of a crowd does not lead to revocation of legislations.

    “Today, farmers are getting support pouring in from all sides, nationally and internationally. The protestors are not a crowd, but our annadatas, thanks to whom we are all alive today, including people in the government.”

    “The party in power collected votes from this very crowd and this sort of insulting attitude towards our farmers is highly condemnable,” the SKM said in statement.

    It also stated, “Tomar insulted the farmers’ movement by saying that ‘laws cannot be repealed by collecting a crowd’.”

    Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at three Delhi border points — Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri — for over the last 85 days, demanding a complete of three farm laws and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price for their crops.

    Morcha in statement congratulated the Khap leaders in several places in Uttar Pradesh for standing in solidarity with the farmers’ movement.

    ALSO READ | Haryana BKU leader Jastej Singh escapes unhurt as bike-borne assailants open fire

    BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said on Monday that the protest against the Centre’s agri-marketing laws could go on for a long time and urged farmers to force “the king of looters” out of Delhi.

    He also accused “the king” of putting a value on bread.

    “He is the last king of looters (luteron ka badshah). He has to be forced out of Delhi,” Tikait said without naming anyone at a “kisan mahapanchayat” in Nohar of Hanumangarh.

    “He does not have any affection towards the flag and the country. He is a businessman,” Tikait added.

    The farmer leader also said a beggar and a businessman do not have affection for the country and the fields as they go wherever they get the right money.

    “A businessman and beggar do not have affection for the country and fields. A beggar will move wherever he gets right money and a trader will do the work where he gets profit,” Tikait said, adding that the fight against the laws could go on for long and till a legislation guaranteeing the minimum support price is enacted, people should remain prepared to march to Delhi.

    Earlier in the day, Tikait at a farmers’ “mahapanchayat” at Haryana’s Sonipat had said when people gather governments get changed.

    Tikait said this a day after Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar said in Gwalior that the Centre is ready to talk to the farmers protesting against the new laws and that mere gathering of crowd does not lead to revocation of legislations.

  • Decision to not have chakka jam in certain states taken hastily: Samkyukta Kisan Morcha leader

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Senior farmer leader Darshan Pal on Saturday said the decision by BKU leader Rakesh Tikait to not hold ‘chakka jam’ in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand was taken in “a hasty manner” and it would have been better had he first discussed his plan with the Samkyukta Kisan Morcha.

    Earlier this week, the Morcha, an umbrella body of farmer unions leading the protests at three Delhi border points — Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur — against a trio of farm laws for over 70 days, had announced a nationwide ‘chakka jam’ on February 6.

    On Friday, Tikait told reporters that there would be no road blockade in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Saturday. A senior farmer leader, who didn’t wish to be named, said that the BKU leader’s “sudden decision” surprised some leaders of the SKM.

    “It would have been better if Rakesh Tikait had talked and discussed about his proposal of not having chakka jam in UP and Uttarakhand with us before telling it to the media. He, of course, did discuss it with the SKM later and it was a joint thing,” Pal told reporters at a press conference at the Singhu border.

    “So basically what we are trying to say here is that he announced it in a hasty manner. Nothing else,” he added.

    However, Pal cleared that everything is fine within the SKM and people shouldn’t assume that there are any differences between the leaders. Later in the evening, the SKM issued a statement, claiming that ‘chakka jam’ was also held in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Saturday. “Chakka jam programme in Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand and Bihar was a complete success,” it stated.

    ALSO READ| Farmers’ ‘chakka’ jam’ protest affects Punjab, Haryana; scattered demonstrations in other states

    It also stated that farmers organised chakka jam in more than 200 places in Madhya Pradesh while in Maharashtra, farmers led the chakka jam in many places, including Wardha, Pune and Nashik. “The success of Chakka Jam was also seen in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu,” it stated.

    The three-hour long nationwide ‘chakka jam’ by protesting farmers was held on Saturday amid tight security, even as there was no such event in the national capital which was turned into a fortress with heavy security deployment by the Delhi Police, paramilitary and reserve forces personnel to prevent any untoward situation.

    The Delhi Police had also used drone cameras to keep a tight vigil at protest sites. Ten Delhi Metro stations, including Mandi House and ITO, were closed for the duration of the ‘chakka jam’ from 12 noon to 3 pm, and reopened after the protest ended.

    Around 50 people were detained near Shaheedi Park in central Delhi for allegedly holding an agitation in support of the ‘chakka jam’.