In view of the farmer’s threat of blocking toll plazas and state and national highways on Saturday, the Gurugram Police has been put on high alert. Protesting against the three farm laws, farmers scheduled the 'Chakka Jam' for three hours, between 12 noon and 3 pm.
Despite the assurance from the protesting farmers, that the proposed jam would not be carried out in Delhi-NCR, as a precautionary measure, the Delhi Police has also intensified their security arrangements with a special focus on border areas.
The Gurugram Police has intensified security and deployed huge force on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway (NH-48), Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway, Kheri Daula toll plaza on the NH-48, and state highways. All the Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) and Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) have been asked to ensure patrolling in their respective areas. The presence of police personnel has been increased along with the border areas.
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"The protesters have announced to block the highways for three hours on Saturday. The Gurugram district has been peaceful ever since the beginning of the farmers' agitation and till now no untoward incident has been reported. But we have beefed up security arrangements to maintain peace in Gurugram," said Commissioner of Police, KK Rao.
The police said that the Delhi-Jaipur Highway and the KMP Expressway are lifelines for the daily commuters. If these two stretches are disturbed for a few minutes, it will affect many other areas. In view of this, the Gurugram Police has deployed forces along the stretch.
As protesting farmers' unions gear up for the Chakka Jam in other parts of the country on February 6, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait assured on Friday that they will not block roads in UP and Uttarakhand along with Delhi-NCR.
He said, "Given the agriculture-related work, the proposed roadblock in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Saturday has been taken back, and instead a memorandum will be submitted to the respective District Magistrates or subordinates."
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The BKU spokesperson added, "Apart from these two states along with Delhi and NCR, the farmers will hold the Chakka Jam across the country." The farmers union has also issued a slew of guidelines to ensure a peaceful protest during the Chakka Jam.
The Congress said, on Friday, that it supports the call for a Chakka Jam. Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said in a statement, "When farmers hold a three-hour nationwide 'bandh' from noon till 3 pm on January 6 in a peaceful manner on the national and state highways, the Congress will extend its full support. Congress workers will stand in solidarity with protesting farmers in this symbolic and Gandhian way of protest."
He added, "The Congress fully supports the farmers' movement and again appeals to the central government to climb down from its high horse of false and misplaced pride and accede to their just demands for repeal of the three laws."
(With Inputs from IANS)
