KMP expressway blocked, commuters stranded as protesters observe ’Black Day’

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Mar 06, 2021:      Hundreds of vehicles were stopped leaving commuters stranded as protesting farmers blocked the six-lane Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway at some places in Haryana to mark the completion of 100 days of their agitation at the Delhi borders. The protest, which began at 11 am, would continue till 3 pm. The protesting farmers’ unions have asserted that the chakka jam will be peaceful.

 

The call for blocking the KMP Expressway was given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of protesting farmer unions spearheading the agitation against the agriculture-related legislations.

The 136-km Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) expressway is also known as the western peripheral expressway.

"We will block the KMP expressway. However, emergency vehicles will be allowed," Bhartiya Kisan Union (Dakaunda) General Secretary Jagmohan Singh said.

Reiterating their demands for the repeal of the three farm laws, Dhiraj Singh, a farmer union leader, said, "Our protest will be peaceful and no harm will be done to any person or property. It is a mark of protest against the three farm bills which we want the government to repeal immediately."

To block the KMP Expressway, farmers in Haryana’s Sonipat brought their tractor-trolleys and parked them in the middle of a stretch of the expressway, resulting in traffic congestion. Protesters, carrying black flags, also shouted slogans against the central government.

"Our agitation against three farm laws will continue unless the Centre withdraws these laws. We will not step back," a protester in Sonipat was quoted as saying by PTI. The farmers also staged a dharna in Palwal district.Thousands of farmers have been protesting since late November at the Delhi borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, demanding a rollback of the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

Courtesy:India Today