Farmers Protest: Chakka Jam passed off peacefully, farm agitation will continue till Oct 2 says Rakesh Tikait

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. Although, the impact of chakka jam was seen in other parts of the country including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Punjab and other places.

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. In Rajasthan, farmers at many places including Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Dholpur and Jhalawar stalled traffic on the highways and main roads and held demonstrations, police said.

. Bhartiya Kisan Union (BJU) leader Rakesh Tikait declared that their protest on Delhi's outskirts will continue till October 2. He said the union will make efforts to "connect every village" with the ongoing farmers' agitation.

. No untoward incident was reported from anywhere during Saturday's protest. However, police detained nearly 50 protesters at Shaheedi Park in New Delhi, PTI reported. Protesters were also detained briefly in Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as they stalled traffic on roads.

. Ahead of Saturday's protest, authorities had beefed-up security in the national capital and adjoining areas. Internet services were suspended at farmers' protest sites in Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri for 24 hours till Saturday



night.

. In New Delhi, the Delhi Metro closed entry and exit facilities at 10 prominent metro stations for few hours. Nearly 50,000 cops were deployed to maintain law and order.

. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of the farmers' unions protesting the three farm laws, had said on Friday that peasants across the country will block national and state highways for three hours between 12 noon and 3 PM, barring in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

. However, Rakesh Tikait claimed inputs had been received regarding some "miscreants trying to disrupt peace" during the "chakka jam". "Because of these inputs, we had decided to call off the 'chakka jam' in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand," Tikait said.

. The Congress and Left parties too held protests in some states in support of the 'chakka jam' called by the agitating farmer unions.

'Rasta roko' protests were staged in Karad and Kolhapur cities in Maharashtra. At least 40 protesters, including senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan's wife Satvasheela Chavan, were detained for holding a protest on a busy road at Kolhapur Naka in Karad.

. In Telangana, police said several people were taken into preventive custody as leaders of opposition parties joined the farmers in 'Raasta Roko' protests on various.

Farmers blocked highways in different parts of Karnataka to show their solidarity, following a call given by various farmers' associations led by Kuruburu Shanthakumar. Protests were also held in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu.