To Avoid 'Violence’, Farmers in UP Abstain From 'Chakka Jam', Organise Public Meeting Instead

Lucknow: Since the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) claimed to have evidence that some miscreants would attempt to turn the proposed 'chakka jam' protests into a violent one in western Uttar Pradesh on February 6, the farmers' union in the state did not block national and state highways for three hours as part of a nationwide blockade against the three farm laws. Instead, the union submitted a memorandum to the respective District Magistrates and subordinates, demanding the laws be withdrawn. 

"We have evidence that a few fringe elements could attempt to spread violence at these places. So, we decided to not block roads in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and, instead hand over the memorandum in every district," the BKU national spokesperson told NewsClick, adding that since all the protest sites were already in a 'chakka jam' mode, including Ghazipur border, the UP farmers' leaders have taken the decision not to participate in the proposed roadblock.   

The BKU national spokesperson gave an ultimatum to the Centre by setting October 2 as a deadline to repeal the laws. “If the government did not take any decision till October 2, we will plan what we have to do next, but we will not hold any discussions with the government under pressure,” he said. 

General secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) UP chapter, Mukut Singh said that in a bid to avoid what happened during the farmers' tractor parade on Republic Day, farmers in Uttar Pradesh did not observe the roadblock. Hundreds of farmers in almost every district including Etawah, Mau, Varanasi, and Lakhimpur Kheri organised peaceful public meetings and handed over a memorandum to the district magistrates.

“We had prior inputs that right-wing groups in Uttar Pradesh, especially in West UP where the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots drove a deep wedge between Muslims and Jats, could attempt for communal violence. Hence, we did not block road or highways," Singh told NewsClick. 

Uttar Pradesh Kisan Sabha General Secretary Ramkumar Bharti said that till the government withdraws the agricultural laws, their struggle will continue. He said that the agricultural law enacted by the government will cause problems not only for the farmers but also for the middle class and lower class.

Meanwhile, around 100 farmers were detained in Sitapur on Saturday for allegedly holding a protest in support of the ‘chakka jam’ call against the three farm laws, police said.

The Uttar Pradesh Police have intensified security at all border points of the state and thousands of personnel including paramilitary forces have been deployed to deal with any situation emerging out of the ‘chakka jam’.