Farmers in Punjab and Haryana on Saturday put up roadblockades at national and state highways at most of the places as part of anationwide 'chakka jam' in protest against the three farm laws and demandedthese be withdrawn, causing inconvenience to commuters.
Emergency and essential services like ambulance and school bus will not bestopped, said the protesters. However, there was no report of violence fromanywhere in both the state.
The nationwide call from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. was given by the All India KisanSangharsh Coordination Committee.
Protesting farmers belonging to different outfits started assembling along thehighways, mainly in front of the toll plazas in both state, well before theblockade to come into effect.
Heavy police presence was seen at various places in Haryana and Punjab tomaintain law and order in view of the protest by the farmers.
As a precaution, the police have diverted traffic at many places.
The activists of several farmer associations were seen asking traders atseveral places in the Congress-ruled Punjab to keep their shops and businessestablishments closed to mark the pan-India protest.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), a former ally of the BJP-led NDA government, andAAP have announced a statewide 'chakka jam' in Punjab to mark their protest.
Farmers protesting against the laws have expressed apprehension that these lawswould pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system,leaving them at the 'mercy' of big corporate entities.