Farmer leaders call for countrywide 'chakka jam' protest to block traffic on Saturday

New Delhi: Farmers protesting against the Centre's three contentious farm laws have called for a countrywide "chakka jam" protest on Saturday, February 6. The duration of the protest will be three hours -- from noon to 3 pm -- during which the farmers plan to block transport on all the highways. The announcement was made on Monday evening -- the day the aborted march to parliament was planned – the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farmer groups.

The protest is against the government's recent internet ban in areas near their agitation sites, alleged harassment by the authorities, curtailment of water and power at their protest venues and other issues.

The farmers also expressed the dissatisfaction about the union budget presented on Monday, and said they have been "ignored".

The fresh plans come on the heels of last week's tractor rally, which had ended in violence and chaos, costing the farmers much of the goodwill they earned through their peaceful protest.

Many had condemned the protesters on social media. In states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, locals wanted farmers protesting in the neighbourhood gone and demanded to open the borders.

After the violence held at the Red Fort on Republic day, where thousands of protesters had over-run the Mughal-era building complex and hoisted a Sikh religious flag on its rampart's, the farmers' organisations had called off the rally.

They had to even put on hold their planned march to parliament that was supposed to take place on Monday.

Soon after, the administration at Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, joined in, ordering the protesters to vacate the Ghazipur-Meerut Highway, where they had been camping for more than two months.