Farmers Intensify Protests, Plan To Block Delhi-Jaipur Highway

Farmers’ agitation is expected to escalate today as they intend to block the Delhi-Jaipur highway, a day after one of the 32 protesting unions moved the Supreme Court against the Centre’s controversial agricultural legislation. Farmer leaders have denied arguments that “ultra-left” and “pro-Left Wing Extremist” elements have hijacked their protest, the strongest of the last few years. Thousands of cops are on duty to block the passage of demonstrators at the entry points of the national capital.

Two thousand policemen are on duty in Gurgaon and 3,500 policemen are on duty in Faridabad to protect the demonstrators, officials said. The two cities in Haryana share the border with Delhi.

The petition was lodged in the Supreme Court on Friday by the Bharatiya Kisan Union demanding the repeal of the three “arbitrary laws. The High Court has also given notifications to the Center on a batch of pleas opposing the rule.

With the deadlock over the new legislation is approaching the third week, the BJP has planned a huge campaign around the country. As part of the big drive of the ruling party over the next few days, 100 press conferences and 700 farmers’ meetings have been scheduled in 700 districts, sources in the party said.