The farmer-protesters have come up with an ingenious way to counter & bypass the internet ban at the Delhi border. The Haryana government had extended the mobile internet suspension in state’s 17 districts for another day “to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order” which led the farmers protesting against the farm-laws to hit upon an idea to deal with the ban. They decided to use temple loudspeakers to make their voices heard and make messages reach all the villagers.

During a panchayat, leaders of 17 Khaps of Jind district decided to form committees in each of the 306 villages in which they have influence to ensure a quick reaction in case government makes any effort to forcibly remove protesters from dharna sites.

Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests

The panchayat was held at Khatkar toll plaza on Jind-Patiala highway in which a large number of women too participated.

The new strategy was formulated after the authorities made an abortive bid to remove farmers from the Ghazipur border of Uttar Pradesh-Delhi on Thursday night.

“If any such move is repeated anywhere, quick announcements will be made from the loudspeakers of village temples asking the farmers to gather. Not only this, thikri pehras will be undertaken by the farmers in villages to remain alert round the clock. We may plan blockage of roads, if the internet services are not restored early as the move is affecting online studies of students ahead of exams,” said Azad Palwa, leader of Dhadan khap of Jind district. Palwa is also Jind district president of the BKU. The agitators feel that internet services have been suspended to check the growing agitation of farmers in Haryana.

Also See: An overview of Farmers’ protests-role of Charan Singh

The khap leader further said, “The khaps have decided that nobody from 306 villages will invite BJP-JJP leaders in any events including marriage functions till the farmer agitation is going on and the government does not repeal three farm laws.”

The farmers in various parts of the state have already announced a social boycott of BJP-JJP leaders to express their resentment against the three controversial farm-laws terming them as “anti-farmer”.

“We have made it clear that no flag of any political party will be used during the farmers’ agitation. The farmers will either use Tricolour or flags of farmer unions during the agitation,” he added.

Meanwhile, sources in Kandela khap have hinted that farmer leader Rakesh Tikait will reach Kandela village of Jind district on February 3 to address farmers there. Farmers at Kandela village had blocked Jind-Chandigarh highway soon after the authorities had tried to evacuate the farmers from Ghazipur border where Tikait is leading the agitation.

On the other hand, the number of farmer protesters has suddenly increased at the toll plazas on national highways after the agitators smelled that the authorities may try to lift their dharnas. Apart from Khatkar toll plaza, a large number of farmers joined the protesters at Kitlana toll plaza too, which is situated on Bhiwani-Mahendragarh national highway. The farmers had rushed to the toll plazas on Thursday night too when the authorities were planning to remove farmers from Ghazipur border.

Notably, the movement of farmers has increased to the borders of Delhi from Punjab and Haryana after the Ghazipur episode. For the entire day (on Saturday), movement of vehicles, including tractors, was observed on the Patiala-Jind-Rohtak-Delhi national highway.

Sources said that a large number of farmers have rushed to Delhi borders in private vehicles, mainly cars, and jeeps instead of tractor-trolleys. Tractor is a slow moving vehicle while the farmers want to join the protesters immediately with a feeling among them gaining ground that “different tactics” were being adopted to remove agitators from Delhi borders.

Also Read: Aman Dabas & Krishnan Dabas- people with connections with BJP at the counter-protests

Development at Tikri border

Intensifying the security arrangements, the Delhi Police had put up concrete barricading at Tikri border to put a check on the movement. Meanwhile, representatives of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) decided to provide passage to nearby industries at the protest site for the transportation of raw materials and goods.

Industrial work has been on a halt since November 27 after the protesting farmers blocked the border.

“A delegation of nearby factories’ owners met us yesterday and demanded that we provide passage for transportation of their vehicles. They said that they were expecting the end of this ongoing agitation on January 26, but apparently, it will now go on for long. Hence, we need passage to restore our work. We discussed the demand at a meeting and decided to make a path available to them,” said Jasbir Kaur of Punjab Kisan Union.