To mark the 100^th day of the farmers’ protests on Saturday, the farmers blocked the western peripheral expressway. The protests are going on against the three central farm-laws.

Riding on trolleys, hundreds of farmers reached the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway from the protest site at Singhu with regards to the implementation of blockade. The Gurugram police is on a high alert with regards to the blockade which had been planned from 11am to 4pm. Palwal region saw increased security arrangements in the context of the protests. Farmers on cars, trucks and trolleys are participating in the blockade against the farm-laws, puportedly intended to liberalize the agro-markets in India, but which they say would damage the agriculture sector & the farmers’ sources of livelihoods, by bringing them under the subjugation of the private players.

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

Peaceful protests

Farmers’ organization, Samyukt Kisan Morcha had on Friday requested the protesters to wear black bands and said that the five-hour blockade will be peaceful. The organization had further said that commuters will not be troubled.

Farmer-leaders have stated, “We will keep water for the passers-by”.

Farmers’ groups protesting at the Singhu border planned to arrive at Kundli and block the toll plazas falling on the way.

Besides this, farmers from Ghazipur and Tikri borders had planned to block Dasna and Bahadurgarh toll plaza, respectively while those sitting on the Shahjahanpur border had planned to block the KMP Expressway touching Gurugram-Manesar.

Farmers will also be freeing up the toll plazas from collecting fees.

Rajvir Singh Jadaun, Uttar Pradesh President of the Bharatiya Kisan Union said, “These toll plazas will be blocked in a peaceful manner and passers-by will not be disturbed. We will keep water for the passers-by. They will also be apprised of our issues with the farm laws.”

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

Jadaun had also said that emergency vehicles will not be stopped, whether it is an ambulance, a fire brigade vehicle or foreign tourists. He had also added that military vehicles will also not be stopped. The SKM has urged common people to wave black flags from their homes and offices to show their support for the movement.

People at the Ghazipur border have been told not to take their tractors to the protest area and farmers were asked to reach the site by their own vehicles.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 8, women protesters will lead demonstrations against the farm-laws.