Intensifying their current agitation against the three farm laws, members of the farmers’ unions took over several toll plazas in Haryana allowing the free movement of vehicles on Friday morning.
The call for all toll plazas to be free for motorists for three days was made by various farmers’ unions leading protests on the Delhi-Haryana borders since November 27.
Farmers have forcibly erected barricades at the Bastara toll plaza in Karnal on the national highway 44, which connects Delhi with several northern states, the Gullarpur toll plaza on the Assandh-Karnal road and the toll plaza from Thana in Pehowa of Kurukshetra on the Hisar-Chandigarh highway. The leaders of the farmers’ union also plan to open the Panipat toll plaza on NH44 and the Dahar toll plaza on the Panipat-Rohtak highway.
Police deployed in the toll plazas did not prevent protesting farmers from opening the toll gates, allowing all vehicles to move free of charge. The farmers said they will also hold protests at all toll plazas for the next three days as instructed by farmer leaders agitating at the Singhu and Tikri borders against farm laws.
Also read: ‘Only Bengal farmers deprived of central benefits’: Prime Minister Modi’s strong attack on Mamata Banerjee
The president of the Bhartiya Kisan (Charuni) Union, Gurunam Singh Charuni, can also visit the toll plazas in the state. In her video message on Friday morning, Charuni urged farmers to protest peacefully and not allow themselves any violence.
Earlier today, a fire broke out in the office at the Bastara toll plaza in Karnal. The reason behind the fire could not yet be determined, however a short circuit is considered to be the most likely cause.
.
