Delhi Prepares for Counter-Offensive as Farmers Set to Block Highways Across India

By Staff, Agencies 

As India’s capital New Delhi braces for another round of nationwide protests by farmers, residents have taken to Twitter to express their angst over the United Nations appeal for "maximum restraint" over the agitation.

On Friday, the United Nations called on Indian authorities to protect the rights to peaceful assembly and expression both online and offline.

Delhi residents did not approve of the UN statement in what India has long called a "domestic matter".

Delhi has been converted into a fortress, with the deployment of over 50,000 personnel from the Delhi Police, Paramilitary, and Reserve Forces to counter farmers call for a nationwide "chakka jam" [blocking of highways] protest today. Delhi Metro is on high alert and has readied 12 stations for closure in case of emergencies. The police in Delhi have has made extensive arrangements to deal with protesters. Barbed wire has been put up on several roads along with iron spikes to counter any offensive by the protesting farmers.

Agricultural bodies representing the farmers have called for a nationwide three-hour "chakka jam". The protesters will stop traffic on national and state highways from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. [local time] across the country.

Only vehicles carrying essential goods and emergency services will be allowed to move, said the agricultural organizations, noting they will not enter Delhi for their protest today. Farmer leaders have maintained that the protests today will remain peaceful and have asked farmers not to indulge in any spats with authorities.

On 26 January, as India celebrated Republic Day, farmers held a "tractor rally" in the capital that saw thousands of vehicles congesting Delhi's roads in protest against new farm laws. The rally later turned violent, with farmers clashing with the Delhi Police. Over 300 cops were injured and one farmer lost his life during the protests. A section of protesters also barged into the historic Red Fort and raised a flag bearing the symbol of the Sikh faith, "Nishaan Sahib" along with the Indian flag, which sparked nationwide outrage.