Farmers threaten to block highways after Haryana issues order to seal borders with Punjab for two days

Chandigarh, After a large number of farmers from Punjab, who are heading for indefinite 'siege' of Delhi from November 26 over their demand to revoke the Central farm laws, were not allowed to enter Haryana owing to travel restrictions there, farmers' bodies on Tuesday threatened to block the highways.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) President Balbir Singh Rajewal said Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has sealed borders for Punjab farmers to prove that "Punjab is not part of India".

"We will peacefully block the routes to Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir. Will start dharna on the roads," he tweeted.


Rajewal questioned Khattar for refusing to give passage to the farmers to go to the national capital.

"Can't the high court take suo moto notice to give justice to the peaceful farmers," he asked.

To avoid the movement of farmers, Khattar on Tuesday announced that the state will seal its borders with Punjab for two days.

Reports said a large number of tractor-trailers carrying farmers were lined up on the borders of Haryana.

At least one member from each household in village in Punjab is gearing up to seek the axing of the farm laws following the 'Delhi Chalo' slogan and the growing resentment against three agricultural laws passed by the Parliament in September.

A movement has been gaining ground at the grassroots level across Punjab, which comprises 75 per cent of the farming community, against the 'draconian' laws that the farmers fear will not allow them to earn even the minimum support price (MSP) fixed by the government and besides getting exploited at the hands of the corporate houses.

However, the Central government has been trying to convince the farmers saying the new laws will help increase their income and free them from the middlemen.

The Centre has invited farmers' unions to Delhi for the second round of ministerial talks on December 3 to resolve the differences.

--IANS

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