The ruling coalition in Jharkhand, joined by Left parties, fanned out on national highways across the state on Saturday to enforce a “chakka-jam” from 12pm to 3pm in solidarity with farmers who have been leading an agitation for over two months on the borders of Delhi to demand a rollback of three new farm laws.

In Ranchi, the ruling JMM-Congress-RJD dispatched several teams of leaders to the borders of the state capital to stage sit-ins, hold demonstrations and raise slogans against the Union government while describing the laws as anti-poor and anti-farmer.

In areas like Booty More and Durga Soren Chowk at Namkum —two points on NH-33 that serve as gateways to Ranchi _ several trucks and private vehicles were forced to wait in queue because of the blockade.

Booty More remained the hub of major activities as state agriculture minister Badal Patralekh sat on the road there with party workers to enforce the blockade. Leaders of the JMM, Left parties, joined by various social outfits, were also present to drum up support for lakhs of protesting farmers.

“Let us make it very clear to the Union government that this protest isn’t just restricted to one state,” Badal said, referring to Union agriculture minister Narendra Tomar’s calling the protests as a problem of a handful of farmers in one state.

Agriculture minister Badal Patralekh (second from left), along with JMM, RJD and other leaders at Booty More to enforce a ‘chakka jam’ in Ranchi on Saturday. Telegraph picture

Congress, JMM and Left parties block NH-33 in Ranchi on Saturday. Picture by Manob Chowdhary

Badal added, “The three laws are like death warrants for farmers in this country. Till the time they are rolled back, the agitations won’t stop. Congress party and Jharkhand government stands in solidarity with the farmers of the country in their fight for survival.”

Tomar had in Parliament criticised the Opposition and farmers for calling the legislations “black laws”. And Badal reacted to it strongly.

“The Union government’s intentions behind these laws are wrong. That is black. The way the law was brought in without consulting states was wrong. That is black. Farmers don’t want this law, but government is hell-bent on thrusting it on them and calling the protests anti-national. This is black. If the laws are so good, then why are the farmers on the boil?” he said.

JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharjee, who also joined the Booty More stir, added that even though the BJP regime has been operating in the most autocratic way in terms of dumping its decisions and policies on the country since it came to power, this time, they are pitted against farmers, who the backbone of the country. “It is the farmer’s fight for survival and the entire nation stands by them today,” he said, adding that the government’s attempts to privatise everything would not work.

“If the Union government is for farmers, they must repeal the laws immediately,” Bhattacharjee added.

In Namkum, many truck drivers came out openly in favour of the farmers’ agitation. Satwinder Singh, a middle-aged driver from Haryana, said, “We too hail from the farmers’ community and support this agitation. Even if we were to park our trucks for five days in their support, we won’t mind.”