The nationwide 'chakka jam' organised by political parties and social organisations in support of the ongoing farmers agitation impacted the outskirts of Dhanbad, stalling traffic for hours in some areas, especially Nirsa, on Saturday.

At Nirsa, more than 100 supporters led by a former MLA sat on dharna on NH-2 and blocked the road for more than one hour near Sanjay Chowk leading to a traffic snarl.

A similar blockade was held by trade unions and other Left organisations near the district headquarters on Randhir Verma Chowk. But since the protesters blocked only one side of the road, movement of vehicles wasn’t hampered.

Protestors led by district president of Marxist Coordination Committee Hari Prasad Pappu and others, including former national general secretary of CITU S.K. Bakshi, raised slogans in support of farmers during their three-hour blockade.

Talking to the media, Pappu said, “We are protesting against the farm laws enacted by the Union government. We are demanding the withdrawal of the controversial laws which are aimed at benefiting corporates at the cost of common farmers.”

“Government should desist from carrying out atrocities against farmers and labourers and immediately hold talks with the protesters in Delhi,” he added.

District president of JMM Ramesh Tuddu, said, “Farmers provide us food. No country in the world can progress by crushing its farmers. But the Narendra Modi-led government, at the behest of corporates, have brought the farm bills which will adversely affect them.”

Asked what provisions of the farm laws were against the farmers, Tuddu cited the MSP issue. “The government has plans to abolish the minimum support price for foodgrains through the farm laws. It is also carrying out atrocities against farmers by lodging cases against them when they are protesting against the farm laws peacefully,” he said.