NEW DELHI: In order to intensify the farmers’ movement against the farm laws, the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday decided to make all road toll plazas in Rajasthan “free” from February 12 and hold a rail blockade programme across the country from 12 pm-4 pm on February 18.
The SKM also decided to hold a ‘candle march’ and ‘mashaal juloos’ across the country in remembrance of the sacrifice of martyred soldiers in the Pulwama attack on February 14. The decision seems to be an effort at image correction after the “anti-national” act of hoisting a religious flag at Red Fort on January 26 drew widespread condemnation. “On February 16, farmers will show solidarity throughout the country on the birth anniversary of Sir Chhotu Ram,” the SKM said in a statement. Chhotu Ram was one of the prominent leaders of pre-partition Punjab province.
The decisions were taken in a committee meeting of the Morcha as part of its plan to make the agitation a pan-India movement in the coming days. The mobilisation will be a test for the unions as so far, they have been successful in Punjab, Haryana and parts of west UP.