New mode of protests: plaza takeovers

Farmers are taking over plazas in cites around New Delhi and planning to block highways too, if their demands are not agreed upon. Two days ago, Bharat Kisan Union farmers met National Highway Authority of India officials and had made several demands. They wanted free passes in highways for farming related vehicles.They are already paying one-fourth, but they want free pass for they have to make several trips everyday while carrying out farming activities.They also want free passage for people living 20 KM radius around the Plaza for they had to make several trips in a day. Farmers use only 5 to 10 KM of the entire highway but they have to pay for the passage ticket of entire highway. Farmers also wanted pending payment for the compensation for the land they had given up for the construction of the plaza and the highways.National Highways Authority of India has agreed to for making over bridges and underpasses for the farmers to cross on National Highway 58.Other demands were not met.

When their demands were not agreed upon, they had brought to halt toll plaza on Daurala near the city of Meerut, day before yesterday. Yesterday, about hundred farmers had taken over Dasna toll plaza Today, it would be Saharanpur plaza. That means no toll for all vehicles which ply these highways--free rides for all! On Friday, Bharat Kisan Union plans to block Delhi-Noida highway. Seizing toll booths and blocking highways and taking over plazas are their ways of making protests.This is small clash between urban and rural India.With elections coming up, farmers' demands will not be brushed aside.