BKU to intensify protest against denial of underpass on Shamli-Ambala highway

Farmers under the banner of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU-Tikait group) have decided to step up their agitation over the demand for constructing an underpass on the Shamli-Ambala highway near Potli village in Yamunanagar district.

The protesting farmers, who have been camping on the under-construction highway stretch for the past several days, announced that they would gherao the office of the Deputy Commissioner at the district secretariat in Jagadhri on October 7. BKU state president Ratan Mann is also slated to join the protest.

Subhash Gurjar, district president of the BKU, said the National Highways Authority of India and the local administration had failed to resolve the issue despite repeated requests. “The government, in connivance with big companies, wants to ruin the farmers and snatch their agricultural land, but BKU will not let this happen,” Gurjar said.

He called upon farmers from across the district to gather at the DC office in maximum numbers to register their protest.

Gurjar pointed out that a three-yard-wide (about 16 feet) road existed in Potli village’s revenue records since 1952. “This road connected agricultural fields of farmers in a large area before the start of highway construction. Now it has been completely closed by denying a crossing or underpass,” he alleged.

He questioned the highway authorities, asking how farmers whose fields lie on the other side of the road would be able to access their land. “This road was mainly used by Potli farmers to reach their agricultural fields, but with no underpass provided, the connectivity has been cut off,” Gurjar added.