Farmers block all roads to Jagtial opposing master plan

Warangal: Farmers and their families, along with people of villages surrounding Jagtial, on Thursday blocked all roads leading into the town opposing the draft notification of the Jagtial Master Plan.

Leaders of Congress and BJP also extended their support to villagers of Narsingapur, Thimmapur, Kandlapally, Tippannapet, Mothe, Ambaripet, Tharoor, Hasnabad and Lingampet, which will come under the master plan.

Protesters prevented welfare minister Koppula Eshwar from proceeding and attending the Kanti Velugu programme organised in the area. The helpless minister had to return as a result.

Farmers have formed a Joint Action Committee in association with various unions and people’s organisations to steer the agitation against the master plan.

Farmers of Hasnabad, Ambaripet and Uppalpet villages blockaded the main road between Jagtial and Nizamabad. Those from Timmapur and Mothe villages organised rasta roko on the main road from Jagtial to Dharmaram. Farmers from Narsingapur and Tharoor villages protested on the main road leading to Karimnagar from Jagtial.

Farmers could be seen cooking their meal on the roads and having it.

Some of the farmers tried to consume pesticide. Police personnel and women prevented them from doing so. Slogans “Jai Jawan and Jai Kisan” were raised by the protesters.

Later in the afternoon, with heavy traffic jams on main roads, police officials intervened and convinced farmers into moving to the roadside, so that people going to distant places could go ahead.