Normal life was affected due to the ‘bandh’ called by farmers at many places in Punjab. Farmers are agitating against the Center demanding legal guarantee of minimum support price for their crops.
Rail and road traffic was disrupted at many places in the state and business establishments remained closed. Farmers staged a sit-in on several roads as part of the bandh call, which affected traffic.
The bandh was called a week ago by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha over the Center not taking action on farmers’ demand for a legal guarantee for MSP.
The bandh will be from 7 am to 4 pm. Farmers staged a protest at Dhareri Jattan toll plaza, affecting vehicular movement on the Patiala-Chandigarh National Highway.
A large number of farmers started gathering at the Golden Gate of Amritsar near the entrance of the city. A protest was also held at Rampura Phul in Bathinda. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher told reporters in Amritsar that emergency and other essential services would be kept operational.
He said that all people coming to the airport to catch a flight, give a job interview or attend a wedding will be allowed. Pandher claimed, “All establishments are closed. Punjabis have shown their unity today and are giving full support.”
“We are seeing a successful strike. Rail services are also completely suspended and no trains are entering Punjab,” he said.
In Phagwara, farmers staged a protest near Sugarmill crossing on NH-44 and blocked the roads leading from Phagwara to Nakodar, Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr. They also staged a protest at Behram toll plaza on Phagwara-Banga road.
Grain markets remained closed at many places. Pandher claimed that his strike has received strong support from transporters, employee unions, trade organizations and religious bodies.
Markets remained deserted in Mohali district and there was little traffic on the roads. Public transport remained off the roads at many places, while most private bus operators suspended their services in view of the bandh call.
Railways has canceled many trains passing through the state.
The effect of the bandh was also seen in some neighboring areas of the state including Ambala. Hundreds of daily commuters traveling from Ambala to Chandigarh, Mohali, Patiala and other nearby cities of Punjab faced problems due to the bandh.
The buses took alternative routes from Ambala to Chandigarh as they had to cross a part of the national highway passing through Punjab. Sangeeta, who commutes from Ambala to Zirakpur every day for her work, was waiting for a bus in Ambala Cantt, Haryana.
He told that all the buses going from Ambala to Chandigarh were very crowded. Many outside students studying in various coaching centers in Chandigarh faced difficulties in reaching their destination.
Meanwhile, the hunger strike of 70-year-old farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal entered its 35th day on Monday. Dallewal has so far refused medical treatment. Hundreds of farmers are protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border demanding legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
Dallewal had earlier said that he would not break his fast until the government accepted the demands of the farmers.
The Supreme Court has given time till December 31 to the Punjab government to convince Dallewal to be shifted to the hospital, while also giving the state the freedom to seek assistance from the Center if needed.
The farmers, under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, when security forces stopped their march to Delhi.
A group of 101 farmers attempted to march to Delhi on foot three times between December 6 and 14, but were stopped by Haryana security personnel.
Apart from MSP, farmers are also demanding loan waiver, pension, no increase in electricity rates, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for the victims of 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
