- विज्ञापन -
Chandigarh: In support of the ongoing protests at the Shambhu and Khanoori borders between Haryana and Punjab, farmers observed a Punjab bandh on Monday. From 7 AM to evening, farmers sat on highways and railway tracks at 140 locations. During this period, traffic on the Amritsar-Jalandhar-Panipat-Delhi and Amritsar-Jammu routes was completely blocked. The Punjab University in Chandigarh, along with all other universities, postponed the exams scheduled for the day.
After the Punjab bandh ended, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher thanked the people. He said that we did not have to forcefully close any shop. The Vyapar Mandal, Arhtiya Association, employees, groups and all the unions supported him. Protests took place at about 270 places. It was completely successful.
At 4 pm, farmers lifted their bandh and movement of traffic and trains was restored. Farmers thanked different organisations and people for observing bandh across state.
Due to the farmers’ bandh, the railways canceled 163 trains, including Vande Bharat Express. The Jhelum Express traveling from Pune to Jammu Tawi was stopped at Jalandhar Cantt station. Passengers traveling to Uttar Pradesh, Pune, Bihar, Kolkata, and other states from Jalandhar, Amritsar, and Ludhiana railway stations faced significant inconvenience. Many passengers had to stay in hotels due to the cancellation of trains.
Bus services from Punjab to 8 states, covering 576 routes, were also suspended. Buses from Haryana, Himachal, and other states were unable to enter Punjab.
Additionally, gas stations, petrol pumps, and markets were also closed. However, the famous Chauda Bazaar in Ludhiana remained open. Farmers who came to shut down the shops had a confrontation with the shopkeepers.
Visuals across state of Punjab Bandh
Farmers have announced a ‘Punjab Bandh’ on Monday leading to the expected closure of all shops across the state and disruptions in road and rail services. However, emergency services will continue to operate. There will also be no supply of milk, fruits, and vegetables until the protest ends on Monday evening as several trade organisations lent their support to the bandh.
“Farmer union leaders will enforce a chakka jam on roads and rail lines from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Government and private institutions are requested to stay closed. Only emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, marriage vehicles, or anyone in a dire emergency, will be allowed to pass,” reports quoted a senior farm leader as saying.
The decision to give a call for a ‘Punjab bandh’ was taken last week by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM). Sarwan Singh Pandher — who happens to be the coordinator of both forums — said traders, transporters, employees unions, toll plaza workers, labour, ex-servicemen, Sarpanches and teachers’ unions, social and other bodies, and some other sections have lent their support to the bandh.
Farmers under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and KMM have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces. With Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s indefinite hunger strike entering its 34th day on Sunday, farmer leaders at Khanauri said they have been following the Gandhian way to continue their protest and it is up to the government to decide whether it wants to use force to evict their senior leader.
He further said the farmers wanted to make it clear that whatever situation arises the responsibility will lie with the Centre and the constitutional bodies. Rail movement and road traffic will remain closed on Monday. In support of the farmers’ Bandh call, bus services in Punjab will remain suspended on Monday.
While the PRTC bus services will be shut for four hours, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the private bus operators have announced their full support, thus declaring the suspension of services across the state from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday.
Besides a legal guarantee on the MSP for crops, the farmers are demanding a debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in the electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21 are also part of their demands.
