Chandigarh: Life was hit in several places of Punjab on Monday due to a nine-hour 'bandh' imposed by farmers who have been agitating against the Centre for a legal guarantee of a minimum support price for their crops.
Rail and road traffic was crippled and commercial establishments remained shut in many places of the state. Farmers staged 'dharnas' on several roads as part of their bandh call, throwing commuter traffic out of gear.
A call for a shutdown was given over a week ago by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha over the Centre not acting on the farmers' demand for a legal guarantee for the MSP. The bandh will be observed from 7 am to 4 pm.
Farmers observed a sit-in at Dhareri Jattan Toll Plaza which affected vehicular movement on the Patiala-Chandigarh National Highway. At Amritsar's Golden Gate, scores of farmers started to assemble near the city's entry point. Dharnas were staged in Bathinda's Rampura Phul.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher told reporters in Amritsar that emergency and other essential services were allowed to operate. He said those going to the airport or for a job interview or a wedding were allowed to go.
"Punjabiyat has won. On behalf of both the forums (spearheading protests at Shambhu and Khanauri), I want to thank three crore Punjabis for extending their full support to the bandh," Pandher said after the bandh hours.
He also said vegetable mandis, grain markets and petrol pumps also remained shut. "All establishments remained closed. The bandh has been successful and Punjabis have shown great support for Dallewal sahab," he said.
Earlier, Pandher had said, "train services are also completely suspended and no train is entering Punjab". Pandher also claimed their strike received strong support from transporters, employee unions, traders and religious bodies. He said the bandh's impact could be seen at more than 250 points across the state. He said BJP leaders had claimed common people will not support the Bandh, "but three crore Punjabis have given an answer".
Due to farmers' agitation in Haryana and Punjab, the Railway Department cancelled a total of 15 trains, including three Shatabdi trains running from Chandigarh and Kalka.
Besides, three trains, including Vande Bharat, were stopped till Ambala. Northern Railway completely cancelled 158 trains and stopped 50 trains for a short time. Due to the bandh, passengers were disturbed in many places in Punjab, as trains were cancelled.
A cancer patient from Gujarat was stranded at a train station in Ferozepur. His wife said they had to go to Himachal Pradesh to get some medicines for him, but with train services hit, they were left in a lurch.
In Phagwara, farmers staged a dharna near the Sugarmill Crossing on NH-44, blocking the roads going from Phagwara towards Nakodar, Hoshiarpur, and Nawanshahr. A dharna was also staged at the Behram toll plaza on Phagwara-Banga road.
Public transport remained off the road at several places, while most private bus operators suspended services. Many long-distance private buses and trucks carrying fruits and vegetables were held up due to the bandh.
In the Ludhiana district, markets like Chaura Bazar, Saban Bazar, Vishwakarma Chowk, Gill Road and Sarabha Nagar had few shops opened. The city's main bus stand was completely empty. In Bathinda, all but a few chemist shops were found shut. Roads from the Bathinda district leading to Amritsar, Sri Ganganagar, and Muktsar were blocked by BKU Sidhupur activists.
Addressing the farmers, their leader Ram Singh Deon said, "This is a fight for our crops and for our future generations." Kapurthala and Jalandhar also observed the bandh with all commercial establishments there remaining closed. Streets in many places in the state were clear of carts- and rickshaw-pullers. Banks, though open, were empty while government offices and institutions remained largely deserted.
Langars of tea and 'daal-parshada' were arranged for the protesters. The bandh's impact was also seen in some neighbouring areas of the state, including Ambala.
Hundreds of daily commuters travelling from Ambala to Chandigarh, Mohali, Patiala and other nearby cities of Punjab were stuck. Many outsiders studying in coaching centres in Chandigarh faced a tough time reaching their destinations. (With Agency Inputs)
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