Complete Bandh at Punjab's Main Market District Mansa. (image-X/ManikGoyal_)
Chandigarh: As part of their Punjab bandh, farmers blocked roads at several places across the state on Monday. The bandh will be observed from 7 am to 4 pm.
Sarwan Singh Pandher, a farmer leader, said on Sunday that despite a complete bandh, emergency services will continue to operate. Essential services like wedding functions, medical facilities, airport transfers, and job interviews will remain operational.
Vegetable markets, petrol pumps, and gas agencies will, however, be closed.
Also Read | Why Maharashtra Farm Groups Are Absent On Farmers Protest?
The railways cancelled 150 trains on Monday, including Shatabdi and Vande Bharat services operating between Delhi and Punjab. Services are expected to return to normal after 4 p.m.
Pepsu Road Transport Corporation announced a four-hour suspension of bus services from 10 am to 2 pm, aligning with the PRTC Punbus Employee Union’s decision.
Farmers staged a sit-in at Dhareri Jattan Toll Plaza, affecting traffic on the Patiala-Chandigarh National Highway. In Amritsar, protesting farmers gathered near the Golden Gate entry point, while in Bathinda’s Rampura Phul, they blocked key roads.
Pandher also announced that there has been a call for a complete shutdown received support from several groups, including traders, transporters, employees’ unions, toll plaza workers, laborers, ex-servicemen, sarpanches, teachers’ unions, and other social organisations. The farmer leader also said that they have received backing from local citizens as well.
The call for a bandh was announced last week by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) after the Centre did not accept the demands of protesting farmers.
The 67-year-old farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal entered his 35th day of hunger strike at the Khanauri border. He has been on a fast-unto-death since November 26.
Also Read | Farmers Protest 2024: What Happened So Far
Both the farmer groups have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February this year.
The demands of farmers include a legal guarantee for minimum support prices (MSP). employment and rehabilitation benefits for children of landless farmers, government orders based on recommendations from the High Power Committee and the proper settlement of populated areas affected by land acquisition.
