Punjab:farmers' bundh cripples normal life, rail, bus services suspended

Life was hit across Punjab on Monday due to a '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 several places of the state. Farmers staged 'dharnas' on several roads and highways including in Patiala, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Bathinda, and Pathankot as part of their bandh call from 7 am to 4 pm, throwing commuter traffic out of gear. A call for a statewide 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.

Jalandhar, Punjab: Farmers' bandh in Punjab, demanding MSP and other issues, has caused disruptions in Jalandhar. Passengers at the city's bus stand are facing difficulties as buses are not operating, forcing them to return with their luggage pic.twitter.com/uMb9Mgy7s3

— IANS (@ians_india) December 30, 2024

The bandh was also enforced to express solidarity with farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal who has been on a fast for the last 35 days at Khanauri border protest site of farmers. Farmers observed a sit-in at Dhareri Jattan Toll Plaza which affected vehicular movement on the Patiala-Chandigarh National Highway.Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher told reporters in Amritsar that emergency and other essential services were allowed to operate. He said anyone travelling to the airport to catch a flight anyone going to attend a job interview, or anyone needing to attend a wedding, was being allowed to go.
Farmers squatted on tracks at many places, forcing the railways to cancel several trains passing through the state and short-terminated or short-originated some trains. Railways has cancelled 150 trains in view of the Punjab Band called by the Kisan Union. The cancelled trains include Shatabdi and Vande Bharat Express operating between Delhi and Punjab. According to Northern Railways, 13 trains have also been rescheduled, apart from the cancellation.