Punjab Bandh Effect: Farmers Block Roads, Busses On Halt, Trains Canceled, Markets Closed

Farmers in Punjab have initiated a statewide shutdown, causing significant disruptions. The protest, led by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, is in response to the Centre's refusal to meet their demands. Roads across the state were blocked on Monday, impacting commuter traffic in various regions.

The bandh is scheduled from 7 am to 4 pm on December 30. Farmers staged a sit-in at Dhareri Jattan Toll Plaza, disrupting traffic on the Patiala-Chandigarh National Highway. In Amritsar, farmers gathered near the Golden Gate, while in Bathinda's Rampura Phul, roads were obstructed.

Protest Impact and Emergency Services

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher stated that despite the complete bandh, emergency services would remain operational. "The bandh will be observed from 7 am to 4 pm. However, emergency services will remain operational. Anyone travelling to the airport to catch a flight or anyone going to attend a job interview, or anyone needs to attend a wedding... all these things have been kept out of our bandh call," he said, according to PTI.

The protest has led to the cancellation of 150 trains by the Railways, including major services like Vande Bharat and Shatabdi. This disruption is part of the broader demand for a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

Ongoing Hunger Strike

Amidst the protests, Jagjit Singh Dallewal's hunger strike has reached its 35th day. The 70-year-old farmer leader has refused medical intervention until their demands are met. The Supreme Court has given Punjab until December 31 to persuade Dallewal to receive medical care.

Farmers have been stationed at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13. Their march towards Delhi was halted by security forces. A group of 101 farmers tried marching to Delhi three times between December 6 and 14 but were stopped by Haryana's security personnel.

Additional Demands

Besides MSP guarantees, farmers are calling for debt waivers, pensions, no increase in electricity tariffs, withdrawal of police cases, and justice for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in 2021.