Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 27
Farmers on Monday blocked highways and other roads at many places in Punjab, where the ruling Congress said it firmly stands by the farm unions’ call for Bharat Bandh against the Centre’s three agri laws.
In neighbouring Haryana too, there were reports of protesters blocking some highways, including in Sirsa, Fatehabad and Kurukshetra.
There were also reports of farmers squatting on rail tracks at a few places in the two states.
In Punjab, a complete shutdown was observed at several places, including Moga, where farmers blocked the Moga-Ferozepur and Moga-Ludhiana National Highways.
The Bathinda-Chandigarh National Highway, too, was blocked by farmers, sources said.
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi urged the Centre to repeal the three “anti-farmer laws”.
“#I Stand With Farmers amp; appeal the Union Govt. to repeal the three anti-farmer laws. Our farmers have been struggling for their rights since more than a year amp; it is high time that their voice is heard. I request the farmers to raise their voice in a peaceful manner (sic),” Channi tweeted.
Farmers block Chandigarh-Ambala road, Mohali airport road at 5 places
Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu said the PPCC firmly stands by farmer unions’ for Bharat Bandh.
“Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee firmly stands by Farmer Unions demand for Bharat Bandh on 27 Sept 2021. In the war of right and wrong you can not afford to be neutral !! We urge every Congress worker to fight with all their might against the three Unconstitutional Black Laws !! (sic),” Sidhu tweeted.
In Haryana, protesting farmers blocked the national highway in Charkhi Dadri while in Kurukshetra several roads were blocked.
In an advisory issued on Sunday, Haryana Police had stated that people could face traffic disruptions on various roads and highways of the state due to the bandh.
In view of the bandh, elaborate arrangements had been put in place by the civil administration and police according to directions of the state government, a Haryana Police spokesperson said.
Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of over 40 farm unions spearheading the farmers’ agitation, had earlier appealed to the people to join the bandh.
The SKM had also asked political parties to “stand with farmers in their quest to defend principles of democracy and federalism”.
“As this historic struggle completes 10 months, SKM has called Monday (September 27) to be observed as Bharat Bandh against the anti-farmer Modi government,” the SKM had said in a statement.
“The SKM appeals to every Indian to join this nationwide movement and make Bharat Bandh a resounding success. In particular, we appeal to all organisations of workers, traders, transporters, businessmen, students, youth and women and all social movements to extend solidarity with the farmers that day,” it said.
The bandh will be held from 6 am to 4 pm during which all government and private offices, educational and other institutions, shops, industries and commercial establishments as well as public events and functions would be closed throughout the country, it had said.
All emergency establishments and essential services, including hospitals, medical stores, relief and rescue work and people attending to personal emergencies will be exempted. With PTI
LIVE UPDATES
*Faridabad/Palwal: No impact of the Bharat Bandh so far in Faridabad and Palwal districts. Bus, train and Metro rail functioning as usual. With imposition of Section 144, police have been deployed at various points to prevent any untoward incident. Ratan Singh Sorot, a local leader of BKU in Palwal, claimed that besides the ongoing dharna at Antoha village, farmers will visit local market to persuade the shopkeepers to down the shutters in support of the ongoing agitation.
*Jhajjar: Metro train services suspended in Bahadurgarh town in view of Bharat Bandh call.
*Complete bandh observed in Hisar district, including railway services and road transport.
*Rohtak: Trader unions oppose call for Bharat Bandh given by farmers, say shops and other commercial establishments to open as usual.
*Gurugram: No farmers at Delhi-Gurugram border. However, there is a major traffic congestion owing to heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces. Delhi Police check vehicles that leads to a jam.
*Railway track is blocked near Fatehgarh village in Charkhi Dadri district by protesting farmers.
*Rohtak: Farmers block all national and state highways passing through Rohtak. Stage dharnas at several points; protests peaceful.
*Sangrur: Farmers block Sangrur-Patiala, Sangrur-Ludhiana and Sangrur-Bathinda roads.
*Road blocked at dhanana village in Bhiwani district.
*Hisar: A train is stopped near Ramayan village where farmers sit on dharna at a toll plaza. The Hisar-Bhiwani railway line is blocked near Ramayan village in Hisar district. Farmers block Ludas-Shahpur road in Hisar district. Farmers sit in middle of the road at Baddo Patti toll plaza in Hisar district.
*Jhajjar: Protesting farmers sit on the Rohtak-Delhi track at Bahadurgarh railway station near Tikri border. Protesting farmers raise slogans against three farm laws and the Modi govt at Bahadurgarh railway station near Tikri border.
*Karnal: Most shops in the city are closed at 9 am. Farmers take out a march in the city. Farmers will not block the NH-44 in Karnal, says Jagdeep Singh Aulakh, state core committee member, BKU (Charuni). “Our focus is on the city. We request the traders to support the farming community. So far, we have received a good response in the CM’s city,” says Aulakh.
*Ludhiana: Passengers of long-route trains, which get stranded at Ahmedgarh, are among the worst affected as they travel with families including children, elderly persons and patients. However, activists of social organisations hold medical assistance camp and langar for them.
*Patiala: Farmers block Chandigarh-Bathinda national highway near Passiana police station.
*Farmers block Sirsa-Mansa road at Sardulgarh in Mansa. Farmers block Bathinda-Patiala road at Bhainibagha village in Mansa.
*Chandigarh-Pathankot highway closed for vehicular traffic at Mangarh by protesting farmers.
*BKU Dakaunda volunteers have closed the gate of Punjabi University in Patiala.
*Ludhiana: All main and link roads passing through the district blocked for vehicular traffic. Protesting farmers, holding banners and placards against farm laws, squatting on the middle of the roads, not allowing anyone to pass through. Commuters in for major inconvenience. Police have made elaborate arrangements to avert any untoward incident, said Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar.
*Kaithal: Farmers block several major roads in Kaithal, including at Titram Mor.
*Doaba Kisan Committee organises blockades at several places on highways running through Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur.
*Farmers start holding protests at 19 places in Bathinda district and 10 places in Mansa district.
*Ambala: Farmers block Delhi-Ambala national highway in Shahabad, Shambhu Toll plaza, NH344 in Mullana.
*Karnal: Smooth traffic flow on the NH-44 in Karnal district. Farmers block six major roads — Karnal-Kaithal road in Nissing, Karnal-Assandh road, Assandh-Jind road, Assandh-Safidon road, Assandh-Panipat road. Farmers are assembling in Karnal to take a march in the city. A large number of farmers are expected to assemble in the city, says Jagdeep Singh Aulakh, state core committee member, BKU (Charuni). “We will appeal to the traders to support the farmers,” Aulakh says. Deployment of heavy police force and a company of RAF near Mini Secretariat.
*Road blocked by protesting farmers at Tanda Urmur.
*Morning Shatabdi from Chandigarh to Delhi delayed.
*Farmers protest during Bharat Bandh by blocking railway tracks at Barnala.
LIVE UPDATES: Bharat Bandh: Farmers block roads at various places in Punjab, Haryana
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