Protests against farm Bills hit normal life

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 25

The strike call given by 31 farmer organisations to protest on Friday against the passage of agriculture Bills without discussion in Parliament, evoked a huge response here.

The protesting farmers requested President Ram Nath Kovind not to sign the contentious farm Bills into Acts. On Friday, they held protests in various areas of the city such Devidyal Pura where railway tracks were blocked, Bhandari railway overbridge, Putlighar, Chheharta and Bhagtanwala grain market.

The demonstrations threw routine life out of gear as all commercial markets, establishments, including shops, put up the shutters. The strike went off peacefully with no untoward incident reported.

Most city roads wore a deserted look and residents preferred to stay indoors. Commercial hubs of the city, including wholesale textile markets such as Katra Ahluwalia, Shastri Market, Tahli Wala Bazaar, Pratap Bazaar and nearby streets, were closed.

Similarly, stationery-items market, Mai Sewa Wala Bazaar, gold and silver ornaments’ market Guru Bazar, Bhandiyan Wala Bazaar, Chaurasti Attari and Batti Hatta were closed.

Grain markets such as Daal Mandi, Mishri Bazaar, Swank Mandi, Wadi Dhab, Dhab Wasti Ram, Lachchmansar Chowk and surrounding areas also wore a deserted look.

Movement of buses at the Shaheed Madan Lal Dhingra Inter-state Bus Terminus (ISBT) was affected. As a precautionary measure, the Ferozepur Division of the Northern Railway had cancelled all trains originating from the Amritsar Railway station for three days, starting September 24. Besides, all incoming trains would halt at Ambala, Saharanpur, Moradabad and Chandigarh railway stations.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.