Industrial units open, work hit

The effect of Jalandhar bandh was seen on the working of industrial units as well. Although factories remained open today in Gadaipur, Focal Point, Transport Nagar, there was no transportation in the city which affected the working of the industry.

Industrialists said no orders could be dispatched because of the bandh. Charanjit Singh Maingi, Chairman, Jalandhar Chamber of Industries and Commerce, said the demand for raw materials could not be met.

“Because of no transportation, raw material could not arrive,” he said, adding that even labourers were not present in large numbers.

Gursharan Singh, a senior industrialist and president, Jalandhar Industrial and Traders’ Joint Action Committee, said even small shops in localities remained closed. “How will one work like this. Already the government is not paying any heed to the Punjab’s industry and the work is suffering a lot,” he said.

Tajinder Bhasin, another leading industrialists, said although all of them opened their factories, the work got affected.

Even shops and showrooms selling sports items at Basti Nau of the city remained closed. A large number of sports goods shops are concentrated in this area.

The bandh that started at 8 in the morning ended at 5 pm. The factory owners said they did not face any inconvenience in going to their work places.

Road blocked in Phagwara

On a call given by several Dalit organisations, a complete bandh was observed in Phagwara, Goraya, Phillaur and Nakodar today.

The call was given against the vandalising incident of the statue of Dr Ambedkar in Amritsar.

In Phagwara, thousands of Dalit activists assembled before the statue of Ambedkar in Hargobind Nagar, garlanded it then staged a dharna.

All shops and commercial establishment remained closed the whole day and roads and bazars were witnessing a deserted look.

SSP Gaurav Toora remained in Phagwara and monitored the law and order situation

The activists blocked road before Rest House, Phagwara. The blockade remained continued for more than two hours.

Private Schools remained closed as precautionary measures.