Akalis kickstart ‘Punjab Bachao Yatra’ from Attari after ardas at Akal Takht

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Attari, February 1

To gauge the mood of the people before the parliamentary elections, SAD president Sukhbir Badal today started the party’s ‘Punjab Bachao Yatra’ from the border here. After performing ardas at Akal Takht, Badal led a cavalcade to the Zero Line along with senior party leaders and party workers.

Border farmers told him that thousands had lost their livelihood due to the restriction on trade through the ICP at Attari. The trade between India and Pakistan has come to a complete halt since August 9, 2019, as a fallout of Pulwama attack.

Another issue raised by the villagers was about the problems they were facing while tilling their land located across the border fence. The affected farmers called for moving the fence close to the Zero Line or the government should end up acquiring their land. They also demanded that the compensation be raised to Rs 35,000 per acre per annum from Rs 12,000 per acre for the 21,600 acres situated beyond the barbed fence.

The residents also said that a government hospital initiated by former CM Parkash Singh Badal here could not see the light of the day. Sukhbir assured them of taking up the issues with the Centre.

Later at Chogawan, accompanied by Bikram Majithia, Daljit Cheema and Anil Joshi, the SAD president said the yatra would expose the lies and ill-conceived policies of AAP.