Bathinda, Mansa wear deserted look

Public, private buses remain off road I Markets remain shut

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 26

The ‘Bharat bandh’ call evoked a massive response in Bathinda and Mansa districts with roads, markets both in city and rural areas and other public places wearing a deserted look throughout the day. Buses of PRTC as well private bus operators did not ply, hospitals also witnessed up to 70 percent fall in patient inflow in OPDs. Members of different trade unions and arhtiya associations also joined farmers in the protest and raised slogans against the three agricultural laws and the central government.

Farmers blocked roads at Jeeda toll plaza on the Bathinda-Amritsar National Highway, Ghudda on the Bathinda-Badal Road, Lehrabega toll plaza and Rampura Phul on the Bathinda-Chandigarh National Highway, Bhagta on the Bajakhana-Barnala Road and Bhagta. Farmers also protested on the Bathinda-Jind railway track at Maur Mandi. A large number of farmers, labourers and women from different villages participated in the bandh.

BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) state secretary Shingara Singh Mann said the aim of the protesters remained the same what it was six months ago — to get the black farm laws repealed. We have made all preparations for the summer season. Farmers wouldn’t allow the Modi government to succeed under any circumstances and would return home only after the demands were met.

Women leaders Paramjit Kaur Pitho and Harpreet Kaur Jethuke said the Modi government was ready to remain loyal to the imperialists even in the face of a stiff opposition as it specialised in derailing mass movements with the weapon of communalism.

In Bathinda city, Dhobi bazaar, Mehna Chowk, Arya Samaj Chowk, Mall Road and Amrik Singh Road among almost all markets remained closed during the day time. Only chemist shops and hospitals remained opened but that too witnessed low footfall of buyers. Protesters kept making announcements from vehicles on loudspeakers to keep the shops closed. The traders’ fraternity also gave full support to the bandh call and kept their shops closed. Even the wholesale vegetable market of Bathinda did not witness much activity as no fresh stock of vegetables or fruits arrived in mandi and vendors participated in the bandh call.

In the rural areas and different mandis (blocks) in the district such as Goniana Mandi, Sangat Mandi, Bhucho Mandi, Rampura Phul, Maur Mandi and Rama Mandi among other small markets in villages remained shut during the day time. But liquor vends were operational as per their routine.