Farmers raise slogans at Shambhu border on Friday. PTI
Ferozepur/Amritsar/Hisar/Muzaffarnagar (Punjab, Haryana, UP), February 16
Commuters in Punjab faced inconvenience on Friday as buses stayed off the roads in response to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s call for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ to press the government to accept farmers’ demands including a legal guarantee of MSP.
Though there was a partial response to the bandh call in Haryana, markets and commercial establishments at several places in Punjab remained shut.
However, the bandh passed off peacefully, officials said.
Farmers, owing allegiance to different factions, held demonstrations at several places and also blocked national highways in Pathankot, Tarn Taran, Bathinda and Jalandhar. They also laid siege to several toll plazas and raised slogans against the Centre for not accepting their demands.
In Haryana’s Hisar, the bus services of the Haryana Roadways remained paralysed as its staff also supported the SKM’s Bharat Bandh call. The roadways employees held a demonstration on the premises of the bus stand and raised slogans in support of their demands.
In Kurukshetra, the bandh call failed to evoke any response. Shops and markets remained open and buses were plying.
Meanwhile, members of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) staged ‘dharnas’ at several toll plazas in Haryana. They did not let the toll authorities charge fee from commuters.
Protests were also held in parts of western Uttar Pradesh. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait participated in a protest held at the Bagovali crossing on the Delhi-Dehradun National Highway in Muzaffarnagar.
“We are holding the protest for the demands, including implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report, loan waiver etc,” Tikait told reporters.
On Being asked if he has any plans to go to Delhi, Tikait said, “A meeting is scheduled in Sisauli (Muzaffaranagar) on Saturday, where planning for the future course of action will be made.”
In Bijnor, BKU members disrupted work at some sugarcane weighing centres.
In Baghpat, a protest was held by BKU members. BKU district president Pratap Singh Gurjar said, “The symbolic protest in support of the bandh was called at Vandana Chowk. Farmers supported the call and they did not go to the sugarcane procurement centres.”
The bandh had almost no impact in Shahajahanpur, Budaun and Meerut.
Many farmer bodies, including Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal), Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dakunda), Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal), Bharatiya Kisan Union (Qadian) and Kirti Kisan Union participated in the bandh.
Among various demands, the SKM is seeking a legal guarantee to minimum support price for all crops based on the Swaminathan commission formula and debt waiver.
Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC Contract Workers’ Union are also supporting the Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s (SKM) bandh call. They are protesting against the Centre’s proposed hit-and-run law.
Private bus operators were also not plying buses. Passengers were seen waiting for buses at many bus stands to reach their respective destinations. Mainly students and office-goers faced inconvenience because of the non-availability of buses.
In Ferozepur, most educational institutions and business establishments remained closed and the markets wore a deserted look following the “Bharat Bandh” call.
Protesting farmers blocked roads at various points, including octroi number seven in the cantonment area, Golu Ka Mour village situated on Ferozepur-Fazilka road, Bangali Wala Bridge on NH-54 in Makhu area, at Talwandi Bhai under bridge.
Ashok Pasricha, president Sabji Mandi Aarthiya Association said the traders should support farmers during this critical time as most of the business depends on farmers only. “Today all the shops are closed in support of the farmers”, said Pasricha.
Narinder Singh Kesar, president of Recognised and Affiliated Schools Association (RASA), said schools are closed and only students of classes 10 and 12, who are appearing for their annual exams, are coming.
Harbans Singh, BKU (Rajewal) district president, said the farmers’ intention is not to trouble anyone. “We are fighting for our rights,” he said.
In Ludhiana, bus stands in Samrala and Khanna Jagraon wore a deserted look.
BKU (Rajewal) president Balbir Singh Rajewal held a sit-in at the toll plaza in Samrala.
In Amritsar, the educational institutions run by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) remained shut as the apex gurdwara body supported the bandh call. Many shops also remained shut. Many shops in Amritsar also remained shut.
In Hoshiarpur, markets at many places including Jahan Khelan, Bajwara, Tanda, Garhdiwala, Chabbewal, Bhangala and Talwara remained shut in response to the bandh call.
Members of various farm organisations staged protests and blocked vehicular traffic on almost all the key roads and highways, including Hajipur Chowk, Dasuya, Bijli Ghar Chowk, Tanda, and Mata Rani Chowk, Mukerian on the Jalandhar-Pathankot National Highway, across the district. PTI
15:40 16 Feb
Mohali: Dappar toll plaza on Chandigarh-Ambala National Highway closed. Access only for ambulances.
15:38 16 Feb
Chandigarh: Haryana Police on Friday fired tear gas shells to disperse protesting farmers when they moved towards the barricades at the Shambhu border near Ambala.
The fresh confrontation comes on the fourth day of the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march to demand a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops.
Protesting farmers from Punjab have stayed put at the Shambhu and Khanauri -- two points on the state's border with Haryana. PTI
13:07 16 Feb
13:05 16 Feb
13:03 16 Feb
12:59 16 Feb
12:57 16 Feb
Bharat Bandh: Commuters left stranded as many buses stay off roads in Punjab
12:55 16 Feb
12:26 16 Feb
12:11 16 Feb
Hisar: Markets open in Hisar. Roadways buses remain suspended on most of the routes.
12:09 16 Feb
Mohali: No visible impact of Bharat Bandh call in Lalru.
11:41 16 Feb
Mohali: SKM leaders appealed to the Kurali shopkeepers to keep their shutters down from 11am to 4pm. The main highway will be blocked at Kurali light point at noon and a protest demonstration will be held at Kurali bus stand. Many shops did not open in the morning. Farmer union members were out in the market, requesting people to cooperate.
11:39 16 Feb
10:43 16 Feb
The Punjab Congress accused the BJP of causing the inconvenience by putting the blockade at the Delhi borders. PPCC chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said the BJP-led Centre could have avoided the confrontation but they wanted to divide the public against the farming community. He said the party will submit memorandum to the Punjab Governor for action against Haryana for “atrocities” on farmers at Shambhu border.
10:40 16 Feb
Chandigarh: The impact of the Bharat Bandh was seen in Haryana as shops and commercial establishments stayed closed.
Petroleum dealers in Punjab closed filling stations to back the call for the shutdown.
The activists of several farmer associations were seen asking traders at several places in the AAP-ruled Punjab to keep their shops and business establishments closed to mark the protest.
Farmer leaders said they would block key roads and occupy toll plazas during the shutdown.
Reports of total shutdown of shops and other establishments were received from Patiala, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Moga, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and other places. IANS
10:37 16 Feb
Shambhu: General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee Sarwan Singh Pandher on Friday urged an intervention on part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the farmers’ issues.
Addressing a press conference, the farmer leader raised concerns over the central government's use of paramilitary forces to resist the farmers that has left hundreds injured. ANI
10:27 16 Feb
Karnal: Despite the nationwide Bharat Bandh call, Karnal remains unaffected so far, with markets operating as usual and businesses continuing their regular operations. Employees will assemble at Karan Park at noon. Around 20 employees of the roadways are staging a dharna.
10:02 16 Feb
Shopkeepers are observing bandh in Sangrur in support of Bharat Bandh call by farmer and trade unions.
10:01 16 Feb
Calm and peaceful atmosphere at Khanauri border so far.
09:39 16 Feb
Chandigarh: Protesting farmers will stay put at the two borders of Punjab and Haryana over their various demands as the deadlock persisted despite the third round of talks with a panel of Union ministers.
09:36 16 Feb
Complete bandh is being observed by the shopkeepers, including chemists, in Fazilka town. The Beopar Mandal had given a call to shut the shops in support of farmers’ agitation.
09:31 16 Feb
Noida: The Gautam Buddh Nagar Police on Thursday said restrictions under CrPC section 144, including a ban on unauthorised public assemblies, would be enforced across the district on February 16.
09:30 16 Feb
New Delhi: Amid farmer unions' call for a Bharat Bandh protest, traders are poised to continue their business operations uninterrupted, reaffirming their "commitment to serving communities and maintaining economic stability".
BC Bhartia, president, and Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), said traders would keep their establishments open during the Bharat Bandh. ANI
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