Haryana-Punjab border closure hitting trade, industry: AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) raised the significant issue of losses being suffered by Punjab’s industry and trade due to the closure of the Haryana-Punjab border highway. The party said the BJP government at the Centre not only wanted to destroy Punjab’s farmers but was also trying to ruin the state's trade.

Addressing a press conference at the party office here on Wednesday, AAP spokesperson Neel Garg along with party leader Pranav Dhawan said state’s traders and businessmen were facing massive economic losses due to the border closure. Some of their representatives had even met Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and requested the reopening of the highway, they said.

Garg said the situation had arisen because farmers had been continuously sitting on the border for the past year, but the BJP government at the Centre was not listening to their demands at all. The BJP wants Punjabis to turn against each other so that the movement weakens and ends on its own.

Garg appealed to all farmer unions and political parties to find a solution to the issue collectively and plan the movement in a way that it remains impactful while minimising harm to Punjab’s traders and businessmen.

He said if Punjab’s industry suffered, many people would become unemployed, and the government’s revenue would be severely affected as a significant amount of tax comes from the industry, which funds the state’s development and public welfare. "It is our understanding that if the industry does not survive, Punjab will not survive. Therefore, we must find a way to protect both Punjab’s agriculture and trade," he said.