Protesters block NH to protest Centre's policies

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 8

On the Bharat bandh call given by trade unions across the country, various unions today blocked the Bathinda-Chandigarh National Highway 7 at Lehra Mohabbat village to protest the alleged wrong polices of the Union Government.

As the highway was blocked, the police diverted traffic from link roads, due to which commuters had to face inconvenience.

The unions, under the joint banner of BKU Ekta Ugrahan, BKU Ekta Dakonda, Punjab and Khet Mazdoor Union, GHTP Contractor Workers Union, Kirti Kisan Union, Krantikari Kisan Union, Punjab Kisan Union, Kul Hind Kisan Union, Inqalab Kender Punjab, Lok Morcha Punjab, Naujawan Bharat Sabha today supported the bandh call given by trade unions.

While addressing the protesters, union leaders Shingara Singh Mann, Baldev Singh Bhairupa, Zora Singh and others today condemned both the Union and state governments for their policies of privatisation.

They alleged that the government was recruiting persons on low salaries on contract basis with the aim to eventually privatise all government departments. The government is even making a cut in salaries, pensions, allowances and others benefits of employees.

They alleged that under the garb of development, the government was forcefully taking away lands of farmers and farm labourers and giving it to corporate houses and to suppress the protest of labourers, farmers, students, youth, small traders and others, the government was brining anti-public policies. They alleged it had brought the NRC to divide society on the name of religion, caste and creed.

However, no impact of the bandh was seen in markets as shops remained open.

Even employees of various banks gathered outside the Canara Bank at the Power House road chowk in the city. They staged a protest to oppose the increasing “anti-worker” policies of the Union Government.