As part of a state-wide bandh, farmers in Punjab are erecting massive road and rail blockades on Monday, which would impede freight and passenger traffic. In order to pressure the central government to fulfil their demands, which include a legal guarantee for a minimum support price (MSP) for crops, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha called for the closure, which will be observed from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Important roads, including as the Kharar-Morinda Highway, Kurali Road Toll Plaza, Ambala-Delhi Highway Toll Plaza at Lalru, and Airport Road at IISER Chowk in Mohali, have been blocked by farmers. Punjab’s main thoroughfares and marketplaces were also closed. Roadblocks occurred in more than 200 locations throughout the state, resulting in major disruptions. Protesters gathered close to the Golden Gate entrance in Amritsar, and major roads were stopped in Bathinda’s Rampura Phul.
Railway services suffered as 163 trains were cancelled as a result of the farmers’ “Rail Roko Andolan,” while 19 additional trains were short-terminated, 15 short-originated, 15 delayed, and nine halted en route. Sarwan Singh Pandher, the farmer leader, has promised that the bandh did not affect emergency services like flights, medical requirements, or travel for a wedding or job interview.
About 600 police officers were stationed throughout the Mohali region of Punjab to uphold law and order, while top police officers kept a careful eye on the situation. In the meantime, the 35th day of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s hunger strike has begun. The 70-year-old Dallewal has refused medical care and promised to keep fasting until the government complies with the requests of the farmers.
The Punjab government was previously instructed by the Supreme Court to convince Dallewal to break his fast and seek medical attention, with the option to enlist the Center’s help if necessary. In addition to the MSP guarantee, farmers are calling for a pension, a debt forgiveness, an end to energy rate increases, the dismissal of police charges, and justice for the victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri tragedy in 2021.
After being halted on their march to Delhi, farmers have been camping at the Punjab-Haryana border since February 13 as part of the ongoing agitation. Haryana’s security forces prevented protesting farmers from marching on foot to the national capital earlier this month.
