Punjab protest: Amritsar-Delhi highway blocked; here are the roads to avoid today

A day after a 'chakka jam' by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) left thousands of commuters stranded, farmer unions affiliated with the SKM (Non-Political), who are sitting at Shambhu and Khanauri borders, have announced to block highways across Punjab from four hours from 1 pm to protest the tardy procurement of paddy.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said both the state government and the Centre were indulging in blame game even as farmers continued to languish in mandis.

He took a jibe at Capt Amarinder Singh's visit to the grain market in Khanna saying the former CM was part of the ruling BJP government, and that instead of playing politics over the issue he should initiate talks with the Centre to get the matter resolved. He said it had been nearly a week and a team from the Centre that was scheduled to visit mandis to asses the issue of high amount of breakage of rice, particularly in PR-126 hybrid variety, had not arrived yet and the millers were reluctant to lift the crop.

Pandher said the current paddy procurement crisis would have a devastating trickle-down effect on the Punjab economy.

He said the agriculture sector brought in nearly Rs 1.5 lakh crore in the Punjab economic cycle. He said local businesses, labour and industry would be adversely affected if farmers did not get fair price for their produce.

The following roads will be blocked as part of the protest against the stalled procurement and lifting of paddy in Punjab:

1. Amritsar-Delhi highway, Phagwara, Kapurthala district

2. Badrukhan, Sangrur-Bathinda highway, Sangrur

3. Dagru, Moga-Ferozepur highway, Moga.

4. Satiali Phul, Gurdaspur Tanda highway, Gurdaspur

5. Batala railway station, Batala