Don't disrupt road, rail traffic: civil society members to protesters

Representatives of various social and religious organisations have urged protesters belonging to different unions of traders, industrialists, labourers, farmers, commission agents, teachers or employees not to harass the general public or commuters by blocking roads or rail traffic.

In separate statements, Dharmic Samiti convener Yogender Pal Sharma, philanthropist Kuldip Sardana, Malkiat Singh Ragbotra, Shamshan Ghat, president Vishwamitter Sharma; Shaheed Bhagat Singh Welfare Society chairman Rajeev Chahal, former Bharat Vikas Parishad president Chander Mohan Sharma, and General Samaj Manch leaders Girish Sharma, Yogesh Parbhakar and Madan Mohan Bajaj expressed their concern regarding the adverse effects of road blocks and said it was the common man who was bearing the brunt of protests.

They said the government should take immediate steps to curb the daily protests and traffic jams on roads and rail routes, especially during the festive season.

They urged the authorities to show sensitivity towards the difficulties faced by traders, shopkeepers, commuters, and pedestrians. Highlighting the plight of schoolchildren in buses, women in distress, and frustrated citizens stuck in traffic, they said people were suffering for no fault of theirs.

“There is no compassion among protesters for children, women, the elderly, or ailing people trapped in long queues of vehicles during the Monday blockade on national highways and traffic between Jalandhar and Ludhiana," they said.

Business investments worth lakhs were at stake during the festive season, as customers travelled between cities for shopping. The wedding season had also commenced, further increasing the movement of people, they stated, adding that neither the protesters nor the government seemed to be concerned about the inconvenience faced by the public.

While supporting the right to protest, they emphasised, “It is everyone's right to demand their rights, but doing so at the cost of public discomfort is not justified. Protesters will gain public support only if they consider people’s grievances, otherwise, they will face criticism.”

They also appealed to the Centre and the state government to initiate measures to provide stress-free life to residents. The government should redress problems of agitating sections of society on priority, they added.