Haryana braces for Bharat bandh today
Pradeep Sharma
Chandigarh, February 15
Normal life is set to be affected across Haryana tomorrow, with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and central trade unions calling for “Gramin Bharat Bandh” in support of their demands.
With the gramin bandh and the farmers’ protest merging on February 16, as farmers will join the nationwide “chakka jam” from 12 noon to 4 pm, traffic is likely to be hit tomorrow, inconveniencing the common man.
May affect rail services
- Traffic between 12 noon & 4 pm
- Supply of vegetables, other crops to be suspended
- Rail services may also be adversely affected
- Attendance at PM Modi’s rally likely to take a hit due to disruption of traffic
Two major farmers organisations — BKU (Charuni) and Pagdi Sambhal Jatta —threw in their lot with the farmers today and decided to make Haryana roads toll free for three hours from 12 noon to 3 pm tomorrow.
“On February 18, there will be a joint meeting of all farmers’ and labour organisations,” BKU chief Gurnam Singh Charuni said. The farmers’ organisations are demanding MSP for all crops based on the Swaminathan commission recommendations, legal guarantee of procurement, debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff and no smart meters.
The organisers have announced that though no emergency services will be affected, no farmer, agricultural worker or rural worker will work tomorrow. The supply of vegetables and other crops will remain suspended.
Traffic advisory
Commuters travelling between Chandigarh and Delhi have been advised to use the Panchkula-Barwala-Babain-Ladwa-Karnal-Panipat-Sonepat-KMP route. Travellers between Delhi and Chandigarh can use the Karnal-Indri-Ladwa-Yamunanagar-Panchkula route
Internet ban extended
In view of the farmers’ agitation and “Gramin Bharat Bandh”, the government has extended the ban on Internet services in seven districts till the midnight of February 17. The districts are Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa.
