Irate farmers hold up traffic
Tribune News Service
Mohali, September 25
Agitating farmers today blocked the Chandigarh-Ambala highway here using a harvester combine and tractors against the farm Bills, causing problems to commuters. However, the protest was peaceful as no untoward incident was reported from the district.
Several shops remain open
The bandh call given by the SAD in support of the protesting farmers evoked a mixed response. Many shops were open in various markets even as the Mohali Beopar Mandal had announced that only essential commodities shops would remain open and all other shops would observe a bandh till 4 pm. Many shops dealing in non-essentials were seen open in Mohali city.
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Over 200 farmers of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, led by Karam Singh Baroli, blocked the traffic on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway near Bhankarpur in Dera Bassi.
Reports of farmers protesting at Handesra were also received where around 80 farmers blocked the highway. They were led by Major Singh Handesra. Farmers also protested outside the Dera Bassi bus stand. Reports of protests were also received from Kurali, Kharar and Gharuan where farmers blocked the highway, disrupting traffic.
An AAP leader from Kharar, Narinder Singh Shergill, led the farmers’ protest at Kahnaur on the Kharar-Jurali road and blocked the highway.
Similarly, a large number of workers of the Youth of Punjab, under the leadership of Paramjit Singh Baidwan, along with farmers, blocked Airport Road in front of Singh Shaheedan Gurudwara in Mohali. They raised slogans against the Centre and burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The bandh call given by the SAD in support of the protesting farmers evoked a mixed response as many shops remained open in various markets even though the Mohali Beopar Mandal had announced that only essential commodities shops would remain open and all other shops would observe a bandh till 4 pm. Several shops dealing in non-essential commodities were seen open in Mohali city.
A random survey of various markets, including Phase XI, 3B2, revealed that shops dealing in readymade garments and shoes, which fall under the category of non-essential commodities, remained open. However, in Phase VII, all shops were closed except those dealing in essential items. Vineet Verma, president of the Mohali Beopar Mandal, said they were approached by farmers’ unions for support and they had given their consent and decided to close all shops except those dealing in essentials till 4 pm.
