Commuters suffer as farmers block roads in Fatehgarh Sahib
On the call of the SKM, various farmers organisations blocked traffic on the GT Road at Sirhind, National Highway at Mandi Gobindgarh, on Sirhind-Patiala Highway at Roorkee, Sirhind-Chandigarh stretch at Badali Ala Singh, Ludhiana-Chandigarh highway at Khamano, and various link roads from 11 am to 3 pm.
Consequently, commuters had to face a lot of inconvenience and were even found imploring protesters to let them go. Long queues of vehicles were seen on the GT Road, while people condemned protesters for harassment for no fault of theirs. The police had made elaborate security arrangements to prevent any untoward incident. They also helped commuters by diverting traffic through link roads.
Addressing the gathering, various leaders of farmers organisations lashed out at the state government for failing to make adequate arrangements for the smooth procurement and lifting of procured paddy. They said that the farmers were sitting in grain markets for the last many days, but their paddy was not being procured. Besides, it was alleged that many farmers were being fleeced by private traders.
They alleged that the Centre and state governments were responsible for their condition. They said that the CM did not go to Delhi even once to sort out the problem of rice millers and commission agents, “the great hurdles in the procurement of paddy”.
