Farmers’ bandh call cripples public transport in Mohali

Tribune News Service

Gaurav Kanthwal

Mohali, February 16

Gramin Bharat Bandh call given by farmer unions and others had a considerable impact in the rural areas of the district during the five-hour bandh period from 11 am to 4 pm. However, urban areas were not affected much by the protest.

A majority of shops had remained closed as the protesters blocked roads in Kharar, Kurali, Dera Bassi and Lalru areas for four-five hours. The public transport service remained erratic with passengers getting stranded at several bus stands till 4 pm. Many passengers were seen treading on roads looking for alternative arrangements.

Around 11 am, the farmers took control of the toll plazas in Dappar, Kurali, Azizpur and Baroudi and made these free for road users. Later on, members of the farmer unions completely blocked the road and allowed passage only to emergency vehicles.

The traffic on the main roads was sparse. At some places, such as Kharar and Mohali, long queues of vehicles were witnessed near the busy areas. The traffic near the Landran chowk, Sohana gurdwara and the Kharar bus stand had remained chaotic during the Bandh hours.

In Zirakpur and Mohali areas, farmer unions registered their protest, but traffic and business was unaffected.

Hardeep Singh Kamboj of SKM (Zirakpur) said, “The demonstration was peaceful and we made sure that commuters were not inconvenienced. Ambulances were given passage promptly.”

At the Sohana gurdwara, the protesters parked tractor-trailers, cars and bikes in the middle of the road. Commuters had to take detours to reach their destinations.

Kirpal Singh, district president of the BKU (Rajewal), said, “Today was a symbolic protest. After the meeting of the SKM and the Centre on February 18, we will decide the next course of action. We got a very good response from public today.”

In the morning, SKM leaders made announcements on roads and markets in Kharar and Kurali urging shopkeepers to keep their shutters down from 11 am to 4 pm.

In Kharar, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) parked tractor-trailers and four-wheelers on the road beneath the flyover to block the passage. However, little space was left for the movement of two-wheelers with SKM volunteers regulating the traffic along with the police.

The main highway was blocked at the Kurali light point and a protest was held at the bus stand there. A majority of shops remained closed during the bandh. Vegetable vendors, roadside eateries, small-time businesses and daily wagers had a lean day. Filling stations were operational as usual but they reported low sales.

Commuters argue with protesters

At Kharar, two women, who were in a car with a Delhi registration number, allegedly entered into a heated argument, made obscene gestures and hurled abuses at the protesting volunteers when they were not allowed to pass through the blockade. They were telling the protesters that the car driver’s mother was ill and she needed to see a doctor. At the Dappar toll plaza, a woman was seen arguing with the protesters, terming the protest a “roz ka drama”.

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