Farmers’ protest leaves passengers stranded as buses remain off roads

Tribune News Service

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Jalandhar, February 16

The usual hustle and bustle at the bus stand was missing today. Passengers were seen waiting at the bus stand while buses stayed off roads due to the Bharat Bandh call given by farmer unions. Though passengers were finding it difficult to commute, they supported farmers for their cause.

Outside bus stand, rickshaw pullers and three-wheeler drivers were sitting idle. Jaswant Pandey, one of the rickshaw pullers, said he usually earned Rs 200 to Rs 300 till noon every day, but today no one hired his rickshaw. “It’s a tough day today,” he said.

Passengers were seen inquiring about buses at the bus stand. A family of four, including two children from Jhansi, waited with their luggage to board a bus at the bus stand.

“We have to go to Kapurthala. We have been told that buses will not ply till 4 pm. So, we will have to wait at the bus stand,” one of the woman among passengers said.

A man from Moga, who was in the city for a day wanted to go back home, but was not able to find any means of transport. He said, “It doesn’t matter if I am facing difficulty in finding a means of transport. I am also a farmer. I support farmers’ protest and stand with them.”

An elderly woman passenger, who was accompanied by her son, said they had come to the city from Talwara to buy some medicines and she wanted to go back home today. “We will wait for another few hours till buses start plying,” she said.

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