Bandh call evokes partial response

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 25

The city witnessed partial bandh today. While a few markets were completely shut, the others were partially open. By noon, many shopkeepers started opening shops in areas such as Ghumar Mandi, Dandi Swami, Model Town, etc.

The call for Punjab Bandh was given by farmer unions and political parties in protest against farm-related Bills brought in by the Modi government at the Centre.

The markets in interior parts of the city, including Bhadaur House, AC Market and Akalgarh Market, were totally shut today while a few shops of eatables, daily commodities, vegetables and fruits, medicines, etc, were open at Chaura Bazaar, Field Ganj, Ghumar Mandi and Sarabha Nagar.

Gunjit Singh, who runs a medical store in Ghumar Mandi, said not all shops were shut. Around 12:30 pm, shopkeepers started coming to their shops and a majority of them opened their stores. “We are in favour of farmers, who are filling our stomach. But none forced us to shut out shops. Shopkeepers opened shops late at their own will,” he said.

At the same time, industry worked as normal. The factory premises remained open in industrial areas, focal points, Janakpuri and Sundarnagar areas.

Pankaj Sharma, general secretary of CICU, thanked the authorities for letting the industry run operations. Sharma said it was good that the industry was not asked to shut down today. “We are coming back on track and even one-day closure would cost us dear. Though the Punjab Bandh call was given in favour of farmers, we were not forced to shut the units,” he said.

LIP leaders block road

Meanwhile, leaders of the Lok Insaaf Party and workers blocked the road at Dhandari Chowk. Party chief and MLA Simarjeet Singh Bains and MLA Balwinder Singh Bains led the protest against the farm Bills. Simarjeet said the Central Government must withdraw the agriculture Bills at the earliest. Farmers, labourers, arhtiyas and others participated in the protest. Bains said: “With the implementation of this law, the farmers will become bonded labourers in their own fields and will be forced to sow only those crops which corporate houses will want them to,” he added.