Farmers had called for a bandh a few days ago, due to which the entire Punjab will remain closed today. Railways have also cancelled 150 trains in view of this agitation.
State Band: Today the whole of Punjab will remain closed for 10 hours. This bandh has been called by 2 farmer organizations. During this time, roads, railways and shops will remain closed. Farmers want the Center to accept their 13 demands including MSP, due to which Punjab bandh was announced today. In such a situation, a call was given to keep roads, railways and shops closed from around 7 am to 4 pm today. However, emergency services will remain untouched by this bandh.
Why will there be ‘Punjab Bandh’
Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) called for this bandh in support of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal. Let us tell you that farmer leader Dallewal has been on hunger strike for about 1 month regarding his demands from the Center. Farmers have about 13 demands, which also include the demand for legal guarantee of MSP for all crops. In this call of Samyukta Kisan Morcha, farmer leaders have also put some farmer leaders on duty at different places. Along with this, farmers across the state have also been appealed to cooperate in making the bandh successful.
Educational institutions
Even before this bandh, children’s winter vacations were going on in schools, due to which schools will remain closed while Punjab University has postponed the examinations to be held on Monday in all its colleges to Tuesday. A circular was also issued by the university for this. Following this, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) Amritsar also issued an order to its campus and its affiliated colleges, stating that the UG exams scheduled to be held on December 30 will now be held on January 12, 2025.
Milk vendors, fruit and vegetable market
Milk vendors have also decided not to come on the roads in this bandh, as the effect of the bandh will be from 7 am to 4 pm, so it is practically not possible for the vendors to deliver milk by 7 am and go back home in the midst of severe cold.
At the same time, the fruit and vegetable market can also be affected by this bandh, as the roads are expected to remain closed most of the time. Also, truck operators also support this bandh. In such a situation, there will be no fresh supply in the market before 4 pm today.
Rail service
The Center has also canceled about 150 trains due to this bandh. The reason for this is that the protesting farmers will close the railway tracks at many places from 7 am to 4 pm, which will affect the movement of passenger and goods trains. In a communication sent to its divisions in Delhi, Ambala and Ferozepur, the Northern Railway has cancelled 150 trains, including three Vande Bharat Expresses – two between New Delhi and Vaishno Devi and one between New Delhi and Amb Andaura. According to officials, another Vande Bharat train running between Chandigarh and Ajmer will halt at Delhi Cantt.
Transport services
Transport services in the state will also remain shut as transport associations have extended their support to the shutdown. According to the Indian Express, Ludhiana Transport Dealers Association president J P Aggarwal said that in solidarity with the farmers, the transport associations have decided to resume services after 4 pm on Monday. The state Transport Dealers Association has also made a similar call. Private and public buses will remain off the roads as the farmer unions will hold chakka jams at over 200 places on highways and link roads. KMM and SKM (non-political) leaders have also said they will block railway tracks at 50 places.
Petrol pumps and LPG cylinder delivery
Petrol pumps and LPG delivery may remain untouched by this shutdown as it is included in emergency services. However, petrol pumps may be closed in some places from the security point of view. Also, LPG cylinder delivery may be affected due to the transport shutdown.
Government offices
Punjab State Ministerial Services Association President Peepal Singh said, “We support the farmers’ issue, but there has been no call to stop work on Monday.” However, the number of employees is expected to be less than normal as outside employees are unlikely to reach the office on Monday.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami has supported the shutdown. In a statement issued to the press, he announced that all SGPC offices in Punjab will remain closed on Monday.
What will remain open?
Emergency services will continue during this shutdown. In such a situation, no ambulance will be stopped. Medical stores will also remain open. Also, flights will continue to operate from the airport. Marriages will not be stopped and even students going to take exams will not be stopped.
DISCLAIMER
We have taken all measures to ensure that the information provided in this article and on our social media platform is credible, verified and sourced from other Big media Houses. For any feedback or complaint, reach out to us at informalnewz@gmail.com
