Farmers Movement Archive

Commuters stranded for hours as farmers protest

Various factions of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) today blocked roads, causing inconvenience to commuters, who were held up in traffic jams for hours at various places in the district.Though farmers’ unions had announced a four-hour blockade of the national highway from noon to 4 pm in advance, many people moved out of their houses, causing traffic jams. However, the police managed to divert the traffic at several places.Massive jams, no untoward incidentDue to the farmers’ protest, massive traffic jams were witnessed in Kharar and Zirakpur, where long queues of vehicles were seen for nearly four hours. However, no untoward incident was reported and the protest passed off peacefully.The protest was held in response to a nationwide call by the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) against the farm Bills passed by Union Government. The farmers held a chakka jam and blocked major roads and highways at five places in Mohali district.Massive traffic jams were witnessed in Kharar and Zirakpur, where long queues of vehicles were seen for nearly four hours. However, no untoward incident was reported and the protest passed off peacefully.Farmers’ unions, led by Davinder Singh Dehkalan, district president, BKU (Lakhowal), Ravinder Singh Dehkalan, district president, BKU (Sidhupur), Azaib Singh Ghaduan, vice-president, Gian Singh Dhadak, general secretary, Balbir Singh Musafir, president, Mohali Kul Hind Kisan Sabha, and Kuldeep Singh, president, Mohali CITU, blocked the road in Kharar for an hour before dispersing.The protesting farmers also burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, showing their opposition towards the three farm Bills passed by the Centre. Naib Tehsildar Puneet Bansal, DSP Manjeet Singh and DSP Rupinderjit Kaur, along with a police party, managed to persuade the protesters to lift the blockade. The police diverted the traffic from Kurali towards Mullanpur so that commuters could reach Chandigarh and Mohali without facing much inconvenience.Traffic jams were witnessed on the Banur-Kharar and Kharar-Landran highways and also on the Ambala-Chandigarh highway near Lalru. The police had diverted the traffic coming from the Ambala side on the Jharmari-Naraingarh road, while the traffic coming from the Chandigarh side was diverted on the Lalru- Handesra road to avoid any inconvenience to the commuters.The protesters blocked highways at Lalru, Zirakpur, Banur, Amb Sahib Gurdwara, Kharar bus stand and the Landran road at the Badala T-point in Kharar.The kisan union, led by Manpreet Singh Amlala, vice-president, The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal), and Karam Singh Baroli, along with 125 to 150 supporters, blocked the Ambala-Chandigarh highway at Lalru.Protests were also held at the Singhpura crossing in Zirakpur, near the toll plaza in Banur and the Airport road at Amb Sahib Gurdwara in Sohana, Mohali.

The Tribune

2020-11-06

Mohali