Farmers Movement Archive

Markets to remain open during chakka jam

Jalandhar, November 4Even as the farmer organisations have announced to hold chakka jam tomorrow from 11.30 am to 4 pm, the city markets will remain open throughout the day.The market associations have said that they have been conveyed by the farmer associations to continue to operate as they do not want them to suffer any losses during the ongoing festive season. Police officials, too, said chakka jam would be confined only to the highways and there would not be any inconvenience to residents moving around for their work within the city.Leaders of the Sikh Talmel Committee and the Bharatiya Kisan Union held a meeting at Ali Puli Mohalla here where Mandeep Singh, president of the district committee of BKU, announced that the farmers did not want to cause any losses to traders and shopkeepers owing to the protest and that they should continue to operate like a routine tomorrow.Sikh Talmel Committee members, including Tejinder Singh and Harpal Singh Chadha, said traders would support the farmers by their representation during the dharna at PAP Chowk and were thankful to the farmers for allowing them to keep their shops open tomorrow.Kamal Chauhan and Jatinder Pal Singh, members of the Jalandhar Two-Wheeler Dealers’ Association, said they would support the farmers tomorrow but would keep the markets open.The central point of the farmers’ chakka jam would be the PAP Chowk which connects Jalandhar to Ludhiana, Amritsar, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr and Chandigarh. The entire police force in Jalandhar has been deployed to ensure that commuters are not harassed and that they are able to follow the diverted routes so as to reach their destinations.Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Bhullar said, “The farmers have specified that the markets can remain open. So, there is a great sense of relief in the shopkeepers and market associations. The main thrust area of the city police will be the PAP Chowk and our teams have already been deployed to divert traffic via alternate routes.” Amit Sehgal, president, Jalandhar Electrical Traders’ Welfare Association, and Buta Singh Sachdeva of Sheikhan Bazaar said all shopkeepers would keep their shops open.Ravi Kumar, SP (Headquarters), Jalandhar Rural Police, said, “Our teams will be patrolling tomorrow along the highways to ensure that commuters do not get stuck anywhere.”Meanwhile, cops have also strengthened security around the residences of BJP leaders so as to ensure that they do not step out during the farmer agitations. Political leaders from the SAD, the Congress and AAP are expected to reach out to the farmers to offer support.

The Tribune

2020-11-05