Punjab Bandh: Farmers Stage Protests, Block Roads and Railways over Unmet Demands

Farmers across Punjab have blockaded roads and railways on Monday as part of a state-wide bandh, disrupting both commuter and freight traffic. The bandh, which began at 7 a.m. and will continue until 4 p.m., is organized by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. The protest is in response to the Centre not accepting the farmers' demands, despite months of ongoing demonstrations.

As part of the bandh, farmers staged a sit-in protest at the Dhareri Jattan Toll Plaza, disrupting traffic on the Patiala-Chandigarh National Highway. Additional protests took place near Amritsar's Golden Gate and at Rampura Phul in Bathinda, where roads were blocked. The shutdown call, issued last week by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, follows the Union Government’s refusal to accept the demands of the protesting farmers.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher clarified on Sunday that while the bandh would be observed from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., emergency services would not be impacted. "The bandh will be observed from 7 am to 4 pm. However, emergency services will remain operational. Anyone traveling to the airport to catch a flight, attending a job interview, or attending a wedding... all these things have been kept out of our bandh call," said Pander.

The farmers, who have been protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border, are demanding a legal guarantee for a minimum support price (MSP) for their crops. They are also calling for a debt waiver, pensions, no increase in electricity tariffs, the withdrawal of police cases, and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

Meanwhile, the hunger strike of 70-year-old farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal continues amid the protests. On Monday, his hunger strike entered its 35th day, with Dallewal refusing medical treatment. He has made it clear that he will not end his fast until the government agrees to the farmers' demands.

The Supreme Court has given the Punjab government a deadline of December 31 to persuade Dallewal to seek medical attention and shift to a hospital. The court also granted the state government the option to seek logistical support from the Centre if necessary.

Farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, after their attempt to march to Delhi was blocked by security forces. Despite multiple efforts, including a group of 101 farmers attempting to march to Delhi on foot between December 6 and 14, they were stopped by Haryana's security personnel.