A Number of 172 trains cancelled by the railways, 232 mostly Vande Bharat trains were affected due to the bandh in Punjab. Around a few lakhs are expected in terms of revenue losses for the railways.
A nine-hour bandh initiated by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha-Non-Political (SKM-NP) demanded a range of issues, particularly calling for a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), effectively paralyzing Punjab on Monday.
More than 250 locations across the state witnessed roadblocks, while train services were disrupted significantly during the bandh period from 7 am to 4 pm. A total of 172 rail services, including Vande Bharat trains, faced cancellation, with an additional 232 service disruptions leading to estimated railway revenue losses in lakhs.
Industries also reported substantial financial impacts, reaching crores due to either complete shutdowns or limited operations. In light of this situation, shopkeepers and commuters expressed their frustration towards the Punjab Government for its perceived passivity amid the crisis.
Statements Of Some Trade Professionals
“We cannot allow Punjab to be characterized as a ‘protest state’. We pride ourselves on being diligent individuals who cannot jeopardize our economy,” stated Badish Jindal, convenor of the All Industries and Trade Forum.
Upkar Singh, president of the Chamber of Industries and Commercial Enterprises (CICU) said work had been obstructed because farmers set-up blockades across many roads. “Most factories could not work or could only work partially. Had the factories not been allowed to function, the people shut them down for a case of compulsion, not of their free will. The farmers and industries must be on the same page,” he expressed.
Pankaj Sharma, president of the Association of Trade and Industrial Undertakings (ATIU), condemned the bandh for the way it was conducted. “Such disruptions will have a consequent long-term effect on the state’s trade and industry. The loss incurred due to today’s bandh could be above Rs 500 crore. This disruption is on the rise in the last few years and that can affect the future investments, shaking the confidence of the investors in the state and from outside,” it said.
According to Jindal, “There have been instances, throughout their struggle, where workers of different farmer unions confronted the public: ‘It’s a new kind of terrorism that the state has allowed to happen. Trade and trade industries do not have the right to carry on their business. The state has become a mute spectator.”‘
The farmers have established blockades across many roads that obstructed work, said the president of the Chamber of Industries and Commercial Enterprises (CICU), Upkar Singh. “Most factories could not work or could only work partially. Had the factories not been allowed to function, the people would have shut them down out of compulsion, not on their own free will. The farmers and industries need to be on the same page,” he expressed.
Pankaj Sharma, president of the Association of Trade and Industrial Undertakings (ATIU), condemned the bandh for the manner in which it was conducted. “Such disruptions will have a consequent long-term effect on the state’s trade and industry. Today’s bandh alone has inflicted a loss of over Rs 500 crore. This disruption has steadily been on the rise in the last few years, and that can affect the future investments, shaking the confidence of the investors in the state and from outside,” it said.
Support from Kisan Union
Except for KMM and SKM-NP, two of the SKM constituents, Krantikari Kisan Union (KKU) and BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner), extended their support to the bandh call.
To this, the industrialist and BJP leader Gurdeep Singh Gosha stated, ”We think that the green turban is for green revolution and prosperity; but, nowadays, many union leaders wearing green turban come with some alternative agenda.”
KKU President Darshan Pal said: “Our union supported the bandh call in which our members participated in 12 districts. We have assured unconditional support to all the demands raised by the farmers who are agitating at the Shambhu border and Khanauri border.”
At Shambhu railway station, the dharna was led by Sukhwinder Kaur, general secretary of BKU Krantikari, while at Dappar Toll Plaza on NH-152 in Mohali, Baljit Kaur; woman farmer leader of BKU Krantikari, led the dharna.
KMM and SKM-NP coordinator, Sarwan Singh Pandher, was in Amritsar where the most protests took place-32 protests in total. The other areas of district Patiala, Moga, and Sangrur saw 12, 10, and 9 protests, respectively; however, Pandher maintained that they supported the call of bandh, and none had been forced to shut any of their premises.
BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner) blocked the road in around 12 places in Barnala, Sangrur, and Mansa, in support of both forums, confirmed Manjit Singh Dhaner, president of the union.
