Farm, trade unions block roads; stopped from reaching Mohali
UP IN ARMS Bathinda–chandigarh and Mansa-patiala highways worst-hit; agitators raise slogans and burn effigies of state govt in Mansa
BATHINDA/BARNALA/SANGRUR/ MANSA: Hundreds of farmers and members of trade unions on Sunday blocked the Bathinda–chandigarh national highway at Bhucho Khurd and Gill Kalan after police stopped them from rallying towards Mohali in their vehicles to stage a protest against the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
As other groups marching towards Mohali got to know about police having stopped protesters at Gill Kalan, they blocked a road at Bhucho Khurd.
Protesters marched in Rampura Phul and Bhucho after ending the road blockade and burnt effigies of the Punjab government. A group of protesters was stopped at Talwandi Sabo.
As many as 11 farm and trade unions have formed Kashmiri Kaumi Sangharsh Smarthan Samiti against the abrogation of Article 370 which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir and against its bifurcation into two union territories.
District president of BKU (Ekta–ugrahan) Shingara Singh Mann said people in J&K have been imprisoned in their own homes due to restrictions imposed on them and communication has been snapped, disconnecting the state from the rest of the world. He said the Centre has been falsely claiming that the decision will result in the development of the state.
COMMUTERS LEFT HARASSED I N MANSA
In a similar protest, the Mansapatiala road was blocked at Mansa Kenchian after police stopped protesters from going ahead. Farmers lead by Ram Singh Bhainibahga, a local leader of Bharatiya Kisan Union, blocked the road from around 10am. Commuters faced a hard time for about five hours.
Farmers ended their protest after burning the effigy of chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh. Ram Singh said, “The Congress government in Punjab is doing the same as the Centre had done with Jammu and Kashmir after abrogating Article 370.”
In another protest, thousands of activists belonging to several rights organisations blocked the Chandigarh-mansa road at Sangrur’s Mehlan Chowk on Sunday.
When protesters were stopped from moving towards Mohali from Mehlan Chowk, 15 km from Sangrur town, they began to protest and raised slogans.
Members of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Bku-ugrahan), Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, Punjab Students Union (Shaheed Randhawa) Naujawan Bharat Sabha and Democratic Teacher’s Union took part in the protest.
“We were moving to Mohali but police stopped us. On one hand Rahul Gandhi is blaming the BJP for violation of human rights of Kashmiris, but on the other hand, Congress CM Amarinder Singh is stopping us from marching. The Congress is double-faced. Farmers and youth of Punjab are with the Kashmiris,” said Manjit Singh, leader BKU (Ugrahan).
BARNALA FARMERS BLOCK TRAFFIC ON NATIONAL HIGHWAY
When farmers thronging to Mohali to protest held a dharna in Badbar village on national highway were stopped by police on Sunday, they blocked the traffic and shouted slogans.
BKU Ugrahan block president, Balour Singh said, “We were going to Mohali to raise our voice in favour of Kashmiris. We were not going to create chaos there, but the government is anxious.”
Farm leader, Nazar Singh said, “Life is paralysed in Kashmir and the government may suppress our voices, in Punjab, too. The police stopped us at Sekha chowk so we are holding a dharna here.”
Superintendent of police (Investigation) Sukhdev Singh said, “Farmers cannot congregate in Mohali in view of Section 144 there. They blocked the road, so we diverted traffic.”