Farmers' Punjab bandh cripples normal life in state; rail, bus service suspended

New Delhi: Normal life crippled in Punjab on Monday following day-long 'bandh' called by farmers pressing for various demands including a legal guarantee of a minimum support price for their crops.

The bandh between 7 am to 4pm called by various farmers associations passed off peacefully. Buses and other vehicles remained off the roads and rail operations hit across the state while shops and establishments were also shut down.

Amid a harsh winter chill and dense fog at some places, farmers staged 'dharnas' on several roads and highways including in Patiala, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Bathinda, and Pathankot hitting the traffic movement.

The call for the statewide shutdown was given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha over the Centre not acting on the farmers' demand for a legal guarantee for the MSP.

The bandh was also in support of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal (70) who has been on a fast-unto-death at Khanauri border protest site over the non-fulfilment of the demands. His health has deteriorated during the fast which has completed 35 days.

After the bandh, Dallewal in a video message said the Centre should pay attention to their demands.

Farmers, under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces.

Separately, as the Supreme Court's deadline to shift Jagjit Singh Dallewal to a hospital is fast approaching, the Punjab government on Monday intensified its efforts to persuade the fasting farmer leader to take medical aid which he again declined.

Over the past few days, a state government's team led by former additional DGP Jaskaran Singh has made several attempts to convince Dallewal, whose indefinite hunger strike entered 35th day on Monday, to take medical help, but he has refused.

The apex court recently gave the Punjab government time until December 31 to persuade Dallewal to shift to a hospital, granting the state the liberty to seek logistical support from the Centre, if necessary.

On Monday, Jaskaran Singh again met Dallewal at the Khanauri protest site.