Punjab Bandh: Farmers' Strike Grounds 150 Trains, See What’s Closed, What’s Open ?

Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): On Monday, December 30, multiple farmer organizations including Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM non-political) have called for a Punjab bandh to support farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for 35 days. Despite his deteriorating health Dallewal has refused medical assistance. The bandh, active from 7 am to 4 pm, highlights demands such as a minimum support price (MSP) on all crops.

While essential services like medical care will remain operational, other sectors face significant disruption. Exemptions include wedding processions, travel to airports and job interviews.

Impact Across Sectors

- **Education**: Winter holidays minimize the impact on schools. However, higher education institutions including Punjab University and Guru Nanak Dev University have rescheduled examinations.

- **Food Supply**: Truck operators’ support for the strike may disrupt fruit, vegetable and milk supplies. Milk vendors have announced a halt during the bandh hours.

- **Transportation**: Over 200 highway and link road blockades are planned. Transport services will resume only after 4 pm with railway operations severely impacted. Northern Railway has cancelled 150 trains including three Vande Bharat and three Shatabdi Express trains.

- **Fuel and LPG**: While petrol and diesel pumps are expected to remain functional LPG supply may face delays.

- **Government Offices**: Attendance could drop due to transport disruptions though offices are likely to function as usual.

Efforts by the Punjab government to provide medical assistance to Dallewal have been rejected as he fears potential forceful removal. The Supreme Court has criticized the government for failing to ensure his hospitalization.

With wide-ranging effects across transportation, food supply and public services the bandh underscores farmers' growing frustration over unaddressed demands.