Amritsar, Nov 17 – Commuters on Thursday moving from Amritsar to Jammu, Pathankot Road had a harrowing time as they got stuck in long traffic jams here following a protest by a group of farmers led by the Bharti Kisan Union (Sidhupur) in support of their demands.
Farmers had blocked the Kathunangal Toll Plaza whereupon commuters were forced to adopt jig jag routs through Chawinda Devi Village via thickly narrow rough roads full of dust. It was also a tough time for the tourists who were here in Amritsar to continue their journey towards hill stations Srinagar and Himachal Pradesh.
The protesting farmers were demanding more compensation for the land acquired for national highway projects, compensation for crop damage on account of inclement weather and cancellation of cases against some farmers, among others.
The protesters blocked the Toll Plaza, which is an important link to connect Jammu, Srinagar, Himachal Pradesh, by parking their tractor trolleys on the Toll Plaza, police said.
A four-kilometer-long traffic jam could be seen due to the blockade, forcing commuters to get stuck in traffic snarls for several hours at Chawinda Devi village which is another nearby route to bypass the toll plaza.
Private Taxi and bus service were also badly affected. Some tourists, who came from other states to further, go HP or J&K were also harassed.
A tourist along with luggage was going to the railway station on foot after leaving his cab three kilometers behind due to the blockade.
Meanwhile, Kissan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee activists also held a big convention at village Abdal, where party leader Sarwan Singh Pandher has announced that their outfit would begin stir outside the Deputy Commissioners offices all over the Punjab November 26 onwards in support of their demands.
Launching a scathing attack on the Punjab Government of AAP party led by its chief minister Bhagwant Mann alleged that it made hollow promises which were never fulfilled. He alleged that Mann so far proved a non serious chief minister as he was focusing on party activities rather to watch State’s interest.
Attacking the Centre Government, said that India is going to host the G-20 Meet on Indian turf with the secret plan to hand over the natural ingredients to Corporate sectors being run by foreign sectors. Speakers in the convention said that the Centre Government has almost ruined the participation of Punjab and Haryana while appointing its own people in the BBMB which was a direct attack on the State’s right. They also demanded the implementation of Dr. Swaminathan reports for the wellbeing of farmers’ community. Speakers also demanded immediate arrest of all the accused of gun firing at Behbal Kala and Kotpaura incidents besides exemplary punishment to them. They also demanded cancellation of all police FIRs against farmers during farmers protest at Delhi border. They demanded that farmers who were cultivating their lands for the last several years should be given ownership rights forthwith.
