Chandigarh, February 16: Expressing solidarity with the protesting farmers, the employees of state-owned Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS and private public transport bus operators in Punjab on Friday went on strike, leaving many commuters stranded as over 5,000 buses stayed off the roads. The impact of the shutdown, named ‘Bharat Bandh’, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. was also seen in neighbouring Haryana as shops and commercial establishments stayed closed. Bharat Bandh: Delhi Police on High Alert, Security Beefed Up
Petroleum dealers in Punjab closed filling stations to back the call for the shutdown. The activists of several farmer associations were seen asking traders at several places in the AAP-ruled Punjab to keep their shops and business establishments closed to mark the protest. Farmer leaders said they would block key roads and occupy toll plazas during the shutdown. Traders to Continue Their Business Operations Amidst Bharat Bandh Called by Farmers
Bharat Bandh Today
#BharatBandh | Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) in #Punjab has been affected
As per the PRTC officials, contractual employees are participating in the nationwide Bandh
(reports @karamprakash6)
Track updates on #FarmersProtest https://t.co/zqHpb2gqAY pic.twitter.com/3LCp1guCwy
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) February 16, 2024
VIDEO | Farmers’ ‘Gramin Bharat Bandh’: Bus services remain shut in Moga, Punjab.
“Trade unions announced the strike for February 16 earlier. The government should have made the arrangements because people are worried. They (trade unions) have justified demands and the… pic.twitter.com/jnUfvBPdLe
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 16, 2024
Reports of total shutdown of shops and other establishments were received from Patiala, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Moga, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and other places. Sufficient security arrangements were made in both the states to prevent any untoward incident, said a senior police official here. People, especially women, faced inconvenience across the state due to the strike. Many passengers said they had to opt for taxis to reach their destinations.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 16, 2024 11:22 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).