Punjab farmers bandh peaceful

February 19, 2008

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The day-long bandh call given by around 17 pro-kisan organisations seeking waiving off debt and opposing privatisation of state electricity board passed of peacefully in Punjab.

Several farmers’ organisations are protesting the Government’s proposed move to privatise the state electricty board, put up toll plazas under the Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) schemes and sale of public property to generate revenue and demanding waving off Rs 26000 crore debt on state peasantry.

To lodge protest, farmers owing allegiance to Kirti Kisan Union, Bharti Kisan Union, Kisan Sangarsh Committee, Bharti Kisan Committee, Punjab Nirman Sabha, Naujwan Bharat Sabha, Paendu Mazdoor Union and Kranti Kisan union among others blocked vehicular traffic at several places on the national and state highways for about two hours, officials said here.

However, during the bandh call no untoward incident was reported from any part of the state, they said.

Activists of several kisan organisations staged dharnas in the middle of roads at several places across the state, putting commuters to lot of inconvenience.

However, the bandh failed to evoke any response in the cities as all commercial establishments remained opened throughout the day.

At several places, the traffic was diverted in advance by the authorities.

Reports of traffic blockades have been received from Kapurthala, Jalanndhar, Phagwara, Muktsar, Ferozepur, Bathinda, Moga and Faridkot.

Source: hindu.com