PHAGWARA: Vehicular road traffic between Jalandhar and Ludhiana remained badly suspended/ disrupted due to “Road Blockade” for three hours near Dhannowali Rail Crossing, Phagwara Sugar Mill Chowk and Phillaur on Sunday. Though traffic was being diverted via link roads of the villages but Long Queues of vehicles were seen standard in the Jam.
In Phagwara as per proposed program the more than 300 farmers and Arthiyas belonging to Bhartiya Kisan Union(Doaba) and Arthiya Association Phagwara led by BKU Gen.Sect Satnam Singh Sahni and Naresh Bhardwaj(President Arthiya Association Phagwara) blocked vehicular road traffic at G.T. Road (Ludhiana-Jalandhar side) for three hours ie 12 noon to 3PM in front of Golden Sandhar Sugar Mill Phagwara in resentment against non lifting of Paddy from Shellers by the Punjab Government.
They organised a protest program at GT road and raised slogans against the Punjab and Central Government.
Farmers leaders also raised the issue of non-payment of the arrears of cane growers by Phagwara Sugar Mill but mainly during blockade, They criticised the State government for not taking appropriate steps before hand for making space for paddy in shellers for the upcoming season. They alleged that paddy is not being lifted from Mandis due to lack of space at rice shellers.
Due to the lack of efforts by the State Government the farmers are getting harassed at Mandis.
Both Sahni and Bhardwaj warned the government that if paddy could not be lifted from shellers at fast pace then a stringent protest program would be given by farmers and Arthiya Association in the coming days.
They criticised Punjab Govt. and considered it failure of CM Punjab for taking appropriate measures for making space in the shellers before starting of Paddy season. They further alleged that Punjab Govt. is being run from Delhi, they commented that recent appointed Advisors are not from Punjab thus Punjab would be run by outsiders.
They further charged that Central Government is taking revenge from farmers for the protest at Delhi borders. They demanded that Central Government should intervene in the matter immediately and start special trains for lifting of paddy. They demanded Punjab Government should take swift actions for lifting of Paddy, and ensure smooth purchasing of paddy at Mandis of Punjab.