Chandigarh: Farmers’ march led to chaos on the roads near Matka Chowk

Chandigarh: The city witnessed a massive protest by farmers today, the first such massive agitation in the last 15 years. Hundreds of farmers arrived early in the morning at the Sector 34 Carnival Ground, which was chosen by the UT administration over the Sector 25 rally ground. Here, they protested against the Punjab and Central governments over their unfulfilled demands. Their demands include protecting Punjab water from further depletion and contamination, providing canal water for drinking, strengthening cooperatives, ensuring guaranteed gainful employment, loan waiver, etc. Local residents were inconvenienced due to the protest. Schools located nearby were either closed or their timings were changed. Traffic was moving at a very slow pace near the protest site. Employees of most offices located in the area opted to work from home. After addressing the gathering, farmer leaders held a meeting with local officials and decided to take out a foot march by around 1,000 protesters at 3 pm. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait also arrived at the venue and interacted with the farmers. The first session of the farmers’ protest was held at the rally pandal (tent), followed by a foot march in the afternoon. Members of the BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) and Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, who reached the site on Sunday, are likely to stay here till September 5. BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan), along with BKU (Rajewal), Kirti Kisan Union, BKU Dakaunda and BKU Lakhowal joined today’s protest. Various roads were blocked when the farmers’ 8-km march started from Old Labour Chowk and passed through Sector 18 Road, Bus Stand Chowk, Sector 16 Cricket Stadium Chowk and ended at Matka Chowk in the presence of heavy police force. “The UT administration should not have allowed this protest in the middle of the city. This huge crowd of vehicles proves that this decision of the authorities was wrong,” said Ashuman, a resident of Sector 35. Heavy police force, including personnel of Punjab Police Rapid Action Force, Central Reserve Police Force and Chandigarh Police barricaded the area to prevent the protesters from going beyond the designated spot.

The protesters remained there for nearly two hours before Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian arrived there and accepted their memorandum. After handing over the memorandum to the minister, the protesters left for the Sector 34 site in CTU buses. Traffic remained blocked for two hours. “This could have been avoided. Madhya Marg has heavy traffic in the evening and it was really disturbing to see the entire route blocked. This route also leads to two hospitals. The minister could have received the memorandum at the Sector 34 protest site,” said Navdeep, a commuter. Carnival venues look deserted Two carnivals being held in nearby grounds were hit by the protest. The organisers claimed that the footfall suddenly dropped to almost zero on Sunday evening and there was no business on Monday as well. Rakesh Sood, one of the organisers, said, “We are paying a rent of Rs 1 lakh per day for organising this carnival for the next five months. We have a total staff of 150 people. We stopped the carnival as soon as the farmers reached here. I am not against anyone, but we demand some compensation from the UT administration or the municipal corporation.”

Carnivals affected

Two carnivals being held in a nearby ground were affected by the protest. The organisers claimed that the number of people suddenly dropped to almost zero on Sunday evening and there was no business on Monday as well. Rakesh Sood, one of the organisers, said, “I am not against anyone, but we demand some compensation from the UT administration or the municipal corporation.”