Convince protesting Punjab farmers to open Shambhu border: Haryana to Centre
Haryana transport minister Aseem Goel met Union agriculture minister Shivraj Chouhan, urged him to engage in talks with the protesting farmers to convince them to open the Punjab-Haryana border to provide relief to local residents and facilitate trade
Haryana transport minister Aseem Goel has urged Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to convince protesting farmers in Punjab to lift their agitation that would lead to the opening the Shambhu border adjoining Ambala district to alleviate the difficulties faced by local people and traders.
Goel had met Chouhan in New Delhi on Tuesday. He said the farmers began their protest at Shambhu on the Haryana-Punjab border on February 13, resulting in the closure of the border since then.
This closure has caused difficulties for people, particularly traders, in conducting their business, Goel, who is the BJP MLA from Ambala City, told Chouhan, according to an official statement issued in Chandigarh.
The Haryana minister emphasised that the Centre should engage in discussions with the protesting farmers to convince them to open the border. Opening the border will provide relief to the local residents and facilitate easier business operations for traders, he said.
According to the statement, Chouhan assured Goel that the central government is serious about this issue and will take action soon.
Ambala traders observe bandh
Amid the ongoing standoff, scores of traders in Ambala observed a three-hour bandh on Wednesday to demand the opening of Haryana-Punjab border at Shambhu.
The closure since February has hit local industries and hoteliers.
Vishal Batra, the president of Wholesale Cloth Market Association, said that the Old Cloth Market, Kalka Chowk Market, Sarafa Bazaar, Dal Bazaar and Grain Market observed a total bandh.
“The Haryana-Punjab border has been closed for almost six months. Half of our sale depends on Punjab. Many traders are on verge of closure and employees are being laid off. We are in touch with the government and have decided to meet Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini soon. Local MLA Goel met the Union agriculture minister and is seeking time to meet Union home minister Amit Shah as well,” he said.
Haryana blocked highway, not us: Farmers
Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Wednesday claimed the farmers had not blocked the highway, but it was the government which had stopped their Delhi Chalo march in February by putting up barricades.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the Delhi Chalo march by farmers to press the government to accept their demands which include that the Centre should give a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops.
The farmers have been staying put at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 when their march was stopped by the security forces.
Pandher said the protest has been going on at the Shambhu border point for the last 141 days and it will continue till the demands of farmers are met.
“We have heard about the statement of Haryana transport minister. He said due to the morcha (protest) of farmers at Shambhu, the road has been blocked. During the Haryana minister’s meeting with the Union agriculture minister, he said the Centre should engage in discussions with farmers, which is a good thing. But the allegation he levelled that the highway has been blocked due to farmers’ protests is a lie. The national highway had been blocked by the Haryana and central governments by putting up barricades. We request the government that the road should be opened,” he said.