Chandigarh, Dec 30 (NationPress) The protest initiated by farmer groups witnessed significant participation across Punjab on Monday, advocating for their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Nonetheless, emergency services remained operational.

More than 200 trains were disrupted, including services like Vande Bharat and Shatabadi, while private bus operators also participated in the protest.

The protest was organized in support of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for over a month, urging the implementation of farmers' demands.

Farmers, including women and elderly members, took to the streets, compelling shops to close and preventing motorists from proceeding. Major national highways in various cities and towns were blocked, severely affecting the movement of daily commuters and office workers.

The nine-hour protest was set to last until 4 p.m. However, there were no reports of any major incidents, as police advised motorists to avoid travel or use alternative routes.

Reports indicated that shops and businesses were closed in areas such as Mohali, Patiala, Ludhiana, Moga, Ferozepur, Bathinda, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, and others. The shutdown was particularly effective in rural regions, where farmers, brandishing their flags, blocked nearly all roads.

With private bus services joining the strike, most of the private buses were off the roads in Punjab. A number of schools and offices declared a holiday due to the protest.

In Chandigarh, the effects of the shutdown were not observed.

Protesting farmer unions announced last week that they had secured support from various employee unions, traders, and transporters for their Punjab shutdown on December 30.

Criticizing the central government for ignoring the farmers' demands, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher clarified that emergency services, airport-bound passengers, and students attending exams would be exempt from the protest.

“Essential services such as medical care will proceed, airport travelers will not be halted, and wedding party vehicles will also be allowed through. Furthermore, students will be permitted to attend their exams. We urge everyone in Punjab, especially the youth, to adhere to the forum's decisions,” he conveyed to the media.

Farmers have been stationed at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, advocating for their long-standing demands. In addition to the legal MSP for crops, they are also seeking loan waivers and reforms to enhance conditions in the agricultural sector.

Another farmers' union, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), has requested an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu to discuss their issues.

The SKM expressed their desire to address the situation surrounding farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s hunger strike and other urgent matters, including the establishment of a National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing.

Meanwhile, Dallewal’s hunger strike has reached its 35th day as of Monday.

A delegation, led by retired Additional Director General of Police Jaskaran Singh, met with Dallewal on Sunday evening in an attempt to persuade the fasting leader to conclude his strike, but the efforts were unsuccessful.