Thaindian News

Chandigarh, Dec 8 (IANS) Road and railway traffic was affected in various parts of Punjab Thursday as hundreds of farmers blocked railway tracks and highways to press their demands, including waiver of loans and electricity bills.

Railway passengers were stranded at various railway stations and road commuters had to take diversions to reach their destinations.

The protesting farmers are demanding that their loans be waived off, all power supply to the farm sector be made free, farm labour be charged domestic rates for electricity, and allotment of plots be made to farm labour.

Railway officials said train services on the Ambala-Bathinda-Ganganagar railway route were affected, with some trains being cancelled and others being diverted. Passengers were stranded at the Bathinda, Barnala and Rampura Phul stations, railway officials said.

Trains on the Amritsar-Jalandhar sector were also affected.

Farmers blocked National Highway (NH) No.1 between Amritsar and Jalandhar at the Beas bridge, 40 km from Amritsar. They have been agitating on this highway since Wednesday.

The railway tracks between Jalandhar and Amritsar were also blocked by farmers.

The farmers also held a protest near Rose Garden in Chandigarh Thursday.

“We want the government to listen to our demands immediately. Farming has become a loss-making profession,” said farmer Ajmer Singh, who is agitating near Beas town.