Congress leaders and workers from across the district on Saturday staged a protest at the Dakoha railway crossing for more than one hour against deteriorating law and order situation and wheat procurement crisis in grain markets in the state.
Senior leaders such as Jalandhar MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary, former ministers Chaudhary Jagjeet Singh, Avtar Henry, Amarjeet Singh Samra, PPCC general secretary Satnam Kainth, District Congress Committee (DCC) president (urban) Rajinder Beri, DCC (rural) Jagbir Singh Brar, Vikramjeet Singh Chaudhary and several others were present during the protest.
The Congress leaders chanted slogans against the Centre and the state government, which they said were responsible for the plight of farmers in grain markets. They alleged that the government led by Parkash Singh Badal is anti-farmer as it failed to take note of the grievances of the farming community.
Congress supporters protested the tardy procurement of wheat, accusing the SAD-BJP government of failing to ensure smooth and hassle-free purchase of crop.
Senior party leader Avtar Henry and Punjab Mahila Congress president Kittu Grewal had an argument after Henry mistakenly chanted “Congress Murdabad” slogan, to which Kittu objected.
{{/usCountry}}Senior party leader Avtar Henry and Punjab Mahila Congress president Kittu Grewal had an argument after Henry mistakenly chanted “Congress Murdabad” slogan, to which Kittu objected.
{{/usCountry}}In Phagwara, PPCC spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira, senior leader Joginder Singh Mann, Banga MLA Tarlochan Singh Soondh and Sultanpur Lodhi MLA Navtej Singh Cheema were present.
At Nawanshahr, MLA Guriqbal Kaur Babli and other Congress leaders stopped a diesel multiple unit (DMU) running from Jalandhar to Jaijon Doaba at the Banga railway crossing.
Several trains including the Amritsar-New Delhi Swarna Shatabdi Express, Shan-e-Punjab Express and other trains were delayed due to the protest.
Amarnath Express halted in Hoshiarpur
Congress workers on Saturday held a protest at Tanda railway station against tardy wheat procurement in the state.
The workers were led by district president Sunder Sham Arora and district in-charge Harminder Singh Gill. They gathered in large numbers on railway track in anticipation of Jammu-bound Amarnath Express but the train was halted at Cholang till the dharna was lifted which lasted for about 45 minutes. Former Union minister Santosh Chowdhary and PPCC vice president Sangat Singh Gilzian also participated.
Addressing the rally, party leaders slammed the government for not making arrangements for wheat procurement. Due to government’s lackadaisical approach, farmers suffered mental and physical harassment, they added. They also condemned the Moga incident in which a mother-daughter duo was thrown out of a bus that belonged to the ruling clan and demanded a criminal case against the bus owners.