Farmers in Punjab have declared a statewide bandh on Monday, December 30, 2024, which is expected to paralyze daily life across the state. Shops will remain closed, and both road and rail services will be severely disrupted. However, emergency services, including ambulances and urgent vehicles, will continue to operate without obstruction.

The bandh, which has gained the support of various trade and labor organizations, will also stop the supply of essential goods like milk, fruits, and vegetables until Monday evening. The strike has garnered solidarity from a broad spectrum of workers, including local traders, transporters, and employees, amplifying the impact of the protest.

Protest leaders have announced that from 7 am to 4 pm, roads and railway lines will be blocked as part of a chakka jam. They have urged both government and private institutions to remain shut for the duration of the protest. Only vehicles with critical needs, such as ambulances, wedding processions, and those facing emergencies, will be permitted to pass.

The call for the bandh was issued by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, two key farmer organizations leading the ongoing protests. Sarwan Singh Pandher, a senior leader of these groups, emphasized that the bandh has united various unions, including those representing traders, transport workers, ex-servicemen, teachers, and Sarpanches, demonstrating broad-based support for the farmers’ cause.

The protests have been ongoing since February 13, when farmers set up camp at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana after their march to Delhi was halted by security forces. Despite enduring hardships, the farmers remain resolute in their demands, and this bandh represents a significant escalation of their efforts to press for change.