Punjab: Civil society members told protesters

Punjab: Representatives of various social and religious organisations have urged protesters belonging to various associations of traders, industrialists, labourers, farmers, commission agents, teachers or employees not to trouble the general public or commuters by blocking road or rail traffic. In separate statements, Dharmik Samiti convener Yogendra Pal Sharma, social worker Kuldeep Sardana, Malkiat Singh Ragbotra, Shamshan Ghat chairman Vishwamitra Sharma, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Welfare Society president Rajiv Chahal, Bharat Vikas Parishad former president Chandra Mohan Sharma and General Samaj Manch leaders Girish Sharma, Yogesh Prabhakar and Madan Mohan Bajaj expressed their concern about the adverse effects of road blockades and said it is the common man who is bearing the brunt of the protests. They said the government should take immediate steps to prevent daily protests and traffic jams on roads and rail routes, especially during the festive season.

They urged the authorities to show sensitivity towards the hardships of traders, shopkeepers, commuters and pedestrians. Highlighting the plight of school children in buses, women in distress and frustrated citizens stuck in traffic, he said people were suffering for no fault of theirs. “The protesters have no compassion for children, women, elderly or sick people stuck in long queues of vehicles during the blockade on national highways and traffic between Jalandhar and Ludhiana on Monday,” he said. Business investments worth lakhs were at stake during the festive season, as customers were travelling between cities for shopping. He said the wedding season has also begun, further increasing the movement of people. He said neither the protesters nor the government were concerned about the inconvenience of the public. Supporting the right to protest, he stressed, “It is everyone’s right to demand their rights, but it is not fair to do so at the cost of public discomfort. The protesters will get public support only if they consider the grievances of the people, otherwise they will have to face criticism.” He appealed to the Centre and the state government to take steps to provide a stress-free life to the residents. He said that the government should solve the problems of the agitating sections of the society on priority basis.