Farm Bills row: Punjab, Haryana farmers extend 'rail roko' stir till Sept 19. Here's what happened so far

Farmers in Punjab and Haryana on Friday took to the streets in protest against the contentious farm Bills passed by Parliament recently. Farmers' protest | What Happened So Far Agitating farmers blocked roads, including national highways, to press the Centre for the withdrawal of the legislation, which are yet to get the assent of the President. Krantikari Kisan Union president Darshan Pal said they received an “unprecedented” response from every section of society Buses of state-owned Pepsu Road Transport Corporation remained off road in Punjab as 31 farmers' bodies came together for a complete shutdown of the state Among farmers' unions supporting the 'bandh' were the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Kirti Kisan Union and factions of the Bharatiya Kisan Union Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh expressed hope that the pain of the farmers, who "braved the COVID pandemic and the heat to protest the agriculture Bills”, will reach the Centre and it will gracefully back off from “destroying” the farm sector While the ruling Congress and AAP supported the protest, the Shiromani Akali Dal held a 'chakka jaam' at many places in Punjab Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal drove a tractor while his wife and former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal sat beside him in Muktsar district Farmers at several places in the state started gathering on roads to stop the movement of traffic in the morning A protest was held at Shambhu barrier near Ambala-Rajpura border with protesters including Punjabi artistes Women protesters under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee took out a protest march in Amritsar In Barnala, a tractor was set on fire by protesters against the farm bills Punjab farmers blocked several roads, including the Sangrur-Patiala, Chandigarh-Bathinda and Ambala-Rajpura-Ludhiana and Moga-Ferozepur roads In Haryana, commercial establishments and transport were not affected though some grain markets wore a deserted look Farmers held protests at several places and blocked a few roads, including Karnal-Meerut national highway, disrupting vehicular traffic for some time. They also blocked the Rohtak-Jhajjar and Delhi-Hisar roads Police personnel in strength were deployed across the state to maintain law and order The protesters expressed apprehension that the Centre's farm reforms would pave a way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system and they will be at the "mercy" of big corporates The Essential Commodities Bill, the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce Bill, and the Farmers Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill were passed by Parliament recently.