Punjab’s Commercial Borders: A Tale of Blockades and Resolution
After an agonizing 13 months of blockades at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, orchestrated by Punjab's farmers,
the Punjab government finally took swift action, dismantling the temporary
structures that had obstructed the highways. To everyone's surprise, the
farmers, who had held their ground for so long, allowed the authorities to
carry out their plans with little resistance. This turn of events was
unexpected, marking the end of a standoff that had seemed endless.
This situation brings to mind a story from my village, where during the
"Janenu Dharan" (sacred thread around the neck) programme, a young
boy would race toward Kashi while his uncle (Mama) would chase him, trying to
catch him mid-run. The boy’s victory depended on his ability to keep running
until he reached his goal, while the uncle’s success hinged on catching him
while he was still in motion. If the boy ever stopped, it was seen as his
defeat. In many ways, the farmers’ protests mirrored this scenario. They were
waiting for the government to act, as there was no consensus within their own
ranks. They were tarnishing their image and, by extension, that of the
state—often referred to as the "Dharna State." Trade and commerce
were crippled. The Rajpura logistics hub came to a halt, forcing entrepreneurs
to pivot toward Ambala.
At last, common sense prevailed, bringing an end to the hardship faced by
the common man and the business community at large.
In their earlier avatar of agitation in the year 2021, they blocked the Delhi Border for 11 months and forcefully closed all Reliance Stores in Punjab. What they gained? Nothing except that it caused colossal wastage of store's material, loss of crores of revenue to the State, loss of jobs to the youth of Punjab, and deprived the landlords of earning their fair amount of rent. They also targeted Walmart stores selectively. But Wall Mart smartly chose to close its Bathinda store permanently.
Now a similar disruption is still unfolding in Mohali, where the YPS Chowk
junction has been occupied by a group of agitators for over three years. The
road that once led to the 7-phase area, lined with lush greenery, has now
become a makeshift camp for these protesters. This is especially concerning as
Phoenix Mills, a prominent real estate company, recently purchased 13.40 acres
of land here, worth Rs. 891 crores.
Hope good sense will prevail in the interest of the public of Punjab.
