Mansa: The call for a Punjab Bandh on Oct 15, given by the ‘Parwinder Jhota murder action committee’ has gotten widespread support from political parties, farmer organisations and others.Punjab Congress, Punjab BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal, Akali Dal Waris Punjab De, Shiromani Akali Dal Punar Surjit and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) have supported the call.Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh, Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, lending support to the bandh call, asked their members to support the call. Waris Punjab De, Akali Dal Punar Surjit and SAD (Amritsar) functionaries also supported the call.Farm forums Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non political), Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, BKU (Rajewal) and BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) also lent support to the bandh call. The association for recognised and private schools has also supported the bandh call.It will be the third closed day for Mansa, as the town observed a bandh on Tuesday when the anti-drug activist was killed. The town remained shut down on Wednesday when the administration and the protesters razed the home and shop of the accused in the killing. In Patiala, BKU (Ekta Sidhupur) national convener Kaka Singh Kotra said its cadres would enforce the shutdown in rural and semi-urban areas. Punjab Toll Plaza Workers Union president Darshan Singh Laddi said toll collection would be suspended and appealed to farmer and labour organisations to join the protest. Trade bodies, including Sangrur District Vyapar Mandal led by Jaswinder Singh Prince, decided to close commercial establishments, citing law-and-order concerns.
