Chandigarh, Dec 30 (Reporter) Normal life came to a standstill in most parts of Punjab on Monday following a statewide bandh called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) in support of a slew of demands including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for crops. The sponsors of the bandh also expressed solidarity with Jagjit Singh Dallewal, State President of BKU (Dallewal), who is on a fast-unto-death at the Khanouri border in Sangrur. Despite the harsh winter chill and dense fog, farmers staged dharna and blocked vehicular traffic at multiple locations, causing significant inconvenience to commuters. Most of the shops in urban and rural areas were closed, while government offices and institutions remained largely deserted. A group of farmers, led by Onkar Singh, State General Secretary of the Kisan Mazdoor Hitkari Sabha, staged a sit-in at the rail-road crossing near Adda Bhangla on the Jalandhar-Jammu rail section. Vehicular traffic was brought to a halt at several key points, including Bhangala, Hajipur Chowk, Dasuya, Bijli Ghar Chowk, Tanda on the Jalandhar-Pathankot National Highway following the sit-in protests. Farmers also staged dharna and blocked state highways and link roads, affecting traffic at Tanda Turn, Sarhala Turn, Garhdiwala, Adda Saran, Main Chowk (Mahilpur), Canal Bridge, Kot Fatuhi, T-Point Bullowal, Pur Hiran Bypass, Tanda Chowk, Singriwala Bypass, and Chandigarh Bypass Chowk in Hoshiarpur. Additional blockades were reported at village Biala, Adda Lachowal, Beas Bridge, Rarra on the Tanda-Sri Hargobindpur road, and Adda Phuglana, Adda Bhunga, Adda Dosarka, T-point Hajipur, T-Point Harse Mansar, and Main Chowk in Chabbewal. Addressing the protesters at Bijli Ghar Chowk in Tanda, Paramjit Singh Bhulla, District President of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, thanked shopkeepers and residents for their support in making the bandh a success. He reiterated demands for the implementation of assurances made during the Delhi farmers’ agitation, including MSP for all crops, loan waivers, and withdrawal of cases registered against farmers. According to official sources, the bandh is peaceful and no untoward incident has been reported from any part of the district. Bus and rail services remained completely suspended whole day. The Northern Railway cancelled 106 mail, express and superfast trains in Punjab. Hundreds of rail passengers remained stranded in waiting halls of railway stations in Phagwara, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar. Vegetable and grain markets also remained closed. Moreover most of the Banks remained shut inconveniencing people during the marriage season as no one was able to operate their bank lockers. The members of The Revenue Patwar Union Punjab, PRTC Employees Union and even Punjab Roadways did not work today to express solidarity with the farmers. The Bar Associations has strongly condemned the Governments for not initiating steps to solve the problems of farmers...////...