The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the Haryana Government to lift the barricades and open the Shambhu border within a week. The border, which was allegedly blocked by protesting farmers, was heavily barricaded by the Haryana Government in order to disrupt the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ march. This order follows a petiion filed in the High Court, seeking directions to allow passing of public transport and vehicles through Shambhu.
The closing of the border had also been causing troubles for the public as the blockade had broken direct connectivity between Punjab and Shambhu. Farmers had been protesting on the NH-44 which connects New Delhi to Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. As a result, the general public and several businesses of Punjab had also been facing difficulties, driving a wedge into the economy.
Subsequently,the High Court ordered the Haryana government to remove the barricades and clear the road within a week. The High Court said that the situation at Shambhu border is peaceful. The farmers have a demand from the central government therefore, they should be allowed to go towards Delhi.
The Shambhu border has been closed for the last 5 months ever since the farmers revitalized the farmers movement. Before the Lok Sabha elections, the farmers wanted to march to Delhi to put forth their demands of MSP among others, in front of the Central Government. To stop their advance, the Haryana Police had put up 7 layers of barricading at the Shambhu border. The direct connectivity between Punjab and Haryana was broken due to the closure of Shambhu border. The traders of Ambala had also expressed their anger by closing their shops demanding the opening of Shambhu border.