Due to the current farmers' protest, Punjab is experiencing a severe diesel and cylinder petrol shortage. According to reports quoting government officials, blockages and safety concerns are severely affecting Punjab's supply of fuel and LPG petrol.
Fuel supplies in Punjab and Haryana have been disrupted as a result of the farmers' "Delhi Chalo" march. There was a 50% decrease in diesel dispatches and a 20% reduction in petrol dispatches to Punjab as a result of chaotic conditions at the Punjab-Haryana border.
Since February 13, farmers in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh have been protesting to put pressure on the government to address their 12 demands, which include the implementation of the Swaminathan report and legislation for the minimum support price (MSP), procurement prices, and other issues.
To maximize their profit, petroleum dealers in Punjab announced on February 22 that they would be closing all petrol stations and pumps throughout the state. As a result, lengthy lines were seen outside fuel stations in places such as Ludhiana the day before, as many resorted to panic buying.
In addition, on February 15, the dealers declared their protest by refusing to buy petrol from oil corporations. This action affected the common public's access to fuel throughout the state
The Farmer’s Protest
Farmers are calling for legal assurances of a minimum support price (MSP), which acts as a safety net for the agriculture sector. They argue that farmers' margins may be protected by making MSP a legal requirement. They also want the cases that were filed during the 2020–21 protests to be dismissed. Their demands include debt forgiveness, exit from the World Trade Organisation, and farmer pensions.
Around 14,000 people gathered at the Delhi-Haryana and Haryana-Punjab borders, escorted by thousands of vehicles, to express solidarity with the farmers.
Image Source: X(Twitter)/multiple sources
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