Blocked highways, stalled projects; Looks like Punjab is going the same way, Bengal went in the 1960s and 70s. 

The Supreme Court of India has intervened in the ongoing protests at the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana, calling on both states to work together to resolve the situation. This decision comes after the Haryana government challenged a previous order by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had instructed the removal of barricades that have been in place since February.

The high court had ordered the removal of the barricades on an experimental basis to avoid inconvenience to the general public. However, the Haryana government has appealed against this order, arguing that removing barricades would lead to law and order issues.

The court's directions came in response to a petition filed against the sealing of the border between Punjab and Haryana.

"The miscreants were backed by the Punjab and Haryana governments and the Centre. We demand that those who tried to create a ruckus at the (protest) site should be booked and arrested," said Harigarh. 

The partial reopening, initiated late Monday night near Sadopur, comes as a welcome relief for commuters who faced significant delays and detours during the closure. 

The agitation took a grim turn last Wednesday when 21-year-old Shubhkaran from Bathinda succumbed to injuries sustained in a clash at Khanauri.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher told media persons at Shambhu that they will decide the next course of action on Friday evening.

Thousands of farmers, who began their march to Delhi on February 13, were stopped at the Haryana border, where they clashed with security personnel. The farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri points between Punjab and Haryana since then.

"With Bhagwant Mann himself of all the people - acting as the lawyer for the farmers, these negotiations were destined to fail because CM Mann had everything to gain from the failures of these talks," he said in a post on X. 

The 63-year-old Gian Singh who joined the protest just two days ago had a complaint of chest pain this morning after which he was taken to a Civil Hospital in Punjab's Rajpura, the sources informed. 

The Haryana security personnel lobbed a few tear gas shells at around 8 am on Wednesday when some farmers gathered near the barricades at the Shambhu border, the protesters claimed.