JD, Left workers block traffic

CHANDIGARH, Aug 16: Hundreds of activists of the local units of the Janata Dal, Communist Party of India Marxist and the Communist Party of India held a joint rally and blocked traffic for about an hour today.

The party workers gathered in Sector 20 around 10.30 a.m. and marched towards the Sector 17 Inter-State Bus Terminus, passing through Sectors 21 and 22, and raising slogans against the Punjab government for its failure to check the rising prices and hike in bus fares.

The parties also protested against the quot;anti-poor budget of the Central government, flouting of the minimum wage policy, deteriorating law and order situation and the failure of the BJP-led coalition government on all frontsquot;. The protesters blocked the exit point of Punjab Roadways buses, which were not allowed out of the ISBT for almost an hour. The protest was, however, peaceful. The protesters dispersed past noon.