Bharat Bandh: The 10-hour pan-India bandh, called by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha to mark the first anniversary of farmers’ protest against the farm laws, showed its impact in Delhi and the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana. The protests by farmers and various other organisations have led to blockage of national highways, state highways, link road and railway tracks in Punjab Haryana. Road and rail traffic has been severely hit in both the states and several trains have been cancelled.
The bandh will be held from 6 in the morning to 4 in the evening during which all government and private offices, educational and other institutions, shops, industries and commercial establishments as well as public events and functions will be closed throughout the country. However, all emergency establishments and essential services, including hospitals, medical stores, relief and rescue work and people attending to personal emergencies will be exempted.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait has termed the increase in the purchase price of sugarcane announced by the Uttar Pradesh government as a "big joke" on farmers. "The hike of Rs 25 per quintal is not acceptable to farmers" It is a big joke by the Uttar Pradesh government on the farmers," Tikait said in a statement issued by BKU media in-charge Dharmendra Malik.
His remarks have come in the wake of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announcing a Rs 25 per quintal hike in the purchase prices of sugarcane in the state taking it to Rs 350 per quintal.
I can understand their situation. This is a farmers' issue, Congress will protest on streets. If farmers ask us to leave from here, we will go back. We have come here for farmers, there is no political agenda: Delhi Congress chief Anil Chaudhary
We told him that we thank him for his support during Bandh but ours is an apolitical protest platform. We announced earlier that we won't allow political parties on our platform. So we requested him to protest a little distant from our site. We're not opposing: Praveen Malik, BKU
"We are hopeful that this time (Bharat Bandh) the government will listen to our demands," says BKU leader Rakesh Tikait.
Left activists blocked roads and railway tracks across West Bengal on Monday in support of the Bharat Bandh, while normal life remained largely unaffected in the state. In Kolkata, CPM members blocked roads at College Street, Jadavpur and Shyambazar Five-Point Crossing but were swiftly removed by the police.
Autorickshaws and taxis plied normally and shops were open in the national capital on Monday, with their unions and associations extending only "in-principle support" to the Bharat Bandh called by farmers but deciding not to join the strike.
Owing to the Bharat Bandh call by farmers on Monday, trains have been cancelled and affected in Delhi, Ambala and Firozpur divisions as protests continue to sit on railway tracks. More than 20 locations have been blocked in Delhi. At least 14 trains were cancelled and 4 terminated in the Firozpur division.
Train operations affected in Delhi, Ambala and Firozpur divisions as people are sitting on railway tracks. More than 20 locations are being blocked in Delhi division. About 25 trains affected in Ambala and Firozpur divisions: Northern Railway
Delhi police has closed traffic movement on the Ghazipur border. Traffic movement is also restricted at NH 24 and NH 9.
Farmers have started protesting at over 350 places in Punjab. Under this, national highways, state highways and link roads have been affected, bringing road traffic to a halt. Railway stations have also become dharna sites, reports The Indian Express.
Railway tracks have been blocked at Bahadurgarh railway station.
Highways and rail tracks have been heavily blocked in Haryana, with highways blocked at 25 places alone in the Jind district, reports The Indian Express.
The farmers of the country do not endorse the three farm laws brought in a hurry by the Centre, and are sad about it. They have been protesting for the past 10 months in the country and aggressively, especially around Delhi. They have given the call of 'Bharat Bandh' and BSP supports its peaceful organising.": Mayawati
Protesting farmers in Haryana have blocked several highways and rail tracks. The highways currently blocked are: Patiala National Highway near Jind and Chandigarh-Hisar National Highway. Several roads have also been blocked in the Fatehabad district.
Ambulances, doctors or those going for an emergency can pass through. We've not sealed down anything, we just want to send a message. We appeal to the shopkeepers to keep their shops closed for now and open only after 4pm. No farmer is coming here from outside: Rakesh Tikait, BKU
Farmer organisations' Bharat Bandh call today against the three farm laws | "Entry/exit for Pandit Shree Ram Sharma has been closed," tweets Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
The SKM said although all political parties have been asked to support Monday’s strike, none of them, or their representatives, will be given space on the farmers’ stage. They can set up their own stages in support of the farmers.
Delhi-Amritsar National Highway on Monday was blocked at Shahabad in Haryana's Kurukshetra by protesting farmers, agitating against farm laws, ANI reports.