Bharat Bandh: Farmers are holding a nationwide protest against three agricultural laws
New Delhi:
As farmers protesting three controversial farm laws go on strike across India, Bharat Bandh, today to mark four months of turmoil on Delhi’s borders, rail traffic was hit this morning.
Some trains from Delhi to Chandigarh, Amritsar, Kalka, among other destinations, were canceled this morning.
Road traffic has also been affected in some parts. Demonstrations were also reported on National Highway 9 near one of the three epicenters of protests in the national capital – the Ghazipur border. Policemen have erected barricades to block the movement of protesters.
In a video message, Samkyukta Kisan Morcha leader Darshan Pal previously said that protesting farmers would also stop supplies of vegetables and milk. The Samkyukta Kisan Morcha, a body that brings together protesting unions, also called on protesting farmers to be peaceful and not engage in any kind of illegitimate debate and conflict during the bandh.
The all-India strike, which started at 6am, will continue until 6pm, farmers’ organization Samyukt Kisaan Morcha said, adding that the “bandh” will also be observed in the national capital.
“Farmers will block train tracks in various places. Markets and transport services will be closed during ” Bharat Bandh, ” chief farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal was quoted as saying by PTI news agency.
However, the Confederation of All India Traders, which claimed the representation of eight crore traders in the country, said the markets will remain open on March 26 as it does not participate in the “Bharat Bandh”, PTI reported.
The farmers’ protest on the Delhi borders began on November 26 in three epicenters: the Singhu border, Ghazipur and Tikri. Despite several rounds of consultations, the government and farmers’ agencies have failed to reach a consensus on
On January 26, when the protest completed two months, farmers staged a tractor demonstration that ended in violence when protesters invaded the iconic Mughal-era Red Fort.
(With PTI inputs)
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