In the view of the Bharat Bandh called today by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a coalition of farmers’ unions, rail and road transport has been affected across India. The farmers' unions called for a nationwide shutdown today for 12 hours from 6 am to 6 pm to mark four months of the farmers protesting three agricultural laws by the central government.
The "Bharat Bandh" strike has disrupted rail and road transportation services across the country and markets also remained closed in some parts of the country. However, the strike is not being observed in four poll-bound states and the union territory of Puducherry.
Punjab: Protestors blocked Chandigarh-Ambala highway during the 12 hour long ‘Bharat Bandh' called by Samyukt Kisan Morcha in SAS Nagar pic.twitter.com/68t3fBkON0
— ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2021
The country-wide strike has been called in protest against the three contentious farm laws enacted recently by the government. Farmers have been protesting against the three agricultural laws by staging a sit-in along Delhi's borders-Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur since over four months now. They demand a complete repeal of the farm laws and a legal guarantee that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) will continue.
All the talks between the farmers’ unions and the centre over the bills have failed to reach a conclusion and resolve the stalemate. The protesting farmers mainly fear that the new farm laws will dismantle MSP and corporatise farming.
Bharat Bandh: Road, Rail blockade across India
• Four Shatabdi trains were cancelled and 31 other trains were detained as protesters squat on railway tracks at 32 locations across Punjab, Haryana.
Bharat Bandh: 4 Shatabdi trains cancelled, 31 other trains detained as protesters squat on railway tracks at 32 locations across Punjab, Haryana
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 26, 2021
• According to the Indian Railways, the protesters are sitting at 31 locations across Punjab and Haryana spanning Delhi, Ambala & Firozepur division affecting rail movement. Train services affected at 32 locations.
Protesters are sitting at 31 locations across Punjab and Haryana spanning Delhi, Ambala & Firozepur division affecting rail movement. Train services affected at 32 locations, 4 Shatabdi trains cancelled: Indian Railways#BharatBandh
— ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2021
• The protestors have also blocked the Ghazipur border (Delhi-UP border), sealing the traffic movement, in view of 12-hour 'Bharat Bandh' call by Samyukt Kisan Morcha.
Protesters block the Ghazipur border (Delhi-UP border) in view of 12-hour 'Bharat Bandh' call by Samyukt Kisan Morcha against Centre's Farm Laws pic.twitter.com/JnmmPXixJd
— ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2021
• In Ambala, protestors blocked the GT Road and railway track near Shahpur.
Ambala: Protesters block GT Road and railway track near Shahpur, in view of 12-hour 'Bharat Bandh' call by Samyukt Kisan Morcha against Centre's Farm Laws#Haryana pic.twitter.com/1D6k4qjPlN
— ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2021
• Farmers in Amritsar have blocked railway tracks at Wallah.
• The countrywide strike, which began at 6 am in the morning will continue till 6 pm in the evening.
• The Confederation of All India Traders, representation of eight crore traders, issued a statement saying that it is not participating in the Bharat Bandh and hence, markets will remain open.
• However, the supply of some essentials like vegetables and milk is likely to be affected due to the strike.
• The farmer union leaders, however, insisted that the strike will be peaceful.
• They also said that copes of the three farm laws will be burnt by the farmers during 'Holika Dahan' on March 28, 2021.
• Several leaders and parties have expressed their support to the farmer union's Bharat Bandh including Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, Odisha Congress, CPI(M) Andhra Pradesh and the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in Andhra Pradesh.
• The Andhra Pradesh state government is also observing the protest in support of the farmers' unions protest as well as in protest against the Centre's decision to privatize Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP).
Visakhapatnam: Members of Left parties held a protest demonstration at Maddilapalem junction today against the Centre over agriculture laws and privatisation of Vizag steel plant pic.twitter.com/LWaGYCEdF7
— ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2021
• All emergency health services are running as usual despite the Bharat Bandh.
Background
This is the second Bharat Bandh called by the farmers. The first nationwide strike was called on December 8 and it was observed in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Assam. The strike had received support from several trade unions, various other organisations as well as 24 opposition parties, including the Congress and the NCP.
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) had called for 'Bharat Bandh' on February 26th in protest against the rise in fuel prices and the new e-way bill. The nationwide strike saw participation by over 8 crore traders belonging to more than 40,000 trade associations across the country.
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