Farmers are observing ‘Bharat Bandh’ today (Friday) to mark the completion of four months of their agitation against the central farm laws. The Bharat Bandh, called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), will be observed till 6 pm. All roads and trains will be blocked and all services are expected to remain suspended, except for ambulance and other essential services.
According to a statement issued by the SKM, Bharat Bandh has been called for the repeal of three agricultural laws, for law on Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and procurement, cancellation of all police cases against farmers, rollback of “electricity bill and pollution bill” and for reducing prices of diesel, petrol and gas. The release also said that Bharat Bandh call has been given “against the anti-farmer government” on completion of four months of farmers’ struggle in Delhi.
“Protesters are advised to not get involved in any kind of illegitimate debate and conflict. It is a result of the patience of the farmers that the movement has gone so long that we are constantly getting success,” the release further said.
In a tweet, the Delhi Traffic Police said, “Traffic movement is closed on Ghazipur Border NH-24 (Both carriageways). Kindly avoid the stretch. Covid precautions: wear mask, maintain social distancing, keep hand hygiene.” The one side of the carriageway was earlier opened on March 15 for traffic. However, the other side from Ghaziabad towards Delhi is closed since the farmers’ protest started.
In the tricity, farmer unions blocked the Chandigarh-Ambala Highway, supporting the Bharat Bandh. Massive protests broke out at the McDonald point in Zirakpur. They also barred K-Area lights on Zirakpur-Panchkula road, where long queues of vehicles were witnessed.
Farmers union have also blocked National Highways in Mohali district. The Zirakpur-Patiala road was also blocked by the protesting farmers from the Airport light points since this morning.
In Punjab, activists of farmer associations were seen asking traders at several places to keep their shops and business establishments closed to mark the protest. Reports of blocking roads and highways were received from Patiala, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Moga, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and other places.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which has control over Sikh religious affairs and manages gurdwaras in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, including the Golden Temple, in Amritsar, has announced closing its offices.
Earlier this week, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) president Rakesh Tikait had said that farmers agitating against the Central farm laws would not be divided and they may have to go to the national capital and breach barricades again.
