Massive response to call for Bharat Bandh in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh

The Bharat Bandh call given by the agitating farmer unions evoked a massive response in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh with shops and other commercial establishments remaining shut on Tuesday morning. All the markets in every city and town wore a deserted look while the petrol pumps remained closed in view of the bandh called by agitating farmers’ unions to protest against implementation of three farm laws by the Union government.

All the main highways and other alternate roads connecting this part of the region with national Capital Delhi were closed for vehicular traffic by the farmers’ unions at various places. Farmers started assembling on highways and other key roads in both states from the morning. The agitating farmers also blocked the road leading to the Chandigarh International Airport in Mohali. Farmers also blocked the roads out of the Rajasansi International Airport in Amritsar.

In Punjab and Haryana all the state-run and private buses also went off roads after 9 am this morning.

Attendance in government departments and private sector recorded a thin attendance due to the bandh.

Farmer leaders have said they would block key roads and occupy toll plazas during their 'chakka jam' protest from 11 am to 3 pm.

The authorities have deployed police at every site of protest and other sensitive places to avoid any untoward incident.

In Chandigarh, though the government offices opened as per the schedule in the morning, the business establishments observed a complete bandh.

The PTI reported that a group of protesters squatted on a road to express solidarity with the protesting farmers in Ludhiana.

In Punjab, farmer leaders appealed to shopkeepers and traders to keep their shutters down. "We are appealing to people to support farmers' cause, and we are sure of getting support from all sections of society," a leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee said in Amritsar.

Several unions representing government employees, arthiyas (commission agents) and transporters have extended their support to the farmers' protest. Besides, all major political parties in Punjab, the ruling Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal have also extended their support.

Over 50,000 government employees in Punjab have taken mass casual leave in support of farmers, said Punjab Civil Secretariat Staff Association president Sukhchain Khaira.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the apex gurdwara body, has also announced to keep its offices and institutions shut to express solidarity with the farmers.

Haryana BKU chief Gurnam Singh Charuni has appealed to all sections of society to observe complete shutdown to support the farmers. "Everyone should hold a peaceful protest," he said in a video message.

Meanwhile, the Haryana Police traffic advisory issued on Monday had said, "The main national highways, Delhi-Ambala (NH-44), Delhi-Hisar (NH-9), Delhi-Palwal (NH-19) and Delhi to Rewari (NH-48), may also see some traffic disruptions for a short time. The peak time of impact is expected to be between 12 pm to 3 pm".

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and other areas have stayed put at various Delhi border points, protesting against the new farm laws, which they fear will dismantle the Minimum Support Price system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporates.

The government has maintained that the new laws will bring farmers better opportunities and usher in new technologies in agriculture.

There was no report of any untoward incident in this part of the region till filing of this report.