The 10-hour-long Bharat Bandh, which was scheduled to end at 4 pm was successful, the protesting farmers said on Monday. The Bharat bandh was organized by the Samyukti Kisan Morcha against three farm laws passed by the parliament in September last year.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said, “Our ‘Bharat Bandh’ was successful. We had the full support of farmers… We can’t seal down everything as we have to facilitate the movement of people. We are ready for talks with govt, but no talks are happening”.
In both Punjab and Haryana, national highways, state highways, link roads, and railways tracks have been blocked, bringing road and rail traffic to a halt. In Punjab, farmers protested at over 350 places. Punjab’s Additional Direction General of Police (AGDP) has issued instructions to the police forces of the state to ensure the laws and order at protest places.
In Punjab, the ruling Congress said that they stand by the farm union’s Bharat Bandh call against the three contentious laws. The shutdown was almost complete in the state. The transport services were suspended during the bandh period, while shops and other commercial establishments remained shut at most places.
The BKU was one of the participants of the bandh called by the SKM, an umbrella organization of nearly 40 unions.
The Bharat Bandh was organized on Monday (September 27) to mark the first anniversary of the assent given to the three farm laws by President Ram Nath Kovind.
The SMK said that there was “an unprecedented response, beyond anyone’s expectations” to Bharat Bandh. Many non-parties have extended their support to the nationwide protest.
Even in places like Silchar, the bharat bandh was successfully implemented, although limited in scope. The bharat bandh in Silchar did mean that most businesses and offices were closed on the day.
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