Bharat Bandh: Traffic hit across Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi as major highways blocked by protesting farmers

Monday morning witnessed heavy police presence at various places in Haryana and Punjab to maintain law and order in view of the Bharat Bandh called by farmers. Protesting farmers parked their tractors on highways and major link roads in both Punjab and Haryana and squatted on the road. The police diverted traffic at several places as the farmers blocked the highways. The Delhi-Amritsar National Highway remained blocked at Shahabad in Haryana’s Kurukshetra by protesting farmers, according to ANI. On the other hand, responding to the Bharat Bhandh call, farmer have begun protesting at the Barnala railway station in Punjab. The traffic movement from Uttar Pradesh towards Ghazipur has been closed due to protest.

Delhi-Amritsar National Highway blocked at Shahabad in Haryana's Kurukshetra by protesting farmers, agitating against farm laws.

Farmer organisations have called a “Bharat Bandh” today against the three farm laws. pic.twitter.com/8IhoCCgFIC

— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2021

Meanwhile, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), who called for the Bharat Bandh, said although all political parties have been asked to support Monday’s strike, none of them, or their representatives, will be given space on the farmers’ stage. They can set up their own stages in support of the farmers. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has urged the farmers to not protest and opt for dialogue to end the stalemate. “I would like to appeal to farmers to leave the agitation and follow the path of dialogue. The government is ready to consider the objections raised by them. There have been several discussions earlier. If there is anything left, the government is definitely ready to talk.” The SKM has called for a Bharat Bandh on Monday to mark the first anniversary of the three controversial farm laws passed by Parliament. Around 100 organisations including national political parties, trade unions, farmers’ associations, youth, teachers, labourers and others, are set to join the Bharat Bandh. Here’s everything you need to know about the bandh: _**Follow LIVE Updates on Bharat Bandh here**_ Who called for it Thousands of farmers from Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states had gathered at Muzaffarnagar on 5 September for a ‘Kisan mahapanchayat’, organised by the SKM, and had unanimously called for a complete Bharat Bandh on 27 September against the three contentious farm laws. The SKM, the umbrella body of over 40 farm unions spearheading the farmers’ agitation, later said in a statement, " The SKM appeals to every Indian to join this nationwide movement and make the ‘Bharat Bandh’ a resounding success. In particular, we appeal to all organisations of workers, traders, transporters, businessmen, students, youth and women and all social movements to extend solidarity with the farmers that day." Timing and what will remain closed The bandh will be held from 6 am to 4 pm during which all government and private offices, educational and other institutions, shops, industries and commercial establishments as well as public events and functions will be closed throughout the country, it had said. Exempted institutions and groups All emergency establishments and essential services including hospitals, medical stores, relief and rescue work and people attending to personal emergencies will be exempted. Who is supporting it? Many Opposition parties have expressed their support to the bandh.  Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi has supported the bandh, Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav has announced that he will participate in the nationwide strike. The Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu governments, too, have declared complete support to the nationwide strike. Congress has also said that it will be joining the protests on Monday. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Sunday took to Twitter to say that her party will support a peaceful ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by farmers against the Centre’s three farm laws. The Aam Aadmi Party too has extended for the bandh. Party leader Raghav Chadha said on Saturday, “AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has always stood by the farmers against the black laws.”  Kerala’s ruling LDF has also called for a state-wide hartal on 27 September to express solidarity with the farmers. Protracted battle Farmers from different parts of the country, especially Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting at Delhi borders since November, demanding the repeal of the three contentious farm laws that they fear would do away with the minimum support price system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporations. The government and farmer unions have held 11 rounds of talks so far, the last being on 22 January, to break the deadlock and end the farmers’ protest. Talks have not resumed following widespread violence during a tractor rally by protesting farmers on 26 January. The three laws — The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020 — were passed by Parliament in September last year. The Centre has been projecting the three laws as major agricultural reforms.