Normal life was hit as farmers blockedhighways, roads and squatted on railway tracks at many places in Punjab andHaryana today in view of a “Bharat Bandh” called by farm unions against threeagriculture laws of the Centre.
In Punjab, the ruling Congress said it firmlystands by the farm unions’ “Bharat Bandh” call against the three contentiouslaws. The shutdown was almost complete in the state, with transport servicessuspended during the bandh period, while shops and other commercialestablishments remained shut at most places. National and state highways inseveral districts, including Amritsar, Rupnagar, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Sangrur,Mohali, Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Bathinda, were blocked by the protesters.
Since morning, traffic snarls were reportedat the Delhi-Gurugram and Delhi-Uttar Pradesh borders. Furthermore, severaltrains were cancelled in Delhi, Ambala and Firozpur divisions. Meanwhile,Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait apologised to all thosewho have been facing problems owing to the Bharat Bandh.
As Monday's Bharat Bandh inches closer to itsend at 4pm, BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said that the event has been“successful”. “We had full support of farmers...We can't seal downeverything as we have to facilitate the movement of people,” he was quoted assaying by ANI. Tikait added that farmers are ready for talks with the centralgovernment, but “no talks are happening.”
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal onMonday requested the Centre to consider the demands of farmers protestingagainst the three farm laws. "We are celebrating the birth anniversary ofBhagat Singh. He made the supreme sacrifice for the freedom of the nation. Hedid not fight for freedom for a day when farmers have to sit on the streets andprotest for a year to get their demands considered," he said.
The effect of the shutdown was visible inmany districts of the state, including Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Sikarand Nagaur. Mandis and markets were partially closed in the cities and towns ofthese districts.