Bharat Bandh Highlights: Farmers' 'Bharat Bandh' call evokes mixed resonse

Farmers squatted on roads and rail corridors in several parts of Punjab and Haryana as the Bharat bandh called by them on Friday received a mixed response in other parts of the country, according to a DH report. Barring Punjab and Haryana, the shutdown call received a mixed response from other parts of the country such as Bihar, Odisha, Bundelkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. On the other hand, Samkyukta Kisan Morcha claimed that the bandh was a big success.

Thank you all for following our live blog. See you later, goodnight!

'Bharat Bandh' a big success, claims Samkyukta Kisan Morcha

The 12-hour 'Bharat Bandh' called by farmers protesting the three agri laws was a "big success", the Samkyukta Kisan Morcha said on Friday, and claimed that shutdown was observed in many parts of the country, including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Bihar.

Read more here

Farmers' 'Bharat Bandh' call evokes mixed resonse

Farmers squatted on roads and rail corridors in several parts of Punjab and Haryana as the Bharat bandh called by them on Friday received a mixed response in other parts of the country.

The Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, spearheading the farmers’ protests against the three farm laws, had given the call for a nationwide shutdown to mark four months of their agitation on the borders of the national capital.

Barring Punjab and Haryana, the shutdown call received a mixed response from other parts of the country such as Bihar, Odisha, Bundelkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

Read more here

Bharat Bandh: 20 CPI(ML) activists held in UP's Ballia

Twenty CPI(ML) activists, protesting in Sikandarpur township of the district on the 'Bharat Bandh' called by farmer unions, were taken into custody here on Friday. Those taken into custody included CPI-ML leader Shri Ram Chaudhary, said Sikandarpur police station in-charge, Amar Jeet Yadav.

Read more here

Bharat Bandh: Farmers block highways in Punjab, Haryana; rail services hit

Road and rail traffic was disrupted in several parts of Punjab and Haryana during the Bharat bandh called by farmers on Friday as part of their nationwide protest against the three agricultural laws though there was partial response to it in other parts of the country.

Read more here

Farmers block railway tracks during their 'Bharat Bandh' call against new farm laws, in Amritsar. Credit: PTI photo.

A passenger undergoes thermal screening at Patna junction during the 'Bharat Bandh', in Patna. Credit: PTI photo.

'Bharat Bandh': Minimal impact in Delhi; metro, road transport, markets unaffected

A 12-hour "Bharat Bandh" called by farmer unions protesting against three agriculture laws had a minimal impact in Delhi on Friday with no report of disturbance in the metro and road transport services while the major markets of the city also remained open, even as police made adequate security arrangements to deal with any situation.

Read more here

Bharat Bandh evokes partial response in Odisha

The dawn-to-dusk Bharat bandh called by farmers unions protesting against agri laws, evoked partial response in Odisha on Friday. Protestors blocked roads and squatted on trail tracks at some places in the state while shops and market establishments remained closed, official sources said.

Read more here

Bharat Bandh: Protesters block roads in UP's Muzaffarnagar

Members of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) blocked roads here on Friday as part of the 12-hour Bharat Bandh, called by farmer groups who have been protesting against the new Agri laws.

Read more here

Bharat Bandh called by farmer unions has minimal impact in Delhi with no report of disturbance in metro and road transport services and major markets remaining open

Bandh in Haryana

State Transport Minister Moolchand Sharma told PTI that Haryana Roadways bus services will be suspended in those districts where it is felt that it is not conducive to operate them in view of the farmers' protest.

"Bus services are otherwise functional in Haryana," he said.

Since morning, farmers in the two states gathered at several highways and roads, including in Bathinda, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala, Mohali, Rohtak, Ferozepur, Pathankot, Jhajjar, Jind, Panchkula, Kaithal, Yamunanagar and Bhiwani districts.

Farmer union leaders said they were allowing ambulances and other emergency vehicles as well as marriage processions to pass.

In view of the 'Holla Mohalla' festival at Sri Anandpur Sahib, vehicles carrying devotees were being allowed to commute. The protesters have even arranged 'langar' for the devotees at the protest sites.

Haryana BKU leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni, in a video message on Friday, appealed to the protesting farmers to ensure the smooth passage of essential supplies or even sick persons travelling in private vehicles or those travelling in neighbouring areas.

"We have to protest peacefully," Chaduni said.

The BharatBandhhad its effect on rail services in Punjab and Haryana.

Protesters squatted on railway tracks at several locations, including in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Ambala, Jind, Jhajjar, Panchkula and some other districts in the two states, leading to disruption of rail traffic.

Bharat Bandh: Entry, exit gates of 3 Delhi metro stations reopened

The entry and exit gates of the Tikri border, Bahadurgarh city and Brigadier Hoshiar Singh metro stations, which were closed briefly as a precautionary measure in view of Bharat Bandh, have been opened, officials said on Friday.

Read more

The farmers also blocked the Ambala-Rajpura Highway on the Haryana-Punjab border near Shambhu barrier, and the Ambala-Hisar Highway near Ambala City.

Blockades on various state highways were also reported in Naraingarh and Mullana in Haryana, police said.

Farmers gathered at several national highways, key roads and some railway tracks in Punjab and Haryana on Friday morning as part of their nationwide protest against the Centre's new agri laws

According to the Samkyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the BharatBandhis being observed from 6 am to 6 pm to mark four months of the farmers' agitation at Delhi's three borders -- Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri.

Heavy police force has been deployed in the two states as part of security measures

4 Shatabdi trains cancelled, 31 other trains detained as protesters squat on railway tracks at 32 locations across Punjab, Haryana

Protesters are sitting at 31 locations across Punjab and Haryana spanning Delhi, Ambala & Firozepur division affecting rail movement. Train services affected at 32 locations, 4 Shatabdi trains cancelled: Indian Railways

Delhi Police closes both carriageways of NH-24 passing through Ghazipur border in view of Bharat Bandh called by farmer unions protesting against agri laws

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expresses support for Bharat Bandh called by farmer unions, says India's history shows that 'satyagraha' ends atrocities, injustice and arrogance

Farmers gather at several national highways, key roads and some railway tracks in Punjab, Haryana

Bharat Bandh today: All you need to know

Read more

Protesters block GT Road and railway track near Shahpur, in view of 12-hour 'Bharat Bandh' call by Samyukt Kisan Morcha against Centre's Farm Laws

Support farmers, but shops, factories will be open during Bharat Bandh: Delhi traders' organisation

The Chambers of Trade and Industry, a body representing traders in Delhi, on Thursday said shops and factories will remain open during the 'Bharat Bandh' called by farmers protesting against the Centre's three new farm laws.

"We discussed it with business owners and traders. Most of them said they support the demands of the farmers and the Centre should find a solution to the issue," CTI convenor Brijesh Goyal and chairman Subhash Khandelwal said in a statement.

Kumaraswamy urges Karnataka govt to withdraw cases against Tikait

Terming cases registered against Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on charges of delivering provocative speeches as an 'attempt to silence' the voice of farmers, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday demanded that it be withdrawn. Cases have been registered against Tikait in Shivamogga and Haveri. "The police have booked a case against Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait in Shivamogga and Haveri on the charges of delivering provocative speeches. This is nothing but an attempt to silence the voice of farmers," Kumaraswamy said.

Farmers prepared for a long haul, will relent only when demands met: Rakesh Tikait

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said the agitating farmers were prepared for a long haul and will relent only when their demands are met. Tikait reiterated that the Centre must withdraw the farm laws and provide a legal guarantee on MSP. He said the farm laws were not only adversely affecting the farmers but will impact other sections as well. “This fight is not just of farmers but it is also for the poor, small traders..,” said Tikait while addressing a farmers' ‘mahapanchayat’ at Assandh in this district.

Bharat Bandh: Odisha declares closure of educational institutes

The Odisha government on Thursday declared the closure of all educational institutions across the state on March 26 in view of the nationwide Bharat Bandh call given by farmers unions protesting against the Centre's farm laws.

Read more

Farmers plan another 'historic' Bharat Bandh; Farmers-govt deadlock persists amid polls

After joining the nationwide strike of central trade unions on November 26 last year, the farmer bodies had held a Bharat Bandh on December 8 last year.

Read more

This comes even as farmer unions had earlier held protests in poll-bound states, more elaborately in crucial West Bengal, where BJP is trying hard to stop a hattrick to power by Mamata Banerjee-led TMC.

Members of farmers' union and activists participate in a protest against Centre's three farm laws, in Bengaluru on March 22, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

Protesters to burn copies of farm laws on March 28

During the nationwide strike that also marks four months of the farmers' movement, all shops and other business establishments will remain shut for 12 hours, followed by the burning of the copies of the three laws during "holika dehan" on March 28.