A Bharat Bandh has been announced for Friday by farmer unions to mark four months of their protest against the Centre’s three new farm laws. Farmer leaders have urged people to join the nationwide shutdown, which is expected to affect roadways and railways in certain parts of the country.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella organisation of close to 40 farmer unions, issued a statement which said that the Bandh would be observed from 6 am to 6 pm nationwide. However, the states of West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, along with the Union Territory of Puducherry, will be excluded on account of upcoming elections. Ambulances and fire brigades will also be allowed to ply.
Farm leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said that rail tracks will be blocked at various places and transport services and markets will remain closed. Farmers have also appealed to traders’ associations to shut down their shops in support of the cause as the three laws would affect them indirectly. However, national general secretary of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), Praveen Khandelwal, was quoted by the PTI saying, “We are not going to participate in the Bharat Bandh. Markets will remain open in Delhi and other parts of the country.”
The major impact of the Bandh will be experienced in Haryana and Punjab, said farm leader Abhimanyu Kohar. The apex body of the Sikh community, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, has decided to keep its offices closed to support the farmers’ cause, said SGPC president Jagir Kaur.
The Department of Higher Education in Odisha has also announced that colleges and universities will stay closed in view of the Bharat Bandh.
The farmers’ unions have also claimed that organised and unorganised trade unions and transport associations have also pledged their support to the Bandh and will participate in the same.
26 March marks four months of the widespread agitation started by farmers against the Central Government’s farm laws at various points on the Delhi border. The Bharat Bandh has been called for to mark the day and seek renewed support from other citizens. “We appeal to the country’s people to make this Bandh a success and honour their ‘annadata’,” said farmer leader Darshan Pal.