Bharat Bandh against farm laws logs out Delhi, Punjab, Haryana; partial impact in other parts

The shutdown severely affected life in Punjab and Haryana while mixed reports were received across the country.

Heavy security was deployed at Singhu border, Tikri border and Ghazipur border with Delhi, where farmers have been camping since November last year, protesting against the controversial farm laws.

The road near the historic Red Fort was also shut for traffic.

Protesting farmers meanwhile closed National Highway No 24, near Ghazipur border, and National Highway No 9 which connects Delhi to Punjab and Uttarakhand. While diversions were created by the Delhi Traffic Police, commuters faced problems due to long traffic jams.

Traffic was also shut close to the Dhasna border in Delhi due to the protests.

A view of traffic jam on an approach road as traffic on NH9 at Ghazipur border is blocked by farmers, during Bharat Bandh called by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) against new farm laws, in New Delhi on Monday.

The Bandh has been called by the Samyukt Kisan Morch, the umbrella body under which farmer groups have been protesting for over a year now against the farm laws.

Call for the shutdown was given on September 5 at a 'Mahapanchayat' of farmers in Muzaffarnagar of Uttar Pradesh. The Bandh will be held from 6 am till 4 pm, as per the announcement made by the protestors.

The SKM said the Bandh has been supported by political parties including the Congress, AAP, Samajwadi Party, TDP, JD(S), BSP, NCP, DMK, YSRCP, JMM, RJD, Swaraj India and left parties including CPI-M, CPI, AIFB, RSP, CPI-ML (Lib), CPI-ML (ND) and others.

DMRC shuts entry, exit at Shree Ram Sharma metro station

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Monday said that entry and exit at the Pandit Shree Ram Sharma metro on the Green Line were closed owing to security reasons.

The decision of the DMRC comes in view of the 'Bharat Bandh' called by farmers' unions against Centre's three farm laws, which began from 0600 hours and will continue till 1600 hours.

"Security Update: Entry/exit for Pandit Shree Ram Sharma has been closed," the DMRC tweeted on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Traffic Police in a series of tweets said, "Due to Bharat Bandh, Netaji Subhash Marg carriageway (Red Fort--Dariyaganj) from T point Subhash park Carriageway (Dariyaganj --Red Fort) at Khas cut near Kabutar Market have been closed."

"The Gazipur border is closed for traffic from both sides. Commuters wishing to commute to and from UP may use DND, Vikas Marg, Signature bridge, Wazirabad roads etc. Traffic on NH24 and NH9 are diverted on road no 56 to take Maharajpur border, Apsara and Bhopura borders for UP," it said.

Because of the 'Bharat Bandh' call given by various farmers outfits against the three contentious farm laws, farmers blocked highways and sat on railway tracks at several places in Punjab and in its neighbouring state Haryana on Monday. 

Road and rail traffic was disrupted in both Punjab and Haryana as farmers blocked national highways, state highways, link roads and railway tracks at various places.

Farmers sitting on NH9 at Ghazipur border during Bharat Bandh called by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) against new farm laws, in New Delhi on Monday. UNI PHOTO-PSB6U

Farmers block rail tracks, roads in Punjab and Haryana

Because of the 'Bharat Bandh' call given by various farmers outfits against the three contentious farm laws, farmers blocked highways and sat on railway tracks at several places in Punjab and in its neighbouring state Haryana on Monday. 

Road and rail traffic was disrupted in both Punjab and Haryana as farmers blocked national highways, state highways, link roads and railway tracks at various places.

Reports reaching here said, a complete shutdown was observed at several places in Punjab.

Shouting slogans farmers blocked the Moga-Ferozepur, Moga-Ludhiana, Bathinda-Chandigarh national highways.

A report from Sangrur said that farmers blocked Sangrur-Patiala, Sangrur-Ludhiana and Sangrur-Bathinda roads. They also blocked Chandigarh-Bathinda highway near Passiana police station in Patiala.

Protesting farmers closed Chandigarh-Pathankot highway at Mangarh for vehicular traffic. All link and main roads in Ludhiana district were blocked by ryots. They also organised blockades at several places on highways in Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur districts.

Bharat Bandh against three farm laws evokes good response in AP

Bharat Bandh  evoked good response in Andhra Pradesh on Monday.
The bandh was complete and peaceful in Coastal districts in the state, police said.

All commercial establishments, banks, petrol filling stations and educational institutions remained closed.

Due to the state government had announced its support to the bandh, the APSRTC buses were off the road.

Adding to the bandh effect, heavy downpour from early hours this morning till afternoon threw normal life out of gear and forced people to remain indoors.
All roads wore a deserted look in many cities and towns in the coastal districts.

Life unaffected in Bengal following Bharat Bandh

Life remained unaffected in West Bengal as the Bharat Bandh sponsored by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM)  evoked little response.

The bandh protagonists tried in the morning to enforce it in several districts and were also engaged in scuffle with police.

The agitators also tried to block trains but to no avail.

Buses plied as usual, while shops and commercial establishments remained open.

Banks and financial institutions functioned as usual.

Several trade unions and Left parties have pledged their support to the bandh.

The activists of the Left staged demonstrations in various parts of the state demanding withdrawal of the farm laws.

Farmers staging a protest during Bharat Bandh called by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha at Kundali-Manesar-Palwal Expressway on Monday.

Bharat Bandh against three farm laws observed in Telangana

The Bharat bandh, called by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), protesting against the Centre's three farm laws is being observed in Telangana on Monday.

The Congress supported the bandh in the state with TPCC President A Revanth Reddy and other senior party leaders besides left parties activists participated in the bandh in different parts of the state.

The bandh has been incident-free so far.

Police made tight security arrangements by deploying security personnel at all strategic places in the state in view of the bandh.

Cong legislators reach Telangana Assembly complex in horse-driven cart

Hyderabad: In a novel protest against the state and central government policies, the Congress legislators came to the Telangana Assembly Complex in a horse-driven cart on Monday.

Congress Legislature Party leader Bhatti Vikramarka, MLAs --Sridhar Babu, Sitakka and MLC Jeevan Reddy were, however, stopped at the main gate of the complex following which they started a sit-in protest against the police action.

The legislators were later shifted to Narayanguda police station where the CLP leader criticised the governments' policies including the hike in fuel prices.