Bharat Bandh | 'Unprecedented and Historic': Rakesh Tikait on Event's 'Success'
Catch all the live updates on the Bharat Bandh call by farmers here.
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Farmers are observing a “Bharat Bandh” on Monday, 27 September, as they continue to protest against the Centre's contentious three farm laws. The bandh began at 6 am and will continue till 4 pm.
"There has been an unprecedented response, beyond anyone's expectations, to the Samyukt Kisan Morcha's call for Bharat Bandh today," the farmer group said in a statement on Monday.
Hundreds of farmers on Monday blocked major highways, including National Highway 1 linking Delhi with parts of Haryana and Punjab, following a nationwide call by farmers' unions to demand scrapping of the laws.
The Delhi-Amritsar National Highway was blocked at Shahabad in Haryana's Kurukshetra, news agency ANI reported
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has extended support to the bandh
The Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu governments have also declared support to the bandh
The Congress joined the farmers' protests on Monday
'Resounding Widespread Response That Is Unprecedented and Historic': SKM on Bharat Bandh
"Resounding widespread response that is unprecedented and historic, to the Bharat Bandh call given by the farmers' movement - People of India tired of Modi Government's adamant, unreasonable and egoistic stand on protesting farmers' legitimate demands, and anti-people policies in numerous sectors," the statement issued by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha read.
"SKM thanks lakhs of citizens and thousands of organisations which participated in today's Bandh and made it a great success – remarkable unity and solidarity witnessed around the country today," the statement added.
'Public Supported Bharat Bandh': Rakesh Tikait
BKU leader Rakesh Tikait, hailing the bandh as a success, was quoted as saying by ANI:
"Bharat Bandh was a success, public supported it. It's okay if public experienced some inconvenience, let one day be in solidarity with farmers who have been experiencing troubles (protesting against farm laws at Delhi border) under sun, heat for last 10 months."
Rakesh Tikait Thanks Farmers, Others for Making Bharat Bandh 'Unprecedented and Historic'
BKU leader Rakesh Tikait took to Twitter to thank those who participated in the Bharat Bandh on Monday.
"Heartfelt gratitude to the youth and businessmen including farmers, workers, students, employees and trade unions across the country, who supported the Bharat Bandh even after facing hardships, for making the Bharat Bandh unprecedented and historic," he stated.
'Traffic Movement Normal': Delhi Traffic Police
Regular traffic movement has resumed in Delhi, as per Delhi Traffic Police.
In Photos: Bharat Bandh
Here are some visuals from the Bharat Bandh observed on Monday:
In Patna, protestors burn a tyre during their agitation to support the Bharat Bandh against central governments three farm reform laws.
(Photo: PTI)
In Bhubhaneshwar, members of Nirman Sramika Sangha block a road during farmers' strike.
(Photo: PTI)
In Kolkata, Left Front and CPI(ML) Liberation supporters block a railway track to support the farmers' protest.
(Photo: PTI)
About 25 Trains Affected Due to Bharat Bandh: Railways
About 25 train services were affected due to the farmers' protest on Monday, PTI reported, citing railway officials.
"More than 20 locations are being blocked in Delhi, Ambala, and Firozepur divisions. About 25 trains are affected due to this," a spokesperson for the Northern Railway indicated.
Delhi-Meerut Expressway Unblocked
Protesting farmers have opened the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, allowing commuters to pass through, NDTV reported.
Regular vehicular movement has also resumed on the Kundli-Ghaziabad-Palwal road and the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal road.
Gujarat: Highways Briefly Blocked, Protesters Detained
Traffic movement on national highway connecting Surat to Mumbai was briefly blocked by protesters amid the ongoing Bharat Bandh, news agency PTI reported.
The Gujarat police has detained about 25 protesters, and vehicular movement has been restored.
In Photos: Farmers' Rally at Haryana's Rohtak
Farmers march to the slogan of 'Inquilab Zindabad' at Haryana's Rohtak.
(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)
(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)
In Photos: Farmers Protest at Jharkhand, Haryana, Maharashtra
Amid the call for Bharat Bandh, farmers across continue to protest against the Centre's contentious agricultural laws.
Here are some visuals from the agitation:
Farmers protest at Bokaro, Jharkhand.
(Photo: Twitter/KisanEktaMorcha)
Farmers protest at Ahirwal, Haryana.
(Photo: Twitter/KisanEktaMorcha)
Farmers protest at Goregaon, Maharashtra.
(Photo: Twitter/KisanEktaMorcha)
'Farmers' Demands Are Correct': Kejriwal Backs Protest
"This is a very sad occasion that on the occasion of Bhagat Singh's birthday, farmers had to call for a Bharat Bandh. It has been almost a year since the farmers are trying to convince the government. This is an independent India. If we don't even listen to our farmers in independent India, who will?" Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal observed on Monday.
"All their demands are correct, and since the beginning, we have backed them. I appeal to the central government to listen to their demands as soon as possible so that they can go back home and start their work. Enough talks have been held with the agriculture minister, now he should just announce that we are listening to their demands," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
'Ready For Talks With Govt, But No Talks Are Happening': Rakesh Tikait
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait, calling the bandh 'successful', stated, "We had the full support of farmers... We can't seal down everything as we have to facilitate the movement of people. We are ready for talks with government, but no talks are happening."
"He (Yogi Adityanath) had promised in the manifesto to raise value of sugarcane to Rs 375-Rs 450, yet he increased only Rs 25. He should give an account of the losses faced. The government has failed completely. Crops are not being sold at MSP rates," Tikait was quoted as saying by ANI.
Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav Attends Farmers Protest
Activist and Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav attends the farmers' protest at Ghazipur, marking his support for the cause.
Protesters in Kochi Form Human Chain
In Kerala's Kochi, protesters from several trade unions including Indian National Trade Union Congress, Centre of Indian Trade Unions and All India Trade Union Congress formed a human chain to support the call for Bharat Bandh on Monday.
Rally Organised in Bengaluru to Observe Bharat Bandh
Several organisations on Monday carried out a rally from Bengaluru Town Hall area to Mysore bank circle to observe Bharat Bandh against the farm laws.
Complete Shut-Down Reported From Several States: SKM
Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Monday said that amid the Bharat Bandh, there has been no untoward incident reported from any part of the country so far.
The farmers body reiterated that the bandh is voluntary and there is room for violence of any kind.
"Complete shut-down has been reported from states like Punjab, Haryana, Kerala, Bihar, where all kinds of institutions, markets and transport has been closed down. The call for Bharat Bandh has received extensive support in Rajasthan, UP, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, TN, Karnataka and MP. Reports are awaited from other parts of the country," the body said in a statement.
Traffic Movement Now Smooth at Delhi-Gurugram Border
Traffic is now smooth at the Delhi-Gurugram border, which saw a huge snarl earlier on Monday morning.
In view of Bharath Bandh, we barricaded the Rajokri border (Delhi-Gurugram) which resulted in a traffic jam at this section. Now, the situation is normal and traffic is smooth as we loosened the barricades," Ingit Pratap Singh, DCP Special Cell said, according to ANI.
Rahul Gandhi Reaffirms Support to Farmers
Rahul Gandhi on Monday reaffirmed his support to the farmers seeking withdrawal of three controversial farm laws.
"Farmers' non-violent satyagraha is intact even today, but the exploitative government does not like this and that is why we have Bharat Bandh today," posted Gandhi in Hindi.
Train Operations Affected in Delhi, Ambala & Firozpur Divisions
Train operations have been affected in Delhi, Ambala and Firozpur divisions as people are sitting on railway tracks amid the Bharat Bandh.
More than 20 locations are being blocked in Delhi division. About 25 trains have been affected in Ambala and Firozpur divisions, the Northern Railway said on Monday.
Massive Traffic Snarl at Gurugram-Delhi Border
A massive traffic snarl has emerged at the Gurugram-Delhi border as vehicles entering the national capital are being checked by Delhi Police and paramilitary jawans, in the wake of the Bharat Bandh.
Protest Underway in Odisha, West Bengal
Keonjhar Railway Station, Odisha.
(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)
Bharat Bandh protest at Kultali, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal by Jai Kisan Andolan
(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)
In Photos: Bharat Bandh in Punjab
Dasuya Punjab closes Chandigarh -Pathankot Highway at Mangarh Tool Palja
(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)
Protest in Sangrur, Punjab.
(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)
Farmers Hold Protest in Haryana's Sonipat
(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)
Protest in Winnipeg in Support of Bharat Bandh
A protest was held in Winnipeg in favour of the Bharat Bandh in India.
(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)
(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)
Congress Extends Support to Farmers
The Congress has asked all its workers, state unit chiefs and heads of frontal organisations to take part in the Bharat Bandh. Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal said party workers will extend "full support to the peaceful Bharat Bandh".
In Punjab too, state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu has asked party workers to support the protest by farmers.
"Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee firmly stands by farmer unions' demand for Bharat Bandh on September 27, 2021. In the war of right and wrong, you cannot afford to be neutral. We urge every Congress worker to fight with all their might against the three unconstitutional black laws," Sidhu tweeted.
Security Beefed up in Delhi
The security arrangements across the peripheries of the national capital were beefed up in the wake of the Bharat Bandh on Monday.
A senior police official said that they have beefed up security close to all the three border points - Tikri, Singhu and Shambhu - where farmers have been protesting for the past 10 months.
Protests in Karnataka
Karnataka farmers' organisations across the state are all set to observe Bharat Bandh on Monday. The State Farmers' Association, Hasiru Sene, Sugar Cane Growers Association, Pranta Raita Sangha have given a call to observe total bandh in the state.
They have also given a call to block national highways and arterial roads in the cities across the state. The farmer organisations have also decided to take out massive rallies and observe complete bandh. However, many organisations have only extended moral support to the Bharat Bandh.
The state government has warned that in case of damage to public properties, state government-owned buses, the organisers will be held responsible.
Farmers Block Major Highways as Protest Begins
The Delhi-Amritsar National Highway has been blocked at Shahabad in Haryana's Kurukshetra by protesting farmers. Farmers have also blocked the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana.
Metro Stations, Traffic Movement Closed in Parts
The traffic movement has been closed from Uttar Pradesh towards Ghazipur due to the protest, Delhi Traffic Police said on Monday.
Meanwhile, entry/exit for Pandit Shree Ram Sharma metro station has been closed, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said.
Bandh to be Enforced in Peaceful Manner
Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella body of the 40 farmer unions had earlier issued guidelines for the bandh, noting that the bandh shall be enforced in a voluntary and peaceful manner.
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