Bharat Bandh Today

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha called for Bharat Bandh for a second time on Friday in protest against the three controversial farm bills. The bandh will be observed from 6 am to 6 pm in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra, Punjab and Haryana.

The agitation against the farm bills, which started in Punjab, spread to the various states and farmers have been demanding repeal of the farm bills, apart from a legal assurance that the minimum support price (MSP) will be continued. The farmers hit the streets fearing that the new laws will corporatize the farming sector and also dismantle MSP.

As part of the bandh, road and rail traffic, as well as the markets would remain closed. Government offices will also remain shut from 9 am to 6 pm, but essential services would be exempted, the farmers union leaders said.

Despite the apathetic attitude of the Union government, farmers have been staging a sit-in along Delhi border for the last four months.

The protesting farmers called for a bandh for the first time on December 8 and it was witnessed in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Assam. Several trade unions and people’s organisations, along with 24 opposition parties, extended support to the agitation.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha has appealed to all sections of society to participate in the bandh and make it a success.