Bharat Bandh against farm laws today
Shops and commercial establishments remained operational in most states as the Bharat Bandh called by farmer union evoked mixed response. Transport and traffic were also normal in cities like Delhi and Mumbai as police kept a tight vigil on the movement of the protestors. However, normal life was disrupted in West Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar after protesters squatted on roads and train tracks. Farmers are protesting for the last 13 days against the Centre's three farm laws. Emergency services were exempted and banks, too, continued operations as the pan-India shutdown. The strike was backed by most opposition parties and many trade unions. Praveen Khandelwal, general secretary of the Confederation of All India Traders, claimed transport services and markets functioned normally in the national capital and other parts of the country, and that the 'Bharat Bandh' had no impact on such activities. Shops near the Tikri border, where hundreds of farmers have been staying for the last 13 days, remained open amid heavy police deployment. Public transport services in Mumbai, including suburban trains and buses, and in other parts of Maharashtra largely remained unaffected. Services of local trains as well as out-station trains remained unaffected until now, said Shivaji Sutar, chief public relations officer (CPRO), Central Railway. Leaders of taxi and autorickshaw unions told PTI that their services in Mumbai remained normal. In Uttar Pradesh, barring a few places in the state, all the markets, shops, banks, government and private offices, and other commercial establishments functioned normally. Similar was the situation in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
In Delhi, police have beefed up security at all border points and made arrangements to maintain law and order across the city, including market places. "The security across the national capital, especially on bordering areas, has been beefed up," a senior police officer said. He said there is maximum deployment of Delhi Police personnel in the city to ensure normal movement of people on the roads so that no one faces any kind of inconvenience.
Bharat Bandh: Highlights
5:13 PM: Govt should allow us to protest at Ramlila ground, says farmer leader
We do not want to cause any inconvenience to anyone from Delhi or Haryana, we should be allowed to hold protest at Ramlila Ground, RS Mansa, Punjab Kisan Union, told reporters at Singhu, Haryana-Delhi border.
2:55 PM: Bharat Bandh fails to evoke much response in Himachal Pradesh
The 'Bharat Bandh' call given by farmer unions against the Centre's agri laws failed to evoke much response in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, with most shops and business establishments open and majority of buses operating. However, the Congress and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held separate dharnas on the road in state capital Shimla and other districts. In Shimla, most of the shops were open on Mall road, middle and lower bazaar and other areas. Congress workers led by their state president Kuldeep Singh Rathore staged dharna on the circular road outside their office around noon.
2:45 PM: Smriti Irani slams opposition over farm laws
BJP leader and Union minister Smriti Irani said that when the bills were present in the Parliament, the opposition had portrayed that government will stop MSP operation and shut the APMC mandis. "In fact, government assured that MSP operations will be improved further," she said.
2:35 PM: NCP chief Sharad Pawar said that 5-6 people from different political parties are going to sit, discuss and take a collective stand. The meeting will take place on Wednesday. "We have a 5 pm appointment tomorrow with the President. We will present our collective stand before him," he said.
2:35 PM: Bharat Bandh: No impact in Karnataka
Normal life was hardly affected in Karnataka as farmers and workers hit the roads on Tuesday as part of nationwide Bharat bandh called by various unions and political parties protesting the farm and labour laws recently introduced by the Centre. Many organisations in the state have come in support of the bandh. Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa termed the strike as a 'failure'.
2:25 PM: Shiv Sena never supported farm laws: Sanjay Raut
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said the Uddhav Thackeray-led party never supported the three farm laws in Lok Sabha as alleged by the BJP. Taking a swipe at the Centre over farmers' protests, Raut suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Home Minister Amit Shah can hold talks with cultivators who are observing the Bharat Bandh against farm laws. Speaking to reporters here, Raut said the "non-political" shutdown is receiving support from the people across the country.
2:20 PM: Manohar Lal Khattar meets Narendra Singh Tomar
Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar hold a meeting at the latter's residence.
2:15 PM: Congress' hypocrisy on farm laws exposed: Prakash Javadekar
Union minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday said that the opposition parties, especially the Congress and the NCP, are doing politics over the farm laws. Speaking to India TV, Javadekar exuded confidence that the government will persuade the agitating farmers as he reiterated that the new laws in their interest.
2 PM: Bharat Bandh: Public transport almost unaffected in Delhi
Public transport services in Delhi, including trains and buses, largely remained unaffected on Tuesday despite various organisations supporting the Bharat Bandh for repeal of the Centre's farm laws.
1:50 PM: Bharat Bandh: Delhi markets mostly open
A nationwide strike called by farmer unions against the Centre's agri laws was underway on Tuesday with rousing speeches and sloganeering at Delhi's border points amid tight security arrangements, even as most of the city's markets remained open. Protesting farmers have threatened to block key roads and occupy toll plazas as part of their call for a 'Bharat Bandh' to press for repeal of the new farm laws.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan chides Congress over farm laws
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said that farmers across the country stand with the new agriculture laws and that the Centre is open for discussion to address their grievances. Speaking to India TV, Chouhan accused the Congress of doing drama and alleged that the farmers in Madhya Pradesh are satisfied as they see no reason to oppose the new laws.
1:35 PM: Jammu witnesses pro-farmer protests against newly introduced farm laws
Various organisations, including transporters, held peaceful protests here on Tuesday to express solidarity with farmers who gave a call for Bharat Bandh. The bandh evoked a mixed response in Jammu region with most of public transport staying off roads. Commuters faced problems and were seen walking a distance, but shops and business establishments remained partially open. The main protest rally was taken out by J&K Transport Welfare Association (JKTWA) from Bikram Chowk to Digyana, blocking the Jammu-Pathankote highway. The JKTWA and over a dozen other social, religious and political organizations have extended support to the bandh call.
1:15 PM: Lukewarm response for Bharat Bandh in BJP-ruled Gujarat
The Bharat Bandh called by farmer unions and supported by the Congress failed to have much impact till noon in BJP-ruled Gujarat even as protesters tried to block highways at some places by placing burning tyres on roads. Barring a few places in the state, all the markets, shops, banks, government and private offices, and other commercial establishments functioned normally. Normal life in major cities remained unaffected as buses plied on roads. The BRTS (Bus Rapd Transit System) functioned as per schedule in Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Surat. About 5,000 petrol pumps also remained open in the state as their associations have not extended support for the shutdown.
1 PM: Farm laws aimed at benefiting the rich: Digvijaya Singh
The new agriculture laws were introduced by the Centre with an objective to provide benefits to "big persons", senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh alleged here in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday while leading a protest in support of the ongoing Bharat Bandh. Singh led the the demonstration of Congress workers at Sanyogitaganj Anaj Mandi where slogans were raised against the Narendra Modi government. "After introducing demonetisation and GST, the Modi government, in order to benefit big persons, has brought these black laws in the agriculture sector. Besides farmers, labourers working in mandis (agri markets) have hit the roads in protest," Singh said.
12:50 PM: Offices shut, roads deserted, markets closed in Odisha
Normal life was affected in Odisha on Tuesday as Congress and Left supporters blocked roads and railway tracks along with trade unionists to enforce the nationwide shutdown, called by the farmers' unions against the Centre's farm laws. Roads wore a deserted look as vehicular movement came to a halt with the supporters of the 'Bharat Bandh' blocking highways and major roads, and staging demonstrations. Train services were also affected as activists of farmers' organisations, trade unions and political parties held sit-ins on railway tracks in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Bhadrak and Balasore.
12:30 PM: AAP says CM Kejriwal under house arrest, Delhi Police denies claim
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday alleged that the Delhi Police has put Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal under house arrest after he met protesting farmers at the Singhu border, a claim denied by the city police. Kejriwal had visited the Singhu border on Monday and reviewed facilities for farmers protesting against the agri marketing laws. Addressing a press conference, AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj claimed the Delhi Police has put Kejriwal under house arrest.
11:55 AM: SP workers take to streets in Uttar Pradesh to support 'Bharat Bandh'
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) workers came out on the streets of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, raising slogans in support of the 'Bharat Bandh' called by agitating farmers to press for repeal of the Centre's agri laws, leading to clashes with police at many places.
11:35 AM: Rahul Gandhi urges people to support Bharat Bandh
BHARAT BANDH LIVE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday urged people to support the Bharat Bandh call given by farmer leaders and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop "stealing" from farmers. Gandhi and the Congress party are supporting the farmers' agitation and they have demanded a repeal of the three farm laws. The Congress is openly supporting the Bharat Bandh and has joined the protests by holding dharnas and demonstrations across the country. "Modi ji, stop stealing from farmers. All fellow citizens know that today is Bharat Bandh. Make our food growers' struggle successful by fully supporting it," he said in a tweet in Hindi.
11:20 AM: Subhash Talekar, president, Mumbai Dabbawala Association said that the farm laws brought by the Centre will finish the farmers of the country. "Farmers have started a massive agitation in north India and Bharat Bandh was announced for today. Mumbai Dabbawala Association supports the Bandh," he said.
Jharkhand: Protestors raise slogans and go on a march in Ranchi on account of Bharat Bandh, against the new farm laws.
11 AM: Bharat Bandh: Heavy deployment of security at Singhu border
Heavy deployment of security at Singhu border ahead of Bharat Bandh from 11 am to 3 pm today.
Bharat Bandh Live: Delhi Police beefs up security at border points
The Delhi Police on Tuesday beefed up security at all border points and made arrangements to maintain law and order across the city, including market places, in view of the 'Bharat Bandh' called by farmer unions against the Centre's new agri laws, officials said. Farmer leaders have said emergency services will be exempted, and appealed to their affiliates to not force anyone to join the shutdown. Protesting farmers will block key roads and occupy toll plazas during their 'chakka jam' protest.
10:45 AM: Bharat Bandh a flop show: Kapil Mishra
BJP leader Bharat Bandh has tweeted that the Bharat Bandh called by farmer unions have failed. They have called for a nationwide strike to protest against the three farm laws.
10:30 AM: Tight security in Patna
Heavy contingent of police deployed in Patna in view of Bharat Bandh called by farmers against the agriculture laws.
BHARAT BANDH: Left parties protest on railway tracks in Kolkata
10:20 AM: Shiv Sena says although it is against the farm laws, it will not disrupt normal in the state. Senior party leader Anil Desai said that the local trains and BEST will run as usual.
10:10 AM: Milk supply not affected in Mumbai
Bharat Bandh LIVE: The supply of milk is not affected in Mumbai. Milk supplying companies have enough stock to meet the demands. Shops are also open in Mumbai. However, APMCs at Kalyan and Vashi remained closed, with wholesalers and traders supporting the Bandh.
10:05 AM: No impact on normal life in Delhi
Bharat Bandh: Commuters in Delhi are likely to face problems, but traffic was normal on the Minto Road near the New Delhi Railway Station. The government has made arrangements to ensure people can commute easily during the bandh.
10 AM: No impact on normal life in Mumbai
Cabs, taxis and buses will ply normally in Mumbai. Police siad that patrolling will be done in Mumbai so that no untoward incident takes place.
9:55 AM: Vashi APMC closed in Mumbai
In Maharashtra, the Vashi Agricultural Produce Market Committee would be shut today. It is likely to affect supply of fruits and vegetables in Mumbai.
9:40 AM: Mandis at Ghazipur, Okhla, Narela to be heavily impacted
According to a PTI report, fruits and vegetables could be in short supply in Delhi due to Bharat Bandh. "Most of our traders are supporting the Bharat Bandh call. Hence, mandis at Ghazipur, Okhla and Narela will be heavily impacted," said Adil Ahmed Khan, Chairman of the Azadpur Mandi - Asia's largest wholesale market.
9:30 AM: Bharat Bandh Live: All India Motor Transport Congress joins strike
The agitating farmers have drawn support from various quarters including artists, sportspersons and workers' and students' groups. Tuesday's strike could impact the transport of goods as the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), the apex body of transporters representing about 95 lakh truckers and other entities, said it will suspend operations in the entire country to support the bandh.
Centre plans fact-check campaign on farm laws
Bharat Bandh Live: The Centre has decided to craft a fact-check campaign to dispel the myths over the three farm laws that are at the heart of the stir. Although the agitating farmers and the government are discussing the laws to break the logjam, the talks have yielded no positive results so far.
9:15 AM: Why Trinamool Congress not supporting Bharat Bandh?
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has announced that it will not extend support to the Bharat Bandh call given by the farm unions to protest against the three farm laws.
9 AM: Farmer leader Baldev Singh appeals for peaceful protest
According to farmer leader Baldev Singh, strong action will be taken against people who resort to violence. He also said that around 250 farmers of Gujarat will come to Delhi to extend their support to the bandh called by the farmers against the new farm laws.
8:50 AM: NH 31 blocked in Bihar's Khagaria
Bharat Bandh Live: Left parties have blocked the National Highway 31 in Khagaria of Bihar to protest against the Centre's three farm laws. Agitating farmer unions have claled for a nationwide strike to press for repeal of the farm laws.
Bharat Bandh LIVE: Man plays bean in front of buffalo during protest
Agitators in Noida decided to play a snake charmer's flute in front of a buffalo. Protesters are demanding for a repeal of Centre's three agricultural laws.
8:40 AM: Haryana police issues traffic advisory in view of Bharat Bandh
Haryana Police has issued a travel advisory stating that people may face traffic blockages on various roads and highways of the state. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Navdeep Singh Virk said elaborate arrangements have been made by the civil and police administration in Haryana according to directions of the state government. It is expected that agitating groups may sit in dharna on various roads and highways within Haryana and block them for some time.
Bar Association Mathura to support ‘Bharat Bandh'
The Bar Association Mathura on Monday announced its support to the 'Bharat Bandh' call given by the farmers protesting against the three Central laws enacted recently. As officer-bearer of the body said the association has decided to go on strike on Tuesday in support of the nationwide shutdown on the day. The farmers have been demanding the three legislations be scrapped.
Bharat Bandh Live: Navi Mumbai's APMC market shut
Navi Mumbai's APMC is shut for operations as a part of the ongoing farmers protest against the new laws. This will affect the supply of fruits, vegetables in the nearby areas. Farmers sell their vegetables, fruits and cereals here. This is Mumbai's largest wholesale market for agricultural goods.
8:30 AM: Sonia Gandhi not to celebrate her birthday
Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi will not celebrate her birthday on December 9, in view of the ongoing farmer's agitation against agriculture bills and Covid situation across the country, news agency ANI reported.
BHARAT BANDH LIVE: Naveen Patnaik's BJD maintains silence on Bharat Bandh
Odisha's ruling BJD has maintained silence on the Bharat Bandh on new farm laws and preferred to resolve the farmers' issues through dialogue. Though the BJD did not make any categorical statement on the bandh, the state government has announced that the offices will be closed on Tuesday in view of the nationwide shutdown.
8:20 AM: Adityanath asks officials to ensure people don't face problem due to Bharat Bandh
BHARAT BANDH LIVE: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked officials to take all necessary steps for ensuring that people do not face any problem because of the Bharat Bandh. The chief minister, who addressed all administrative and police officials in view of the 'Bharat Bandh' call through video conferencing, asked them not to compromise with peace and order at any cost, an official release issued here said.
8:15 AM: BHARAT BANDH LIVE: Trains stopped in Maharashtra's Malkapur
Swabhimani Shetkari Saghtana staged 'Bharat Bandh Rail Roko' protest and briefly stopped a train today in Malkapur of Buldhana district in Maharashtra. They were later removed from the tracks by police and detained.
BHARAT BANDH LIVE: Left parties, trade unions stop trains at Bhubaneswar station
Left political parties, trade unions and farmer unions stop trains at Bhubaneswar Railway Station. Farmer Unions have called #BharatBandh today, over Centre's farm laws.
8:10 AM: Left political parties stage a protest in Vijayawada, in support of today's Bharat Bandh called by farmer unions
Farmers have threatened to intensify their agitation and block more roads leading to the national capital if the government did not accept their demand. Talks between the government and protesting farmer unions so far have been futile and the sixth round of discussions is scheduled to be held on Wednesday.
