Protesting farm unions under the banner of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha have called for a day long Bharat Bandh on Friday to mark the four-month anniversary of their agitation on the borders of Delhi, and to reiterate their demand to repeal three contentious farm laws. The strike call will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

The nation-wide bandh call urged that shops, malls, markets and institutions remain closed. Protestors intend to block road and rail transport and suspend services, except for ambulances and other emergency services. The poll-bound States have been excluded from the bandh.

Here are the live updates:

12.20 am

Police detain prominent farmer leaders in Bengaluru

Bengaluru City police detained all prominent farmer leaders, who were spearheading protests against the three farm laws brought by the union government, drawing ire of the farmers.

Samyukta Horata – Karnataka had recently given a call for Karnataka Bandh at a protest meeting led by Rakesh Tikait and Dr. Darshan Pal. However, not finding many takers beyond the farming community the farmers withdrew the bandh and decided to hold a mock death procession of the three farm laws.

However, in the city, police have detained farmers at multiple locations including Nayandahalli Circle and Town Hall, not allowing them to hold the mock procession as well. “In which democracy does the police not allow citizens to hold a peaceful protest? We have even withdrawn the bandh, but not allowing us to hold a demonstration is undemocratic,” rued farmer leader Kodohalli Chandrashekhar, detained at a protest in front of Town Hall.

12.05 am

Entry points to Singhu Border blocked

Farmers have blocked entry points to the Singhu Border, where earlier traffic was permitted. 

Repeated appeals are being made from the main stage at Singhu Border to not block ambulances and other essential services during the Bharat Bandh.

Meanwhile, in Rajasthan Ranjit Singh Bhullar, a protesting farmer, has single-handedly blocked a road in Sriganganagar district since this morning, in response to the SKM’s call for Bharat Bandh.

 

Protestors have also blocked the movement of buses at Kesrisinghpur in Rajasthan.

11.35 am

UP Kisan Sabha leader placed under house arrest

U.P. Police arrived outside the home of Mukut Singh, State general secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha, in Etawah around 7 a.m. this morning and placed him under house arrest.

 

“The police came at 11 p.m. last night, and warned me not to go out. Then this morning they came and parked outside to stop me from leaving. They say it is a precautionary measure, and they will be here until the Bharat Bandh call gets over at 6 p.m. today,” said Mr. Singh, speaking to The Hindu from Etawah.

He says reports are coming in from several districts, that district-level leaders of the AIKS are also being placed under house arrest.

“This is the response of the government. The Yogi government is scared of the farmers, so they have banned all protests,” he added. “But we will keep raising our voices until we are heard.”

10.30 am

Four Shatabdi trains cancelled as protesters squat on tracks

Protesters squatted on railway tracks at 32 locations across Punjab and Haryana on Friday as part of the ‘Bharat Bandh’.

A railway spokesperson said four Shatabdi trains have been cancelled and 31 other trains detained due to the protests.

The 32 locations where train movement has been disrputed fall under the Delhi, Ambala and Ferozepur divisions of the railways.

“As of 9 am kisan agitators are sitting at 32 locations. Total 31 trains have been detained so far. Four Shatabdi trains have been cancelled,” Northern Railways spokesperson Deepak Kumar said. – PTI

10.20 am

Don’t disrupt essential services, says BKU president

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) president Gurnam Singh Charuni, in a video message, said that roads were blocked across Haryana as part of ‘Bharat Bandh’, but there were complaints of water canters, milk vehicles and even patients travelling in personal vehicles being stopped.

He, however, added that there were no reports of ambulances being stopped. Mr. Charuni made an appeal to the protesters to not to cause any inconvenience to the masses, treat them with love and not disrupt essential services.

10.10 am

Support farmers, but shops will be open, says Delhi traders’ organisation

The Chambers of Trade and Industry, a body representing traders in Delhi, had on Thursday said that while majority of traders support demands of the farmers, shops and factories will remain open during the ‘Bharat Bandh’.

“We discussed it with business owners and traders. Most of them said they support the demands of the farmers and the Centre should find a solution to the issue,” CTI convenor Brijesh Goyal and chairman Subhash Khandelwal said in a statement.

“However, most traders want to keep their business establishments open on Friday as they have been accruing losses due to coronavirus,” it said. – PTI

 

Glimpses from the bandh…

 

 

9.40 am

Traffic movement suspended on Ghazipur border

The Delhi Police has closed both carriageways of National Highway-24 passing through the Ghazipur border in view of the ‘Bharat Bandh’.

In a tweet, the Delhi Traffic Police said, “Traffic movement is closed on Ghazipur Border NH-24 (Both carriageways).” The one side of the carriageway was earlier opened on March 15 for traffic. However, the other side from Ghaziabad towards Delhi is closed since the farmers’ protest started. – PTI

9.30 am

‘Satyagraha’ ends atrocities, arrogance: Rahul Gandhi on Bharat Bandh

India’s history shows that ‘satyagraha’ ends atrocities, injustice and arrogance, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, expressing support for the ‘Bharat Bandh’.

In a tweet in Hindi, Mr. Gandhi said India’s history shows that ‘satyagraha’ ends atrocities, injustice and arrogance.  The movement should be in national interest and peaceful, the former Congress chief added. – PTI

9.20 am

Vehicular movement hit in Delhi

In Punjab and Haryana, groups of farmers started sit-in protests, or dharnas, on key roads, including national and State highways, as well as besides railway tracks at a few locations.

Vehicular movement was disrupted in parts of the two States, which have been at the forefront of the protests. Public transport, including buses and taxis, stayed off the roads. SKM members will hold dharnas at 120 places in Punjab alone, said Jagmohan Singh, general secretary, Bhartiya Kisan Union-Ekta (Dakonda).

At least five agitation points have also been identified within Delhi city, with protests to begin by 11 a.m. This will also be the first major agitation within the capital since the Republic Day tractor parade.

 

8.40 am

Farmers occupy key roads in Punjab, Haryana

Several groups of farmers on Friday went on dharna on key roads, including national and State highways, besides railway tracks at a few places, in Punjab and Haryana amid the call for ‘Bharat bandh’.

Vehicular movement was disrupted in parts of Punjab and Haryana. Public transport, including buses and taxis, stayed off the roads.

“A complete shutdown has been called from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m,” said Jagmohan Singh, general secretary, Bhartiya Kisan Union-Ekta (Dakonda).

Delhi

Adequate security arrangements in place, says Delhi Police

The Delhi Police said adequate security arrangements have been put in place in view of the ‘Bharat Bandh’.

Delhi Police PRO Chinmoy Biswal said there will be intense patrolling to maintain peace in the national capital.

“There will be adequate security arrangements in all police districts during the ‘Bharat Bandh’,” he said.

“The patrolling staff will roam in their area throughout the day and their focus will to maintain peace in busy marketplaces,” Mr. Biswal said. – PTI

Odisha

Odisha declares closure of educational institutes

The Odisha government declared the closure of all educational institutions across the state on March 26 in view of the nationwide Bharat Bandh call.

The Congress and Left parties have announced their support to the 12-hour bandh to be observed from 6 a.m.

The State’s BJD government has asked its employees to reach offices by 9.30 a.m. on Friday in view of the bandh.

The front gates of state secretariat Lok Seva Bhawan will be closed at 10.15 a.m. and all the passage will be regulated through rear gates. Security check of identity cards and passes of the employees and visitors will be intensified, the home department said.

In a notification, the government said that schools, colleges, universities and technical institutions will be closed on Friday in view of the bandh.  PTI