Bharat Bandh | Farmers leaders to meet Amit Shah

Strike to be effective from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. but no kind of essential or emergency services are to be disrupted.
File Photo

There was a mixed response to the Bharat Bandh called by farmers groups on Tuesday, with normal life affected in large parts of northern India, especially Punjab, as well as in Odisha, and the southern states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Large numbers of protesters and leaders were detained during the day, including Members of Parliament, both pre-emptively and during agitations. Major highways around Delhi, and parts of northern India were blocked in a chakka jaam until 3 pm.

Farm unions under the banner of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha have been agitating for more than two months, demanding the repeal of three contentious laws aiming to reform agricultural marketing. They fear the laws will affect government procurement at minimum support prices and benefit large corporates to the detriment of the small farmer. The Bandh call was supported by at least 25 political parties, as well as a wide range of society, including major trade unions, traders and transport associations as well as professional bodies such as the Bar Association of the Supreme Court.

With inputs from The Hindu

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