On the 26th of March, the protesting farmers and farmers associations called for a 12 hour ‘Bharat Bandh.’ The bandh was against the three farm laws proposed by the Central Government.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha called for a nationwide bandh with the support of political parties and thousands of farmers. However, the Kisan Morcha urged protestors to be peaceful and avoid violence.
The bandh across India began at 6:00 A.M., and would continue till 6:00 P.M., on the 26th of March. In addition, the farmers also marked the completion of 4 months of protest at the three borders of Delhi, the Singhu border, the Ghazipur and the Tikri border.
The farmers unions/organisations and farmers of Haryana and Punjab called for the nationwide strike against the three farm bills.
The three farm bills are, the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill 2020, the Farmers Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill 2020 (Empowerment and Protection) and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020, were cleared by the President of India.
According to the passed bills, the Minimum Support Price (MSP,) area of trading would be under the purview of the Indian Government
Farmers fear of being at the mercy of corporates or zamindars for crop prices and it would affect their livelihood and financial conditions.
They also think the newly introduced bills would also demolish the Minimum Support Price (MSP) advantages for farmers.
Updates about the current situation after farmer’s Bharat Bandh call:
1. Farmers in Punjab’s Amritsar have blocked railway tracks at Wallah. Punjab, and its neighbouring state of Haryana, are likely to witness a full, 12 hour bandh as majority of protesters at Delhi border are from the aforementioned states.
2. Farmers’ unions have also blocked Bhai Ghaniya Chowk in Bathinda, an intersection which connects the city with Amritsar, Chandigarh Ferozepur and Rajasthan.
3. In Delhi also, protestors are blocking roads and highways affecting residents. However, the Delhi police deployed officials to ensure people are not disturbed due to the called for bandh.
4. Farmers blocked the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh Ghazipur border in view of the 12 hour bandh call. In addition, traffic movement is closed on both carriageways of Ghazipur border.
5. In Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad, traders’ bodies have decided to stay ‘neutral’ during the bandh. During a meeting held on the 25th of March, the traders’ association said nobody would be forced to shut their shops or compelled to open business.
6. Among southern states, the blockade is likely to be most effective in Andhra Pradesh, where the ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) has extended their support to the bandh call.
7. In the eastern state of Odisha, the State Government announced the closure of all educational institutions and government employees have been asked to reach office before 9:30 A.M.
8.The opposition Indian National Congress (INC) and left wing parties also extended support to the Bharat Bandh.
