INDIA: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Monday to mark one year of the passage of the Centre’s three agricultural laws. SKM is an umbrella body of over 40 farmers’ unions. As per the reports, security was beefed up on the borders of Ghaziabad and Noida with Delhi while traffic movement on some key routes was hit on Monday morning.
The Delhi-Gurugram border saw a massive 1.5 km traffic jam today. A sea of vehicles could be seen trying to enter Delhi from Gurugram. However, the road from Delhi to Gurugram was relatively clear.
Meanwhile, in Punjab, farmers blocked highways and other roads at many places. In Punjab, a complete shutdown was observed at several places, including Moga, where farmers blocked the Moga-Ferozepur and Moga-Ludhiana National Highways. Punjab’s neighbor state Haryana also reported protests in prominent regions. The protestors blocked some highways in Sirsa, Fatehabad, and Kurukshetra. There were also reports of farmers squatting on rail tracks at a few places in the two states.
Members of Bhartiya Kisan Union Ugrahan blocked the railway tracks during farmers’ Bharat Bandh strike at Dhablaan village near Patiala.
The Bathinda-Chandigarh National Highway too was blocked by farmers. Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi urged the Centre to repeal the three “anti-farmer laws”.
Protesters agitating against the three farm laws have broken a police barricade in the Anna Salai area of Chennai. The protesters have been detained by the police.
The SKM also urged all political parties and state governments to lend their support to this ”Bharat Bandh” and stand with the farmers in their “quest to defend principles of democracy and federalism”.
Earlier, (SKM) appealed to the people of the country to join the ”Bharat Bandh” on September 27 against the Centre’s three farm laws.
“As this historic struggle completes ten months, Samyukta Kisan Morcha has called Monday (September 27) to be observed as ”Bharat Bandh” against the anti-farmer Modi government.
“SKM appeals to every Indian to join this nationwide movement and make the ”Bharat Bandh” a resounding success. In particular, we appeal to all organizations of workers, traders, transporters, businessmen, students, youth and women, and all social movements to extend solidarity with the farmers that day,” the statement said.
