Bharat Bandh: Delhi-UP traffic affected, security beefed up in Delhi

Farmers' organisations have called for Bharat Bandh on Monday from 6 am to 4 pm. This resulted in traffic snarls in the morning at some places particularly at Delhi-UP border, NDTV reported.

Delhi-Meerut Expressway was blocked near the Ghazipur protest site, affecting the traffic coming from Uttar Pradesh. BKU, which is an umbrella of over 40 farmer unions have called for the 10-hour Bharat Bandh from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m, to continue their protest against the three contentious farm bills.

The farm union chose September 27 for the Bharat Bandh call because on this date last year, the three bills were brought into force.

The farm unions have decided to observe the day as black day.

The security arrangements across the peripheries of the national capital were beefed up in the wake Bharat Bandh on Monday to mark one year of the passage of the Centre's three contentious farm laws.

Farmers' umbrella body, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, had given a call for the Bharat Bandh, saying that their "historic Struggle" to repeal the farm laws completes 10 months on this day.

From 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., everything would be closed throughout the country be it government and private offices, all educational and other institutions, all shops, industries and commercial establishments, all public events and functions would be shut.

The SKM had said public and private transport shall also come to a halt during this period, however, as per initial reports, public transport, including the Delhi Metro, were seen functional.

As per the BKU's official statement issued Sunday evening, farm unions along with their supporters, including trade unions, have decided to extend their support for the protest.

They have decided to shut markets, except some emergency services.

Government and private offices, educational and other institutions, shops, industries and commercial establishments will be closed across the country, the SKM said. However, demonstrators have insisted the protest will be peaceful

According to the BKU, apart from trade unions, political parties, six state governments and varied sections of the society have also extended their support.

So far, left parties like Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, All India Forward Bloc, Revolutionary Socialist Party many many other parties like India National Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party, Telugu Desam Party, Janata Dal (Secular), Bahujan Samaj Party, Nationalist Congress Party, DMK, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha among others have backed the call.

Farm union have announced that they would close all the borders connecting to the national capital.

Farmer have been sitting on protest at three borders of Delhi-Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur since November 2020.

Meanwhile, the Central Trade Unions have decided to stage a protest at Janatar Mantar to show of solidarity to the farm unions.

With inputs from IANS