INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: Life was disrupted in several parts of the country on Tuesday as shops and commercial establishments stayed closed, transport was
affected and protesters squatted on key roads and rail tracks in response to a nationwide bandh called by farmers’ unions in protest
against the Centre’s three farm laws
The farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, blocked key roads during their four-hour “chakka jam” protest from 11 am
Protesters also blocked railway tracks at several places in West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha.Emergency services and banks, however,
functioned as usual during the pan-India shutdown, backed by about 15 Opposition parties and several trade unions
The major impact of the protests, which were peaceful, was felt not only in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, but also in Odisha, Maharashtra,
In Rajasthan, where “mandis” were closed but shops remained opened, there were reports of clashes between workers of the state’s
ruling Congress and the BJP. In the national capital, where most main markets were open but app-based cabs were off the roads, tension
spiralled when the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that the Delhi Police had put chief minister Arvind Kejriwal under house arrest
City police denied the claim but the party stuck to its guns and said the move was a response to Mr Kejriwal meeting protesting farmers at
the Singhu border, the main access point for those coming to the city from Punjab
“No one has been permitted to leave or enter his residence When our MLAs went to meet the chief minister they were beaten and thrown on
the streets,” said party leader Saurabh Bhardwaj. All India Kisan Sabha general secretary Hannan Mollah described the shutdown as a show
of strength by the farmers
“We are standing by our demand that we want a complete repeal of the three laws and will not accept any cosmetic changes
If our demands are not met, we are ready to take our agitation to the next level,” Mr Mollah said.
