Bharat Bandh Today: How Farmers' Strike Will Impact You
The Centre on Monday asked all states and Union Territories to tighten security during Tuesday¡¯s ¡®Bharat Bandh¡¯ called by the farmers unions protesting against the Centre¡¯s three farm laws and supported by as many as 15 opposition parties, trade unions and two of the biggest railway unions.?
Emergency services allowed
Farmer leaders, however, said emergency services would be allowed while appealing to their affiliates to not force anyone to observe the shut down.?
Appealing to everyone to join the "symbolic" bandh, farmer leaders said they will block key roads and toll plazas during their 'chakka jam' protest from 11 AM to 3 PM. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said, "It is a four-hour symbolic bandh for an ideological cause. We want that there should be no problem to the common people. We appeal to them not to travel during this period". Farmers said that services such as ambulance, even weddings, can go on as usual.?
Transport services to be hit
The 4-hour Bharat bandh will affect transport services, especially in the NCR region. From transport bodies to cab services, several unions have backed farmers' agitation.The police has advised those commuting to Delhi to use the DND instead of the Noida Link road. Chilla border on Noida link road is closed for traffic due to the farmers¡¯ protest near Gautam Budh Dwar. ¡°The Ghazipur border on NH 24 is closed for traffic from Ghaziabad to Delhi due to farmers¡¯ protests. People are advised to avoid NH 24 for coming to Delhi and use Apsara/Bhopra/DND for coming to Delhi,¡± it tweeted.?
Tikri and Jharoda borders are closed for traffic movement while Badusarai border is open only for light motor vehicles like cars and two-wheelers, it said.?
In Delhi, supply from major wholesale vegetable and fruit markets is likely to be hampered with a majority of traders favouring the farmers' demands. Milk products, too, will likely be in short supply. Mandis (wholesale markets) at Ghazipur, Okhla and Narela could also be affected.
Punjab hotels shut
Hotel and Restaurant Association of Punjab has announced that it will shut down all hotels, restaurants, resorts, and bars in the state.The farmers' strike will not impact banks in the country.?
What will remain open?
Bank unions said they will not participate in the Bharat Bandh although they have they expressed solidarity with farmers. Additionally, not all cab services will remain suspended. A few auto and taxi unions have decided to continue normal services despite their support to the demands of the agitating farmers. Emergency vehicles, ambulance and hospital services will remain unaffected. Additionally, farmers have said that their Bandh will not affect any wedding procession and other related functions. Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses will operate as usual.?
The bandh was called after talks between the government and protesting farmers remained inconclusive on Saturday even after five rounds of discussions. The farmers said they consider their demands ¡°non-negotiable¡±, and the next round of talks will be dominated by the agenda of total repeal of the three farm laws through a special session of Parliament.
