Bharat Bandh today amid blocked roads, tight security and sealed borders

First Published Dec 8, 2020, 9:33 AM IST

Farmers are observing a Bharat Bandh today to protest against the controversial new farm laws.

<p><strong>What's Working During The Bandh</strong><br />
 </p>

<p>* In Delhi and Mumbai, public transport including Metro and buses, will work as usual. <br />
 </p>

<p>* Markets across the country will remain open and business activities, in general, will continue to remain operational.<br />
 </p>

<p>* Bank associations have decided not to participate in the Bharat Bandh. So, banking services will remain unaffected. <br />
 </p>

<p>* Emergency, ambulance and hospital services will remain unaffected</p>

What's Working During The Bandh

* In Delhi and Mumbai, public transport including Metro and buses, will work as usual.

* Markets across the country will remain open and business activities, in general, will continue to remain operational.

* Bank associations have decided not to participate in the Bharat Bandh. So, banking services will remain unaffected.

* Emergency, ambulance and hospital services will remain unaffected

<p><strong>What's Not Working During The Bandh</strong><br />
 </p>

<p>* Transport and truck unions in Punjab and Haryana will not operate<br />
 </p>

<p>* Milk and vegetable supply will be affected<br />
 </p>

<p>* Mandis in Punjab, Haryana and some other states will be shut.<br />
 </p>

<p>* Hotels, restaurants, resorts, and bars in Punjab<br />
 </p>

<p>* No Uber, Ola taxi services in Delhi/NCR region</p>

What's Not Working During The Bandh

* Transport and truck unions in Punjab and Haryana will not operate

* Milk and vegetable supply will be affected

* Mandis in Punjab, Haryana and some other states will be shut.

* Hotels, restaurants, resorts, and bars in Punjab

* No Uber, Ola taxi services in Delhi/NCR region

<p>The total shutdown call between 11am and 3pm has the support of several trade and transport unions and almost all opposition parties. <br />
 </p>

<p>On the eve of the strike, the Centre had asked all states and Union Territories to tighten security and that peace and tranquillity must be maintained during the strike.<br />
 </p>

<p>Farmer leaders said their strike will remain peaceful and that no shops and establishments will be forcibly closed on account of the Bandh.<br />
 </p>

<p><strong>Here are the latest updates:</strong></p>

The total shutdown call between 11am and 3pm has the support of several trade and transport unions and almost all opposition parties.

On the eve of the strike, the Centre had asked all states and Union Territories to tighten security and that peace and tranquillity must be maintained during the strike.

Farmer leaders said their strike will remain peaceful and that no shops and establishments will be forcibly closed on account of the Bandh.

Here are the latest updates:

<p><strong>Delhi-Haryana border points sealed</strong><br />
 </p>

<p>In view of the farmers’ protest, the Delhi Police sealed the national capital's borders with Haryana at Tikri, Jharoda, Dhansa, Singhu, Auchandi, Piao Maniyari and Mangesh. National Highway-44 was also shut on both sides and commuters were suggested to take alternative routes via Lampur, Safiabad and Saboli borders. <br />
 </p>

<p>The traffic police advised those travelling towards Noida to take the DND as the Chilla border on the Noida Link road too was closed for traffic. The Ghazipur border on NH-24 was also shut for traffic from Ghaziabad to Delhi.<br />
 </p>

<p>Daurala, Kapashera, Rajokri NH 8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam Vihar and Dundahera borders were among the few open borders with Haryana</p>

Delhi-Haryana border points sealed

In view of the farmers’ protest, the Delhi Police sealed the national capital's borders with Haryana at Tikri, Jharoda, Dhansa, Singhu, Auchandi, Piao Maniyari and Mangesh. National Highway-44 was also shut on both sides and commuters were suggested to take alternative routes via Lampur, Safiabad and Saboli borders.

The traffic police advised those travelling towards Noida to take the DND as the Chilla border on the Noida Link road too was closed for traffic. The Ghazipur border on NH-24 was also shut for traffic from Ghaziabad to Delhi.

Daurala, Kapashera, Rajokri NH 8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam Vihar and Dundahera borders were among the few open borders with Haryana

<p><strong>K'taka private schools suspend online classes</strong></p>

<p>Private schools in Kanataka have suspended online classes for the day in support of the ongoing farmers protest in the country’s capital. <br />
 </p>

<p>According to Shashi Kumar, general secretary of the Karnataka Unaided School Management Association, over 3000 schools have agreed to take part in the one-day suspension of classes. However, tests and online exams scheduled for Tuesday will continue as scheduled.  <br />
 </p>

K'taka private schools suspend online classes

Private schools in Kanataka have suspended online classes for the day in support of the ongoing farmers protest in the country’s capital.

According to Shashi Kumar, general secretary of the Karnataka Unaided School Management Association, over 3000 schools have agreed to take part in the one-day suspension of classes. However, tests and online exams scheduled for Tuesday will continue as scheduled.

<p><strong>Largest Transport body joins Bandh</strong><br />
 </p>

<p>Transporters’ body All India Motor Transport Congress has extended support to farmers’ call on Bharat Bandh, announcing to suspend operations across the country for the day.<br />
 </p>

<p>India's largest transport body AIMTC last week had said that it was considering halting operations only in the northern parts of the country.<br />
 </p>

<p>In a statement, AIMTC President Kultaran Singh Atwal said: "Earlier it was decided that the transport fraternity from Northern India will participate in the Bharat Bandh announced by farmers, but now it has been resolved in the meeting that transport associations and unions in other parts of the country will join the Bharat Bandh of Farmers and voluntarily suspend their operations on December 8, 2020."</p>

Largest Transport body joins Bandh

Transporters’ body All India Motor Transport Congress has extended support to farmers’ call on Bharat Bandh, announcing to suspend operations across the country for the day.

India's largest transport body AIMTC last week had said that it was considering halting operations only in the northern parts of the country.

In a statement, AIMTC President Kultaran Singh Atwal said: "Earlier it was decided that the transport fraternity from Northern India will participate in the Bharat Bandh announced by farmers, but now it has been resolved in the meeting that transport associations and unions in other parts of the country will join the Bharat Bandh of Farmers and voluntarily suspend their operations on December 8, 2020."

<p><strong>US lawmakers back farmers' protest </strong><br />
 </p>

<p>American lawmakers have voiced their support for farmers agitating in India against the new farm laws and urged that they be allowed to protest peacefully. <br />
 </p>

<p>"I stand in solidarity with the Punjabi farmers in India protesting for their livelihoods and protection from misguided, manipulative government regulations, Congressman Doug LaMalfa said. <br />
 </p>

<p>"Punjabi farmers must be allowed to protest peacefully against their government without fear of violence," said the Republican lawmaker who represents Californian's first Congressional district.<br />
 </p>

<p>India has called the remarks by foreign leaders on protests by farmers as "ill-informed" and "unwarranted" as the matter pertained to the internal affairs of a democratic country. <br />
 </p>

US lawmakers back farmers' protest

American lawmakers have voiced their support for farmers agitating in India against the new farm laws and urged that they be allowed to protest peacefully.

"I stand in solidarity with the Punjabi farmers in India protesting for their livelihoods and protection from misguided, manipulative government regulations, Congressman Doug LaMalfa said.

"Punjabi farmers must be allowed to protest peacefully against their government without fear of violence," said the Republican lawmaker who represents Californian's first Congressional district.

India has called the remarks by foreign leaders on protests by farmers as "ill-informed" and "unwarranted" as the matter pertained to the internal affairs of a democratic country.

<p><strong>Kerala to move Supreme Court against farm bills</strong><br />
<br />
 <br />
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Kerala Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar have said the state government is all set to approach the Supreme Court against the Bills.<br />
 </p>

<p>Kumar said that these Bills are against the interests of the farmers and the Kerala government would not implement them at any cost. <br />
 </p>

<p>"We will approach the Supreme Court and are prepared to face the consequences arising out of it. The Centre has no business intruding in the matters which comes under the state's jurisdictions," said Kumar.</p>

Kerala to move Supreme Court against farm bills

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Kerala Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar have said the state government is all set to approach the Supreme Court against the Bills.

Kumar said that these Bills are against the interests of the farmers and the Kerala government would not implement them at any cost.

"We will approach the Supreme Court and are prepared to face the consequences arising out of it. The Centre has no business intruding in the matters which comes under the state's jurisdictions," said Kumar.

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