India / Bharat Bandh successful, okay if public had some inconvenience: Tikait

New Delhi: The 10-hour-long Bharat Bandh, which was scheduled to end at 4pm, was successful, the protesting farmers said on Monday. The pan-India shutdown was organised by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) against the three farm laws passed by Parliament in September last year.

"Our 'Bharat Bandh' was successful. We had the full support of farmers... We can't seal down everything as we have to facilitate the movement of people. We are ready for talks with govt, but no talks are happening," sais Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait. BKU was one of the participants of the bandh called by the SKM, an umbrella organisation of nearly 40 unions.

The bandh was organised on Monday (September 27) to mark the first anniversary of the assent given to the three farm laws by President Ram Nath Kovind.

The SMK said there was "an unprecedented response, beyond anyone's expectations" to Bharat Bandh. Many non-NDA parties extended support to the nationwide protest.

There were reports of disruption in traffic movement in many states, while some claimed there was no impact of Bandh. Heavy police presence was seen across the county to maintain law and order.

Delhi-NCR

Bharat Bandh caused disruptions in traffic movement between Delhi and neighbouring states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Traffic movement at the Ghazipur border and the Dhansa Border were affected with Delhi Traffic Police closing vehicular movement on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh Ghazipur border for both carriageways.

Massive traffic snarl were seen at Gurugram-Delhi border as vehicles entering the national capital were checked by Delhi Police and paramilitary jawans. The Delhi Noida Direct (DND) flyway also witnessed massive traffic congestion.

Punjab and Haryana

Farmers blocked national highways and major link roads in both the states, due to which the police had to diverted traffic at several places.

The shutdown was almost complete in Punjab, with transport services suspended during the bandh period, while shops and other commercial establishments remained shut at most places. National and state highways in several districts, including Amritsar, Rupnagar, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Sangrur, Mohali, Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Bathinda, were blocked by the protesters.

Delhi-Amritsar National Highway was blocked at Shahabad in Haryana's Kurukshetra. The protesters also blocked highways in Sirsa, Fatehabad, Panipat, Hisar, Charkhi Dadri, Karnal, Kaithal, Rohtak, Jhajjar and Panchkula districts.

Jammu and Kashmir

Demonstrations and rallies were held across Jammu district on Monday in support of the Bharat Bandh called by farmers to demand repeal of the Centre's three agri laws. Led by CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami, hundreds of activists and farmers took out a rally and sat on a dharna on the main road, leading to disruption of traffic.

A similar demonstration was held in Srinagar where some farmer leaders demanded minimum support price for farm produce.