SNS. KASHMIR
NEW DELHI 27 :
The Bharat bandh called by farmers’ body Samyukta Kisan Morcha has hit normal life in Punjab and Haryana. Flow of traffic at Delhi’s borders with UP and Haryana has been affected, but shops and businesses in the capital are open. In the south, Kerala is the only state where the bandh has evoked a good response.
In both Punjab and Haryana, national highways, state highways, link road and railway tracks have been severally blocked, bringing road and rail traffic to a halt. In Punjab farmers have started protesting at over 350 places. Punjab’s Additional Director General of Police(AGDP) has issued instructions to the police forces of the state to ensure law and order at protest places. A close watch is being kept at all the dharna sites. In Haryana too, highways are blocked 25 places alone in the Jind district.
The strike has garnered support from various political parties. While Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has extended support to the bandh, Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav has announced he will participate in the nationwide strike. The Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu governments, too, have declared complete support to the Bandh. Congress has also said it will be joining the protests on Monday.