Bharat Bandh highlights: Protesters challenge police with swords, met by tear gas blanket

Bharat Bandh LIVE Updates: Agriculture markers in Madhya Pradesh's Indore district were partially affected by the 'Gramin Bharat Bandh' called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Friday. The call for the shut-down had a slight impact on the arrival of farm produce in Mandis but normal life was not affected otherwise, local sources said.

PTI

Bharat Bandh LIVE Updates: Industry body PHDCCI on Friday said it apprehends "severe hit" to trade and industry and loss of employment in the northern states from a lingering farmers' agitation which would result in economic losses of over ₹500 crore daily.

"A lingering agitation will cause ₹500 crores economic loss daily and will have an impact on Q4 Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of northern states majorly Punjab, Haryana and Delhi," said Sanjeev Agrawal, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Bharat Bandh LIVE Updates: Ambala police have registered two criminal cases against unidentified farmers for pelting stones, petrol bombs, chilli smoke and trying to hit forces using tractors at the Shambhu border during the protests, SP Jashandeep Singh Randhawa told HT.

Bharat Bandh LIVE Updates: “When the Modi government brought three black laws, the farmers sat on strike for almost a year. After that, the government withdrew the laws and made many promises to the farmers. These promises have not been fulfilled till date,” said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

Bharat Bandh LIVE Updates: Protesters challenging the security personnel during the Farmers protest at Shambhu border of Punjab/Haryana near Ambala on Friday.

Bharat Bandh LIVE Updates: Security personnel fire tear gas shots to disburse protesters who try to remove barricades at the Shambhu border of Punjab/Haryana near Ambala during the Farmers protest on Friday.

Bharat Bandh LIVE Updates: Contract and UT Employees in Chandigarh protesting during ‘Bharat bandh’ on Friday.

Bharat Bandh LIVE Updates: Protests took place in certain areas of western Uttar Pradesh on Friday in response to the 'Bharat Bandh' called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said, “We are demonstrating for various demands, including the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report and loan waivers/”

When questioned about plans to go to Delhi, Tikait responded, "A meeting is scheduled in Sisauli (Muzaffaranagar) on Saturday, where we will strategise for the future course of action."

Bharat bandh LIVE Updates: On Friday, the Jammu and Kashmir Police apprehended 50 trade union leaders and activists who intended to stage a protest at Lal Chowk in support of the demands put forth by protesting farmers.

The planned demonstration was a response to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha's call for a 'Bharat Bandh,' urging the government to address farmers' concerns, particularly the demand for a legal assurance of the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

Bharat bandh LIVE Updates:

• Commuters in Punjab faced inconvenience as buses from services such as Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and private operators remained off the roads.

• Markets and commercial establishments in various places across Punjab were shut in response to the 'Bharat Bandh' call.

• Demonstrations by farmers led to the blocking of national highways in Pathankot, Tarn Taran, Bathinda, and Jalandhar in Punjab.

• In Haryana's Hisar, Haryana Roadways services were paralyzed as employees supported the 'Bharat Bandh,' impacting public transportation.

• Members of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) staged dharnas at toll plazas in Haryana, preventing toll tax collection from commuters.

• Farmers' unions from various states, including Uttar Pradesh, participated in the bandh. Notable leaders like Rakesh Tikait joined protests in support of farmers' demands.

• The bandh not only highlighted farmers' demands for a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) but also expressed dissent against the Centre's proposed hit-and-run law, as protested by Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and PRTC Contract Workers' Union.

• Various farmer bodies, such as BKU (Rajewal), BKU (Dakunda), BKU (Lakhowal), BKU (Qadian), and Kirti Kisan Union, joined hands to participate in the nationwide bandh.

• Private bus operators also refrained from plying buses, contributing to the overall impact on transportation services.

Bharat bandh LIVE Updates: Farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said the farmers would hold off their march for now. "When the meetings have started, if we move forward (towards Delhi) then how will meetings happen?" Dallewal said, adding that the protest "will continue peacefully".

Bharat bandh LIVE Updates: "The protestors are representing the farmers of the whole country. But the way they are being stopped is not right. So far, more than 100 farmers have been injured and many have been arrested. They have made huge prisons. While farmers are being oppressed in India, PM Modi is travelling abroad, Amit Shah has not uttered a word, and the agriculture minister has not been given the right to talk," said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut.

Bharat bandh LIVE Updates: Insignificant impact of Bharat Bandh call in Karnal region as markets and other commercial establishments remain open. Buses also remain operational with a handful of union workers staging a dharna at Karnal bus stand.

"If the INDIA bloc comes to power after the general elections, we will give a legal guarantee to MSP. Whenever farmers have asked for something from the Congress, it has been given to them. Be it loan waiver or MSP, we have always protected the interests of cultivators and will do so in future," Congress leader Gandhi said.

Shops and many establishments in Punjab and Haryana are closed, and bus drivers have gone on strike to show solidarity with the farmers.

Protesting farmers will stay put at the two borders of Punjab and Haryana over their various demands as the deadlock persisted despite the third round of talks with a panel of Union ministers.

A five-hour meeting, which started around 8:45 pm on Thursday, between three Union ministers and the farmer leaders remained inconclusive. (PTI)

Delhi Police is on high alert and security has been tightened in the national capital in view of the 'Bharat Bandh' call given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), officials said on Friday.

Traffic may be affected in the national capital with barricades put up in several areas, according to police. (PTI)

Bharat bandh LIVE Updates: Stopped by Police from approaching BJP district at Khanna Samarak in Amritsar, Congress workers scuffled with Police near Hathi gate. They were to stage protest outside the office in protest against the "repression" of farmers, but the police stopped them at few yards away. The Congress sat at the same place and staged the protest. This was the programe of Amritsar city Congress unit. On the hand, District Rural Congress is staging protest outside residence of Former BJP MP Shwait Malik in Rialto Chowk

“We had the discussion with the ministers. We will call it a ‘decision’, only if they will practically implement everything that they have said to us in the meeting. It will be our last option to move forward if nothing happens ever after the talk and giving enough time to the government,” farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said.

Bharat bandh LIVE Updates: Here’s what farmer Leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said about the death of a farmer named Gyan Singh, member of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) who died due to a heart attack, at the Shambhu border on Friday morning.

“Central government is the reason behind this agitation. We have a lot of people here (Shambhu border) participating in the protest including elders. We are facing difficulties in receiving medicines at the right time and even getting food, and resting,” he said.

Bharat bandh LIVE Updates: In support of Gramin Bharat bandh call given by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the bus services in Rohtak, Jhajjar, Hisar, Jind and some other parts of the state remained parked at bus depots and passengers faced problems.

In Rohtak, shops and other business establishments are open and the bandh has more impact in rural areas.

Jai Kumar Dahiya, a leader of roadways union in Rohtak, said that they are supporting bandh and buses will not ply today in support of call given by SKM and other unions.

The non- teaching association at Rohtak’s Maharahi Dayanand University announced to suspend the regular work in solidarity with bandh.

Association president Ajmer Singh said that the union government is suppressing voice of all sections, including farmers and government employees.

The farmer unions will lay seige at toll plazas across the state in support of bandh. The farmers in Rohtak started marching towards toll plazas at Makrauli and Madina villages in the district.

On Farmers' Protest, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut says, "The protestors are representing the farmers of the whole country. But the way they are being stopped is not right. So far, more than 100 farmers have been injured and many have been arrested. They have made huge prisons. While farmers are being oppressed in India, PM Modi is travelling abroad, Amit Shah has not uttered a word, and the agriculture minister has not been given the right to talk. Today the farmers have called for a Bharat Bandh but this message has not reached the entire nation. MVA will discuss the future of this agitation. Shiv Sena is in constant touch with the protestors..."

Bharat bandh LIVE Updates: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Gulbahar Rao speaks on closure of vegetable market in UP's Muzaffarnagar. He says, “A mandi operates only when they (farmers) come (to sell their crop). Farmers haven’t even come here (mandi) today."

Bharat bandh LIVE Updates: Delhi Police braced for disruptions today as the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) bandh loomed. Security was tightened across the city, with barricades erected in several areas potentially impacting traffic flow.

Heavy security personnel, including those in anti-riot gear, continued guarding the closed border points, restricting traffic movement between the two states. While the full impact on commutes remains to be seen, travelers are advised to exercise caution and seek alternative routes if possible, PTI reported.