Hundreds of farmers on Monday blocked major highways including National Highway 1 linking Delhi with various parts of Haryana and Punjab as part of the Bharat bandh called by farmers’ unions.
The farmers’ bodies called for the nationwide bandh demanding to scrap three central farm laws.
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The Bharat bandh, which started at 6 am, will continue till 4 pm.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which has called for the bandh, said during the Bharat bandh all government and private offices, educational and other institutions, shops, industries and commercial establishments as well as public events and functions will be closed across the country.
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The Samyukta Kisan Morcha is an umbrella organisation of more than 40 farmer unions.
The agitated farmers have demanded the repeal of the three farm laws passed by Parliament in 2020.
Due to the bandh, traffic across Punjab and Haryana is likely to hit badly and see traffic disruptions for several hours as farmers, farm labourers, commission agents, trade and employee unions and activists of political parties squatted on national highways till 4 pm.
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According to a media report, the protesting farmers have parked their tractors on the highways and major link roads in Punjab and Haryana and squatted on the road.
The police forces in Haryana and Punjab are also likely to be seen at various places of these two places to maintain law and order in view of the protest by the farmers.
The police have diverted the traffic at several places as the protesting farmers have blocked the highways.
So far, no untoward incident has been reported from anywhere in the states.
Emergency medical services have been exempted from the purview of Bharat bandh.
The Delhi Traffic Police tweeted on Monday morning that the traffic movement has been closed from Uttar Pradesh towards Ghazipur due to the protest.
Haryana Police has issued an advisory stating that people may face traffic blockages in the state in view of the Bharat bandh.
The report quoted a police spokesman as saying that elaborate arrangements have been put in place in Haryana.
The primary objective of the arrangements is to maintain law and order, prevent violence and to facilitate the functioning of traffic and public transport systems, the report said.