Emergency services and banks were exempted from observing the strike even though medical associations and bank employees union lent their support to the call
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Normal life was thrown out of gear in several parts of the country on Tuesday in response to “Bharat Bandh” called by farmers demanding repeal of the new agricultural laws.
Protestors took to roads in many towns and cities across the country and raised slogans in support of the protesting farmers. The day remained largely peaceful even as police filed cases in several places against the protestors.
Yogendra Yada, the leader of Swaraj Abhiyan, claimed that shutdown was observed in around 10,000 places in 25 states.
The strike was most visible in states of Haryana and Punjab whose farmers form the major chunk of protest sit-in along Delhi border. Public transport on highways was sparse and commercial establishments and shops were shut in all major towns of the two states. The presence of staff in government offices was also thin as thousands of employees took a mass leave for one day in support of the strike call.
Members of opposition parties and trade unions poured out on roads and marched in solidarity with farmers.
The strike call was supported by a number of opposition parties including Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriye Janata Dal, All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen, Left parties and many regional parties.
RSS-affiliated Bhartiya Kissan Sangh distanced itself from the strike.
Emergency services and banks were exempted from observing the strike even though the medical associations and bank employees union had announced to lend their support to the call.
Doctors from AIIMS, Delhi & all over India are protesting against Modi Govt’s draconian law of allowing allopathic surgeries by Ayurvedic practitioners.This single clause can result mass killing of millions of poor by ill trained practitioners. We oppose this legalised quackery. pic.twitter.com/Z0aT8O6fu9
— Harjit Singh Bhatti (@DrHarjitBhatti) December 8, 2020
Reports of shutdown were received from Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha and southern states as well.
In Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed that he was not allowed to leave his home to meet the agitating farmers at Singhu border. The Delhi Police which comes under the central government, however, refuted the claim.
Members of Congress party led by Anil Chaudhary marched in Delhi’s ITO. Hours later the police registered a case against them for violating pandemic norms.
Maharashtra also witnesses strike as mandis remained closed in show of solidarity with the farmers.
In Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan, Mandis were closed as some reports suggested there were clashes between workers of BJP and Congress.
In West Bengal, the ruling Trinamool Congress also supported the call but did not enforce it. Some highways and rail tracks were blocked, affecting normal life.
Reports of train services being affected were received from Bihar and Odhisha where members of trade unions and opposition tried to disrupt the movement of trains.
Traffic movement on roads in Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh was thin as many shops and business establishments were shut.
In BJP-ruled Karnataka, farmers hit roads in many towns and cities which disrupted normal life. In Tamil Nadu, members of the ruling AIADMK and opposition Congress held demonstrations. But it did not disrupt normal life.
