The protesting farmers mainly from Punjab and Haryana belt who are against the three farm bills passed by the BJP government have called for Bharath bandh today. Trade unions, lawyer unions have extended support to the protesting farmers.
Anna Hazare has declared a day of fast expressing his support to the farmers. Mamata Banerjee and KCR have also called for support to the farmers’ agitation. The Congress has been the biggest supporter of the bandh and has called upon its cadre all over India to join the protesting farmers.
In order to avoid problems for common man, the farmers will be protesting between 11 am and 3 pm today. Short supply of vegetables, milk, are expected in Mumbai and Delhi. The Delhi-Meerut highway is blocked due to the bandh and this could disrupt vehicular movement on the Delhi route.
Diljit Dosanjh who has been supporting farmers by posting messages and visiting them to get first-hand information, has once again posted messages to encourage the protesters. In fact, there are rumours that he donated Rs 1 crore to the farmers to buy warm clothes.
Those supporting the protesters have been burning effigies and holding rasta rokos to extend their support in various states. In Bihar, RJD and Congress are in support of the farmers and one could see their cadre coming on to the streets to make sure the bandh is observed.
On the other hand, Kangana Ranaut who has been quite vocal about her opinion on farmers’ protest has once again posted a poem showing her ‘support’ to proposed farm bills.
Meanwhile, in Delhi, AAP has alleged that Kejriwal has been put under house arrest as he went to meet the farmers yesterday. This, however, has been refuted by the Delhi police. BJP leaders have claimed that the bandh is a flop in Delhi and alleged Kejriwal is home-bound as he is afraid to come out.
It is obvious that the impact of the bandh will be less in BJP ruled states and in states where they have allies.