SKM appeals for peace, parties back bandh
Mukesh Tandon
Tribune News Service
Sonepat, September 26
The traffic on all national and state highways would be hit during tomorrow’s Bharat Bandh called by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), said farmers’ leader Rakesh Tikait.
Speaking at Panipat after the farmers’ mahapanchayat, the SKM leader appealed to the people not to venture out till 3 pm because there would be traffic jams all around.
Trains would also be stopped during the bandh, he said. The farmers in Sonepat reportedly plan to block traffic at 10 places by staging protests. All grain and vegetable markets would also remain closed in the district.
Blockade 6 am to 4 pm; advisory issued
- Emergency services, including ambulances, medical shops, hospitals, fire services etc., to be exempt
- Central and state govt offices, markets, industries, educational institutions, transportation etc. won’t be allowed to function
- No room for violence, people should be appealed to keep their establishments shut during bandh hours
The SKM claimed that a number of political parties, traders’ bodies, transporters, bank unions etc. have assured support for the bandh call. Morcha leaders claimed the bandh would be peaceful.
Jai Kisan Andolan convener Yogendra Yadav said, “We have got support from across the country. It will be a historic bandh.”
The call for the bandh has been given to mark the anniversary of three contentious agricultural laws. The President had given assent to the three laws on September 27 last year. The SKM claimed the Andhra Government had expressed support for the bandh. The LDF, AAP, SP, TDP, JD(S), BSP, NCP, DMK, and many other parties have also extended support to the bandh, it claimed. A bandh would be observed across the country from 6 am to 4 pm tomorrow, the SKM said.
Congress backs morcha call
The Congress has said it supported the farmers’ call for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Monday and demanded immediate rollback of the three farm laws passed by Parliament last year
