Bharat Bandh: Police detain protesters in Tamil Nadu; shops remain shut in Puducherry

Protesters in Tamil Nadu have been detained by police as they tried to break police barricades in Anna Salai area of Chennai. Farmers' union and opposition parties took to the streets in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in support of the nationwide Bharat Bandh called by Samyuktha Kisan Morcha against the three contentious farm laws passed by the central government

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Police detained protesters, who attempted to break police barricade in Anna Salai area of Chennai. Farmers' union and opposition parties took to the streets in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in support of the nationwide Bharat Bandh called by Samyuktha Kisan Morcha against the three contentious farm laws, on Monday.

Speaking to media from the police van, K. Balakrishnan, Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretary said that the struggle will continue and intensify further. He also added that farmers are continuously protesting and the Modi government is refusing to withdraw the laws. The protest in Anna Salai was led by Balakrishnan and CPI-M state secretary Mutharasan and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader and MP Thol. Thirumavalvan.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Congress, Communist Party of India, CPI-M, VCK staged protests in Chennai and other district headquarters. Shops were shut in main parts of Union Territory Puducherry and public movement was disrupted in some parts.

September 27 marks the first anniversary of the enactment of the farm laws. Farmers' unions and supporters have been pressing on its rollback since the Acts were passed as law by the Parliament.

The bandh is being observed from 6am to 4pm during which all government and private offices, educational and other institutions, shops, industries and commercial establishments as well as public events and functions will be closed throughout the country.

Meanwhile, more than 500 farmer organisations, 15 trade unions, political parties, six state governments and varied sections of society have extended their support for the bandh. State governments of Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Punjab, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh have also extended their support to the Bharat Bandh protest.