Sonipat (Haryana): Protesting farmers have blocked the National Highway-44 in front of the Indian International Horticulture Market at Ganaur as part of Bharat Bandh called by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha to mark the first anniversary of the enactment of the three farm laws.
Meanwhile, Bhartiya Kisan leader, Rakesh Tikait who has been camping on the Ghazipur border said that they have got the support of the public. He also said that have not sealed anything and emergency vehicles are being allowed to ply.
"Ambulances, doctors or those going for an emergency can pass through. We've not sealed down anything, we just want to send a message. We appeal to the shopkeepers to keep their shops closed for now and open only after 4pm. No farmer is coming here from outside," Tikait said.
The roads leading from Chandigarh to Delhi have been blocked by the farmers. Protesting framers on the Ghazipur border have also blocked the Delhi-Meerut expressway. All the routes of the expressway have been closed and the traffic has also been diverted.
However, emergency establishments and essential services, including hospitals, medical stores, relief and rescue work and people attending to personal emergencies will be exempted from the bandh, according to the organisers. The farmers have also appealed to the general public to stay at home to avoid unnecessary trouble. Food arrangements for the protesting farmers have also been made in the Horticulture Market.
Ambulances, doctors or those going for an emergency can pass through. We've not sealed down anything, we just want to send a message. We appeal to the shopkeepers to keep their shops closed for now and open only after 4pm. No farmer is coming here from outside
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, the Sonepat administration has made elaborate security arrangements. Police personnel are deployed in the district along with 3 ASP, 5 DSP, 26 inspectors.
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 Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Punjab, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh have also extended their support to the Bharat Bandh protest.
READ: Farmers' unions call for Bharat Bandh today, security beefed up at Delhi borders
