The 12-hour Bharat bandh, called by farmers’ unions on
Friday to protest new farm laws, hit rail and road traffic in many states as
protesters squatted on rail tracks and blocked roads. Businesses at many
markets in Punjab and Haryana were also hit as shops downed shutters to back
the protest by farmers seeking the repeal of new laws that they say are
‘anti-farmer’.

“Four Shatabdi trains cancelled and 31 other trains
were detained as protesters squatted on railway tracks at 32 locations across
Punjab, Haryana,” reports news agency ANI. The protesters were sitting on
rail tracks at 31 locations across Punjab and Haryana affecting traffic in
Delhi, Ambala and Firozepur division, the agency added.

The 6 am to 6 pm bandh has been called by Samyukt Kisan
Morcha, which has been protesting on Delhi’s borders for the past four months
against the new farm laws, seeking their repeal. Several rounds of talks with
the government have failed to yield any positive results.

The farmers have gathered at several highways and roads in Punjab
and Haryana, including places such as Bhatinda, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala,
Rohtak, Jhajjar, and Bhiwani districts.

A total of 32 locations where train movements have been
disrupted, fall under Delhi, Ambala and Ferozpur divisions of the railways,
reported PTI.

The Delhi Police, meanwhile, closed down both the carriageways of National Highway 24 passing through the Gazipur Border in view of the protests taking place.

The border connects Delhi with the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh.

A group reportedly sat in demonstration on railway tracks near
the village of Shahpur, five kilometres from Ambala Cantonment in Haryana,
while another incident of protestors blocking the Ambala-Rajpura highway near
the border between Haryana and Punjab was further reported by PTI.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said earlier on Friday that ‘Satyagraha’
is a historically proven method for ending atrocities and arrogance, showing
support to the protesting farmers.

However, he also tweeted out, reminding that the
demonstrations should be carried out peacefully, in national interest and
without any violence.