The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called for a Bharat Bandh on Monday, September 27 to mark one year since the President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the Indian agriculture acts of 2020, often referred to as the Farm Bills. 

The three acts initiated by the Parliament of India in September, got Lok Sabha’s approval on September 17 and the Rajya Sabha on September 20 last year. 

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The farmer unions, under the umbrella of SKM, have called for a 10-hour Bharat Bandh. The union has said that the Bandh on Monday will be peaceful and the public will face minimal inconvenience.

The main banners or themes for the day would be ‘Bharat Bandh against Anti-Farmer Modi Government’, ‘Modi Brings in Mandi Bandh’, ‘Farmers take up Bharat Bandh’ and so on, the SKM said in a statement.

The Bharat Bandh will be held between 6 AM IST to 4 PM IST. 

Here is a list of services that will remain operational and the ones that will remain closed: (As per SKM’s guideline)

-During the time of the Bharat Bandh, central and state government offices, markets, shops, factories, schools, colleges and other educational institutions will not be allowed to function.

– Public and private transport will not be allowed to ply on roads and no public functions will be allowed.

– However, emergency services including ambulances and fire services will be allowed to function.

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The Bharat Bandh has received support from several parties and states. Congress on Sunday asked all its workers, state unit chiefs and heads of frontal organizations to take part in the Bandh. The farmers union has also received support from AAP, YSRC, DMK, Telugu Desam, Left parties, BSP and RJD. Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu governments have announced complete support to the nationwide strike.

However,  Bhartiya Udyog Vyapaar Mandal said that the Bandh will not affect the traders. “The bandh call by a handful of so-called farmers has been virtually sponsored by the opposition parties from the back door for their political gain and is anti-development and senseless besides being against the interest of traders,” national president Ravi Kant Garg said in a statement.

The Delhi Police have said that no protesters will be allowed to enter Delhi from the three protest sites at the city’s border. 

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The All India Bank Officers’ Confederation has extended its support to the call of Bharat Bandh. The union said it will join the protest of the farmers in solidarity.

The Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) said that will show solidarity with the farmers by extending support to the Bharat Bandh. However, schools will remain open in the state.