Bharat Bandh: Farmers stop train in Maharashtra

Members of a farmers organisationon Tuesday staged a rail roko in Maharashtras Buldhanadistrict as part of the Bharat Bandh called by agitatingfarmer unions to press for repeal of the Centres agri laws.

Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna members stopped theChennai-Ahmedabad Navjeevan Express at Malkapur station inBuldhana district while protesting against the farm laws.

Police detained Sanghatana leader Ravikant Tupkar andhis supporters over the incident, after removing them from therail tracks, an official said.

Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) in NaviMumbai, Nashik, Dhule, Pune and Solapur are closed during thebandh.

Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC)buses are plying as scheduled during the Bharat Bandh, asenior official of the state-run undertaking said. The buseswill continue to ply unless there are law and order problemsdue to the shutdown, he added.

The All India Motor Transport Congress, an apex bodyof trucker outfits, has joined the bandh and has suspendedoperations on Tuesday.

Transportation of essential commodities like milk,vegetables and fruits have been excluded from the bandh, saidDaya Natkar, secretary of Maharashtra Rajya Truck TempoTankers Vahatuk Sangh.

Taxi union leader A L Quadros said taxis are plying inMumbai as the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown had alreadyhit the sector severely.

In Maharashtra, the ruling Shiv Sena, NCP and Congressare supporting the bandh. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said peopleshould participate in the “non-political” bandh to supportfarmers.

“People should willingly take part in the bandh. Thiswill show true support to the farmers. This is not a politicalbandh though several parties have decided to take part in it,”Raut said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Federal staff and is auto-published from a syndicated feed.)