Shops remain closed during an earlier Bharat Bandh, called by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) against rising fuel prices, other issues.
Farmer unions have called for 'Bharat bandh' on March 26, as their agitation against Centre's 3 new farm laws will complete 4 months. Meanwhile, a bandh call has also been called by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha — a united front of over 40 farmer unions — other farmer bodies, trade unions to protest against privatisation and fuel price hike on March 15.
Farmer leader Buta Singh Burjgill said farmers along with trade unions will protest the hike in fuel prices and privatisation of railways on March 15.
"We will observe a complete Bharat bandh on March 26, when our protest against the three farm laws completes four months. The peaceful bandh will remain effective from morning till evening," he told reporters at the Singhu border. On March 19, the farmers will observe "Mandi Bachao-Kheti Bachao" day, he said.
The farmer unions have also decided to celebrate ‘Shaheedi divas’ of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, Burjgill added.
Farmers leaders also said that copies of the new farm laws will be burnt during ‘Holika Dahan’ on March 28.
Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at the Delhi border points --- Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur --- for over four months, demanding the repeal of farm laws and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.
The protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the MSP system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporations.
However, the government has maintained that the new laws will bring better opportunities to farmers and introduce new technologies in agriculture.
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