Bharat Bandh Today LIVE: Life as usual in Delhi, BSF deployed in Patna, trains stopped in Odisha, Maharashtra — All that is happening

Bharat Bandh Today LIVE: Heavy deployment of security has been made at Singhu border (Haryana-Delhi). The farmers' protest at the border has entered 13th day today. Farmer Unions have called Bharat Bandh today, against the Central Government's Farm Laws. 

Bharat Bandh Today LIVE: Section 144 has been imposed near Parliament, New Delhi. Bharat Bandh is being observed by protestinig farmers who have been camping at multiple borders and highways connecting neighbouring states to Delhi. 

The Delhi Police will provide security to those traders who want to open today despite call for Bharat Bandh. The Centre has deployed forces in the national capital to ensure law and order is maintained in the city. 

Bharat Bandh: Pune APMC market will not shut despite call for 'Bharat Bandh'. Sachin Paygude, a local trader, says: 'We support farmers' agitation. But we've kept the market open today so farm produces coming in from other states can be stored or else they will rot. It will be sold tomorrow only.'

Bharat Bandh: So far, life is as usual in Delhi. Transport services inclusing autos, cabs and goods carrier are plying on the roads. However, some unions say that these services will stop at 11 AM, when Chakka Jam is scheduled across the country. Trains have been stopped at some places in Odisha and Maharashtra. 

Tikri, Jharoda, and Dhansa borders are closed for any movement. Badusarai Border is open only for Light Motor Vehicle like Cars and two wheelers. Jhatikara Border is open only for two wheeler traffic. 

Following are the available open borders to Haryana: Daurala, Kapashera, Rajokri NH 8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam Vihar and Dundahera.

Bharat Bandh: "Our protest will be completely peaceful. If someone gets stuck for 2-3 hours in a Bandh called by us, we provide them with water and fruits. Ours is a different concept," says Rakesh Tikait, Spokesperson, Bharatiya Kisan Union. 

After months of protest, farmers have given a call for Bharat Bandh. Thousand of farmers have been camping at different borders connecting UP and Haryana to Delhi. They have been protesting against the agri-marketing laws enacted by the Centre in September. Farmer unions in Punjab and Haryana fear that the recent laws will dismantle the minimum support price (MSP). They say that over time big corporate houses will dictate terms and farmers will end up getting less for their crops, they argue. Farmers fear that with the virtual disbanding of the mandi system, they will not get an assured price for their crops and the ‘arthiyas’ — commission agents who also pitch in with loans for them — will be out of business. READ FULL STORY 

Bharat Bandh LIVE: Left political parties stage a protest in Vijayawada in support of today's Bharat Bandh called by farmer unions against Central Government's Farm Laws.

Bharat Bandh Today LIVE: The life is as usual in the national capital with all transport services, metro and buses plying as usual. The trains are arriving New Delhi stations as scheduled. Cabs and autos also plying on roads, no reports of forceful shutdown or stoppage of services in Delhi as yet.   

Odisha: Left political parties, trade unions and farmer unions stop trains at Bhubaneswar Railway Station. Farmer Unions have called Bharat Bandh today, over Centre's Farm Laws.

Yes, Delhi Metro is running as usual. All other services in the national capital is also available as usual. Autos and cabs are also plying as usual in the national capital. However, Chakka Jam will start at 11 - will have to see how these are affected then. Bharat Bandh call has been given by agitating farmers. 

Bharat Bandh Today: Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghtana staged 'Bharat Bandh Rail Roko' protest and briefly stopped a train today in Malkapur of Buldhana district. They were later removed from the tracks by Police and detained. Farmer Unions have called Bharat Bandh today over Centre's Farm Laws. (ANI)

BHarat Bandh Today LIVE: All examinations scheduled on December 8 under Osmania University jurisdiction have been postponed due to Bharat Bandh. The revised schedule will be given in due course of time. Examinations scheduled from December 9 will be held as per schedule: Controller of Exams, Osmania University

Bharat Bandh Today: Naveen Patnaik's BJD has maintained silence on the Bharat Bandh on new farm laws and preferred to resolve the farmers' issues through dialogue, prompting the Congress to raise an accusing finger at it. The Congress, which has asked its workers and supporters to actively participate in Bandh in Odisha, took a swipe at the BJD describing the party as 'part of the BJP'. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), however, said that it has always been with the farming community. The leaders of the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), NCP, RJD, Forward Bloc and the Samajwadi Party called upon the people of Odisha to make Bharat Bandh successful in the interests of the farmers. The bandh in Odisha will be organised from 6 am to 6 pm, said CPI-M state secretary Ali Kishore Patnaik. (PTI)

Bharat Bandh Today, December 8 LIVE: Farmers, protesting on the outskirts of Delhi, have said that it will be an ‘emphatic Bharat Bandh' today (December 8). A farmer leader named Harvinder Singh Lakhwal said that farmers will occupy all toll plazas during the strike. This means transport services could be impacted and commuters may have to face problems. However, the All India Transporters Welfare Association said that the transport sector will function as usual. Traders’ body CAIT won’t participate in the nationwide strike. Similarly, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport or BEST buses will not be part of the ‘Bharat Bandh’ and will remain operational on December 8. But commuters could face problems as some auto and taxi unions in Delhi have extended support to the farmers’ call. But a number of other unions said that they will continue to provide normal services. READ FULL STORY 

BHarat Bandh December 8 LIVE: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked officials to take all necessary steps for ensuring that people do not face any problem because of the 'Bharat Bandh' today. The chief minister addressed all administrative and police officials in view of the 'Bharat Bandh' call through video conferencing and asked them not to compromise with peace and order at any cost. Adityanath said that both the central and the state governments are continuously working in the interest and welfare of farmers and asked them (farmers) not to get confused by the bandh. He also directed the officials to contact the farmers unions, hold a dialogue with their representatives and make them aware of the new farm laws and resolve their problems. (PTI)

Bharat Bandh Today LIVE: A delegation of 20 farmers mainly from Haryana met Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar to lend support to the farm laws. "Farmers who are protesting are misguided. PM has assured that MSP and mandi system will remain: Kanwal Singh Chauhan, President, Progressive Farmers Club, Sonipat after meeting the Agriculture Minister.

Bharat Bandh Today LIVE: MoS (Home) G Kishan Reddy has slammed those announcing the return of thier awards in solidarity with farmers. He says no award has been returned earlier and none are going to be. "These are only for a day's advertisement. I want to ask those returning awards about what is against farmers in the farm laws. Have they read the laws?: MoS (Home) G Kishan Reddy

Mamata Banerjee in Midnapore: Our government doesn't support Bharat Bandh but Trinamool Congress will support the farmers' movement against three Farm Acts. 

Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi will not celebrate her birthday on December 9, in view of the ongoing farmer's agitation against agriculture bills and COVID19 situation across the country.

As thousands of farmers camped on Delhi's borders seeking repeal of three new farm laws, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday told a group of peasants backing these legislations that these measures will benefit the peasantry and the agriculture sector and that the government will handle such agitations. The delegation of 20 "progressive farmers" from Haryana, led by Padma Shri awardee Kanwal Singh Chauhan, said the government may amend some provisions of the laws but should not repeal them. The delegation members said they were individual farmers and representatives of farmer producer organisations (FPOs). The delegation included Bharatiya Kisan Union (Attar) National President Attar Singh Sandhu. (PTI) 

A day before the 'Bharat Bandh' call given by farmers' outfits, supported by opposition parties against the new farm laws brought in by the NDA government, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao instructed officials to release Rs 7,300 crore as financial assistance under Rythu Bandhu scheme. The financial assistance will be given from December 27 to January 7, an official release said on Monday. Rao, the TRS Party president, had earlier said his party would actively support Bharat Bandh. (PTI)

The BJP on Monday slammed the ruling TRS for opposing the farm laws and extending support to the December 8 'Bharat Bandh' call by farmers' outfits and requested them not to believe in 'misinformation'. Addressing a press conference here, Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy described the decision as 'unfortunate' and alleged that the TRS government was trying to close shops and halt transport. He urged the public to resist the bandh call. The minister alleged that some political parties like TRS were trying to mislead farmers and they should not be taken in by 'misinformation'. (PTI) 

People rushed to stock essential commodities in Indore city of Madhya Pradesh on the eve of the Bharat Bandh called by farmers' bodies against three agriculture laws passed by the Centre. Though major organisations have not backed the shutdown call, people crowded shops to buy essential commodities. On Tuesday, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh would lead a protest at Chavni Anaj Mandi here, said Congress district president Sadashiv Yadav. Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh (RKMM) spokesman Ashish Bhairam said a rally will be taken out. He said RKMM workers will request shop owners to down the shutters for the sake of farmers. A police officer has warned of stern action if anybody tries to take law into his hands during bandh. (PTI)

Farmer leaders on Monday said that emergency services will not be disturbed during Tuesday's 'Bharat Bandh', and appealed to their affiliates to not force anyone to observe the shut down against the three recently enacted agriculture-related laws. Addressing a press conference here, farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said the Centre will have to accept the farmers' demand of scrapping the new laws whose passage has sparked protests by thousands of farmers who have been camping at various border points of Delhi for the past 11 days. The agitating farmers have already announced that they would occupy toll plazas between 11 am to 3 pm during the 'Bharat Bandh'. (PTI) 

The Centre and the farmer unions will hold the sixth round of talks a day after the bandh as previous discussions failed to end the deadlock. Targeted by opposition parties, the BJP hit back and accused them of 'shameful double standards', claiming many of them had endorsed these reforms when in power or had supported them in Parliament. Senior BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the opposition parties have joined the agitation in a bid to save their existence after being repeatedly rejected by people in different elections across the country. Prasad said a section of farmers has fallen in the grip of some people with 'vested interests' and asserted that the government was working to address their misgivings about the reforms. (PTI)

Farmers who are protesting are misguided. PM has assured that MSP and mandi system will remain: Kanwal Singh Chauhan, President, Progressive Farmers Club, Sonipat after meeting Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar (ANI)

Congress MPs from Punjab on Monday staged a protest at Jantar Mantar here demanding that a Parliament session be called to repeal farm laws that have triggered protests by farmers. Parliamentarians Preneet Kaur, Manish Tewari, Ravneet Bittu, Gurjeet Aujla and Amar Singh held the protest in solidarity with the agitating farmers. Farmers' organisations, staging protests at Delhi's borders, have called a 'Bharat Bandh' on Tuesday to press their demand for repeal of the three farm laws. The Congress MPs said the government was deliberately not convening the winter session of Parliament where key issues confronting the country, including the farmers agitation, COVID-19 situation, border standoff in eastern Ladakh and economic slowdown, could be discussed. "If farmers can sit in the open and protest, why can't the government convene Parliament session. This is for the first time since 1952 that the winter session is not being convened. It is very unfortunate," said Tewari. (PTI)

The Congress Monday said the Centre would be responsible for any inconvenience caused to people during the 'Bharat Bandh' called on December 8 by farmers protesting against the three recently enacted agri-marketing laws. The 'Opposition party also said it would not accept what it termed was "corporatisation of the agriculture sector", and urged the government to "shed its ego" and agree to the farmers' demands of repealing the contentious laws. The party noted that food security and national security are intrinsically connected, as while farmers ensure food security for the nation, their sons protect the borders of the country. The Congress and several other Opposition parties have supported the 'Bharat Bandh' call given by the agitating farmers. (PTI)

Bank unions said they will not participate in the ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Tuesday, even as they expressed solidarity with farmers protesting against the new farm laws. Farmer groups, camping at various Delhi border points for over a week, have called for a nationwide shutdown on Tuesday to protest against three recently enacted agriculture-related legislations. |READ MORE

Bar Council of India Monday said that it has not taken any decision to support "Bharat Bandh" by farmers and fake news is being circulated on some social media platforms on the issue. BCI Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra told PTI that a meeting was held on Sunday and the bar body has requested the Centre to make necessary amendments in the new legislations relating to farmers. "The adjucation into the grievances of the Farmers should be looked to by a Special Tribunal presided over by a serving Judicial officer ( not below the rank of Additional District Judge ). "The farmers should be given liberty to engage the lawyers of their choice. There should be a time frame for decision by this forum. The Appeal against the order/decisions of such forums may be preferred before the High Courts." the apex body of lawyers said adding that it has not taken any decision to support "Bharat Bandh" on Tuesday. (PTI)

Delegation of 20 farmers from Haryana meets Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar to extend support to new legislations. (PTI)

Letter further says,"Three Acts in question that have pushed the country into deep turmoil must be withdrawn without making farmers & their families endure any more suffering in this biting cold. Issue doesn't concern farmers alone but affects entire economic fabric of country." (ANI)

Former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal writes to PM Modi saying, "I'm deeply worried about ongoing farmers’ crisis. It seems to me that issue could've been dealt with better if govt had paid greater attention to honest feedback on what farmers really thought of govt’s initiatives." (ANI)

Former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal writes to PM Modi saying, "I'm deeply worried about ongoing farmers’ crisis. It seems to me that issue could've been dealt with better if govt had paid greater attention to honest feedback on what farmers really thought of govt’s initiatives." (ANI)

Former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal writes to PM Modi saying, "I'm deeply worried about ongoing farmers’ crisis. It seems to me that issue could've been dealt with better if govt had paid greater attention to honest feedback on what farmers really thought of govt’s initiatives." (ANI)

Former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal writes to PM Modi saying, "I'm deeply worried about ongoing farmers’ crisis. It seems to me that issue could've been dealt with better if govt had paid greater attention to honest feedback on what farmers really thought of govt’s initiatives." (ANI)

Two of the biggest railway unions on Monday pledged their support to the Bharat Bandh on December 8 called by farmer unions which have been protesting on Delhi's borders against the Centre's new agri-marketing laws. The All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) and the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) extended their support to the agitating farmers by calling on their members to hold rallies and demonstrations on December 8 in a show of solidarity with the farmers. AIRF general secretary Shiva Gopal Mishra met the agitating farmers at Singhu border and assured them that members of the railway union are with them in their fight against the new agriculture laws. (PTI)