The national capital on Tuesday early morning observed a mixed response for Bharat Bandh called by farmers over the three Farm Laws. Most business and transport services remained normal, while Tamil Nadu saw a cold response for the strike.
In Uttar Pradesh Samajwadi Party workers stopped Bundelkhand Express at Prayagraj, leading to a scuffle with the police as SP workers squatted on the railway track. Heavy police deployment was made at the wholesale vegetable and grain market to prevent pro-Bandh activists from forcing the closure of shops.
Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, who have been agitating over the "black laws" since November 26 at several borders of the national capital have called for the Bharat Bandh.
In Delhi at the Azadpur Mandi, one of Asia's largest vegetable market the response was warm. Few shops opened while others have anticipated less stock reaching the wholesale bazaar. The usually crowded Ghazipur vegetable market looked deserted with not many shops opened and very less crowd visible.
The farmers continued to block the Delhi-Meerut National Highway 24 near Ghazipur as large contingents of police and the paramilitary guarded all borders around the national capital.
The national highway connecting Delhi with Meerut via Ghaziabad was blocked by the farmers.
Farmers from several parts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have been protesting at the Ghazipur border.
The farmers have said that emergency vehicles like ambulances and wedding procession will be allowed to pass.
Life inside Delhi was as usual with roadside shops and vehicles running their usual chores. E-rickshaws too continued to ply.
Officials at Sarai Kale Khan inter-state bus terminus said that the buses services have not faced any hindrance and they will run the services despite the call of Chakka Jaam slated between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The bus terminus though wore a deserted look compared to other days. Employees here said that the situation is normal and it is how it has been amid the Covid outbreak.
Traffic was normal at Karnal bypass, the road that leads to Delhi-Haryana's Singhu Border, where the farmers have been protesting for the last 13 days against the new agricultural laws of the Central government.
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In the wake of Bharat Bandh, many passengers who wanted to travel to Chandigarh were seen waiting for vehicles on the Karnal highway.
There have been five rounds of talks between the government and farmers with no breakthrough, both the sides have agreed to continue the dialogue on Wednesday.