PHAGWARA: Shops and commercial establishments remained shut in Phagwara, Goraya, Phillaur, Nakodar , Shahkot and Nurmahal on Tuesday in view of a 'Bharat Bandh' called by agitating farmer unions to protest the Centre's three farm laws - the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
Farmers started assembling on highways and other key roads from the morning.
At some places group of protesters squatted on roads to express solidarity with the protesting farmers and burnt effigies of Prime Minister Naridara Modi and other BJP leaders.
Police personnel were deployed in adequate strength to maintain law and order.
Several unions representing government employees, arthiyas (commission agents) and transporters had also extended their support to the farmers' protest.
All major political parties the ruling Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal had also extended their support.Phagwara MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, Punjab Agro Industrial Corporation Chairman Joginder Singh Maan also joined in dharnas seperately.Heavy Police Force was deputed at different sensitive places to prevent any untoward incident.Several Government employees also supported bandh taking mass casual leave.The government has maintained that the new laws will bring farmers better opportunities and usher in new technologies in agriculture.