Bharat Bandh affects normal life in Bihar

Patna: Supporters of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) and the Left parties participated in a massive protest march in Patna on Tuesday, in support of the nationwide Bharat Bandh call given by farmers. Besides, there were also reports of some disturbances and disruptions in parts of Bihar.

The Opposition parties' supporters in Patna blocked the Dak Bungalow Chowk intersection leading to disruption of traffic.

JAP supporters, under the leadership of Pappu Yadav, were looking particularly aggressive. They were carrying paddy on their heads apart from traditional farming equipment to protest the three farms bills passed by the Parliament.

Yadav said the NDA government must roll back the three 'black laws' and implement the Swaminathan Commission report on the agriculture sector.

"From day one, we are demanding guarantee on MSP apart from rollback of three 'black laws.' The Narendra Modi government talks only about the interests of corporate houses and big business. It doesn't care about the interest of farmers. Moreover, NDA leaders are calling them Khalistani, Pakistani and anti-national. This is unacceptable. The government must not humiliate our annadaata (providers of food)," added Yadav.

"Our party has decided to wait till December 16 for the government to roll back the farm laws. From December 23, we will launch a Kisan rally from the historic West Champaran district that will subsequently move to the entire state," Yadav said.

During the protest, supporters of the RJD and the JAP blocked the way of more than two dozen cars, forcing the drivers to turn back.

"The NDA government has not taken a single decision for the welfare of common people. PM Modi imposed demonetisation, GST, increased the road tax, privatisation of railways and others to give benefits to corporates. Now, they have brought three farms laws to privatise the agriculture sector," alleged CPI (ML) legislator Sudama Prasad.

"The GDP rate of India is -23 percent. Only the agriculture sector has 3.5 percent GDP growth rate. The Modi government wants to bring this sector in the hand of corporate houses and hold farmers captive," said Awadhesh Kumar, CPI (M) state secretary of Bihar.

The posters and banners of NDA leaders were also torn in Patna's Dak Bungalow Chowk.

They were also involved in the manhandling of police personnel after they were asked to avoid tearing posters of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

During the Bharat Bandh, bus operations were also delayed. Most bus operators cancelled morning operations. They have decided to start operations in the evening.

The RJD supporters in neighbouring Jahanabad district forced the local traders to shut their shops. They also deflated the tyres of trucks and buses, leading to a massive traffic jam on Patna-Gaya NH 83. They also manhandled the drivers.

In Gaya, JAP supporters used bullock carts to block the way on a flyover.

In Arrah, supporters of the RJD smashed the wind shield of a car near the railway station. CPI (ML) supporters blocked the Arrah-Mohania state highway.

In Supaul, Bandh supporters disrupted the movement of trains, leading to a delay on the Supaul-Saharsa route by two hours.

In Muzaffarpur, supporters of the Mahagathbandhan blocked the Muzaffarpur-Darbhanga state highway, leading to a massive traffic snarl on NH 57.