Aurangabad, Dec 8:
The activists of various political parties and organizations participated in the Bharat Bandh in support of farmers and staged a ''rasta roko'' at Delhi gate on Tuesday afternoon. However the bandh received a mixed response in the city.
The activists gathered near Delhi gate for the rasta roko to oppose the anti-farmer policies of the central government. However, the police arrested the activists and brought them to the Begumpura police station. Later the activists organised a meeting in the premises of the police station. Social activist and leader of the All-India Trade union Congress (AITUC) Ram Baheti, Subhash Lomte, delivered a speech. Comrade Vasudha Kalyankar, CPI (M) leader Ashfaq Salami, CITU leader Shrikant Fopse, Umakant Rathod, Bhagwan Bhojane, Adv Abhay Takasal, Adv Ramesh Khandagale, Congress leader Iqbal Singh Gill, Subhash Deokar, Mudassar Ansari, Zakia Begum also spoke on the occasion. A meeting of all the concerned parties and organisations has been organized on December 9 at 5 pm at AITUC office, Khokadpura to decide the further action plan.
Support from traders and citizens
Citizens, traders and farmers in the Satara-Deolai area supported the Bharat Bandh by keeping their businesses closed. The traders demanded that the central government should withdraw the anti-farmer bill. Strict closure was observed in Beed Bypass, Deolai, Naiknagar, Maulinagar, and Deolai road area. Congress and Shiv Sena workers were urging the people to participate in the bandh. Sominath Shirane, Ramesh Bahule of Mahavikas Aghadi, Ranjit Dhepe, Nilesh Bhagyawant, Prashant Satpute and other farmers from Satara area participated in the bandh.
Mixed response from city
The bandh received a mixed response in the city. Spontaneous shutdowns were observed in farmer-dominated areas. There was a police presence at the divisional commissioner office and collector office. Police bandobast was deployed on every intersection and main roads in the city. Although the Shiv Sena supported the bandh, the activists did not take to the streets. Activists of other political parties didn''t ask the traders to shutdown their shops.
Government officials support bandh
With more than 16,000 state government employees backing the bandh, administrative work was stalled. The state employees union had announced its support on Monday. All employees were present at work, but there was no crowd of citizens. Police bandobast was deployed at Gajanan Maharaj Temple, Aurangpura, Mill Corner, Kranti Chowk, Gulmandi, Jalna Road, Cidco Corner, Mukundwadi and Chikalthana.