By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, March 25, 2021: Normal life is likely to be disturbed in different parts of the state on Friday as the farmer outfits are preparing to observe Bharat Bandh. Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a united front of farmer outfits in the country, has given this call protesting farm laws.

This 12-hour bandh will start from 6 am on Friday. Protestors are planning to block road and rail communication. They will do picketing in front of government offices, public places, market places and on major roads to make their bandh success. The business establishments will be closed on the day.

Suresh Panigrahy, state secretary of All India Kisan Sabha and member of SKM, said they will block road and rail communication during the strike. “The Bharat Bandh marks four month of their movement in Delhi protesting the farm laws. This fight will continue till our demands are met,” he added.

The SKM has appealed to people from all walks of life to support the Bharat Bandh. All left parties, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party and trade unions will support this bandh to show solidarity to the farmer movement.

Congress state president Niranjan Patnaik said they will give full support to the bandh in the state. “All district presidents were requested to help the farmer outfits to make the bandh a success,” he added.

“We are showing solidarity to our farmers from the first day of the movement. We will support the SKM to make the Bharat Bandh a success. The farm laws should be repealed,” said All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) national secretary Ramakrushna Panda.

Lingaraj, convener of Paschim Odisha Krushak Sangathan Samanwaya Samiti (POKSSS), an umbrella organization of western Odisha farmers, said they will look after the bandh affairs in 10 western Odisha districts. “We will block road and rail communication and do picketing at public places protesting the Centre’s farm laws. I appeal everybody to support this bandh,” he added.

Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS) will block NH16 at Pahal in Bhubaneswar and other places of Odisha. NKS state convenor Seshadev Nanda said they will close shops and business houses at different places on Friday. But all emergency services will be operational.