Tharoor said he supports the right to protest, but not the right to disrupt. In a Facebook post on Thursday, Tharoor said it is ironic that today's "Bharat Bandh" is actually just another "Kerala Bandh."
Trade unions and workers across several states observed a nationwide strike on Thursday as part of the Bharat Bandh, protesting labour reforms and economic policies they allege are anti-worker. From road blockades and sit-ins to torch rallies and slogan-shouting demonstrations, protests were reported from cities including Chennai, Patna, Guwahati, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar and Bankura among others.
Rahul Gandhi extended support to the February 12 Bharat Bandh as Kerala witnessed a shutdown and multiple states reported disruptions over labour codes and trade policy concerns.
A 24-hour Bharat bandh begins at midnight on 12 February. Banks, transport and government offices may be affected, while essential services remain exempt.
A Bharat bandh has been called tomorrow as trade unions and farmers prepare for a nationwide strike on February 12 against labour laws, farm policies and privatisation.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a consortium of 100-odd farmers' unions from across India, 15 trade unions and several political parties have jointly called a Bharat Bandh from 6 a.m. till 4 p.m. on Monday to mark the first anniversary of what they termed as a 'Black Day' when the President of India had given his assent to the three farm laws last year.
While normal life was affected in Andhra Pradesh with the ruling YSRCP supporting the shutdown call, the bandh had a partial impact in Telangana where ruling TRS distanced itself from the protest.
"No matter how long we have to stretch this protest, we will not step back": Tikait.
Commuters were left stranded at railway stations and bus stands in various towns and cities of both the states as public transport was stranded. People were forced to trudge with heavy luggage and office-goers too were hit hard.
MLA Sudama Prasad, who took to the streets in Ara, said that inflation was sky high, which was the effect of the three agricultural laws. He said that there would be food insecurity if farming went into the hands of industrialists.
