Agitators block road and hold picketing in different parts of Odisha to observe Bharat bandh

Bhubaneswar : The ten-hour Bharat bandh called by Sanyukta Kissan Morcha demanding the repeal of three farm laws of the central government began at 06 AM today.
The bandh will continue till 3 PM.
Several political parties including Congress, SP, RJD , Left parties and several farm organisations have extended their support to the bandh.
Bandh supporters have exempted the essential services from its purview.
Reports reaching here said passengers had a tough time as the bandh supporters organised picketing and block national and state highways in several districts of the state.
Hundreds of vehicles were seen stranded on both sides of the road at many places in Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Bolangir. Sambalpur, Balasore, Bhadrak. Passengers had a tough time to move with their luggage to reach their destintations.
The vehicular traffics were off the road and commercial establishment remained closed in response to the bandh.
The bandh supporters held picketing in Master canteen, Bhubaneswar, Bisra chhak, Veda Vyas, Banta in Bhadrak, Kacheri chhak in Sambalpur.
The Odisha State Transport Corporation suspended its bus services from 6 AM till 3 PM in view of the bandh.
Trains services were also affected in several places including at Bhubaneswar Railway station for a brief period as the agitators squatted on the road.
The Odisha government in an order has asked all its employees to reach the state secretariat by 0930hrs and asked all the districts Police Superintendents to keep a watch on the law and order situation.
Odisha government had already declared all educational institutions closed today in view of the cyclonic storm Gulab.
The agitators who are on strike for about ten months now are demanding the repeal of Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act .