The Bharat Bandh protest called by various organisations across the country on Friday failed to evoke much response in Dehradun as there was hardly any visible protest even as the marketplaces and public services functioned usual. All the facilities like transport or marketplaces that generally get affected by such protests functioned without any hindrance. According to the president of Doon Valley Mahanagar Udyog Vyapar Mandal (DVMUVM), Pankaj Masson, the shops in the market were opened as usual on Friday and the numbers of customers were also like the other days. According to the shopkeepers of market areas, the Bandh primarily concerns farmers and since they were not directly approached by any association to observe one day protest, they did not consider supporting it.
"I am sure many people were not even aware that there was any Bandh and those who knew could not shut down their shops. The last few months have damaged our business a lot and I do not think any businessmen are eager to close their business to support the issues that do not concern them directly," said a shopkeeper in Paltan Bazaar, Harish Gusain. Besides, the operation at various vegetables and fruits wholesale markets were also running like other days. According to the secretary of Niranjanpur Mandi Samiti, Vijay Thapliyal, everything was fine like the other days and there were no interruptions by any farmers or their association. Though the main areas of the city evidently saw no protest, some farmers of an association crowded the ISBT area and parked their vehicles includingbikes, cars and tractors on the roads and protested there for hours. Besides, the city magistrate Kusum Chauhan also reached the location where the farmers gave a memorandum to the governor through Chauhan. According to farmers, they will continue to stage protest as long as the Central Government continues to harass them.