Roads were deserted and all shops barring chemists were shut across Raipur and most of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday as part of the nationwide shutdown called by the farmers protesting against the three farm laws.
Congress leaders who went around the Chhattisgarh capital Raipur and other urban centres urging the people to support the ‘Bharat Bandh’ said the show of strength was by and large peaceful.
By 6.30 am, ruling Congress leaders were on the roads appealing to the citizens to support the general strike.
The Chhattisgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industries and The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) extended support to the shutdown.
Pradesh Congress Committee President Mohan Markam and other Congress leaders went around Raipur on tractors soliciting support. A similar exercise was conducted by the Congress leaders across the state.
While medical shops and hospitals were open, even petrol pumps remained shut. The roads presented an empty look. The shops started to reopen after 3.00 pm in many parts of the capital. By 6.30 pm, most shops were open.
Raipur witnessed deployment of police personnel to ensure law and order.
According to reports from Bilaspur, Korba, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Janjgir-Champa, Raigarh, Surguja and Jashpur districts, the strike was near total. Similar reports came from Bhilai, Durg, Jagdalpur and other towns.
A few social organizations in Raipur helped the destitute, passengers stranded in bus stands and railway stations as well as family members of patients in hospitals. They provided food and water to the adults and bread and milk to the children.