Bathinda/Jalandhar/Amritsar, Feb. 13 -- Employees, workers and farmers associated with different unions held protests across various districts in Punjab to show their resistance to "anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies" of the central government during the "Bharat Bandh" on Thursday. However, the general public and traders showed no response to the nationwide shutdown call. According to inputs from various districts, there was no attempt to block roads or rail tracks. In Bathinda, farmer unions and farm workers held protest rallies while leaders of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also staged a protest as a mark of support. Senior leader of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) Shingara Singh Mann said, "The BJP-led central government is working for the interests of the corporate houses in the USA and India whereas the rights of workers are being compromised." Addressing a protest rally, Bathinda Urban MLA Jagroop Singh Gill said, "The party opposes the trade deal signed by the Centre with the USA as it would adversely impact the agrarian sector of the country." Protesting outside the main bus stand in Jalandhar, the union leaders alleged that the Centre was bent on crushing the farmers and poor sections of society. The new laws were formulated to benefit the mighty, they alleged. They also opposed the India-USA trade deal, stating that it was a death knell for already suffering farming and trading communities. They warned of an intensified agitation if the government did not roll back its controversial decisions. In Amritsar, employees and labourers gathered at Bhandari Bridge in large numbers and demonstrated for around five hours. They raised slogans against the Narendra Modi-led central government. AAP chief spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal also led a protest outside Hall Gate. In Ludhiana, the Punjab Bank Employees' Federation organised a massive rally at the Bharat Nagar Chowk....