Bharat Bandh: Farmers protesting against the recently enacted farm laws have called for a peaceful nationwide shutdown, or “Bharat Bandh”, on December 8, a day ahead of their sixth meeting with the central government to mount pressure in support of their demands.
With growing support from trade unions and Opposition parties for tomorrow’s “Bharat Bandh” call, some services, including supply of fruits and venegatbles, could get affected in Delhi – now the epicentre of farmers’ protests – and the rest of the country. The call for a “peaceful” nationwide shutdown on December 8, a day ahead of the sixth round of talks between protesting farmers and the centre, is meant to mount pressure on the government to repeal three contentious agriculture reform laws. “The protest is to show that we don’t support some of the policies of the government,” Bharatiya Kisan Union Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said. Unions have said their protest is “peaceful and will continue that way”.
Farmers urged people to extend their support non-violently and said their protest was not meant to “cause problems for the common man”. “Tomorrow’s Bharat Bandh is from 11 am to 3 pm. It is a symbolic protest. We will begin at 11 am so everyone can reach office on time… Services such as ambulance, even weddings, can go on. People can show their card and leave,” Bharatiya Kisan Union Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said.
- Members of farmers’ unions will block national highways and occupy toll plazas, Harinder Singh Lakhowal, general secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union had said earlier.
- Supply truck movement could be hit in many states as all motor transport unions of India have come out in farmers’ support. They will organise peaceful demonstrations and try to submit memorandum to District Collectors and Commissioners to resolve the issues “amicably and to farmers’ satisfaction at the earliest”.
- In Delhi, most of the traders are supporting the Bharat Bandh call. “Hence, mandis will see a shutdown,” said Adil Ahmed Khan, Chairman of the Azadpur Mandi – Asia’s largest wholesale market of fruits and vegetables, which could be in short supply tomorrow.
- In Maharashtra, the Vashi Agricultural Produce Market Committee would be shut tomorrow. It is likely to affect supply of fruits and vegetables in Mumbai. There is no confirmation if other mandis would also be closed.
- Commuters in Delhi and Tamil Nadu may face problems as some cab and taxi unions have decided to back the shutdown. But autos and those offering last-mile connectivity would continue to ply, unions said.
- A number of bank unions have called for a black-band protest to show support to farmers, but this is not likely to affect banking services.
- The Bandh is likely to be most well-observed in Punjab, which has extended its full support. Sit-in protests are likely in Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Telanaga and northeastern states of Tripura and Assam, besides others. This is likely to create traffic congestions. BJP-ruled states are likely to issue travel advisories.
- All opposition parties except the Trinamool Congress – Shiv Sena, Congress, DMK, Kamal Haasan’s MNM, RJD, Samajwadi Party, NCP, Aam Aadmi Party, newly-minted People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration in J&K and a collection of Left outfits – have backed the farmers and said they would organise demonstrations across cities tomorrow.
- Amid growing support for repeal of the “black laws”, BJP has called out the “duplicity” of farmers and the Opposition parties on the issue of agricultural reforms. It hit back with nuggets of the past, reminding them that allowing private players into the farm sector was their demand not so long ago.
Source: NDTV
