Farmers at the Singhu border in New Delhi on Monday. (Express file photo by Amit Mehra)Farmers Protest, Bharat Bandh HIGHLIGHTS: A day before the sixth round of talks with the government over the contentious new farm laws, the agitating farmer unions will launch a symbolic ‘Bharat Bandh’ today which has been backed by almost over 15 opposition parties and several trade unions. The farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh who have been protesting at Singhu border near Delhi for the last 12 days, will block key roads during their ‘chakka jam’ protest from 11 am to 3 pm as part of their stir.
“There will be complete ‘Bharat bandh’ till 3 pm Tuesday, but emergency services will be allowed,” farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal told reporters. Rajewal reiterated the farmers’ stand, saying they will not accept anything less than the withdrawal of the three new farm laws by the Centre.
Meanwhile, the Centre has asked all states and Union Territories to tighten security and ensure that peace and tranquillity is maintained during ‘Bharat Bandh’. In a countrywide advisory, the Union Home Ministry also said the state governments and UT administrations must ensure that the COVID-19 guidelines issued with regard to health and social distancing are strictly followed.
Apart from heavy police deployment at key border areas, Delhi Police will deploy personnel “outside offices of all political parties, the Agriculture Minister’s residence and Krishi Bhawan” to ensure law and order is maintained. On Monday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, along with his cabinet colleagues, met farmers at the Singhu border where he reviewed arrangements at the protest site. The AAP, along with 14 other opposition parties have extended support to the December 8 Bharat Bandh call by the farmers to protest against the three contentious ordinances.
To support protesting farmers, all the grain markets — including 152 main yards and around 1,700 sub-yards and mandis at the block and village level, will stay shut for three days till December 9 (Wednesday) as arhtiyas and labourers working at these mandis will join the dharna at Delhi border.
Talking to The Indian Express, Harbans Singh Rosha, the president of Khanna Grain Market Arhtiyas Association, the biggest mandi of Punjab, said that on Monday commission agents and labourers in 50 buses and 80 personal vehicles were being sent to the dharna site in Delhi. He added that these arhtiyas and labourers belong to mandis of Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib and Moga district, while the mandis of the entire state will remain closed for the three days beginning Monday. Read this report by Anju Agnihotri Chaba
Railway service blocked by the Left supporters at Jadavpur Railways station during the nationwide strike called by farmers. (Express photo by Partha Paul)
Security personnel deployed in Patna, in the wake of Bharat Bandh called by farmer unions.
Heavy deployment of security at Singhu border ahead of Bharat Bandh from 11 am to 3 pm today.
Mumbai APMC market closed due to Bharat Bandh. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)
Tikri, Jharoda borders, Dhansa are closed for any traffic Movement. Badusarai border is open only for light motor vehicles like cars and two wheelers. Jhatikara border is open only for two wheeler traffic.
Available open borders to Haryana are following: Daurala, Kapashera, Rajokri NH 8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam Vihar and Dundahera.
Rakesh Tikait, spokesperson, Bharatiya Kisan Union: Our protest will be completely peaceful. If someone gets stuck for 2-3 hours in a Bandh called by us, we provide them with water and fruits. Ours is a different concept. (ANI)
Left political parties stage a protest in Vijayawada, in support of today's Bharat Bandh called by farmer unions.
Left political parties, trade unions and farmer unions stop trains at Bhubaneswar Railway Station in Odisha.
Having extended support to the protesting farmers and Bharat bandh call given by them, the Congress is leaving no stone unturned to utilise the issue to gain some political mileage. On Monday, the party’s central leadership sent a message to all state units, asking them not to celebrate party chief Sonia Gandhi’s birthday on December 9. In a letter, AICC general secretary in charge of organisation K C Venugopal stated that Sonia has decided not to celebrate her birthday this year in view of the distress caused by the pandemic and the ongoing farmers’ protests. Stressing that Sonia has requested that no celebratory activities should be carried out on her birthday this year, the letter to state Congress presidents, CLP leaders, AICC general secretaries, in charge of states and heads of frontal organisations asks them to avoid “all sorts of celebrations”.
Boards and banners in support of the farmers’ December 8 call for ‘Bharat Bandh’ have cropped up all over Ludhiana — the industrial capital of Punjab. This is a city that normally does not respond to such bandh calls. Farmer unions will be blocking state and national highways from 11 am to 4 pm and public buses, trucks will also stay off roads.
The Ludhiana Stock Exchange (LSE) will also stay closed and their members have been asked to work from home. The message pasted outside the exchange says: “Tenants and visitors’ entry is strictly not allowed due to bandh on December 8. Members and clients are requested to work from home to avoid any untoward incident/loss.”
The ‘Bharat Bandh’ call has got widespread response from Punjab’s political parties as Congress will be organising dharnas at district levels in support of farmers. Same will be done by Shiromani Akali Dal, which has also cancelled its centenary celebrations which were to be organised from December 8-10.
DMK and its allies have extended their support to the nationwide strike called by the farmers. In a joint statement, DMK leader MK Stalin said the demand of the farmers to withdraw the three farm laws was totally justified. Stalin has appealed to all the farmer unions, trade unions, labour unions to extend their support and “make this Bandh a great success”.
Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam will also be participating in the nationwide protest. On behalf of Kamal Haasan, a 10-member team headed by the party’s farmer wing head Mayilsamy reached the capital on Sunday to take part in the protest.
Besides CITU, AITUC, INTUC, eight labour unions in Tamil Nadu have extended their support. Auto rickshaws will not run across the state tomorrow. Tamil Nadu Transport Corporation (TNSTC) has not issued any statement supporting the bandh till now.
In Assam, all opposition parties — including Congress, AIUDF, the Left, among others — have come together to extend their “full support” to the Bharat Bandh called by the farmer unions on December 8. A statement from the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee said that apart from supporting the bandh on December 8, the party’s local units will hold protest programs with the farmers in farms across the state and burn effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Assam chapter of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) said that the new farm laws amounted to annulling the Minimum Support Price, which the BJP had promised in its “Vision Document” for Assam.
The statement — which was signed by the Congress, CPI-ML, CPI, Liberal Democratic Party Anchalik Gana Marcha, Assam Jatiya Parishad, Raijor Dol, among others — said that the general public’s food security will be affected by the corporatisation of agriculture that the laws will result in.
As farmer unions across the country prepare for Bharat bandh on Tuesday, Shetkari Sanghatana — the union founded by farmer leader Sharad Joshi — has decided to take a different route. Anil Ghanwat, president of the union, told The Indian Express that not only will they not be participating in the nationwide strike but will also oppose any move to roll back the three farm laws.
Since the last few days, thousands of farmers mainly from Punjab and Haryana have been protesting at the borders of New Delhi, demanding a complete rollback of the new farm laws. Repeated rounds of talk with the central government have failed to bring any solution, with farmer leaders slated to meet the government again on Wednesday. The Bharat Bandh called by the farmers has been supported by all major Opposition parties, trade unions as well as farmer bodies.
Ghanwat, however, said the present laws aim to allow the farmers access to free market, which was denied so far. “For farmers in Maharashtra, this freedom would mean better prices. Also, the competition would ensure better price discovery,” he said.
Some of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs) in Gujarat are expected to remain closed due to the nationwide strike called by farmers against the Centre’s new agricultural laws on Tuesday.
Ashit Mehta, Secretary of the Amalsad Chickoo Co-IOperative Society, that falls under Amalsad APMC says, “The chickoo season starts from November and lasts till April. Due to the ongoing nation strike of farmers, the supply of chickoo has been affected, however we have continued our supply to traders in Rajasthan and neighboring districts. We have come to know that the transporters had stopped taking delivery for the goods going to Delhi, so we have decided to keep the mandi shut for two days — December 7 and 8.”
Among the APMCs that will be shut on Tuesday is the Sanand APMC that largely deals with paddy and wheat. “We have decided to keep our APMC closed. Farmers might not turn up tomorrow and so there is no point in keeping the marketing yard open. We are not taking any sides,” said Girish Patel, secretary of APMC, Sanand, which is one of the eight APMCs in Ahmedabad district.
Markets part of the Mumbai Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) will remain closed on Tuesday to protest the Centre’s new farm bills after a call for Bharat Bandh across the country was announced by various farmers’ unions and organisations. The board of the Mumbai APMC, the wholesale market situated in Navi Mumbai, took the decision on Monday following a call from the Maharashtra State Market Committee to APMCs across the state. Members said all wholesale markets part of the APMC across the state will remain closed.
The state committee had called for a shutdown in solidarity with the farmers protesting the three new agriculture bills. Anil Chavan, secretary of the Mumbai APMC, said that a meeting was called of representatives of various traders, mathadi workers associations, vehicle associations.
Apart from heavy police deployment at key border areas for Tuesday’s call for a Bharat bandh by farmer unions, Delhi Police will deploy personnel “outside offices of all political parties, the Agriculture Minister’s residence and Krishi Bhawan” to ensure law and order is maintained.
“Delhi Police has made adequate arrangements to ensure normal movement of people on roads for the proposed bandh. Anybody who tries to disrupt normal movement/life or forcefully closes shops will be strongly dealt with, as per law,” Delhi Police additional PRO Anil Mittal said.
A senior police officer from New Delhi district told The Indian Express, “There will be deployment at Jantar Mantar, Vijay Chowk, India Gate, the Agriculture Minister’s residence, Krishi Bhawan, offices of all political parties — places from where crowd mobilisation is possible. We have also spoken to taxi, transport, trade unions on the bandh.”
The Ahmedabad Autorickshaw Drivers’ Union has extended its support to the December 8 Bharat Bandh call given by farmers’ associations protesting against three farm legislations. On Monday, the auto-rickshaw drivers’ union said more than one lakh three-wheelers will remain off the road in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
Ashok Punjabi, the head of Gujarat Autorickshaw Drivers’ Action Committee, said they backed the bandh call and urged the Union government to fulfil all the demands of the farmers.
“Autorickshaw drivers are also sons of farmers and we will be supporting them on Tuesday in their bandh call. There will be a voluntary strike called by the autorickshaw drivers in Ahmedabad and anyone found operating their vehicle will be greeted by flowers and requested to join us. Nobody will be forced to be a part of the strike. There are over two lakh autorickshaw drivers in Ahmedabad and we expect that more than one lakh will be a part of tomorrow’s bandh.”
The Gujarat Police has said it would impose prohibitory orders in the state on Tuesday in view of the Bharat Bandh call given in support of the farmers’ agitation, even as Chief Minister Vijay Rupani declared that Gujarat would remain open and his government would ensure that nobody tries to forcefully shut down businesses and shops. The CM also warned of legal action against those “trying to vitiate the atmosphere”.
At a press conference on Monday, Director General of Police Ashish Bhatia said that section 144 prohibiting assembly of more than four persons at a public place will be imposed across Gujarat on Tuesday. He added that those attempting to click pictures and videos of any agitation and posting on social media also will be booked.
“Section 144 notification in districts and cities on December 8 will be announced by respective police commissioners and senior officials so that there is no assembly of more than four persons… Check post points at border cities have been set up to ensure smooth management of traffic on state highway. Bandobast has also been arranged outside APMCs and markets. Anyone forcibly shutting shops and businesses forcibly or destroying public and private properties will be booked and arrested,” Bhatia said.
Thousands of farmers in Karnataka will join the Bharat bandh on Tuesday. Karnataka Rajya Riatha Sangha president K Chandreshekar said members of around 300 farmers’ organisations would participate. Aikya Horata, a coalition of farmer, labour and Dalit groups, started an indefinite sit-in protest in Bengaluru on Monday. The Karnataka chapter of the All-India Kisan Sangharsh Co-ordination Committee (AIKSCC), a coalition of several farmer organisations, has called for a six-hour bandh on Tuesday.
The Karnataka Congress said it would launch a letter drive against the farm and labour laws. According to Congress Karnataka chief D K Shivakumar, these letters with the signature of farmers and labourers would be sent to the President.
“Congress president Sonia Gandhi has directed the party workers to gather the opinion of the farmers and labourers by way of signature on the letter. On the directions of our party president Sonia Gandhi, we are going to provide 8.8 lakh letters to the farmers and labourers who will sign on it and send it to the President of India,” Shivakumar said.
Inputs by Darshan Devaiah
In Maharashtra, the ruling Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress are among the key parties to support the nationwide strike. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut urged people to take part in the “non-political” bandh to support farmers. Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik said NCP workers would join the shutdown by observing social distancing norms.
However, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses and taxis will ply as scheduled during Tuesday’s ‘Bharat bandh’, PTI reported. The All India Motor Transport Congress, an apex body of trucker outfits, said it would “join the Bharat bandh and suspend their operations on December 8”. “Transportation of essential commodities like milk, vegetables and fruits have been excluded from the bandh,” said Daya Natkar, secretary of Maharashtra Rajya Truck Tempo Tankers Vahatuk Sangh. Read more
Several US lawmakers have voiced their support for farmers agitating in India against the new farm laws and urged that they be allowed to protest peacefully.
"I stand in solidarity with the Punjabi farmers in India protesting for their livelihoods and protection from misguided, manipulative government regulations," Congressman Doug LaMalfa said on Monday. "Punjabi farmers must be allowed to protest peacefully against their government without fear of violence," said the Republican lawmaker who represents Californian's first Congressional district.
Congressman T J Cox said India must uphold the right to peaceful demonstration and ensure their citizens' safety. The rights of farmers protesting must be respected and meaningful dialogue is the way forward, the Democratic leader asserted.
Congressman Andy Levin said he is inspired by the movement of farmers in India. "I see it as a harbinger of a people power year in 2021," the Democratic lawmaker said. (PTI)
A child dressed as Nihang at the farmers protest site in New Delhi on Monday. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)
Activist Medha Patkar at the farmers' protest site in New Delhi on Monday. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)
A day after a united Opposition extended support to the December 8 Bharat Bandh called by protesting farmer groups, the ruling BJP on Monday hit out at the political parties for opposing the farm reform laws and, citing their earlier support to many of the provisions, accused them of “shameful double standards”.
The Congress hit back, saying the BJP, by launching a “senseless” and “mindless” anti-Congress tirade, was trying to hide the “sin” of attempting to snatch the livelihood of farmers and handing it over to its “crony capitalist friends”.
The BJP fielded senior party leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to take on the Opposition. He alleged that a section of farmers had fallen in the grip of a few people with “vested interests”, while asserting that the government was working to address their misgivings about the reforms.
WHILE THOUSANDS of protesting farmers are currently sitting on Delhi’s borders in protest against the controversial farm laws, their supporters in Haryana villages are gearing up to ensure that the December 8 ‘Bharat Bandh’ is a success.
Haryana Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) president Gurnam Singh Chaduni has urged shopkeepers and businessmen to keep their shops and business entablements closed till 3 pm on Tuesday, adding that the roads may be closed for three hours -- 12 pm to 3 pm.
“This agitation is aimed to save the country. It’s not the agitation of farmers only but of every section of society. Every section of society will get affected because of these laws. We have to maintain complete peace in the agitation. If any miscreants are found, they should be handed over to the police,” Chaduni appealed to farmers.
The khap leaders in Jind have announced that they will block all roads leading to Delhi from Haryana by parking tractors in the middle of roads apart from barricading them. They have even formed 21 member committees for each of the villages.
FOR THE past 12 days, farmers from across Haryana and neighbouring states are camping on Delhi's borders and protesting against the Centre’s controversial farm laws. Amid all this, JJP chief and Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala’s silence on the agitation has been quite conspicuous. While people across the state are up in arms against both BJP and JJP and choking the borders of the national capital, Dushyant had gone out to South India for spending “family time”.
Although his younger brother Digvijay and father Ajay Chautala -- who is out of Tihar jail on parole -- are trying hard to do 'damage control' both for the party and Dushyant, the deputy CM continues to remain silent. VARINDER BHATIA explains why the ongoing farmer agitation could be more damaging for JJP than BJP:
The 'Bharat Bandh' has been called by the farmers unions who have been protesting the three farm laws enacted in the Monsoon Session of Parliament. Major political parties, such as the Congress, NCP, DMK, SP, TRS and Left, on Sunday came out in strong support of the bandh. Here's all you need to know
The Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena's support to the Bharat bandh in solidarity with farmers' protests against the new farm laws has exposed their "double standards" in Maharashtra, said former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday.
Addressing the media at the BJP party headquarters in Mumbai, Fadnavis said, "Maharashtra was the first in the country to enforce the agricultural reforms, complete with contract farming, more than 12 years ago. The Act was the brainchild of the then Congress and NCP government in Maharashtra."
Former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal has written to PM Modi expressing concern about farmers' agitation against farm laws. 'I'm deeply worried about ongoing farmers’ crisis. It seems to me that the issue could have been dealt with better if the govt had paid greater attention to honest feedback on what farmers really thought of the initiatives.'
'Three Acts in question that have pushed the country into deep turmoil must be withdrawn without making farmers and their families endure any more suffering in this biting cold. Issue doesn't concern farmers alone but affects entire economic fabric of country,' he said in the letter.
Two of the biggest railway unions on Monday pledged their support to the Bharat Bandh on December 8 called by farmer unions which have been protesting on Delhi's borders against the Centre's new agri-marketing laws. The All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) and the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) extended their support to the agitating farmers by calling on their members to hold rallies and demonstrations on December 8 in a show of solidarity with the farmers.
AIRF general secretary Shiva Gopal Mishra met the agitating farmers at Singhu border and assured them that members of the railway union are with them in their fight against the new agriculture laws.
"We have written to our affiliates all over the Indian Railways to extend support to the farmers in their struggle to achieve their genuine demands, on December 8, 2020 during 'Bharat Bandh'. I have already advised AIRF affiliates to organise agitation programmes, dharna, demonstrations and rallies during lunch hour against anti-farmer policies of the Government of India.
"I hope that the government will give cognizance to the genuine demands of the farmers and redress the same at the earliest," he said.
In view of the nation-wide ‘Bharat Bandh Call’ by various farmers organizations, Haryana Police has issued a comprehensive travel advisory for the information of general public as they may face traffic blockages, while travelling on various roads and highways of the state on December 8, 2020.
Almost all the districts in the state except Nuh and Narnaul are likely to be impacted by big or small road jams. In addition, there may also be disruptions on various Toll Plazas in the state. The main national highways Delhi-Ambala (NH-44), Delhi-Hisar (NH-9), Delhi-Palwal (NH-19) and Delhi to Rewari (NH-48) may also see some traffic disruptions for a short time. The peak time of impact is expected to be between 12 pm to 3 pm.
(Input from Sukhbir Siwach, Chandigarh)
The ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh has extended its support to the Bharat bandh called by farmers' unions on Tuesday against the three new farm laws enacted by the Centre and has appealed to people to express solidarity with cultivators.
"We have appealed to all sections of society that they should stand by the farmers and support their agitation. Bandh will be observed in an aggressive but peaceful and non-violent manner," Shailesh Nitin Trivedi, who heads communication wing of the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC), said on Monday.
He said state Congress president Mohan Markam has given the responsibility to office-bearers and workers of all units of the party in the state to make the bandh successful.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has cancelled its three-day programme to mark the beginning of its centenary celebrations in view of the ongoing agitation by farmers, party leader Daljit Singh Cheema said on Monday. The SAD core committee took the decision at a meeting presided by its chief Sukhbir Singh Badal.
The party, which pulled out of the ruling coalition at the Centre over the farm laws, demanded that the government repeal the legislations immediately and make statutory provisions for assured government procurement of farm produce at minimum support price. Cheema said thousands of Akali workers have been participating in the ongoing protest at Delhi borders against the three farm laws.The party felt that the ongoing agitation would suffer if a large-scale, three-day event was held at Anandpur Sahib as planned, he said.
DMK and its allies have extended their support to Bharath Bandh called by the farmers Tuesday. In a joint statement on Sunday, DMK leader MK Stalin said the demand of the farmers to withdraw the three-new agricultural-related laws was totally justified. Stalin has appealed to all the farmer unions, trade unions, labour unions to extend their grand support and make this Bandh a great success.
Makkal Needhi Maiam leader Kamal Haasan too said his party will be participating in the nation-wide protest. On behalf of Kamal Haasan, a 10-member team headed by the party's farmer wing head Mayilsamy reached the capital on Sunday to take part in the protest.
Including CITU, AITUC, INTUC, eight labour unions in Tamil Nadu have extended their support for the Bandh. Auto-rickshaw will not run across the state tomorrow. Tamil Nadu Transport Corporation (TNSTC) has not issued any statement supporting the bandh till now.
(Input from Janardhan Koushik, Chennai)
The Karnataka Congress on Monday said it will launch a letter drive against the contentious farm and labour laws in support of farmers and labourers ahead of the 'Bharat Bandh' by various farmers' associations on Tuesday.According to Congress Karnataka Unit chief D K Shivakumar, these letters with the signature of farmers and labourers will be sent to the President of India asking him not to approve these controversial laws.
“Congress president Sonia Gandhi has directed the party workers to gather the opinion of the farmers and labourers by way of signature on the letter. On the directions of our party president Sonia Gandhi, we are going to provide 8.8 lakh letters to the farmers and labourers who will sign on it and send it to the President of India," Shivakumar said.
(Input from Darshan Devaiah, Bengaluru)
Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday was detained and bundled into a police van after he sat on a dharna against the three new farm bills.Akhilesh Yadav, along with a bunch of supporters, broke through police barricades placed near his residence on Lucknow’s Vikramaditya Marg and sat on dharna to express solidarity with farmers protesting farm bills.
There, the UP police used ‘laathis’ to push back SP workers
The Karnataka unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will hold a protest in Bengaluru on Tuesday in solidarity with the protests held by farmers from across the country in Delhi.
AAP Bengaluru President Mohan Dasari said the party will protest near Maurya Circle on Tuesday demanding the Centre to "withdraw anti-farmer laws." He said, "The central government has not responded to the poor farmers who are the backbone of this country and are fighting for their rights since the last 20 days in the chilling winter on Punjab – Delhi border. The new laws prove that the Modi-led government is following a dictatorial line. The state government led by Yediyurappa is also dancing to the tunes of the Centre instead of standing by the farmers."
Dasari further requested others, irrespective of political affiliations, to extend support to the nationwide agitations led by farmers.
(Input by Ralph Alex Arakal, Bengaluru)
Amid the row over laws meant to bring a major change in the agri-marketing sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said reforms are needed for development and some laws from the past century have become a burden now.
Launching the Agra metro rail project through video conference, Modi said the reforms carried out by his government are also getting reflected in election results.
Activist Anna Hazare has urged farmers across the country to come out on the streets to join the ongoing farmers’ agitation, saying such agitations “do not happen again and again” and that this was the right time to pressure the government to resolve the issues “for once and for all”.
Hazare, who became a household name in 2010-2013 with the anti-corruption movement, said that since 2017 the Modi government made him several promises on his demands pertaining to the agricultural sector but has not implemented a single one.
Speaking in Ralegan Siddhi, the 83-years-old activist recounted the two meetings that he held with union agricultural ministers in March 2017 and February 2019 and received letters from Prime Minsters Office promising that his demands of giving autonomy to the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and implementing the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission, but never acted on them.
“Hence, my request is to farmers that it’s important that the agitation going on in Delhi should spread across the country. Pinch the government’s nose so that it opens its mouth. For this, it's important that farmers across the country come out on roads. Then only the issues will be resolved for all the time,” said Hazare.
(Input from Atikh Rashid, Pune)
Farmers protesting at Delhi's Singhu Border said there will be no forcible closure of shops and establishments for tomorrow's Bharat Bandh.
The Delhi Police on Monday said elaborate security arrangements have been made in view of the 'Bharat Bandh' called on December 8 by farmers protesting against the Centre's new farm laws, and warned that strict action will be taken against those trying to disrupt movement of people or "forcefully" shut shops.
The agitating farmers have called 'Bharat bandh' on December 8 and threatened to intensify their agitation and block more roads leading to the national capital if the government did not accept their demands. Eish Singhal, Delhi Police (PRO), said adequate arrangements have been made by the Delhi Police to ensure normal movement of people on roads during 'Bharat Bandh' on Tuesday.
"Delhi Police has also issued a traffic advisory for smooth movement of vehicles and commuters. Anybody who tries to disrupt normal movement, life or forcefully closes shops will be strongly dealt with, as per the law," he said.
"Gujarat is not supporting Bharat Bandh call made by farmers. If anyone tries to close shops and other establishments forcefully then strict action will be taken against them," ANI quoted Chief Minister Vijay Rupani as saying.
Tamil Nadu Minister D Jayakumar on Bharat Bandh tomorrow: "For those holding protest without permission, law will take its own course."
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday visited the Singhu border, where thousands of farmers are protesting against the Centre's new farm laws, and reviewed arrangements made for them by the city government. The visit comes a day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) extended its support to the ''Bharat Bandh'' called by protesting farmers on December 8.
Kejriwal was accompanied by his Cabinet ministers and some party MLAs during the brief visit to the protest venue on the Delhi-Haryana border. 'I checked the arrangements. We received a lot of pressure to allow the use of stadiums as temporary prisons but we did not give permission and I feel this helped the movement. Since then our party MLAs and ministers have been involved in ensuring that farmers do not face any discomfort,' he said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal interacts with farmers during a visit to the Guru Tegh Bahadur Memorial Delhi Museum to review the arrangements for the farmers agitating against new farm laws, at Singhu border (PTI)
'We are working like 'sewadaar'. Here I have not come as a chief minister but as a 'sewadaar' to serve the farmers. It is our responsibility to support the farmers. I hope soon a solution is reached,' he told reporters.
The BJP lashed out at the opposition parties on Monday for coming out against the farm reforms enacted by the Narendra Modi government as it cited their earlier support to many provisions of the new laws to accuse them of "shameful double standards".
Senior BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged that a section of farmers has fallen in the grip of a few people with "vested interests" and asserted that the government was working to address their misgivings about the reforms, which have drawn strong protests from a section of cultivators.
"BEST buses will be operational tomorrow and will not be part of 'Bharat Bandh'. Protective iron grills and other protective gears will be used while plying the buses tomorrow," the PRO, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport said in a statement.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday appealed to the central government to take a decision soon to address the issues of farmers. Rai, who also raised the issue in a meeting of ICAR called by the Centre on Monday, said if the income of farmers has to be increased, the minimum support price (MSP) will have to be implemented.
"The farmers are shivering in cold since the last 11 days. If the income of farmers has to be increased, then as per the recommendations of the Swaminathan committee, MSP will have to be implemented," Rai told reporters. "As the farmers are demanding, the central government must deliberate on their demands and take a decision soon to address the issue of farmers," he added.
(PTI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday contended that the BJP government at the Centre should immediately withdraw the 'anti-people' farm laws or step down.Addressing a rally in West Midnapore district, Banerjee asserted that she would rather stay in jail than 'remain silent or put up with BJP's misrule'. 'The BJP government (at the Centre) should immediately withdraw the farm bills or step down. It should not continue to remain in power after sacrificing the rights of the farmers,' she claimed. Read more
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav detained by UP cops, bundled into police van after he sits on dharna against farm bills.
Left parties comprising the Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Revolutionary Socialist Party and All India Forward Bloc have announced their support to the Bharat Bandh called by Kisan Organisations.on December 8.
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Monday too extended support to the December 8 'Bharat Bandh', with party chief Mayawati appealing to the Centre to accept their demands. In a tweet on Monday, she said, "Farmers are protesting against three farm laws and are demanding their withdrawal. Farmer organisations have given a 'Bharat Bandh' call on December 8, and the BSP supports it. Along with this, it appeals to the Centre to accept the demands of farmers."
With farmers' protest against the Centre's farm laws going on at Delhi borders, the Shiv Sena on Monday said if the Central government repeals the agri-marketing laws, it will show its "large-heartedness". An editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' blamed the central government for the "deteriorating" situation, and said farmers have the right to protest.
Samajwadi party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday broke security cordon and sat on dharna in heart of Lucknow to express solidarity with farmers protesting farm bills, PTI reported. Earlier in the morning, the Uttar Pradesh Police had sealed a road near the Samajwadi Party office and placed barricades on it ahead of Akhilesh Yadav's visit to Kannauj for a 'Kisan Yatra', with the party terming the administration's move as "undemocratic". "Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav was to visit Kannauj for a programme, but the Kannauj district magistrate did not give permission for it. Hence, the portion of the Vikramaditya Marg leading to the SP office has been sealed," PTI quoted Station House Officer (SHO), Gautampalli, Chandrashekhar Singh as saying.
Farmer outfits in Kerala have decided to exclude the state from the nationwide bandh called on December 8 (Tuesday) as five districts of the state will go to polls in the first phase of the local body elections scheduled on the day. Voters in local bodies across Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Idukki are set to cast their votes on Tuesday.
Considering the hardships the bandh can potentially cause to voters and election officials, farmer outfits are exploring alternate ways of registering their solidarity with the farmers who are protesting on the borders of the national capital against the Centre's farm laws.
KN Balagopal, state secretary of the CPM-affiliated Kerala Karshaka Sangham, and Lal Varghese Kalapakavady, chief of the Congress-affiliated Karshaka Congress, told reporters that their outfits would carry out peaceful demonstrations at select spots against the farm laws without disturbing the sanctity of the polling process. Both Left parties and the Congress have backed the nationwide bandh.
In Assam, all opposition parties — including Congress, AIUDF, the Left, among others — have come together to extend their “full support” to the Bharat Bandh called by the farmer unions on December 8.
A statement from the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee said that apart from supporting the bandh on December 8, the party’s local units will hold protest programs with the farmers in farms across the state and burn effigies of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Assam chapter of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) said that the new farm laws amounted to annulling the Minimum Support Price, which the BJP had promised in its “Vision Document” for Assam. The statement — which was signed by the Congress, CPI-ML, CPI, Liberal Democratic Party Anchalik Gana Marcha, Assam Jatiya Parishad, Raijor Dol, among others — said that the general public’s food security will be affected by the corporatisation of agriculture that the laws will result in. The statement appealed to all offices and educational institutions, including banks and courts to remain shut, and vehicles to be off the roads on December 8.
Peasant organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti — founded by Akhil Gogoi — also extended their support to the bandh. In a statement, the organisation said that they would build a movement against the anti-farmer laws in Assam. “BJP is doing this to appease its corporate friends and the farmers of Assam will never accept these laws”, said the statement. --Tora Agarwala reports from Assam
Backing the farmer's call for 'Bharat Bandh' on December 8, the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana requested all the advocates of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, including the advocates at Punjab and Haryana High Court, to abstain from work on Tuesday.
Chairman of Bar Council, Karanjit Singh said that a request letter has also been sent to the Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman and the chaimans of all the state bar councils across India to support the farmers' call of Bharat Bandh on December 8 by abstaining from work.
Meanwhile, in a bid to help and support the farmers, the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana decided to send 1,000 blankets and dry ration to the agitating farmers at Sindhu boarder, said Karanjit Singh. Read more
BJP MP and actor Sunny Deol says he believes the government at the Centre always thinks about the betterment of farmers and hopes the party will ensure the right outcome after talks with farmers protesting against the new agricultural laws.Deol on Sunday evening issued a statement on his Twitter handle in Hindi, saying the matter is between the farmers and government, but there are people who are trying to gain something out of the agitation. "I know that many people want to take advantage of the situation and are creating problems. They are not thinking of farmers. They may have their own agenda. "I stand with my party and farmers and will always be with farmers. Our government always thinks of the betterment of farmers and I am sure that the government will ensure the right outcome after holding talks with farmers," the BJP MP from Gurdaspur said in a statement. Read more
Congress MPs from Punjab protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding winter session of Parliament to discuss farmers issue. "Session should be called, anti-farmer laws should be reconsidered & withdrawn. Govt is avoiding the session. It's against democracy," MP Manish Tewari says.
NCP issues clarification on controversy over Sharad Pawar's letters (attached in tweet) of 2010 & 2011 to Sheila Dixit & SS Chouhan. "As agriculture minister, Pawar tried to form broader consensus among State Agriculture Marketing Boards by inviting suggestions for implementation of the Act. Benefit of farmers as per model APMC Act was explained to various state govts and many govts came forward to implement it. The new farm bill has raised several doubts & insecurity in minds of farmers regarding MSP & other issues that the govt has failed to address. Modi Govt couldn't form broader consensus & has failed to satisfy legitimate apprehensions of the farmers & entire opposition," the party said