Farmers’ leaders have announced Bharat Bandh on December 8. The call for the bandh was after the fifth round of talks between them and the government did not ring in the desired results. The farmers union stood firm on their demand against the new agri-marketing laws. They announced that the government should rollback the three farm laws. As the talks between the two have been inconclusive the farmers have asked for a nationwide bandh.
These are the parties supporting the farmers call for bandh:
Several political parties on Sunday (December 6, 2020) extended their support for the ‘Bharat Bandh’ on December 8. Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML), All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP). In addition, the call for ‘Bharat Bandh’ had already garnered the support of the Trinamool Congress and DMK among others.
Also, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC) and Trade Union Co-ordination Centre (TUCC) too have extended support.
There have been five rounds of talks between farmers’ representatives and the government till now, and the next meeting is scheduled for December 9. The farmers are demanding the complete withdrawal of the central government’s three new farm laws. The three laws are The Farmers` Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
The agitating farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave a way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system. They also fear that the laws will leave them at the mercy of big corporates.
Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary said that the three laws passed by the government are “in favour of farmers”. He added that they will not be repealed, though amendments could be made to them.