Farmersand trade unions from more than 12 states, including whole northern India, haveso far extended their support for the 'Bharat Bandh' call of farmerorganisations on December 8 to raise their voice against the Centre's threecontentious farm laws enacted in September during the Monsoon Session ofParliament.
Delhi,Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, West Bengal, MadhyaPradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha and Tamil Nadu are among the 12 states and a jointplatform of 10 central trade unions have so far extended their support to thecall which was made public after the fifth round of the government-farmer talksremained inconclusive with both sides adamant on their points.
Asthe ongoing farmers protest entered the 11th day on Sunday, over 40 farmerrepresentatives engaged in a meeting since morning at Singhu Border -- one ofthe protest spots on the Delhi-Chandigarh route -- to chalk out a plan for the'Bharat Bandh' and discuss further strategy of the agitation.
Thefarmer leaders have decided to continue their sit-in until their first andmajor demand to repeal all three farm laws are not annulled.
Whilethe government was agreeable in the fifth government-farmer meet to doamendments to The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion andFacilitation) Act, 2020; The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement ofPrice Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and The Essential Commodities(Amendment) Act, 2020, farmers were pushing for the scrapping of these laws.
Farmerleaders communicated that they will hold the 'Bharat Bandh' on December 8 astheir demands haven't been met.
BharatiyaKisan Union (BKU) Ekta Ugrahan state President Joginder Singh told IANS that afew team members of the group have been sent to Punjab for a complete 'BharatBandh'.
"Delhi,Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab in among 12 states are expected toobserve complete 'Bharat Bandh' on December 8. Odisha and Tamil Nadu are alsosupporting the call," Singh said.
"Sofar, it is not known if Gujarat will follow the 'bandh' call as none of themembers from there has approached us. However, we have come to know that around500 farmers are coming in separate vehicles here. I am not aware who is leadingthem. Separate organisations are coming here to support our protest. Who isorganising these people is still not known? All political leaders, except BJP,are supporting the protests in Punjab."
Thefarmer leader said that farmers from Bihar have not still come forward tosupport the bandh. "We expect guaranteed complete shut-in northern Indiaon December 8."
BharatiyaKisan Union President Gurnam Singh Chathuni told IANS that "it would be apeaceful 'Bharat Bandh' across the country on December 8", assuring"if any person is found adopting violent acts, he would be handed over topolice".
RajasthanKhadya Padarth Vyapar Sangh President Babulal Gupta told IANS that 247"mandis" in Rajasthan along with oil mills, pulse mills and flourmills will be completely closed in support of 'Bharat Bandh' call by farmers."Besides Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh, Haryana and Punjab aresupporting the 'bandh' call."
Besides,a joint forum of ten central trade unions -- Indian National Trade UnionCongress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha(HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade UnionCentre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC), Self-Employed Women'sAssociation (SEWA), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), LabourProgressive Federation (LPF) and United Trade Union Congress (UTUC)-- issupporting the nationwide strike.
KultaranSingh Atwal, President of All India Motor Transport Congress, told IANS that"transport associations and unions will also be observing 'chakka jam' inNorthern States on December 8 under the banner of AIMTC."
"Youare well aware that our farmer brothers are fighting for their rights for last11 days. More than 60 per cent of our transport vehicles are dependent onagriculture produce and we are dependent upon them. If the farmers are notthere then how can the transporters survive. Moreover, most of the transportersalso come from farmer families," Atwal said.
"Thefarmers are the 'annadata' of this nation and, therefore, it becomes our moralduty to support their cause.
Thetransport fraternity of India under the banner of AIMTC has extended itssupport to them."
Thousandsof protesters have already blocked Delhi borders at five points connecting itto Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The protest which began on November 26will be observed across the nation on December 8 for which farmer associationsare continuously contacting different state unions.