Bharat Bandh: After Nationwide Strike, Deadlock Between Farmers And Government Continues

The deadlock between farmers and the central government over the three new agriculture laws continued even after Home Minister Amit Shah met leaders on the eve of a nationwide strike.

“No meeting will be held between the farmers and government tomorrow,” Hannan Mollah, General Secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha, told reporters after meeting Shah. “All 13 unions at the meeting with Shah demanded a repeal of laws. The government is ready to repeal the laws.”

Mollah said that the government will give in writing amendments that it is willing to make in the three farm laws. The leaders will deliberate on them on Wednesday at the Singhu border, he said. “We want a repeal of laws, there is no middle path.”

The government was scheduled to meet the farmers for another round of talks on Wednesday. Farmers have warned that their demonstrations would intensify if they fail to reach a resolution.

The meeting with Shah came after normal life was hit across multiple states as lakhs of Indians answered the farmers' call for a nationwide strike to oppose the new laws.

The day-long shutdown impacted traffic and movement across parts of the country as people hit the streets in protest. Major wholesale markets in Delhi, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh were shut while certain highways were blocked in North Indian states.

Protesting farmers blocked key roads and occupied toll plazas during their ‘chakka jam’ between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Besides farmers, a number of fishermen, daily wagers, Adivasis, sand mine workers, share croppers, industrial workers, transport workers and students were also part of various protests and rallies, the pain-India farmers' body All Indian Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee said. Besides, over 1,000 lawyers' associations at district levels also joined the strike.

Members of a farmers’ organisation in Maharashtra also blocked a passenger train in protest. Truckers also joined the protest and suspended operations on Tuesday with an exemption for essential commodities like milk, vegetables and fruits.

AIKSCC called the strike a success but asserted that agitation against the Modi administration would continue until the "black laws" are repealed.

The All India Kisan Sangarsh Coordination Committee congratulated the people for a "successful" nationwide strike while reasserting its demand to the government for repealing the new farm laws.

"People have rejected this logic of the model of corporate-profit driven economy," AIKSCC said in a media statement on Tuesday evening. More than 90% of public life came to a standstill in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Punjab and West Bengal and the strike was observed widely in a total of 22 states, the union claimed.

AIKSCC is a pan-India umbrella organisation comprising over 250 farmers' organisations across India.

"Those who rallied included fishermen, adivasis, stone quarry workers, sand mine workers, daily wagers, share croppers, tenant farmers and a large spectrum of industrial workers, tempo and other transport workers, students and intellectuals," it said.

AIKSCC asserted that farmers are determined to continue their agitation till the new laws are repealed by the Modi administration.

Leaders and workers of the Nationalist Congress Party in Maharashtra, led by the party's state unit president, Jayant Patil, came out in support of farmers who observed a Bharat Bandh on Tuesday to demand scrapping of the Centres new agricultural laws.

Patil, who is also Maharashtra's water resources minister, wore black ribbon to express solidarity with the agitating cultivators.

Speaking to reporters, Patil said, I am sporting black ribbon today to extend support to the farmers."

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik, who is also a minister, led a protest of party workers in suburban Chembur.

Source: PTI

Social media was abuzz on Tuesday with messages of solidarity with the agitating farmers on 'Bharat Bandh' day as netizens made ploughs, tractors, crops and 'Kisan' trend on Twitter in support of the protesters' demands.

As the agitation picked up in the morning, the hashtag #Aaj_Bharat_Bandh_Hai was trending till late afternoon.

Other hashtags widely used by the netizens were #TractorToTwitter, #IStandWithFarmers, #Kisan, #FarmersProtest and #NoFarmersNoFood.

Many users also shared videos of deserted markets in cities in Gujarat, Maharashtra and other states to show the impact of the stir.

Images of ploughs locking a door drawn in the shape of India's map and tractors triumphing over odds were widely shared to convey the idea of bandh and farmers' struggle.

Source: PTI

Tens of thousands of farmers across India took to the streets Tuesday during a nationwide strike demanding the scrapping of new agricultural laws, intensifying an almost fortnight long standoff with the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Get full details here.

Normal life was affected in Odisha on Tuesday as Congress and Left supporters blocked roads and railway tracks along with trade unionists to enforce the nationwide shutdown.

Roads wore a deserted look as vehicular movement came to a halt with the supporters of the 'Bharat Bandh' blocking highways and major roads, and staging demonstrations.

Train services were also affected as activists of farmers' organisations, trade unions and political parties held sit-ins on railway tracks in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Bhadrak and Balasore.

In the state capital, movement of vehicles was disrupted as the bandh supporters blocked roads by burning tyres at different places, including Master Canteen Square and Jaydev Vihar. They also picketed on the tracks at Bhubaneswar railway station.

While a large number of passengers were seen stranded at Baramunda bus terminus in Bhubaneswar, many trucks and buses were stranded on the highway near Jaydev Square. The movements of auto-rickshaws and taxis were also hit.

Vehicular movement was also hit in Cuttack, Balasore, Bhadrak, Sundargarh, Bhawanipatna, Berhampur, Sambalpur, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Khurda and Puri.

Activists of Nabanirman Krushak Sanghathan staged demonstrations in Jagatsinghpur and Hansapal near Bhubaneswar.

While essential services were kept out of the purview of the shutdown, markets, shopping malls and petrol pumps remained shut in most places.

The shutdown was largely peaceful and no untoward incident was reported from any part of the state, a senior police official said.

The Odisha Public Service Commission postponed the State Civil Services, 2019 GS Paper I & II main exam, which was scheduled to be held during the day, to January 2.

Opposition DMK and its allies including the Congress held protests across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry demanding the Centre repeal the three farm laws.

In the union territory, ruled by the Congress, the bandh call evoked a near total response with buses, taxis and autos staying off the roads and traders, retail outlets and other commercial establishments downing shutters to support the shutdown while government offices saw thin attendance.

In Tamil Nadu, public and private transportation and normal life was largely unaffected barring traffic congestion in the vicinity of protest locations.

Demonstrations were held at several regions including Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Cuddalore and neighbouring Puducherry in which farmers bodies and DMK's allies including the Congress, the CPI(M), CPI and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi took part.

Farmer leader PR Pandian participated in a protest in Chennai and said ryots were actively engaged in demonstrations across the state.

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, extending solidarity to the bandh, visited the protest venue at Puducherry and said agriculture came under the state list of Constitution and the union government should have consulted states before rushing with the laws. "The Centre must unconditionally withdraw the three laws immediately," he said.

The ruling TRS, opposition parties including the Congress and various unions on Tuesday held protests across Telangana as part of the 'Bharat Bandh.' The TRS decided to actively participate in the protests in the state to ensure it was a success.

State Transport Minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar and TRS leader in Lok Sabha Nama Nageswara Rao attended a sit-in protest at Khammam. State women and child welfare minister Satyavati Rathod and Endowments Minister A Indrakaran Reddy participated in protests at Mahabubabad and Nirmal towns respectively.

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka attended a 'rasta roko' at Shamirpet here along with other party leaders. Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) leader M Kodandaram, CPI state secretary Chada Venkata Reddy, his CPI (M) counterpart Tammineni Veerabhadram and activists of Left parties and Left-affiliated trade and other unions held a protest at Kothi in the city.

Left activists took out demonstrations at various places in the state in support of the shutdown.

The TRS, Congress and Left parties planned various events during the day as part of the strike.

The Bharat bandh call given by farmers organisations evoked a mixed reaction in Rajasthan where mandis remained closed but several shops were open as usual on Tuesday morning.

The bandh is supported by the ruling Congress party in the state.

Transport Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas along with his supporters visited Civil Lines, Sodala, MI Road and other areas on a tractor and other vehicles in support of the bandh.

On the other hand, several shops in markets in Jaipur opened as usual.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made and senior officials conducted visits on the field.

Railway tracks, highways and roads across Bihar were teeming with supporters of the 'Bharat Bandh', which affected normal life in the state with the opposition parties extending support to the farmer protest.

Police were deployed in large numbers across the state to ensure that the movement of essential goods and services remained unhindered.

RJD supporters, and workers of Pappu Yadav's Jan Adhikar Party fanned out to various parts of Patna, forcing shopkeepers to down their shutters and deflating tyres of vehicles plying on the roads.

In Jehanabad, the movement of Patna-Palamu Express was obstructed for a few minutes until the bandh supporters, squatting on the tracks, were chased away by the police.

Burning tyres were placed on National Highway 110 and 83, resulting in the disruption of traffic, leading to long queues of vehicles.

In Nawada, cadres of the Congress, the CPI and CPI(ML) hit the streets, raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanding the withdrawal of the agriculture laws terming these as "anti-farmer".

Similar scenes were witnessed in the Khagaria district.

The state police headquarters said instructions had been issued to all district police chiefs late on Monday to firmly crackdown on any attempts to disrupt essential services and delivery of essential items.

Shops and commercial establishments remained shut at many places in Punjab in view of the nationwide strike.

Petroleum dealers in the state closed filling stations to back the call for the Bharat Bandh. There are over 3,400 fuel pumps in Punjab.

In neighbouring BJP-JJP ruled Haryana, opposition parties Congress and Indian National Lok Dal have extended their support to the 'Bharat Bandh'.

Farmers started assembling on highways and other key roads in both states from the morning.

"We will hold a protest peacefully," a farmer said in Mohali. In Ludhiana, a group of protesters squatted on a road to express solidarity with the protesting farmers.

Police personnel have been deployed in adequate strength in both the states to maintain law and order, officials said.

In Punjab, several unions representing government employees, arthiyas (commission agents) and transporters have extended their support to the farmers' protest.

Over 50,000 government employees have taken mass casual leave in support of farmers, said Punjab Civil Secretariat Staff Association president Sukhchain Khaira.

Besides, all major political parties in Punjab the ruling Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal have also extended their support.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, an apex gurdwara body, has also announced to keep its offices and institutions shut to express solidarity with the farmers.

Haryana BKU chief Gurnam Singh Charuni has appealed to all sections of the society to observe complete shutdown to support the farmers.

A section of auto and taxi unions in Delhi joined the 'Bharat Bandh' called by agitating farmers and decided to keep their vehicles off the roads here.

Kamaljeet Gill, President of Sarvodaya Driver Association of Delhi, which represents drivers working with cab aggregators, claimed most of its members were on strike.

"There are around 4 lakh app based cabs in Delhi-NCR. Most of our members are on strike," he said.

President of Delhi Taxi Tourist Transporters Association, Sanjay Samrat said drivers associated with several unions including Delhi State Taxi Cooperative Society and Kaumi Ekta Welfare Association were on strike.

However, other auto and taxi unions claimed that the strike will not have any impact on transport facilities in Delhi.

Supporters of the Congress and Left parties blocked railway tracks at several places, and held sit-ins on roads to enforce the nationwide shutdown, which evoked a mixed response in West Bengal.

The Bharat Bandh partially affected the state with private vehicles remaining off the roads, while public transport, including buses and taxis, operating fewer than the usual.

In Kolkata, CPI(M) activists along with SFI and DYFI members blocked roads in Lake Town, College Street, Jadavpur and Shyambazar Five-Point Crossing.

Roads were also blocked by Left and Congress supporters at Madhyamgram Chowmatha in North 24 Parganas district, Panskura in Paschim Medinipur, Bali in Howrah district, Baharampur in Murshidabad, and Kharagpur as police tried to persuade them to allow vehicular movement.

They blocked railway tracks at Jadavpur and Madhyamgram in Eastern Railway's Sealdah section, and Rishra and Bardhaman in the Howrah section.

In Jadavpur, senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty led a rally from 8B Bus Stand along the SC Mallick Road.

The ruling Trinamool Congress has supported the shutdown though it has stayed away from enforcing it.

Protests were held in Seoni-Malwa area in Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh in support of the 'Bharat Bandh' called by farmer unions.

The protesters under the banner of the Krantikari Kisan Mazdoor Sangthan raised slogans and demanded repeal of the new agriculture laws.

A Congress spokesman said the party will hold demonstrations at headquarters of various districts around 11:00 a.m.

A senior police official said no untoward incident was reported so far from across the state.

Social activist Anna Hazare sat on a day-long hunger strike to support farmers who have demanded the repeal of Centre’s farm laws.

Hazare also said the agitation should spread across the country so that the government comes under pressure to act in the interests of cultivators.

In a recorded message, Hazare appreciated farmers’ protests at the borders of Delhi saying no violence has taken place in the last 10 days of the agitation.

"I appeal to the people of the country that the agitation which is going on in Delhi should spread across the country. The situation needs to created to create pressure on the government, and to achieve this, farmers need to hit streets. But no one should resort to violence," said Hazare who began his fast in Ralegan Siddhi village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra.

He said this was the "right time" for farmers to come out on streets and get their issues resolved.

Protesters blocked three highways in rural Gujarat by placing burning tyres on roads on Tuesday morning as part of the Bharat Bandh, affecting vehicular traffic for some time.

A highway connecting Ahmedabad to Viramgam was blocked near Sanand by protesters from the Congress party who placed burning tyres on roads, causing a traffic jam.

Another group of protesters blocked a national highway in Vadodara.

In yet another incident, a highway connecting Bharuch and Dahej in Bharuch district was similarly blocked near Nandelav by protesters.

Police detained protesters in Ahmedabad and brought the situation under control, an official said.

The state government has imposed section 144 of the CrPC, which bans assembly of more than four persons, in view of the Bharat Bandh.

Members of a farmers' organisation on Tuesday staged a 'rail roko' in Maharashtra's Buldhana district as part of the Bharat Bandh called by farmer unions.

Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna members stopped the Chennai-Ahmedabad Navjeevan Express at Malkapur station in Buldhana district while protesting against the farm laws.

Police detained Sanghatana leader Ravikant Tupkar and his supporters over the incident, after removing them from the rail tracks, an official said.

Agriculture Produce Market Committees in Navi Mumbai, Nashik, Dhule, Pune and Solapur are closed during the bandh.

Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses are plying as scheduled during the Bharat Bandh, a senior official of the state-run undertaking said. The buses will continue to ply unless there are law and order problems due to the shutdown, he added.

The All India Motor Transport Congress, an apex body of trucker outfits, has joined the bandh and has suspended operations on Tuesday.

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.

Taxi union leader AL Quadros said taxis are plying in Mumbai as the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown had already hit the sector severely.

In Maharashtra, the ruling Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress are supporting the bandh.

The Delhi Police has beefed up security at all border points and made arrangements to maintain law and order across the city, including at market places.

"The security across the national capital, especially on bordering areas, has been beefed up," a senior police officer said.

He said there is maximum deployment of Delhi Police personnel in the city to ensure normal movement of people on the roads so that no one faces any kind of inconvenience.

Taking to Twitter, DCP (traffic western range) said, "Tikri, Jharoda Borders, Dhansa are closed for any Traffic Movement. Badusarai Border is open only for light motor vehicle like Cars and two wheelers. Jhatikara Border is open only for two wheeler traffic @dtptraffic."

In another tweet, the police said available open borders to Haryana are Daurala, Kapashera, Rajokri NH 8, Bijwasan, Palam Vihar and Dundahera.

The Delhi Police on Tuesday beefed up security at all border points and made arrangements to maintain law and order across the city in view of the 'Bharat Bandh' called by farmer unions against the Centre's new farm laws, officials said.

Farmer leaders have said emergency services will be exempted, and appealed to their affiliates to not force anyone to join the shutdown. Protesting farmers will block key roads and occupy toll plazas during their 'chakka jam' protest from 11 am to 3 pm.

Talks between the government and protesting farmer unions so far have been futile and the sixth round of discussions is scheduled to be held on Wednesday.

Farmer leaders also welcomed the support of political parties to the nationwide strike against the laws and demanded that the legislation be repealed.

The Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Nationalist Congress Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam are among the political parties that are backing the day-long strike.