Several political parties such Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and various transport unions have extended their support to ‘Bharat Bandh’ scheduled on Tuesday, 8 December, which is a call made by farmers protesting the contentious farm laws.
Opposition leaders such as Congress President Sonia Gandhi, NCP Leader Sharad Pawar, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, DMK Chief MK Stalin and People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration Chairman Farooq Abdullah, on Sunday, issued a joint statement supporting the call for a ‘Bharat Bandh,’ PTI reported.
Earlier on Sunday, Congress party’s spokesperson Pawan Khera said that the party has decided to support the call, adding that they will be demonstrating at their party offices.
“It will be a step strengthening Rahul Gandhi’s support to the farmers. We will ensure that the demonstration is successful,” Khera was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala had tweeted, “Pick your pen, apologise to ''anndata'' and annul the black laws immediately.”
Arvind Kejriwal Tweets in Support of Farmers
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that AAP completely supports farmers on their decision to call for a ‘Bharat bandh.’ He further said that AAP’s workers will peacefully support the farmers.
‘Won’t Back Bharat Band’: TMC
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saugata Roy on Monday stated that the party stands with the agitating farmers but will not support the Bharat Bandh in West Bengal.
“It (bandh) goes against our principles,” ANI quoted Roy as saying.
Earlier, TMC MP Sudip Bandopadhyay said that his party would seek immediate withdrawal of the farm laws during its protests in the West Bengal.
"Our leader CM Mamata Banerjee has pledged wholehearted support to the movement of farmers. We demand immediate withdrawal of the farm laws," he had said, PTI reported.
BSP, SAD, RJD,Left Parties Support Call For ‘Bharat Bandh’
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Monday, 7 December, also extended the party support for the ‘Bharat Band’ on Tuesday.
Taking to Twitter, the BSP supremo stated that “BSP supports the ‘Bharat Band’ call and appeals the Centre to accept the demands of the farmers.”
Shiromani Akali Dal Chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has come out in support of the ‘Bharat Bandh’ scheduled on Tuesday. “Our workers will also work wholeheartedly to make this bandh a complete success and ensure repeal of the anti-farmer agricultural laws,” he tweeted.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Left parties have also extended their support to the nationwide strike, PTI reported.
In a joint statement, parties such as Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), Revolutionary Socialist Party and All India Forward Bloc announced their support to the ongoing farmers’ protest and the call for a ‘Bharat bandh.’
Meanwhile, Telangana CM and TRS leader K Chandrashekar Rao has also extended his party’s support to the ‘Bharat Bandh,’ ANI reported.
Actor Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) has also announced support to the protests and a 10-member team of party members left for Delhi on Sunday.
Unions, Associations Come Out in Support of Farmers
Indian Tourist Transporters Association (ITTA) and Delhi Goods Transport Association (DGTA) have called for strike on Tuesday in solidarity with farmers’ protest in Delhi.
“51 unions decided to support farmers. Farming and transporting are like two sons of a father,” Satish Sherawat, president of ITTA told ANI.
Meanwhile, Parmeet Singh Goldie, president DGTA, said,“We are supporting our farmer brothers. They are the roots of our business.”
Earlier, the Bharatiya Kisan Union activists had held protests at several places in Haryana and burned the effigies of the Union government.
As the deadlock over the laws continues, protesting farmers and the Centre are scheduled to meet for the sixth round of talks on Wednesday, 9 December. Talks were also held on Saturday, but were inconclusive.
After Saturday’s meeting, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the government has assured the farmers that procurement at minimum support price (MSP) will continue, and mandis will be strengthened.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI)
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