Updated: December 6, 2020 8:36:18 pm
Bharat Bandh: Farmers gathered at the Singhu border of New Delhi.
A day after farmers protesting at the New Delhi borders called for a nationwide general strike, the demand won support from various opposition parties, including the AAP and Congress.
The neighboring Delhi state of Haryana, where farmer agitation has been gathering momentum, has convened a high-level meeting to review the law and order situation ahead of the planned Bharat bandh. Farmers, for their part, said the unions mutually agreed that more farmers from different states would be included in the protest.
EXPLAINED | Farmer protests: why the government should not allow positions to harden
The farmers said they consider their demands “non-negotiable”, and the next round of talks will be dominated by the agenda of total repeal of the three farm laws through a special session of Parliament.
Farmers agitation Day 11 | Congress supports the call for a strike at the national level; Vijender threatens to return Khel Ratna; other developments
With the expectation of disruptions in road transport in and around Delhi, the Delhi Traffic Police have suggested alternative routes for entering and leaving the national capital on December 8 (Tuesday).
Delhi Police Instructions for Traffic Movement
The police have advised those moving to Delhi to use the DND instead of the Noida Link road. The Chilla border on the Noida link road is closed to traffic due to protests by farmers near Gautam Budh Dwar. “The Ghazipur border on NH 24 is closed to traffic from Ghaziabad to Delhi due to protests from farmers. People are advised to avoid NH 24 to come to Delhi and to use Apsara / Bhopra / DND to come to Delhi, ”he tweeted.
EXPLAINED | Farmer protests: why the government should not allow positions to harden
The Tikri and Jharoda borders are closed to the movement of traffic, while the Badusarai border is open only to light motor vehicles such as cars and two-wheelers, he said.
Talks between the government and representatives of the farmers’ unions remained unfinished on Saturday. (Express photo: Prem Nath Pandey)
“The borders of Singhu, Auchandi, Lampur, Piao Maniyari and Mangesh are closed. NH 44 is closed on both sides, ”police said. The police advised travelers to take alternate routes through Safiabad, Saboli, NH8, Bhopra, the Apsara borders and the Peripheral Highway.
Various parties support Bharat Bandh
Various political parties, including Congress, AAP, DMK, Shiv Sena, Kamal Haasan’s MNM, left-wing parties, TMC and TRS, have joined the ranks of protesting farmers. The Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, constituent of the NDA, has also supported the so-called bandh.
The Rashtriya Loktantrik Party supports the farmers’ call for “Bharat Bandh”. The prime minister should withdraw the agricultural laws. We will make a decision on whether or not RLP will remain in NDA after December 8: Hanuman Beniwal, RLP leader and MP from Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/K5dRAIHm1s
– ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2020
At a press conference on Friday, the leader of the farmers union Gurnam Singh Chadoni said that if the Center did not accept his demands to repeal the laws during the talks on Saturday, they would intensify their agitation and occupy the toll plazas. There have been five rounds of talks between farmers’ representatives and the government so far, with the next meeting scheduled for December 9. After the talks on Thursday, the Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had hinted that the Modi government could amend three important provisions in the Trade in Agricultural Products and Trade (Promotion and Facilitation) Law.
Farm laws will not be reversed, amendments can be made: MoS Agriculture
The Minister of State for Agriculture, Kailash Choudhary, reiterated on Sunday that the three laws passed by the government are “in favor of farmers” and would not be repealed, although modifications could be made.
“These laws passed by the government will set farmers free. We have always said that farmers should have the right to sell their crops wherever they want. Even the Swaminathan Commission report recommends it. I don’t think the laws should be repealed. If necessary, some amendments to the laws will be made to recognize the demands of farmers on the move, ”Choudhary said according to ANI.
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