As protests against controversial farm laws intensify, farmers across the country will observe a nationwide strike, Bharat Bandh, on Tuesday. Faced with the strike, the central government sent a notice on Monday to all state governments and union territory administrators (UT) asking them to reinforce security and maintain public order.
In the notice, the Center asked state governments and UT administrations to ensure that protesters strictly adhere to all issued Covid-19 guidelines regarding health and social distancing.
He also asked the states and UT to take all precautionary measures to avoid any adverse incident in the country. The main focus of the Center is peace and quiet, which he said should be maintained.
Thousands of farmers have protested against the Center’s new farm laws in the past 11 days. As talks with the government have been futile so far, protesting farmers called for a nationwide strike on Tuesday. The protesting farmers will begin their strike at 11 a.m. and the toll will continue at 3 p.m.
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During the strike, it is expected that they will block roads and services such as transport and banking could be affected. However, medical services like an ambulance or even weddings will work as usual.
“It is a symbolic protest to register our opposition. It is to show that we do not support some of the policies of the government of India, ”said a spokesman for the Bharatiya Kisan Union, Rakesh Tikait.
The next round of talks between the government and protesting farmers is scheduled for Wednesday.
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Meanwhile, in Delhi, the epicenter of the protests, several borders connecting the national capital with its neighboring states are blocked. According to the notice from the traffic police, the borders that are completely closed are Singhu, Tikri, Auchandi, Jharoda, Piao Maniyari and Mangesh in the outer and southwestern parts of the city and the Chilla border, which connects Delhi and Noida, in East Delhi.
Farmers protest against the Agricultural Products Trade and Trade (Promotion and Facilitation) Act of 2020, the Farmers’ Agreement (Empowerment and Protection) on Price Guarantee and the Agricultural Services Act of 2020 and the Essential Products Act (Amendment ) of 2020.
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