On the issue of the three farm bills being passed by Parliament during the monsoon session, many farmers’ bodies have called for ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Friday to protest against the decision. Punjab’s ruling party Congress along with the Aam Aadmi Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal have also supported the call and the bandh is likely to affect Punjab the most. Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana’s BKU have also extended their support to the bandh.
Around 31 farmer organisations have joined hands for the ‘Punjab Bandh’ and several organisations in the neighbouring state of Haryana, including the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) have also extended support to the nationwide strike. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said the state government was fully with the farmers in their fight against the bills and no FIRs would be registered for violation of Section 144.
He also appealed to the farmers to ensure that the citizens were not inconvenienced, no disturbances in law and order situation were made, and lives and property of people were not endangered due to the agitation. Farmers started a threeday rail blockade against the bills and squatted on tracks at many places in Punjab on Thursday. The farmer outfits have also decided to go for an indefinite rail blockade from 1 October.
Meanwhile, Haryana’s Home Minister Anil Vij held a meeting with officers of the home and police departments on Thursday to review the situation, and directed the DGP to ensure elaborate police arrangements to prevent any untoward situation. Delhi Police are on high alert and have made preparations to seal the border with Haryana forestall any attempt of protestors to enter Delhi. The Congress also supported the ‹Bharat Bandh› call given by farmer organisations, saying millions of party workers stand in solidarity with the farmers› cause and will participate in their protests.
Party’s chief spokesperson Randeep Sujewala said that while farmers and farm labourers fill the stomachs of countrymen with their hard labour, the Modi government is attacking them and their fields. The Samajwadi Party will also organise a state-wide protest against the farm sector and labour reform bills as well. «The party will protest against the farm sector and labour reform bills which hurt the interest of farmers and workers. During the state-wide protests, a memorandum will be sent to the governor through respective DMs», party chief spokesperson Rajendra Chowdhury said.