INDIAN FARMERS VOW TO INTENSIFY PROTESTS AS OPPOSITION SUPPORTS FARMERS CALL FOR “BHARAT BANDH” ON DEC 8

Sun 06 December 2020:

The Indian government and protesting farmers were unable to break their deadlock in talks, with the farmers saying on Saturday they will intensify their demonstrations against new agriculture laws and continue blocking key highways on the outskirts of the capital.

The farmers’ protest against the centre’s farm laws entered its eleventh day today with fresh rallies at Burari and other areas in the outskirts of Delhi. On Saturday farmer leaders met union ministers for talks – third this week and fifth since September – but the five-hour discussion broke down on the core issue – repeal of the laws.

After the meeting Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the centre remains committed to finding a solution and urged farmers to scale down their protests outside Delhi by sending the elderly and children home. A sixth meeting will take place on Wednesday, at which a fresh proposal from the centre will be tabled. Between now and then the farmers will hold an all-India bandh on Tuesday to keep the pressure on the central government.

Meanwhile Protest leaders rejected the government’s offer to amend some contentious provisions of the new farm laws, which deregulate crop pricing, and stuck to the demand for total repeal.

They also announced a nationwide strike for Tuesday. They said they would intensify their agitation and occupy toll plazas across the country on the strike day if the government didn’t abolish the laws.

Thousands of farmers are protesting against reforms that they say could devastate crop prices and reduce their earnings. They have blocked highways on the outskirts of Delhi for the last 10 days.The farmers say the laws will lead the government to stop buying grain at minimum guaranteed prices and result in exploitation by corporations that will push down prices.

The farmers are camping along at least five main highways on the outskirts of the national capital territory and have said they will not leave until the government rolls back what they call the “black laws”.

Farmers in the northern states of Punjab and Haryana have been protesting against the laws for nearly two months. The situation escalated last week when tens of thousands marched to New Delhi and clashed with the police on the outskirts.

With nearly 60 percent of the Indian population depending on agriculture for their livelihoods, the growing farmer rebellion has rattled Modi’s administration and allies.

Modi and his leaders have also tried to allay farmers’ fears about the new laws while also dismissing their concerns.

Some of his party leaders have called the farmers “misguided” and “anti-national”, a label often given to those who criticise Modi or his policies.

Many opposition party leaders, activists and even some allies of Modi’s party have called the laws anti-farmer and expressed support for those protesting.

**Supports Farmers “Bharat Bandh” Call On December 8**

The Congress on Sunday expressed its “whole-hearted” support to the “Bharat Bandh” called on December 8 by farmer unions against the new agri-marketing laws and announced that it will hold protests that day at all district and state headquarters in solidarity with the demands of the farmers.

The representatives of thousands of agitating farmers, who are sitting on various borders of the national capital since November 26, have said their call for a ”Bharat Bandh” on December 8 would be observed with full force.

Addressing the media at the AICC headquarters, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said, “I would also like to announce that the Congress party extends its whole-hearted support to the Bharat Bandh on December 8.”

Former party chief Rahul Gandhi, through tractor rallies, signature campaigns and Kisaan rallies, has been raising the party’s voice in support of the farmers, he said.

“All our district headquarters and Pradesh headquarters will participate in this bandh. They will hold demonstrations and ensure that the bandh is successful,” Khera said.

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