Tue 08 December 2020:
Delhi: Azadpur mandi, one of the largest wholesale markets for fruits and vegetables in the country, along with all others in the national capital will remain shut on Tuesday in support of the Bharat bandh, called by farmers, its chairman Adil Ahmed Khan said.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union on Monday said that the Bharat bandh is a “symbolic protest” to show opposition to Centre’s policies.
“Our protest is peaceful and we’ll continue that way. Bharat bandh is a symbolic protest to register our opposition. It is to show that we don’t support some of the policies of the Government of India,” Rakesh Tikait, spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, said.
Railway tracks, highways and roads across Bihar were teeming with supporters of the ”Bharat Bandh”, which affected normal life in the state today, with the opposition parties extending support to the protest led by the farmers’ unions against the centre’s farm laws.
Police were deployed in large numbers across the state to ensure that the movement of essential goods and services remained unhindered.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supporters, and workers of Pappu Yadav’s Jan Adhikar Party spread across Patna, forcing shopkeepers to down their shutters and deflating tyres of vehicles on the roads.
Many bandh supporters were seen carrying party flags, much to the embarrassment of their leaders who said that instructions were in place “not to give a political colour” to the support extended to the bandh.
In Jehanabad, the movement of Patna-Palamu Express was obstructed for a few minutes until the bandh supporters, squatting on the tracks, were chased away by the police.
Burning tyres were placed on National Highway 110 and 83, resulting in the disruption of traffic, leading to long queues of vehicles.
Similar scenes were witnessed in the Khagaria district.
The state police headquarters said instructions had been issued to all district police chiefs late on Monday to firmly crackdown on any attempts to disrupt essential services and delivery of essential items.
MLC of the ruling Janata Dal (United), Neeraj Kumar, said the opposition parties in the state were seeking “revenge” from the people for their defeat in the recently-held assembly polls.
RJD spokesman Mrityunjay Tiwari countered, claiming party activists have been asked to observe the bandh peacefully, and report to the administration “any attempts by anti-social elements to indulge in mischief and bring a bad name to the party”.
AAP Says Arvind Kejriwal “Under House Arrest”
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been placed under “house arrest” by the police ever since he met with the protesting farmers yesterday and has been forced to cancel his meetings, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged this morning. The Delhi Police denied the charge.
AAP also alleged that the Chief Minister was deliberately blocked because of the Bharat Bandh called by farmers protesting against the central government’s new farm laws.
Important :
BJP’s Delhi Police has put Hon’ble CM Shri @ArvindKejriwal under house arrest ever since he visited farmers at Singhu Border yesterday
No one has been permitted to leave or enter his residence#आज_भारत_बंद_है#BJPHouseArrestsKejriwal
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) December 8, 2020
Farmers’ Protest In Delhi “Should Spread Across Country”: Anna Hazare
Social activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday sat on a day-long hunger strike to support agitating farmers who have called Bharat Bandh demanding repeal of the Centre’s agri laws.
Anna Hazare also said the agitation should spread across the country so that the government comes under pressure to act in the interests of cultivators.
In a recorded message, Anna Hazare appreciated farmers’ protests at the borders of Delhi saying no violence has taken place in the last 10 days of the agitation.
“I appeal to the people of the country that the agitation which is going on in Delhi should spread across the country. The situation needs to created to create pressure on the government, and to achieve this, farmers need to hit streets. But no one should resort to violence,” said Anna Hazare who began his fast in Ralegan Siddhi village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra.
He said this was the “right time” for farmers to come out on streets and get their issues resolved.
“I had backed this cause earlier also, and will continue to do so,” he said.
Anna Hazare also expressed the need to grant autonomy to the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and to implement the recommendations of the M S Swaminathan Commission.
The octogenarian warned of agitation if the government fails to grant autonomy to the CACP and implement recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission.
“The government only gave assurances but never fulfilled these demands,” he said.
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