Bharat Bandh
Farmers call for Bharat Bandh protesting against India's two new farm bills
Chandigarh/Amritsar/IBNS: The protests against the new controversial farm bills, which have been passed by the Narendra Modi government a few days ago, have gripped the major part of the country as several farmers' organisations called for a nationwide bandh (strike) on Friday.
Organisations like Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), All India Farmers Union (AIFU), All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), All India Kisan Mahasangh (AIKM) have come on a common platform for the bandh.
Meanwhile in Punjab, the neighbouring state of Haryana, farmers started their three-day "rail roko" or "stop trains" protests on Thursday.
The new farm bills will now allow farmers sell their produce to institutional buyers beyond the regulated wholesale market. However, farmers and opposition leaders criticised the Centre's move stating small peasants will have little bargaining power while selling their produce to institutional buyers, running the risk of getting exploited.
Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi repeatedly assured that the farmers won't be deprived of the Minimum Support Price (MSP), multiple opposition parties took to streets launching widespread protests.
In an embarrassment for the Modi government last week, cabinet minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who is also the leader of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s ally Akali Dal, last week resigned over the farm bills, sensing a political repercussion back in her home state Punjab which is based on agriculture.
Ranchi: Left parties, RJD protest against Agriculture Bills in capital
Party workers and leaders belonging to the RJD and Left parties on Friday protested in the state capital against the Agriculture Bills.
.jpg)
The leaders of the different left parties who had gathered at the Albert Ekka Chowk said, due to the bills the farmers would be forced to sell away their produce to the big companies at throw away prices and when the farmers would be helpless the people would have to go hungry.
The left leaders said the Agriculture bills brought by the Centre are more in the favour of the corporate houses rather than that of the farmers.
They said, the central ministers and leaders of BJP are claiming that the bills would be beneficial for farmers but in reality they would be forced to commit suicide.
Leaders of the state unit of RJD staged dharna before the Raj Bhawan. They said that they are with the opposition and will continue their agitation until the bills are taken back.
Farmers block Noida-Delhi expressway
Farmers have blocked the Noida-Delhi expressway.
Rahul Gandhi slams government over farm bills
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "A flawed GST destroyed MSMEs. The new agriculture laws will enslave our Farmers."
A flawed GST destroyed MSMEs.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 25, 2020
The new agriculture laws will enslave our Farmers.#ISupportBharatBandh
Congress supports Bharat Bandh
The Congress has supported the Bharat Bandh called by the farmers against the bills.
आज पूरे देश में पेट में अंगारे लिये किसान भारत बंद कर रहा है। किसान की रोजी-रोटी छीनी जा रही है, खेत और खलिहान पर मोदी सरकार ने हमला बोला है। मोदी जी कसमें तो किसानों की खाते हैं; मगर दोस्ती पूंजीपतियों से निभाते हैं: श्री @rssurjewala#ISupportBharatBandh pic.twitter.com/Eu75jiNGb6
— Congress (@INCIndia) September 25, 2020
Yogendra Yadav joins farmers' agitation
Activist Yogendra Yadav has joined the farmers' agitation against the new bills.
He tweeted, "Joining the farmers' agitation in Haryana & Punjab today."
Joining the farmers' agitation in Haryana & Punjab today.
— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) September 25, 2020
Follow @aviksahaindia for updates on #BharatBandh against #AntiFarmerBills @ramanmann1974 @GaonConnection @Ajayvirjakhar pic.twitter.com/6zTidw8kGH
Farmers block Amritsar-Delhi highway
Farmers have blocked the Amritsar-Delhi highway as several trains have already been cancelled.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.