New Delhi: More than two dozen farmers’ organizations from across India, supported by 18 political parties, on September 25 took to the streets protesting the farm bills passed by Parliament.
Punjab and Haryana are the epicenters of the protests, though the demand for legal guarantee of minimum support prices (MSP) has garnered supports from all farmers organizations, including those affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the umbrella organization of Hindu nationalists.
Normal was disrupted as rail, road movement was hit.
All India Farmers Union (AIFU), Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), All India Kisan Mahasangh (AIKM), and All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) announced the nationwide strike. Farmers’ bodies from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have also called for a shutdown.
RSS-affiliated farmers’ organizations like Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, Swadeshi Jagran Manch have also demanded amendment to the legislations but they have stayed away from the protests.
Ten central trade unions, including All India Trade Union Congress, National Trades Union Congress, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, All India United Trade Union Centre and Trade Union Coordination Centre have also extended their support.
The Congress party has extended support to strike. Other parties supporting the protest are Aam Admi Party, the Left parties, National Congress Party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhakam, Samaj Party, Trinamool Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal. They have urged the pPresident to not sign the bills.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has urged the farmers to maintain law and order and to adhere to Covid-19 safety protocols. No FIR will be registered for the violation of Section 144 during the protest, the CM has said.
Fourteen special passenger trains running from the railways’ Ferozepur division have been cancelled from September 24 to 26 in view of the farmer outfits’ three-day rail roko protest.
The farmers organizations have decided to go for an indefinite rail blockage from October 1.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) observed a three-hour road blockade across Punjab from 11am in all constituencies.
On September 20, the Rajya Sabha passed the Farmers` Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill amid protest from Opposition parties.
In poll-bound Bihar, opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav took part in a tractor rally to protest the farm bills. The RJD chief was seen driving a blue tractor down a main road in Patna as a large crowd of farmers, marshaled by armed policemen, march alongside. The visuals show at least four or five other tractors behind Mr Yadav as the entire chain inches its way forward.
The Punjab-Haryana border has been sealed near Ambala – a key border crossing between the two states.
In Uttar Pradesh, escalating protests against the bills have led to the Ayodhya-Lucknow highway being blocked. Farmers have also blocked the Delhi-Meerut highway near Ghaziabad to protest against the bills. Farmers from the state’s Kheri district have also gathered in protest.
Parts of the Delhi-Amritsar highway have reportedly been blocked and the Delhi-Haryana border is also likely to be sealed, with police in the national capital on high alert.
In the south, members of the Karnataka State Farmers’ Association held a protest near Bommanahalli on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu highway.
Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi tweeted against the farm bills. Gandhi Vadra said: “They (the farmers) will be forced to become slaves of trillions through contract farming.” Mr Gandhi simply said: “… The new agriculture laws will enslave our farmers.”
Sources: The Hindu and NDTV