Bharat Bandh: A Very Much Called-for Blow to the Modi Government
Following an outpouring response to the Bharat Bandh -- a call for which was given by the farmers demanding complete rollback of the three new farm laws -- the protesters have reified their resolve to fight the pro-capitalist government at the Centre tooth and nail. The country witnessed road blockades, large-scale protest demonstrations and strikes as political leaders, workers, civil society organisations as well as common people displayed their dissent against the government on a massive scale.
In the past few years, a deepening agrarian crisis with falling returns for the farmers, increasing debt, suicides, stagnating wages for field labourers, increasing ecological stress and no industrial options for jobs, were leading to periodic outbursts of discontent. But perhaps buoyed by electoral success or perhaps just by a dangerous inability to understand, the Modi government blithely continued, doling out some handouts here, launching some scheme there, and fixing numbers if necessary.
However, in the past couple of days, over 18 political parties, many with strong regional bases, openly supported the farmers’ call, which has helped in making the Bandh a success.
Rollback of Farm Laws: Govt’s Only Option
The farmers’ movement has turned out to be much more resilient, much more widespread and much more astute than PM Modi had ever imagined. The laws are universally seen as attempts by corporates to grab land and turn farmers into wage earners. Consumers fear that prices of essential food items will skyrocket, those dependent on subsidised foodgrain fear the system will collapse.
Interestingly, as the Bharat Bandh drew to a close, NDTV has reported that one of the farmer leaders, Rakesh Tikait, claimed to have received an invitation for a meeting from Union Home Minister Amit Shah today at 7 pm. The development has come a day before the round of talks with the government — scheduled for tomorrow, December 9. Is the government finally ready to concede? Keep visiting NewsClick for more coverage.
All India Kisan Sabha general secretary Hannan Mollah has described the shutdown as a show of strength by the farmers.
"We are standing by our demand that we want a complete repeal of the three laws and will not accept any cosmetic changes… If our demands are not met, we are ready to take our agitation to the next level," Mollah was quoted as saying by PTI.
PTI/Shillong: The Meghalaya Joint Council Trade Union and Associations said the union is extending moral support to the bandh called by farmers union but has decided not to hold any demonstration in the city in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hills Farmers Union president Command Shangpliang said the union is extending moral support to the demonstration by farmers across the country and demanded that the government hold talks with them.
The All India Lawyers' Union organised a protest at Tis Hazari District Court in Delhi, in support of the Bharat Bandh, reported ANI. "Govt’s response to the protest is a matter of concern. Legal fraternity stands with farmers. These laws are neither in favour of farmers nor of lawyers,” Tis Hazari Bar Association president, Sanjeev Nasiar, was quoted as saying by ANI.
Tarique Anwar/ Delhi: Three MPs and one MLA from Punjab are spending nights in the open at the pedestrian path in a corner of Tolstoy Marg near Parliament Street to put pressure on the government to convene a special session of Parliament ahead of the scheduled Winter Session to discuss newly enacted farm legislations. They feel this will put an end to the deadlock between the protesting famers and the government.
One of the MPs, Jasbir Singh Gill (Dimpal), a Congress MP from Khandoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency in Punjab, told NewsClick: "We demand a special session to discuss the new laws to reach a solution. The Union agriculture minister has accepted that the new legislations are faulty and can be amended. But the Prime Minister is speaking in a different tone. He is still saying that the new farm laws are in farmers' interests. In this situation, how will the farmers believe the government?"
On the allegation that protests at different borders of the national capital were politically motivated, Gill said he and his colleagues were supporting the farmers' agitation because they hail from a farming background.
Asked how long the protests will continue if the government does not relent, Gill said: "This is a revolution in which the government will taste defeat. The government will have to bend and roll back the black laws. We are not ready to accept anything less than roll-back of the legislations."
Gill went on to add: "I have seen massive protests, including the one by late Devi Lal. All these protests never lasted for hours. But in this agitation, farmers have come to the city for a long haul".
Asked if he sees any middle ground to resolve the issues, Gill said: "Farmer leaders are honest and intelligent. If the government seriously talks to them, there will be some solution for sure."
Sagrika Kissu/Jammu: Dalit organisations, including Bhim Army, joined the protesters in Jammu, showing their support for the Bharat Bandh. The protesters threatened a further massive protest if the laws were not repealed. Bhim Army leaders said that the incompetence of the Modi government is being reflected in the large-scale protests across India.
Thousands of protesters are camping in Digyana, Jammu for a day-long dharna today.
As the Bharat Bandh draws to a close, following successful protests, strikes and chakka jams across the country, NDTV has reported that one of the farmer leaders, Rakesh Tikait, claimed to have received an invitation for a meeting from Union Home Minister Amit Shah. "I received a phone call. Amit Shah has called a meeting. We have been called at 7 pm," farmer leader Rakesh Tikait was quoted as saying. As per the NDTV report, Tikait said that the farmer leaders protesting on the highways near Delhi would attend the meeting. The development has come a day before the round of talks with the government — scheduled for tomorrow, December 9.
Neelambaran A/Chennai: The capital of Tamil Nadu witnessed massive protests in solidarity with the Bharat Bandh, while the majority of the shops remained closed. An estimated 25,000 people participated in the protests held at 20 locations across the city. The AIKSCC staged a picketing protest in front of the Shastri Bhavan, demanding scrapping of the farm laws and the Electricity (Amendment) Act.
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