Protesting farmers appeal for peace during Bharat Bandh

Protesting farmers at Delhi’s Singhu border have appealed for peace ahead of Bharat Bandh on December 7. They clarified that no shops and establishments will be forcibly closed on account of the Bandh. “There will be complete ‘Bharat bandh’ till 3 pm Tuesday, but emergency services will be allowed,” a farmer leader said.

The Government of India has asked all states and Union Territories to tighten security and ensure that peace and tranquillity is maintained during ‘Bharat Bandh’. In a countrywide advisory, the Union Home Ministry also said the State governments and UT administrations must ensure that the COVID-19 guidelines issued with regard to health and social distancing are strictly followed.

In Lucknow, police took Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav into custody after party leaders led by him broke through security cordon to sit on a dharna in the heart of the city in support of the farmers’ agitation.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, along with his cabinet colleagues, met farmers at the Singhu border where he reviewed arrangements at the protest site. The AAP, along with 14 other opposition parties have extended support to the December 8 Bharat Bandh call by the farmers to protest against the three contentious ordinances.

The BJP started a concerted attack on the opposition on the eve of the all-India strike, which is supported by trade and transport unions and most non-BJP parties. The party is claiming that the massive protest — which started in Punjab and Haryana and is threatening to engulf the country — has been a result of opposition mechanisations.

Several rounds of talks between the Centre and the agitating farmers have failed. The next one is scheduled on December 9. While the government is considering amendments in the contentious farm laws, the farmers have refused to accept anything less than total deletion.