Centre has issued an advisory directing all the states and Union Territories to tighten security and ensure Covid-19 guidelines as the farmers have imposed a ‘Bharat Bandh’ in Delhi. The railways too asked its personnel to step up vigil saying protesters may organise rail blockades in 16 states.
A nationwide strike called by agitating farmer unions is likely to have an impact in many parts of north India and some non-BJP ruled states elsewhere, even as the farmer leaders said that no one should be forced to join the shutdown.
Appealing to everyone to join the “symbolic” bandh, farmer leaders said they will block key roads during their “chakka jam” protest from 11 AM to 3 PM. Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi have been protesting the Centre’s new farm laws at various places.
Bhartiya Kisan Ekta Sangathan President Jagjit Singh Dallewala asked farmers
to preserve peace and not attempt to impose the shutdown. He said the emergency services would be exempted during the bandh. The leader also stated that the band would be successful around the world.
“The Modi government will have to accept our demands. We want nothing less
than a withdrawal of the new farm laws,” said farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal.
Targeted by the Opposition parties, the BJP hit back and accused them of “shameful double standards”, claiming many of them had endorsed these reforms when in power or had supported them in Parliament. Senior BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Opposition parties have joined the agitation in a bid to save their existence after being repeatedly rejected by people in different elections across the country. Prasad said a section of farmers has fallen in the grip of some people with “vested interests” and asserted that the government was working to address their misgivings about the reforms. He appreciated the protesting farmer unions for not associating their stir with any political parties.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis also slammed the Opposition.