Farmers Movement Archive

On Bharat Bandh, biz as usual for traders

Ranchi: Even as political parties gear up to hit the streets for supporting the Bharat bandh on Tuesday – called by farmers protesting against the recently enacted farm laws at the Delhi-NCR border – it’ll be business as usual for bus owners and traders. Citing the losses incurred during lockdown and the chance to make that up during the ongoing wedding season, the proprietors have decided against halting their operations. Jharkhand Bus Owners’ Association president Krishna Mohan Singh said “As of now, we have decided to ply intra and interstate buses as usual and depending on the situation in the streets tomorrow, we will decide accordingly.” He added, “The bus owners are free to stay off the roads if they prefer to do so. The association has purposely refrained from issuing any directive owing to the losses incurred during lockdown and due to several buses being booked in advance for ferrying baraatis.” Autos too are expected to follow suit. An office-bearer of the Jharkhand Diesel Auto Chalak Sangh said that no decision to stay off the roads has been taken yet. The state’s apex body of traders, Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI), is neither in favour of nor against the bandh, its president Kunal Ajmani said. “Traders will go about their business as usual. Till December 11, we have a peak marriage season and that gives us a chance to do brisk business. After being closed since March due to the lockdown we cannot afford to shut shops now. A final call, however, will be taken based on tomorrow’s circumstances,” he added. Meanwhile, political parties — including the ones in the ruling dispensation, Congress and JMM — are set to hit the streets on Tuesday. Congress, which on Sunday had directed its cadres to come out on the streets in order to “make the bandh successful”, chalked out the modalities on Monday. “The bandh ha primarily been called by the annadatas (providers) of the country and the party stands by them. Tomorrow the party workers will hold demonstrations, organise marches and sit-ins from the state to the panchayat level against the anti-farmer laws,” Congress spokesperson Alok Dubey said. Another party spokesperson, Lal Kishorenath Shahdeo, said the party will ensure maintenance of law and order. “We appeal to the shopkeepers and business owners to down their shutters tomorrow,” he added. JMM, the leading alliance partner in the mahagathbandhan government, has extended its support after chief minister and party’s working president Hemant Soren said on Sunday night that they will stand in solidarity with the farmers. Police, on the other hand, have upped their vigil to ensure that the bandh remains peaceful. State police spokesperson Saket Kumar Singh said all the districts have been asked to mobilise their respective forces in sensitive pockets in order to make sure that public property isn’t damaged. “All the districts have been asked to identify sensitive areas, including highways and railway tracks, for deployment of additional forces. All of the district forces have been asked to make sure that the safety norms pertaining to Covid-19 are followed. They will also keep an eye on social media for any derogatory posts or videos.” Ranchi police will deploy forces at bus stands, interstate check-posts and roads leading up to the railway station and airport from early in the morning. City SP Saurav said, “We will follow all the established drills and protocols which are required to maintain law and order.”

The Times of India

2020-12-08

Ranchi