Farmers Movement Archive

Maha bandh highlights: Govt misusing police, GST administrations, says BJP

Maharashtra Bandh LIVE updates: The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) -- a ruling alliance of the NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena -- has called for a statewide bandh on Monday to protest against the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, in which at least eight were killed including four farmers. The bandh is being observed in solidarity with farmers of the country, who are protesting since last year against the Centre's three farm legislation."The BJP-led central government has allowed the loot of agriculture produce through the three newly-enacted farm laws and now the kin of its minister is killing farmers. We have to show solidarity with the cultivators," said NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik on Sunday as he urged the state residents to support the bandh.Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha lawmaker Sanjay Raut also said that it is necessary to wake people up against the Centre’s anti-farmer policies, adding that farmers are not alone in their fight and the process of showing solidarity with them must begin from Maharashtra.Follow all the updates here:Mumbai's Pali Naka area shops remain open for business Shops in Pali Naka area of Bandra remained open for business on Monday despite the Maharashtra bandh called by Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Jagdish Jain, a stationery shop owner from the area told Hindustan Times shopkeepers have decided to keep shops open, adding that “No-one has forced us or asked us to keep shops shut and we have also decided to not keep it shut. We respect the cause of farmers but at the same time it is all poltics. We are asked to remain shut but e-commerce website continue to sell goods. So, we are losing out business. If it is bandh, it should be for both online and offline businesses.”Maharashtra govt ‘misusing police, GST administrations': Fadnavis on shutdown“This is the state sponsored bandh imposed and implemented with the help of administration. The traders and businessmen and their unions are being threatened to participate in it. The ruling parties are misusing police and GST administrations to impose bandh," says Maharashtra's leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis.‘Instead of observing Maharashtra bandh…’: BJP leader lashes out at state govtBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Chandrakant Patil on Monday said the ruling parties in the state—the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress—are “trying to reap political mileage” by giving the call for the Maharashtra bandh as the shutdown was observed to protest the killing of four farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri district. Read MoreFarmers' union throw paddy at Mini SecretariatMembers of Kirti Kisan Union threw paddy stubble at the Mini Secretariat today and protested against Punjab and central government on Monday.Petrol pumps deserted in Worly amid shutdownPetrol pumps in Worli, Dadar and Matunga that usually see long lines of commuters and cabs for CNG, are empty today. Natraj market which is one of the biggest retail shopping centre in Mumbai's western suburbs is also shut. Maharashtra bandh supported by all major political parties, unions: NCP"All the major political parties, organizations and labour unions have supported the Maharashtra bandh. Our bandh is successful. We have been making appeals to avoid any sort of violence," says NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik.MVA holds protests in NagpurWorkers from all the three ruling parties — Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress — holding a joint protest at Sanvidhan Chowk at Nagpur.Shops closed at DadarShop closed at Dadar during the strike called by Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi in Mumbai. APMC markets closed in Navi Mumbai, NashikHindmata market, one of the biggest cloth market fully closed. Similarly all shops at Lalbaug, Parel and Dadar closed. In Navi Mumbai and Nashik, APMC markets are completely shut. Local train services unaffected: OfficialsLocal train services in Mumbai were unaffected till now, informs officials amid the complete shutdown call.Eight buses vandalised in Mumbai since last night: BEST spokespersonEight BEST buses vandalised since last night in Mumbai. We have sought police protection for operating services and currently very few buses have been operated since morning, says BEST Spokesperson.Congress leaders to sit on ‘maun vrat’ outside Raj BhavanCongress to do maun vrat andolan outside Raj Bhavan at 11 am to protest killing of farmers in Lakhimkheri Kheri. Maharashtra state unit chief Nana Patole to lead the agitation.BJP opposes shutdown, called by ruling Maharashtra govtBJP has opposed the Maharashtra bandh announced by the ruling parties. BJP leader Ashish Shelar said, "Sena has always opposed the development. They had indirectly supported the mill workers strike in 1980s, opposed key development projects including airports in Navi Mumbai, Sindhudurg, coastal road and now observing bandh when people are distressed because of Covid lockdown," he said.Shiv Sena workers stage ‘rasta roko' at Pune -Bengluru highwayShiv Sena workers staged ‘rasta roko' (block the road) on Pune -Bengluru national highway in Kolhapur as part of the Maharashtra bandh call given by three ruling parties. Sena workers were detained by the police.Deserted streets of Bandra Streets were deserted as the shutdown came into effect on Monday. Some traders' union extend support to shutdownThe Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard traders’ association has also announced that all the fruit, vegetable, onion, potato markets will remain closed on Monday. The traders’ union has also appealed to all the members to support the shutdown by keeping their trade closed on Monday. They have appealed to the farmers not to bring their agricultural produce to the market on Monday.Security heightened at Mumbai ahead of shutdownIn view of the bandh, security arrangements have been heightened in the state's capital city of Mumbai. The police on Sunday said that strict patrolling will be held to ensure no untoward incident takes place. Striking reserves will also be deployed at strategic points, with three companies of Maharashtra state reserve police force (SRPF), 500 Home Guards and 700 men from Local Arms units, news agencies reported quoting police.Maharashtra bandh today: What you need to knowThe Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has condemned the Maharashtra bandh decision and the leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis said that the ruling parties are politicising the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. Read MoreTraders body objects to Maharashtra bandh callThe Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA) in Maharashtra has objected to the bandh on Monday. The traders' union in a statement on Sunday said they were limping back to business after eighteen months of lockdowns amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the bandh would hit their earnings.

Hindustan Times

11-10-2021

NA