Farmers Movement Archive

Farmer outfits call for ‘Bharat bandh’ on Sept. 25

Several farmer outfits have announced an intensified agitation after the Centre passed three agriculture Bills in the ongoing monsoon session of the Lok Sabha. Over 250 farmer and farm worker organisations, under the umbrella of All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), have given a call for a ‘Bharat bandh’ on September 25 in protest against the passing of the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020. “These three Bills will completely stop government procurement of crops, ending price security for peasants as private ‘mandis’ will be set up and price and trade regulation of all cereals, pulses, oilseeds, onion and potato will be removed from coverage under essential commodities,” said Jagmohan Singh, general secretary, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Dakaunda) in Punjab, which is a part of the AIKSCC. “The working group of the AIKSCC has decided to go ahead with its opposition to the Bills and on September 25, we will hold a ‘Bharat bandh’,” said Mr. Singh. Sarvan Singh Pandher of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti, which had been staging continuous sit-ins in Punjab since September 7, on Friday announced a “rail roko” agitation in the State from September 24. In Haryana, as many as 17 farmer outfits have joined hands under the flag of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Chaduni). “On September 20, we will block all major roads between noon and 3 p.m... we will also support the ‘Bharat bandh’,” said Rakesh Bains of the BKU. The Lower House’s nod for these Bills amid ongoing protests has also invited sharp opposition from political parties, including the Shiromani Akali Dal, hitherto one of the oldest alliance partners of the BJP.

The Hindu

2020-09-19

Chandigarh