After a meeting of opposition leaders with the President, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said there was a request from all opposition parties to have in-depth discussion on farm bills but no suggestion was accepted and bills were passed in a hurry. Farmers are sitting on roads in the cold and expressing their unhappiness. It’s the duty of the government to address their issues and resolve the deadlock.
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi said the parties informed the President that it is absolutely critical that these anti-farmer laws are taken back.
CPI-M chief Sitaram Yechury said the opposition parties have given a memorandum to the President asking to repeal agriculture laws and electricity amendment bill as they were passed without proper discussion.
We have given a memorandum to the President. We are asking to repeal agriculture laws and electricity amendment bill that were passed in anti-democratic manner without proper discussions and consultations: Sitaram Yechury, CPI-M https://t.co/j7dwrs2Y72 pic.twitter.com/jXj2Whyyu3— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2020
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar reaches Home Minister Amit Shah’s residence in Delhi.
President of Krantikari Kisan Union at Singhu (Delhi-Haryana border), Darshan Pal has said the union doesn’t accept the Centre’s amendment proposals. He said the farmers will block Delhi-Jaipur highway by 12th December.
Ahead of the meeting with President Ram Nath Kovind regarding the farm laws, CPI-M chief Sitaram Yechury said more than 25 opposition parties have extended their support towards the demand of withdrawing the three laws. The laws threaten India’s food security, he added.
More than 25 opposition parties have extended their support towards the demand of withdrawing the three laws. These laws are not in India’s interests & also threatens our food security: Sitaram Yechury, CPI-M ahead of meeting with the President regarding farm laws pic.twitter.com/56HoNuGYLx— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2020
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has reached Rashtrapati Bhawan to attend a joint delegation meeting of opposition leaders with President Ram Nath Kovind in view of intensifying farmers’ protest.
The Shiromani Akali Dal Spokesperson Prem Singh Chandumajra on Wednesday said it is important to pressurise the government. If the farmers’ and the Centre don’t reach an agreement, then what sort of opposition political support can be given to the farmers will be decided by the 3rd week of December. The leaders of the political parties are due to meet President Ram Nath Kovind, ANI reported.
Kisan Sangharsh Committee’s Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu said the three farm laws should be withdrawn by the Central government. He said any amendment proposal won’t be accepted.
All three farm laws should be repealed. This is our demand. If the proposal talks of only amendments then we will reject it: Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu, Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Punjab at Singhu border pic.twitter.com/3cSEDTfElK— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2020
Farmers protesting at Singhu border received a written proposal from the government in an attempt to resolve the deadlock. Farmers say they would settle for nothing but the scrapping of legislations.
Farmer leaders at Singhu Border receive a draft proposal from the Government of India#FarmLaws pic.twitter.com/zBQuOjY3F3— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2020
Bharatiya Kisan Union Spokesperson, Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday said the government has to withdraw the new agriculture acts. Farmers won’t go back, it’s a matter of their respect. He said the farmers’ union will discuss the Centre’s proposal and strategise accordingly.
We’ll strategise in our meeting & discuss their (Centre) proposal. Farmers won’t go back, it’s a matter of their respect. Will Govt not withdraw laws? Will there be tyranny? If Govt is stubborn, so are farmers. Law has to be withdrawn: Rakesh Tikait, Spox, Bharatiya Kisan Union pic.twitter.com/gcspm4YDQk— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2020
Home Minister Amit Shah met farmers’ leaders after the Bharat Bandh nationwide protest against the Centre’s three contentious farm laws on Tuesday. The talks between the farmers’ leaders and the government failed with both the sides remaining firm on their stance. While the government has offered to make amendments in the new agriculture acts, the farmers demand complete scrapping of the laws.
The sixth round of talks scheduled to take place between the Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and the farmer’ unions on Wednesday have been called off.
As the agitating farmers staged a day-long peaceful Bharat Bandh protest against the Centre’s new farm laws, Union Home Minister Amit Shah called them for talks at 7 PM today.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia with party workers and supporters hold sit-in protest outside Chief Minister’s residence alleging Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is under house arrest.
#WATCH: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia hold sit-in protest outside Chief Minister’s residence alleging Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is under house arrest. pic.twitter.com/QGeedRLXTX— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2020
A clash erupted between the BJP and the Congress workers outside Rajasthan’s Jaipur. The incident took place outside BJP office during the protest against the Centre’s three contentious farm laws.
#WATCH Rajasthan: A clash erupted outside BJP office in Jaipur between BJP and Congress workers during a protest over #farmlaws pic.twitter.com/utzwhn4EKz— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2020
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was not allowed to enter CM Arvind Kejriwal’s residence. Delhi police stopped him outside. Sisodia hurled questions at the Centre; Does this mean he is under house arrest? Why are all these security personnel posted here?
He is still waiting at the barricades.
Police stopped Dy CM @msisodia from entering CM @ArvindKejriwal’s residence. Dy CM Manish Sisodia is still waiting at the barricades. #BJPHouseArrestsKejriwal pic.twitter.com/yUvHqXdt1b— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) December 8, 2020
Rakesh Tikait, Spokesperson, Bharatiya Kisan Union said the union has a meeting with the Home Minister Amit Shah at 7 pm today, ANI reported.
Various organisations, including transporters, held peaceful protests in Jammu to express solidarity with protesting farmers. The main protest rally was taken out by J&K Transport Welfare Association (JKTWA) from Bikram Chowk to Digyana, blocking the Jammu-Pathankot highway. The JKTWA and over a dozen other social, religious and political organizations have extended support to the bandh call. Officials said the protests remained peaceful and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in Jammu district or elsewhere in the province, PTI reported.
#WATCH | Haryana: People protesting agianst farm laws make way for an ambulance to pass through a section of the Ambala-Hisar highway#BharatBandh pic.twitter.com/CRBXc0JU2P— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2020
A farmer represntative from Bharatiya Kisan Union at Delhi-Noida border asked protesters to let an ambulance cross without any obstruction.
#WATCH Delhi-Noida border: A farmer representative from Bharatiya Kisan Union who was talking to Police officials, makes an announcement, asking protesters to let an ambulance crossing from there, pass without any obstruction.Visuals near Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal. pic.twitter.com/ajlJ8sbjLi— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 8, 2020
Karnataka Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa has said that no one in Bengaluru and other parts of the state are supporting the Bharat Bandh call by farmers. Police will take proper action on breaking the law, he added.
No one is supporting the Bandh in Bengaluru & other parts of the state. The State & Centre is pro-farmer. PM won’t take any decision against farmers. It’s not right to give the call for Bandh for political reasons. Police will take proper action on breaking the law: Karnataka CM pic.twitter.com/Uxwyqy4Acf— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2020
All India Lawyers’ Union protests at Tis Hazari District Court, in support of #BharatBandh. Tis Hazarai Court Bar Association said the laws enforced by the government are neither in favour of farmers nor of lawyers. Legal fraternity stands with farmers, it added.
Delhi: All India Lawyers’ Union protests at Tis Hazari District Court, in support of #BharatBandh “Govt’s response to protest is a matter of concern. Legal fraternity stands with farmers. These laws are neither in favour of farmers nor of lawyers,” says Tiz Hazari Bar assn pres pic.twitter.com/REjFLNB66W— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2020
Aam Aadmi Party workers have been detained by Uttar Pradesh police from Shahjahanpur while protesting in support of the farmers.
जनपद शाहजहांपुर में @AamAadmiParty के कार्यकर्ताओं को किसानों के समर्थन में आवाज में उठाने पर @myogiadityanath की पुलिस ने कर लिया गिरफ्तार।किसानों के हक़ की लड़ाई लगातार लड़ रही है आम आदमी पार्टी।#आज_भारत_बंद_है pic.twitter.com/m3b1TvHlho— Aam Aadmi Party- Uttar Pradesh (@AAPUttarPradesh) December 8, 2020
Political parties and various organisations in Karnataka protested in front of Town Hall in Bengaluru in support of #BharatBandh. The protesters carried vegetables as a mark of protest and rode a cart pulled by cattle, ANI reported.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar hold a meeting at Tomar’s residence.
Delhi: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar hold a meeting at the latter’s residence. https://t.co/c2LzMOj73y pic.twitter.com/upESGmIY47— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2020
Protest against anti farmers Agriculture bills in West Bengal’s Jorasanko intesifies. People are carrying banners and effigies in support of Bharat Bandh.
Rise in protest against anti farmers Agriculture bills. Say #NoToFarmBills Picketing at Jorasanko in support of the #BharatBandh -Scrap Anti farmers Agriculture bills-In solidarity with #FarmersProtest of Delhi pic.twitter.com/ntLbCsKNrx— CPI(M) WEST BENGAL (@CPIM_WESTBENGAL) December 8, 2020
Political parties including Congress march on the streets of Puducherry, in support of #BharatBandh called by farmer unions against the Central Government’s #FarmLaws
Political parties including Congress march on the streets of Puducherry, in support of #BharatBandh called by farmer unions against the Central Government’s #FarmLawsChief Minister V Narayanasamy was also present. pic.twitter.com/CTEQYEKT6t— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2020
Bank, shops and petrol pumps in Punjab’s Ludhiana are closed in view of #BharatBandh. People say the government can either scrap the contentious farm acts or the struggle continues.
Scenes from ludhiana on the 8th December Bharat Bandh. The government can either scarp the farm acts or the struggle continues. #आज_भारत_बंद_है #StandWithFarmers pic.twitter.com/XEnrgQO3FT— Swaraj India (@_SwarajIndia) December 8, 2020
Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has hit out at the BJP for putting chief minister Arvind Kejriwal under house arrest. He said the party is scared that Kejriwal will take to streets in support of the protesting farmers. He added that Delhi CM’s house has been barricaded and no one is being allowed to either enter or exit his residence.
BJP is perplexed by the farmers and CM Kejriwal. They are perplexed after he went to meet the farmers at Singhu border. He has been put under house arrest ever since he returned, his house has been barricaded. Entry/exit of people not being allowed: Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia pic.twitter.com/xHlxUdAVxP— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2020
NCP chief Sharad Panwar has said that 5-6 people from different political parties are going to discuss and take collective stand on the issue of farmers tomorrow. The parties will present their collective stand before the president tomorrow at 5 pm, ANI reported.
K Balakrishnan, CPM state secretary has said that they are supporting farmers who called for the nationwide strike. He said the party is not just fighting Modi government, but Edappadi as well. The people who are supporting these laws will learn a lesson in the upcoming elections, he added.
K Balakrishnan, CPM state secretary: We are fighting not just Modi, we are fighting Edappadi as well. People who supports this bill will be a taught a lesson in the upcoming election. #FarmBills2020 #FarmersProtest2020 @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/u30LsJMovt— Janardhan Koushik (@koushiktweets) December 8, 2020
Members and supporters of the Congress and the AAP are protesting at the ITO, while taking part in the #Bharatbandh protest.
Amid the Bharat Bandh protest, shops in Maharashtra’s Matunga area of Mumbai were seen open and regular traffic movement was also observed.
Maharashtra: Shops seen open; regular traffic movement in Matunga area of Mumbai, amidst #BharatBandh Visuals from earlier today pic.twitter.com/nFqPPl329l— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2020
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said misleading people is the opposition’s old tactic. During their rule, the Congress, the NCP, the Akali Dal and other left parties have openly supported these types of bills.
हर चीज़ पर लोगों को गुमराह करना, देश की छवि को बदनाम करने की साजिश करना इनका(विपक्षी दलों) पुराना तरीका रहा है। अपने शासन काल में कांग्रेस, NCP, अकाली दल, लेफ्ट पार्टियां इस तरह के बिल का सीना ठोक कर समर्थन करती रही हैं: केंद्रीय मंत्री मुख्तार अब्बास नक़वी #FarmersProtest pic.twitter.com/2J2GImfX4c— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) December 8, 2020
Anna Hazare sits on day long hunger strike in support of farmers at Padmadevi Temple in Ralegan-Siddhi.
TRS leaders K Kavitha, KT Rama Rao and others, along with party workers, protest in Ranga Reddy in support of #BharatBandh
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1336197221205770240
Telangana minister comes out in support of #BharatBandh today on bullock carts as the Bandh also means the right optics for political protestors.
#BharatBandh today also means the right optics for political protestors. So the bullock carts are out to ferry the #Telangana minister pic.twitter.com/eWRzPidhDU— T S Sudhir (@Iamtssudhir) December 8, 2020
Farmers’ associations are protesting at Ghazipur-Ghaziabad (Delhi-UP) border as part of Bharat Bandh call. A farmers’ leader said if the government can make laws they can repeal it as well. They must work with farmers’ associations and experts, he added.
Farmers’ associations demonstrate at Ghazipur-Ghaziabad (Delhi-UP) border as part of #BharatBandh call.“If govt can make law they can repeal it as well. They must work with farmer associations and experts. We’ll leave only after we get it in writing,” says a farmer leader. pic.twitter.com/2XYp8RdgeO— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2020
In support of the Bharat Bandh- a peaceful nationwide protest called by framers protesting against the Centre’s farm laws, all market committees of Maharashtra have decided to suspend trade on December 8. APMC’s across the state wore a deserted look as trade remained suspended.
Farmers in Punjab’s Mohali block Chandigarh highway in view of Bharat Bandh.
Punjab: Farmers protesting the farm laws in Mohali, block Chandigarh highway, on #BharatBandh pic.twitter.com/gyR8Kmoufp— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2020
Police have detained the Congress supporters who were burning tyres near Fategunj post office in support of Bharat Bandh.
Farmers in Tumakuru district held a protest demanding the three contentious farm laws to be repealed by the Centre and the state. The state government has amended Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1961, and Karnataka APMC Act, 1966.
Subhash Talekdar, president, Mumbai Dabbawala Association has voiced its support for the Bandh saying the farm laws brought by the Centre will finish the farmers of the country.
The #FarmLaws brought by the Centre will finish the farmers of the country. Farmers have started a massive agitation in north India & #BharatBandh was announced for today. Mumbai Dabbawala Association supports the Bandh: Subhash Talekar, president, Mumbai Dabbawala Association pic.twitter.com/ZMPMWBirDZ— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2020
The Delhi-Meerut highway has been blocked amid Bharat bandh call by farmers protesting the farm laws in national capital.
Meanwhile, just a few minutes ahead of the strike, Aam Aadmi Party claimed Delhi Police has put CM Arvind Kejriwal under house arrest ever since he visited farmers at Singhu Border yesterday.
Important : BJP’s Delhi Police has put Hon’ble CM Shri @ArvindKejriwal under house arrest ever since he visited farmers at Singhu Border yesterdayNo one has been permitted to leave or enter his residence#आज_भारत_बंद_है#BJPHouseArrestsKejriwal— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) December 8, 2020
The Bharat Bandh called by the protesting farmers has begun. The strike is likely to affect transport services, offices and shops, fruits and vegetables supplies’ in some states and cities.
Farmers are expected to block highways but they have again and again emphasised that this is a peaceful protest. The peaceful nationwide shutdown is meant to mount pressure on the government to repeal three contentious farm laws. Farmers have urged people to extend their support peacefully and said their protest was not meant to cause problems for common man. and shops, fruits and vegetables supplies’ in some states and cities. Police in Delhi and Haryana have issued advisories to re-route traffic wherever possible and warn commuters of delays.
Several opposition parties, including the Congress, the DMK, the SP, the BSP, the TRS and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, have extended their support for the bandh and said their workers will participate.
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