Famous Punjabi Singer Mr Dee visits Sindhu border to support the Bharat Bandh call given by farmers. He said that the government should repeal the anti-farmer laws.
No breakthrough in farmers-Amit Shah talks, protest to continue
Bharat Bandh LIVE
11:37 December 08
Famous Punjabi singer supports Bharat Bandh call
11:15 December 08
Maharashtra: Bharat Bandh in Maharashtra.
11:06 December 08
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been put under house arrest ever since he visited farmers at Singhu Border yesterday, tweets Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
No one has been permitted to leave or enter his residence.
Meanwhile, DCP North Anto Alphons has clarified that the Chief Minister has not been put under house arrest and it is a general deployment to avoid any clash between the AAP and any other party.
11:05 December 08
10:10 December 08
Left political parties protest in Visakhapatnam
Andhra Pradesh: Left political parties protest Visakhapatnam in support of the Bharat Bandh called by farmers unions, against Central Government's Farm Laws.
10:00 December 08
Left political parties protest in Vizianagaram
Andhra Pradesh: Left political parties protest in Parvathipuram of Vizianagaram district, in support of the Bharat Bandh called by farmers unions, against Central Government's Farm Laws.
09:38 December 08
Left political parties protest on the railway tracks in West Bengal
West Bengal: Left political parties protest on the railway tracks at Jadabpur Railway Station in Kolkata & stop a train, in support of today's Bharat Bandh by farmer unions.
09:31 December 08
Bharat Bandh in Bihar
Bihar: RJD workers in Bihar blocked Gaya-Patna road NH 83 in support of Bharat Bandh call given by farmers.
All the shops in the area are closed. Meanwhile, security personnel were deployed in Patna to avoid any untoward incident.
09:12 December 08
Left political parties, trade unions support Bharat Bandh
Odisha: Left political parties, trade unions and farmer unions stop trains at Bhubaneswar Railway Station.
09:12 December 08
Andhra Pradesh: Left political parties stage a protest in Vijayawada, in support of today's BharatBandh called by farmer unions, against Central Government's FarmLaws.
09:12 December 08
Our protest will be completely peaceful. If someone gets stuck for 2-3 hours in a Bandh called by us, we provide them with water and fruits. Ours is a different concept: Rakesh Tikait, Spokesperson, Bharatiya Kisan Union.
09:05 December 08
Bharat bandh: Azadpur, among other Delhi mandis closed in support
Azadpur mandi, one of the largest wholesale markets for fruits and vegetables in the country, along with all others in the national capital will remain shut on Tuesday in support of the Bharat bandh, called by farmers, its chairman Adil Ahmed Khan said.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union on Monday said that the Bharat bandh is a "symbolic protest" to show opposition to Centre's policies.
"Our protest is peaceful and we'll continue that way. Bharat bandh is a symbolic protest to register our opposition. It is to show that we don't support some of the policies of the Government of India," Rakesh Tikait, spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, said.
Farmers protesting against the Centre's new agricultural sector laws called for a Bharat bandh today after several rounds of talks with the government over the new farm laws remained inconclusive.
Farmer unions on December 4 decided to intensify their agitation, stating that they were not satisfied with the amendments to the agricultural legislation being proposed by the government.
"The bandh will be observed throughout Tuesday. We will also observe a chakka jam (road blockade) till 3 pm," said Darshan Pal, Punjab unit president of the Krantikari Kisan Union, had said on Monday.
Meanwhile, Haryana and Delhi Police have issued travel advisories.
"It is expected that agitating groups may sit on dharna on various roads and highways, within Haryana and block them for some time. The peak time of impact is expected to be between noon and 3 pm. There may be some disruptions on various toll plazas in the state. The major National Highways, Delhi-Ambala (NH-44), Delhi-Hisar (NH-9), Delhi-Palwal (NH-19) and Delhi to Rewari (NH-48), may also see some traffic disruptions for a short time," the travel advisory by Haryana Police read.
09:03 December 08
'Rail roko' protest in Maharashtra's Buldhana
Bharat Bandh: 'Rail roko' protest in Maharashtra's Buldhana, several detained for stopping train
Swabhimani Shetkari Saghtana staged 'Bharat Bandh Rail Roko' protest and briefly stopped a train in Malkapur of Buldhana district on Tuesday.
They were later removed from the tracks by police and detained.
After several rounds of talks between farmers and the central government remained inconclusive, thousands of farmers protesting against the Centre's agricultural sector laws have called for "Bharat Bandh" today demanding the immediate recall of the farm laws.
Farmer unions on Friday decided to intensify their agitation against the farm laws calling for 'Bharat Bandh' today stating that they were not satisfied with amendments to the agricultural legislations being proposed by the government.
"The bandh will be observed throughout Tuesday, but the 'chakka jam' (road blockade) will be on only till 3 pm," said Darshan Pal, Punjab unit president of the Krantikari Kisan Union said on Monday.
The farmers' union urged farmers not to force anyone to join the call for Bharat Bandh.
09:02 December 08
Uttar Pradesh CM directs administration to ensure locals don't face inconvenience
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the administration and police officers to make adequate arrangements and ensure that the common people do not face any inconvenience during the "Bharat Bandh" call for Tuesday given by farmers agitating against the new agricultural sector laws.
"Maintaining peace in the state is the top priority of the government," the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister directed the administration and police officers via video conferencing on Monday. According to an official release, Yogi has said that the Central and State Government are constantly working in the direction of farmers and their welfare.
"Officers should communicate with farmers organisations and representatives at the local level and make them aware of the provisions of new agricultural laws and solve their problems. In no case should law and peace be compromised," he added.
07:46 December 08
Swabhimani Shetkari Saghtana stages protest
Maharashtra: Swabhimani Shetkari Saghtana staged 'Bharat Bandh Rail Roko' protest and briefly stopped a train today in Malkapur of Buldhana district. They were later removed from the tracks by Police and were detained.
07:46 December 08
Osmania University postpones examinations
All examinations scheduled on 8th Dec under Osmania University jurisdiction have been postponed due to Bharat bandh. The revised schedule will be given in due course of time. Examinations scheduled from 9th Dec will be held as per schedule: Controller of Exams, Osmania University
07:18 December 08
UP put on high alert for 'Bharat Bandh'
Uttar Pradesh has been put on high alert view of 'Bharat Bandh' call for Tuesday.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to make adequate arrangements to ensure that the common people are not put to any inconvenience on account of 'Bharat Bandh'.
He also asked police officials to avoid any confrontation with farmers.
Special vigil is being maintained in all districts bordering Delhi and additional forces have been deployed there.
In Lucknow, the district magistrate, Abhishek Prakash, has extended the prohibitory orders under Section 144 to the rural areas of the state capital and joint commissioner of police Naveen Arora said that sector scheme had been enforced in the wake of the bandh call.
The government has directed all officers in the rank of ADG and IG to ensure patrolling in their respective areas and also maintain a vigil on highways connecting the border areas.
The state home department has asked UP DGP H C Awasthi to direct all district police chiefs to maintain a dialogue with local farmer organisations.
Extensive checking is going on since last night at toll plaza points and all entry and exit points in district bordering Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked the police to ensure that traders are not forced to down their shutters during the four-hour long Bandh which will begin from 11.a.m and end at 3.p.m.
District officials have also assured auto, tempo, taxi associations that they can fearlessly continue operating during the bandh period.
ADG (law and order) Prashant Kumar said that 140 companies of PAC have been deployed in sensitive districts while six companies of para military forces have been deployed in the border areas.
07:02 December 08
Bharat Bandh will be successful with the public support
Bharat Bandh will be successful with the public support: Rakesh Tikait
Bhartiya Kisan Union Leader Rakesh Tikait has said that Bharat Bandh call by Samyukt Kisan Morcha will be successful with public support.
BKU workers are sitting on protest at Delhi-UP Ghazipur border but Rakesh Tikait was seen meeting with Farmer leaders at Delhi-Haryana Singhu Border on Monday.
He was here to discuss the plan and execution of Bharat Bandh across the country.
Talking to ETV Bharat, Tikait said that he has given a slogan of 'Apna Gaon-Apni Sadak' for Tuesday Bharat Bandh.
"People in villages will come out of their houses and sit on roads blocking traffic. This is how they will support farmers and this Bandh call will be successful.
Working-class will be allowed to commute till 11 am as we do not want to hamper their work but between 11 to 3 pm there will be completely shut down" said Rakesh Tikait.
Farmer leaders and their local unit leaders are also around Delhi blocking borders of the national capital, so in order to make their bandh call successful Unions are reaching out to people and appealing them to support this nationwide bandh.
Farmer leader also requested the shopkeepers to open their shops after 3 pm only.
At the initial stage of protests against Farm Laws, most of the farmer unions were only demanding that MSP should be legalized and some necessary amendments be made to the Farm laws brought by the government.
However, all the farmer unions are now demanding repealment of the three farm acts.
BKU leader Rakesh Tikait was also among the leaders who had said that they have no issue with the three laws if government assures in writing or makes law for mandatory MSP.
On being asked about this sudden change of stand, Tikait said that when all farmer leaders joined in the movement, discussed and decided that these laws are of no use for them, BKU also supported them.
"We can suggest better and bigger laws which will benefit farmers and thus we do not need these laws introduced by the government," he said.
With less rural population and a small number of farmers, it is expected that the impact of Bharat Bandh will be minimum in Delhi but Rakesh Tikait is confident that People of Delhi will also observe bandh tomorrow and support farmers.
"Some transport unions and trade unions have said that they will support our call in Delhi and it will be a successful bandh tomorrow," said Tikait.
The complete shutdown call is between 11 am to 3 pm but the Bandh will be observed from morning till evening on Tuesday.
06:37 December 08
Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das appeals to people
Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das appeals to people
Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das has appealed to people to make Bharat Bandh on December 8 a success. He said that the new laws introduced are against the interests of farmers as the provision of MSP is not included in the bill which will have negative consequences on the. He also said that if farmers are given their rights then only can India develop.
05:31 December 08
Mumbai police to patrol city to prevent untoward incidents during Bharat Bandh
Patrolling will be done in Mumbai during the Bharat Bandh on Tuesday so that no untoward incident takes place, said DCP S Chaitanya.
The DCP said, "600 additional police personnel have been deployed in the city to avoid any unrest in the city. Further, we have deployed nine State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) platoons for safety purposes."
"We appeal to the people to maintain peace," he added. On December 7, Opposition parties except for Trinamool Congress (TMC) lent their support to the Bharat Bandh' on December 8 called by farmers' unions in protest against the new farm laws introduced by the central government.
05:28 December 08
Uttar Pradesh CM directs administration to ensure locals don't face inconvenience
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the administration and police officers to make adequate arrangements and ensure that the common people do not face any inconvenience during the "Bharat Bandh" call for Tuesday given by farmers agitating against the new agricultural sector laws.
"Maintaining peace in the state is the top priority of the government," the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister directed the administration and police officers via video conferencing on Monday.
According to an official release, Yogi has said that the Central and State Government are constantly working in the direction of farmers and their welfare.
"Officers should communicate with farmers organisations and representatives at the local level and make them aware of the provisions of new agricultural laws and solve their problems. In no case should law and peace be compromised," he added.
05:26 December 08
-
Update : Tikri, Jharoda Borders, Dhansa are closed for any Traffic Movement.
— DCP TRAFFIC WESTERN RANGE (@DcpWestern) December 7, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
Badusarai Border is open only for Light Motor Vehicle like Cars and two wheelers.
Jhatikara Border is open only for two wheeler traffic @dtptraffic @DelhiPolice
">Update : Tikri, Jharoda Borders, Dhansa are closed for any Traffic Movement.
— DCP TRAFFIC WESTERN RANGE (@DcpWestern) December 7, 2020
Badusarai Border is open only for Light Motor Vehicle like Cars and two wheelers.
Jhatikara Border is open only for two wheeler traffic @dtptraffic @DelhiPoliceUpdate : Tikri, Jharoda Borders, Dhansa are closed for any Traffic Movement.
— DCP TRAFFIC WESTERN RANGE (@DcpWestern) December 7, 2020
Badusarai Border is open only for Light Motor Vehicle like Cars and two wheelers.
Jhatikara Border is open only for two wheeler traffic @dtptraffic @DelhiPolice
Tikri, Jharoda, Dhansa, Singhu borders and NH-44 to remain closed on today: Delhi Traffic Police
Tikri, Jharoda, Dhansa, Singhu borders and NH-44 will remain closed on Tuesday due to the farmer protests, said the Delhi Traffic Police on Monday.
Delhi Traffic Police (DTP) tweeted, "Traffic Alert: Tikri, Jharoda and Dhansa Borders are closed for any Traffic Movement. Badusarai Border is open only for light motor vehicles like cars and two-wheelers. Jhatikara Border is open only for two-wheeler traffic." DTP tweet added, "Singhu, Auchandi, Piao Maniyari, Mangesh borders are closed. NH 44 is closed on both sides. Take alternative routes via Lampur, Safiabad, Saboli borders. Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba and GTK road. Avoid Outer Ring Road, GTK Road, NH 44."
04:43 December 08
Govt issues advisory to states to maintain peace
New Delhi: In the wake of the 'Bharat Bandh' or nationwide strike called by the farmers over the contentious farm laws on Tuesday, the Opposition parties have lent their support to the call while the government has issued an advisory to the different states and Union Territories to tighten security and maintain peace and harmony.
The Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) said on Monday that the Bharat Bandh on December 8 would start at 11 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. as they don't want to cause inconvenience to the public.
BKU Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said, "The Bharat Bandh will begin at 11 a.m. and continue till 3 p.m. on Tuesday."
During the bandh, essential services will not be curtailed and office-goers can move freely, said the BKU spokesperson.
Meanwhile, the Union government has sent an advisory to the different states and UTs to tighten security and maintain peace and harmony within their respective territories.
"The state governments and UT administrations must ensure that the Covid-19 guidelines with regard to health and social distancing are strictly followed," the Home Ministry advisory read.
Different parties such as the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, DMK, Nationalist Congress Party, CPI, CPI-M, CPI-ML, RSP, AIFB and Telangana Rashtra Samithi have extended their support to the farmers who are demanding that the new farm laws be repealed.
However, the Trinamool Congress, which has been at the forefront in opposing the farm laws in the Parliament, has decided not to go with Tuesday's Bharat Bandh call.
Party MP Saugata Roy said, "TMC stands in solidarity with the farmers, but will not support the Bharat Bandh in West Bengal as it goes against our principles."
Earlier, Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee had tweeted, "I am very much concerned about the farmers, their lives and livelihood. GoI must withdraw the anti-farmer bills. If they do not do so immediately, we will agitate throughout the state and the country. From the very start, we have been strongly opposing these anti-farmer bills."
A joint statement was issued by the leaders of different political parties on Sunday, which read: "We, the undersigned leaders of political parties, extend our solidarity with the ongoing massive struggle by the Indian farmers organised by various kisan organisations from across the country and extend our support to their call for a Bharat Bandh on December 8 demanding the withdrawal of these retrograde Agri-laws and the Electricity Amendment Bill."
The BSP and Shiv Sena have also supported the bandh.
Earlier in the day, Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was put under undeclared house arrest and by afternoon he was arrested and taken away by the Uttar Pradesh Police.
The arrest came as the number of party workers and supporters swelled outside his house and the former Chief Minister came out and sat on dharna outside the gates of his residence.
"The government cannot muzzle the voice of the farmers. If the police want to arrest me, I am ready to go to jail. My party will continue to fight with the farmers for their welfare. The police have arrested and detained SP workers across the state. We are fighting to double the income of farmers, as earlier promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he told reporters.
Even Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday extended support to the Bharat Bandh call and assured that his party workers and supporters would participate in the 'peaceful' protests.
Kejriwal made the announcement while visiting the Singhu border on the Delhi-Haryana route -- one of the protest sites where thousands of farmers from Punjab and Haryana are on continuous sit-in since November 26 demanding the abolition of the three contentious farm laws enacted in September during the Monsoon Session of the Parliament.
It was Kejriwal's first visit to any of the farmers' protest sites. During his visit, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor said, "My government's and party's support is with the protesting farmers."
He further said that AAP supporters and MLAs were continuously trying to provide maximum help to the farmers here and expressed hope that the farmers would get a solution to their demands very soon.
Meanwhile, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that some political parties are trying to vitiate the atmosphere and their doublespeak on the issue of farmers should be exposed.
Adityanath said that the opposition parties are placing their guns on the shoulders of the farmers to shoot at the government.
He said that the stand taken by the opposition parties, particularly the Congress, on the APMC Act has exposed the double standards of these parties.
"The Centre has taken revolutionary steps in agricultural reforms that safeguard the interests of the farmers. But the opposition is trying to spread misinformation to mislead the farmers. During the UPA regime, all these parties had announced their support to the APMC Act, but now they have taken a U-turn," he said.
The Chief Minister further said that parties like Akali Dal, Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party had supported the APMC Act, but now they are showing double standards.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Taxi Tourist Transporters Association has come out in support of the Bharat. Various taxi and bus operator associations from Delhi had marched to the Singhu border on Sunday to express solidarity with the agitating farmers.
The Delhi Taxi Tourist Transporters Association President said, "On December 8, we will not run our taxis and buses and peacefully show our solidarity in making the farmers' movement successful by making the Bharat Bandh a success."
Meanwhile, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and the All India Transport Welfare Association (AITWA) said on Monday that their members will not participate in the 'Bharat Bandh', adding that the government should though look into the farmers' demands and resolve the issues at the earliest.
Both the associations said in a joint statement that their members in commercial markets across the country will open their premises and conduct business as usual and run normal transport services on December 8.
Even the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) has distanced itself from the Bharat Bandh. The BKS said in a statement, "The Bhartiya Kisan Sangh has decided to remain aloof of the Bandh call and appeal to its members all over the country to be attentive and alert the fellow citizens so that any untoward incident may be avoided. We hope that the nation and the farming fraternity will sincerely cooperate with the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh."
The BKS, an RSS affiliate, said: "It is evident that some anti-social elements, external forces and some political parties are manoeuvering this demonstration towards acrimony."
Farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh are protesting along the borders of the national capital against the three new agricultural laws introduced by the Central government.
Meanwhile, a bitter feud erupted between Maharashtra's ruling ally Nationalist Congress Party and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday.
The latest row has been triggered by a 165-page letter written by NCP President Sharad Pawar in 2010 when he was the Union Agriculture Minister for the second time in the then UPA-II government.
Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis accused the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress - which has supported the 'Bharat Bandh' - of adopting "double standards" merely to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led NDA at the Centre.
"Bahut log behti Ganga mein haath dho rahe hain," said Fadnavis, while pointing out that at 8 states including Maharashtra are already implementing 2 or all the new farm laws in some way or the other.
Hitting back, the NCP said that when the Model APMC Act 2003 was introduced by the then NDA government of Prime Minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee, many Indian states were reluctant to implement it.
"When Pawar became the UPA Agriculture Minister, he attempted to form a broader consensus among the State Agriculture Marketing Boards by soliciting suggestions for implementing the Act," said NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase.
Even the Congress slammed the BJP over the APMC Act saying that its accusatory stunts will not work and withdrawing black laws instead of wrongly blaming the Congress is the need of the hour.
Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said the "BJP must realise that their overused, stale, repetitive stunts of blaming Pt Nehru and UPA will not end farmers protest. Farmers who feed the entire nation are fed up of BJP's anti-farmer policies. Congress only wants one thing: 'MSP Ka Haq-Kisan Ke Haath Mein Rakh'.The Congress spokesperson raised many counter-questions and asked what reforms will happen by emoving MSP. Did Congress speak about APMC reforms by abolishing MSP, he asked.
The Congress said if the new laws are pro-farmer why is the BJP failing to convince the farmers and attacking the farmers with lathis and water cannons?
Even the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) which has been voicing the concern of farmers has cancelled its three-day programme to mark the beginning of its centenary celebrations in view of the ongoing agitation by farmers, party leader Daljit Singh Cheema said.
On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the three farm laws enacted by the NDA government at the Centre were not anti-farmer, but reflective of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to ensure the welfare of the ryots.
Even the Azadpur Mandi, one of the largest mandis in Asia, has decided to support the Bharat Bandh call given by the farmers.
As the fifth round of talks could not lead to any breakthrough, both the sides -- farmers' representatives and the government -- have agreed to continue the dialogue on December 9.
The fifth round of talks between the government and the farmers' leaders remained inconclusive on Saturday with both sides adamant on their stand over the three contentious farm laws. The farmers have asserted that the protest will continue if the government doesn't repeal the three farm laws.
(With inputs from agencies)
Also Read: Farmers' protest LIVE: Bharat Bandh draws more support; Centre issues advisory
11:37 December 08
Famous Punjabi singer supports Bharat Bandh call
Famous Punjabi Singer Mr Dee visits Sindhu border to support the Bharat Bandh call given by farmers. He said that the government should repeal the anti-farmer laws.
11:15 December 08
Maharashtra: Bharat Bandh in Maharashtra.
11:06 December 08
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been put under house arrest ever since he visited farmers at Singhu Border yesterday, tweets Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
No one has been permitted to leave or enter his residence.
Meanwhile, DCP North Anto Alphons has clarified that the Chief Minister has not been put under house arrest and it is a general deployment to avoid any clash between the AAP and any other party.
11:05 December 08
10:10 December 08
Left political parties protest in Visakhapatnam
Andhra Pradesh: Left political parties protest Visakhapatnam in support of the Bharat Bandh called by farmers unions, against Central Government's Farm Laws.
10:00 December 08
Left political parties protest in Vizianagaram
Andhra Pradesh: Left political parties protest in Parvathipuram of Vizianagaram district, in support of the Bharat Bandh called by farmers unions, against Central Government's Farm Laws.
09:38 December 08
Left political parties protest on the railway tracks in West Bengal
West Bengal: Left political parties protest on the railway tracks at Jadabpur Railway Station in Kolkata & stop a train, in support of today's Bharat Bandh by farmer unions.
09:31 December 08
Bharat Bandh in Bihar
Bihar: RJD workers in Bihar blocked Gaya-Patna road NH 83 in support of Bharat Bandh call given by farmers.
All the shops in the area are closed. Meanwhile, security personnel were deployed in Patna to avoid any untoward incident.
09:12 December 08
Left political parties, trade unions support Bharat Bandh
Odisha: Left political parties, trade unions and farmer unions stop trains at Bhubaneswar Railway Station.
09:12 December 08
Andhra Pradesh: Left political parties stage a protest in Vijayawada, in support of today's BharatBandh called by farmer unions, against Central Government's FarmLaws.
09:12 December 08
Our protest will be completely peaceful. If someone gets stuck for 2-3 hours in a Bandh called by us, we provide them with water and fruits. Ours is a different concept: Rakesh Tikait, Spokesperson, Bharatiya Kisan Union.
09:05 December 08
Bharat bandh: Azadpur, among other Delhi mandis closed in support
Azadpur mandi, one of the largest wholesale markets for fruits and vegetables in the country, along with all others in the national capital will remain shut on Tuesday in support of the Bharat bandh, called by farmers, its chairman Adil Ahmed Khan said.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union on Monday said that the Bharat bandh is a "symbolic protest" to show opposition to Centre's policies.
"Our protest is peaceful and we'll continue that way. Bharat bandh is a symbolic protest to register our opposition. It is to show that we don't support some of the policies of the Government of India," Rakesh Tikait, spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, said.
Farmers protesting against the Centre's new agricultural sector laws called for a Bharat bandh today after several rounds of talks with the government over the new farm laws remained inconclusive.
Farmer unions on December 4 decided to intensify their agitation, stating that they were not satisfied with the amendments to the agricultural legislation being proposed by the government.
"The bandh will be observed throughout Tuesday. We will also observe a chakka jam (road blockade) till 3 pm," said Darshan Pal, Punjab unit president of the Krantikari Kisan Union, had said on Monday.
Meanwhile, Haryana and Delhi Police have issued travel advisories.
"It is expected that agitating groups may sit on dharna on various roads and highways, within Haryana and block them for some time. The peak time of impact is expected to be between noon and 3 pm. There may be some disruptions on various toll plazas in the state. The major National Highways, Delhi-Ambala (NH-44), Delhi-Hisar (NH-9), Delhi-Palwal (NH-19) and Delhi to Rewari (NH-48), may also see some traffic disruptions for a short time," the travel advisory by Haryana Police read.
09:03 December 08
'Rail roko' protest in Maharashtra's Buldhana
Bharat Bandh: 'Rail roko' protest in Maharashtra's Buldhana, several detained for stopping train
Swabhimani Shetkari Saghtana staged 'Bharat Bandh Rail Roko' protest and briefly stopped a train in Malkapur of Buldhana district on Tuesday.
They were later removed from the tracks by police and detained.
After several rounds of talks between farmers and the central government remained inconclusive, thousands of farmers protesting against the Centre's agricultural sector laws have called for "Bharat Bandh" today demanding the immediate recall of the farm laws.
Farmer unions on Friday decided to intensify their agitation against the farm laws calling for 'Bharat Bandh' today stating that they were not satisfied with amendments to the agricultural legislations being proposed by the government.
"The bandh will be observed throughout Tuesday, but the 'chakka jam' (road blockade) will be on only till 3 pm," said Darshan Pal, Punjab unit president of the Krantikari Kisan Union said on Monday.
The farmers' union urged farmers not to force anyone to join the call for Bharat Bandh.
09:02 December 08
Uttar Pradesh CM directs administration to ensure locals don't face inconvenience
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the administration and police officers to make adequate arrangements and ensure that the common people do not face any inconvenience during the "Bharat Bandh" call for Tuesday given by farmers agitating against the new agricultural sector laws.
"Maintaining peace in the state is the top priority of the government," the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister directed the administration and police officers via video conferencing on Monday. According to an official release, Yogi has said that the Central and State Government are constantly working in the direction of farmers and their welfare.
"Officers should communicate with farmers organisations and representatives at the local level and make them aware of the provisions of new agricultural laws and solve their problems. In no case should law and peace be compromised," he added.
07:46 December 08
Swabhimani Shetkari Saghtana stages protest
Maharashtra: Swabhimani Shetkari Saghtana staged 'Bharat Bandh Rail Roko' protest and briefly stopped a train today in Malkapur of Buldhana district. They were later removed from the tracks by Police and were detained.
07:46 December 08
Osmania University postpones examinations
All examinations scheduled on 8th Dec under Osmania University jurisdiction have been postponed due to Bharat bandh. The revised schedule will be given in due course of time. Examinations scheduled from 9th Dec will be held as per schedule: Controller of Exams, Osmania University
07:18 December 08
UP put on high alert for 'Bharat Bandh'
Uttar Pradesh has been put on high alert view of 'Bharat Bandh' call for Tuesday.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to make adequate arrangements to ensure that the common people are not put to any inconvenience on account of 'Bharat Bandh'.
He also asked police officials to avoid any confrontation with farmers.
Special vigil is being maintained in all districts bordering Delhi and additional forces have been deployed there.
In Lucknow, the district magistrate, Abhishek Prakash, has extended the prohibitory orders under Section 144 to the rural areas of the state capital and joint commissioner of police Naveen Arora said that sector scheme had been enforced in the wake of the bandh call.
The government has directed all officers in the rank of ADG and IG to ensure patrolling in their respective areas and also maintain a vigil on highways connecting the border areas.
The state home department has asked UP DGP H C Awasthi to direct all district police chiefs to maintain a dialogue with local farmer organisations.
Extensive checking is going on since last night at toll plaza points and all entry and exit points in district bordering Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked the police to ensure that traders are not forced to down their shutters during the four-hour long Bandh which will begin from 11.a.m and end at 3.p.m.
District officials have also assured auto, tempo, taxi associations that they can fearlessly continue operating during the bandh period.
ADG (law and order) Prashant Kumar said that 140 companies of PAC have been deployed in sensitive districts while six companies of para military forces have been deployed in the border areas.
07:02 December 08
Bharat Bandh will be successful with the public support
Bharat Bandh will be successful with the public support: Rakesh Tikait
Bhartiya Kisan Union Leader Rakesh Tikait has said that Bharat Bandh call by Samyukt Kisan Morcha will be successful with public support.
BKU workers are sitting on protest at Delhi-UP Ghazipur border but Rakesh Tikait was seen meeting with Farmer leaders at Delhi-Haryana Singhu Border on Monday.
He was here to discuss the plan and execution of Bharat Bandh across the country.
Talking to ETV Bharat, Tikait said that he has given a slogan of 'Apna Gaon-Apni Sadak' for Tuesday Bharat Bandh.
"People in villages will come out of their houses and sit on roads blocking traffic. This is how they will support farmers and this Bandh call will be successful.
Working-class will be allowed to commute till 11 am as we do not want to hamper their work but between 11 to 3 pm there will be completely shut down" said Rakesh Tikait.
Farmer leaders and their local unit leaders are also around Delhi blocking borders of the national capital, so in order to make their bandh call successful Unions are reaching out to people and appealing them to support this nationwide bandh.
Farmer leader also requested the shopkeepers to open their shops after 3 pm only.
At the initial stage of protests against Farm Laws, most of the farmer unions were only demanding that MSP should be legalized and some necessary amendments be made to the Farm laws brought by the government.
However, all the farmer unions are now demanding repealment of the three farm acts.
BKU leader Rakesh Tikait was also among the leaders who had said that they have no issue with the three laws if government assures in writing or makes law for mandatory MSP.
On being asked about this sudden change of stand, Tikait said that when all farmer leaders joined in the movement, discussed and decided that these laws are of no use for them, BKU also supported them.
"We can suggest better and bigger laws which will benefit farmers and thus we do not need these laws introduced by the government," he said.
With less rural population and a small number of farmers, it is expected that the impact of Bharat Bandh will be minimum in Delhi but Rakesh Tikait is confident that People of Delhi will also observe bandh tomorrow and support farmers.
"Some transport unions and trade unions have said that they will support our call in Delhi and it will be a successful bandh tomorrow," said Tikait.
The complete shutdown call is between 11 am to 3 pm but the Bandh will be observed from morning till evening on Tuesday.
06:37 December 08
Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das appeals to people
Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das appeals to people
Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das has appealed to people to make Bharat Bandh on December 8 a success. He said that the new laws introduced are against the interests of farmers as the provision of MSP is not included in the bill which will have negative consequences on the. He also said that if farmers are given their rights then only can India develop.
05:31 December 08
Mumbai police to patrol city to prevent untoward incidents during Bharat Bandh
Patrolling will be done in Mumbai during the Bharat Bandh on Tuesday so that no untoward incident takes place, said DCP S Chaitanya.
The DCP said, "600 additional police personnel have been deployed in the city to avoid any unrest in the city. Further, we have deployed nine State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) platoons for safety purposes."
"We appeal to the people to maintain peace," he added. On December 7, Opposition parties except for Trinamool Congress (TMC) lent their support to the Bharat Bandh' on December 8 called by farmers' unions in protest against the new farm laws introduced by the central government.
05:28 December 08
Uttar Pradesh CM directs administration to ensure locals don't face inconvenience
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the administration and police officers to make adequate arrangements and ensure that the common people do not face any inconvenience during the "Bharat Bandh" call for Tuesday given by farmers agitating against the new agricultural sector laws.
"Maintaining peace in the state is the top priority of the government," the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister directed the administration and police officers via video conferencing on Monday.
According to an official release, Yogi has said that the Central and State Government are constantly working in the direction of farmers and their welfare.
"Officers should communicate with farmers organisations and representatives at the local level and make them aware of the provisions of new agricultural laws and solve their problems. In no case should law and peace be compromised," he added.
05:26 December 08
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Update : Tikri, Jharoda Borders, Dhansa are closed for any Traffic Movement.
— DCP TRAFFIC WESTERN RANGE (@DcpWestern) December 7, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
Badusarai Border is open only for Light Motor Vehicle like Cars and two wheelers.
Jhatikara Border is open only for two wheeler traffic @dtptraffic @DelhiPolice
">Update : Tikri, Jharoda Borders, Dhansa are closed for any Traffic Movement.
— DCP TRAFFIC WESTERN RANGE (@DcpWestern) December 7, 2020
Badusarai Border is open only for Light Motor Vehicle like Cars and two wheelers.
Jhatikara Border is open only for two wheeler traffic @dtptraffic @DelhiPoliceUpdate : Tikri, Jharoda Borders, Dhansa are closed for any Traffic Movement.
— DCP TRAFFIC WESTERN RANGE (@DcpWestern) December 7, 2020
Badusarai Border is open only for Light Motor Vehicle like Cars and two wheelers.
Jhatikara Border is open only for two wheeler traffic @dtptraffic @DelhiPolice
Tikri, Jharoda, Dhansa, Singhu borders and NH-44 to remain closed on today: Delhi Traffic Police
Tikri, Jharoda, Dhansa, Singhu borders and NH-44 will remain closed on Tuesday due to the farmer protests, said the Delhi Traffic Police on Monday.
Delhi Traffic Police (DTP) tweeted, "Traffic Alert: Tikri, Jharoda and Dhansa Borders are closed for any Traffic Movement. Badusarai Border is open only for light motor vehicles like cars and two-wheelers. Jhatikara Border is open only for two-wheeler traffic." DTP tweet added, "Singhu, Auchandi, Piao Maniyari, Mangesh borders are closed. NH 44 is closed on both sides. Take alternative routes via Lampur, Safiabad, Saboli borders. Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba and GTK road. Avoid Outer Ring Road, GTK Road, NH 44."
04:43 December 08
Govt issues advisory to states to maintain peace
New Delhi: In the wake of the 'Bharat Bandh' or nationwide strike called by the farmers over the contentious farm laws on Tuesday, the Opposition parties have lent their support to the call while the government has issued an advisory to the different states and Union Territories to tighten security and maintain peace and harmony.
The Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) said on Monday that the Bharat Bandh on December 8 would start at 11 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. as they don't want to cause inconvenience to the public.
BKU Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said, "The Bharat Bandh will begin at 11 a.m. and continue till 3 p.m. on Tuesday."
During the bandh, essential services will not be curtailed and office-goers can move freely, said the BKU spokesperson.
Meanwhile, the Union government has sent an advisory to the different states and UTs to tighten security and maintain peace and harmony within their respective territories.
"The state governments and UT administrations must ensure that the Covid-19 guidelines with regard to health and social distancing are strictly followed," the Home Ministry advisory read.
Different parties such as the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, DMK, Nationalist Congress Party, CPI, CPI-M, CPI-ML, RSP, AIFB and Telangana Rashtra Samithi have extended their support to the farmers who are demanding that the new farm laws be repealed.
However, the Trinamool Congress, which has been at the forefront in opposing the farm laws in the Parliament, has decided not to go with Tuesday's Bharat Bandh call.
Party MP Saugata Roy said, "TMC stands in solidarity with the farmers, but will not support the Bharat Bandh in West Bengal as it goes against our principles."
Earlier, Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee had tweeted, "I am very much concerned about the farmers, their lives and livelihood. GoI must withdraw the anti-farmer bills. If they do not do so immediately, we will agitate throughout the state and the country. From the very start, we have been strongly opposing these anti-farmer bills."
A joint statement was issued by the leaders of different political parties on Sunday, which read: "We, the undersigned leaders of political parties, extend our solidarity with the ongoing massive struggle by the Indian farmers organised by various kisan organisations from across the country and extend our support to their call for a Bharat Bandh on December 8 demanding the withdrawal of these retrograde Agri-laws and the Electricity Amendment Bill."
The BSP and Shiv Sena have also supported the bandh.
Earlier in the day, Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was put under undeclared house arrest and by afternoon he was arrested and taken away by the Uttar Pradesh Police.
The arrest came as the number of party workers and supporters swelled outside his house and the former Chief Minister came out and sat on dharna outside the gates of his residence.
"The government cannot muzzle the voice of the farmers. If the police want to arrest me, I am ready to go to jail. My party will continue to fight with the farmers for their welfare. The police have arrested and detained SP workers across the state. We are fighting to double the income of farmers, as earlier promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he told reporters.
Even Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday extended support to the Bharat Bandh call and assured that his party workers and supporters would participate in the 'peaceful' protests.
Kejriwal made the announcement while visiting the Singhu border on the Delhi-Haryana route -- one of the protest sites where thousands of farmers from Punjab and Haryana are on continuous sit-in since November 26 demanding the abolition of the three contentious farm laws enacted in September during the Monsoon Session of the Parliament.
It was Kejriwal's first visit to any of the farmers' protest sites. During his visit, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor said, "My government's and party's support is with the protesting farmers."
He further said that AAP supporters and MLAs were continuously trying to provide maximum help to the farmers here and expressed hope that the farmers would get a solution to their demands very soon.
Meanwhile, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that some political parties are trying to vitiate the atmosphere and their doublespeak on the issue of farmers should be exposed.
Adityanath said that the opposition parties are placing their guns on the shoulders of the farmers to shoot at the government.
He said that the stand taken by the opposition parties, particularly the Congress, on the APMC Act has exposed the double standards of these parties.
"The Centre has taken revolutionary steps in agricultural reforms that safeguard the interests of the farmers. But the opposition is trying to spread misinformation to mislead the farmers. During the UPA regime, all these parties had announced their support to the APMC Act, but now they have taken a U-turn," he said.
The Chief Minister further said that parties like Akali Dal, Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party had supported the APMC Act, but now they are showing double standards.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Taxi Tourist Transporters Association has come out in support of the Bharat. Various taxi and bus operator associations from Delhi had marched to the Singhu border on Sunday to express solidarity with the agitating farmers.
The Delhi Taxi Tourist Transporters Association President said, "On December 8, we will not run our taxis and buses and peacefully show our solidarity in making the farmers' movement successful by making the Bharat Bandh a success."
Meanwhile, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and the All India Transport Welfare Association (AITWA) said on Monday that their members will not participate in the 'Bharat Bandh', adding that the government should though look into the farmers' demands and resolve the issues at the earliest.
Both the associations said in a joint statement that their members in commercial markets across the country will open their premises and conduct business as usual and run normal transport services on December 8.
Even the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) has distanced itself from the Bharat Bandh. The BKS said in a statement, "The Bhartiya Kisan Sangh has decided to remain aloof of the Bandh call and appeal to its members all over the country to be attentive and alert the fellow citizens so that any untoward incident may be avoided. We hope that the nation and the farming fraternity will sincerely cooperate with the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh."
The BKS, an RSS affiliate, said: "It is evident that some anti-social elements, external forces and some political parties are manoeuvering this demonstration towards acrimony."
Farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh are protesting along the borders of the national capital against the three new agricultural laws introduced by the Central government.
Meanwhile, a bitter feud erupted between Maharashtra's ruling ally Nationalist Congress Party and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday.
The latest row has been triggered by a 165-page letter written by NCP President Sharad Pawar in 2010 when he was the Union Agriculture Minister for the second time in the then UPA-II government.
Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis accused the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress - which has supported the 'Bharat Bandh' - of adopting "double standards" merely to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led NDA at the Centre.
"Bahut log behti Ganga mein haath dho rahe hain," said Fadnavis, while pointing out that at 8 states including Maharashtra are already implementing 2 or all the new farm laws in some way or the other.
Hitting back, the NCP said that when the Model APMC Act 2003 was introduced by the then NDA government of Prime Minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee, many Indian states were reluctant to implement it.
"When Pawar became the UPA Agriculture Minister, he attempted to form a broader consensus among the State Agriculture Marketing Boards by soliciting suggestions for implementing the Act," said NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase.
Even the Congress slammed the BJP over the APMC Act saying that its accusatory stunts will not work and withdrawing black laws instead of wrongly blaming the Congress is the need of the hour.
Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said the "BJP must realise that their overused, stale, repetitive stunts of blaming Pt Nehru and UPA will not end farmers protest. Farmers who feed the entire nation are fed up of BJP's anti-farmer policies. Congress only wants one thing: 'MSP Ka Haq-Kisan Ke Haath Mein Rakh'.The Congress spokesperson raised many counter-questions and asked what reforms will happen by emoving MSP. Did Congress speak about APMC reforms by abolishing MSP, he asked.
The Congress said if the new laws are pro-farmer why is the BJP failing to convince the farmers and attacking the farmers with lathis and water cannons?
Even the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) which has been voicing the concern of farmers has cancelled its three-day programme to mark the beginning of its centenary celebrations in view of the ongoing agitation by farmers, party leader Daljit Singh Cheema said.
On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the three farm laws enacted by the NDA government at the Centre were not anti-farmer, but reflective of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to ensure the welfare of the ryots.
Even the Azadpur Mandi, one of the largest mandis in Asia, has decided to support the Bharat Bandh call given by the farmers.
As the fifth round of talks could not lead to any breakthrough, both the sides -- farmers' representatives and the government -- have agreed to continue the dialogue on December 9.
The fifth round of talks between the government and the farmers' leaders remained inconclusive on Saturday with both sides adamant on their stand over the three contentious farm laws. The farmers have asserted that the protest will continue if the government doesn't repeal the three farm laws.
(With inputs from agencies)
Also Read: Farmers' protest LIVE: Bharat Bandh draws more support; Centre issues advisory
Last Updated : Dec 9, 2020, 2:35 PM IST
