Bharat Bandh 2020 LIVE: Farmers’ group from Haryana supports new farm laws; 2 railway unions to support bandh

A day before the 'Bharat Bandh' call given by farmers' outfits, supported by opposition parties against the new farm laws brought in by the NDA government, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao instructed officials to release Rs 7,300 crore as financial assistance under Rythu Bandhu scheme. The financial assistance will be given from December 27 to January 7, an official release said on Monday. Rao, the TRS Party president, had earlier said his party would actively support Bharat Bandh. (PTI)

The BJP on Monday slammed the ruling TRS for opposing the farm laws and extending support to the December 8 'Bharat Bandh' call by farmers' outfits and requested them not to believe in 'misinformation'. Addressing a press conference here, Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy described the decision as 'unfortunate' and alleged that the TRS government was trying to close shops and halt transport. He urged the public to resist the bandh call. The minister alleged that some political parties like TRS were trying to mislead farmers and they should not be taken in by 'misinformation'. (PTI) 

People rushed to stock essential commodities in Indore city of Madhya Pradesh on the eve of the Bharat Bandh called by farmers' bodies against three agriculture laws passed by the Centre. Though major organisations have not backed the shutdown call, people crowded shops to buy essential commodities. On Tuesday, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh would lead a protest at Chavni Anaj Mandi here, said Congress district president Sadashiv Yadav. Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh (RKMM) spokesman Ashish Bhairam said a rally will be taken out. He said RKMM workers will request shop owners to down the shutters for the sake of farmers. A police officer has warned of stern action if anybody tries to take law into his hands during bandh. (PTI)

Farmer leaders on Monday said that emergency services will not be disturbed during Tuesday's 'Bharat Bandh', and appealed to their affiliates to not force anyone to observe the shut down against the three recently enacted agriculture-related laws. Addressing a press conference here, farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said the Centre will have to accept the farmers' demand of scrapping the new laws whose passage has sparked protests by thousands of farmers who have been camping at various border points of Delhi for the past 11 days. The agitating farmers have already announced that they would occupy toll plazas between 11 am to 3 pm during the 'Bharat Bandh'. (PTI) 

The Centre and the farmer unions will hold the sixth round of talks a day after the bandh as previous discussions failed to end the deadlock. Targeted by opposition parties, the BJP hit back and accused them of 'shameful double standards', claiming many of them had endorsed these reforms when in power or had supported them in Parliament. Senior BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the opposition parties have joined the agitation in a bid to save their existence after being repeatedly rejected by people in different elections across the country. Prasad said a section of farmers has fallen in the grip of some people with 'vested interests' and asserted that the government was working to address their misgivings about the reforms. (PTI)

Farmers who are protesting are misguided. PM has assured that MSP and mandi system will remain: Kanwal Singh Chauhan, President, Progressive Farmers Club, Sonipat after meeting Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar (ANI)

Congress MPs from Punjab on Monday staged a protest at Jantar Mantar here demanding that a Parliament session be called to repeal farm laws that have triggered protests by farmers. Parliamentarians Preneet Kaur, Manish Tewari, Ravneet Bittu, Gurjeet Aujla and Amar Singh held the protest in solidarity with the agitating farmers. Farmers' organisations, staging protests at Delhi's borders, have called a 'Bharat Bandh' on Tuesday to press their demand for repeal of the three farm laws. The Congress MPs said the government was deliberately not convening the winter session of Parliament where key issues confronting the country, including the farmers agitation, COVID-19 situation, border standoff in eastern Ladakh and economic slowdown, could be discussed. "If farmers can sit in the open and protest, why can't the government convene Parliament session. This is for the first time since 1952 that the winter session is not being convened. It is very unfortunate," said Tewari. (PTI)

The Congress Monday said the Centre would be responsible for any inconvenience caused to people during the 'Bharat Bandh' called on December 8 by farmers protesting against the three recently enacted agri-marketing laws. The 'Opposition party also said it would not accept what it termed was "corporatisation of the agriculture sector", and urged the government to "shed its ego" and agree to the farmers' demands of repealing the contentious laws. The party noted that food security and national security are intrinsically connected, as while farmers ensure food security for the nation, their sons protect the borders of the country. The Congress and several other Opposition parties have supported the 'Bharat Bandh' call given by the agitating farmers. (PTI)

Bank unions said they will not participate in the ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Tuesday, even as they expressed solidarity with farmers protesting against the new farm laws. Farmer groups, camping at various Delhi border points for over a week, have called for a nationwide shutdown on Tuesday to protest against three recently enacted agriculture-related legislations. |READ MORE

Bar Council of India Monday said that it has not taken any decision to support "Bharat Bandh" by farmers and fake news is being circulated on some social media platforms on the issue. BCI Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra told PTI that a meeting was held on Sunday and the bar body has requested the Centre to make necessary amendments in the new legislations relating to farmers. "The adjucation into the grievances of the Farmers should be looked to by a Special Tribunal presided over by a serving Judicial officer ( not below the rank of Additional District Judge ). "The farmers should be given liberty to engage the lawyers of their choice. There should be a time frame for decision by this forum. The Appeal against the order/decisions of such forums may be preferred before the High Courts." the apex body of lawyers said adding that it has not taken any decision to support "Bharat Bandh" on Tuesday. (PTI)

Delegation of 20 farmers from Haryana meets Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar to extend support to new legislations. (PTI)

Letter further says,"Three Acts in question that have pushed the country into deep turmoil must be withdrawn without making farmers & their families endure any more suffering in this biting cold. Issue doesn't concern farmers alone but affects entire economic fabric of country." (ANI)

Former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal writes to PM Modi saying, "I'm deeply worried about ongoing farmers’ crisis. It seems to me that issue could've been dealt with better if govt had paid greater attention to honest feedback on what farmers really thought of govt’s initiatives." (ANI)

Former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal writes to PM Modi saying, "I'm deeply worried about ongoing farmers’ crisis. It seems to me that issue could've been dealt with better if govt had paid greater attention to honest feedback on what farmers really thought of govt’s initiatives." (ANI)

Former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal writes to PM Modi saying, "I'm deeply worried about ongoing farmers’ crisis. It seems to me that issue could've been dealt with better if govt had paid greater attention to honest feedback on what farmers really thought of govt’s initiatives." (ANI)

Former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal writes to PM Modi saying, "I'm deeply worried about ongoing farmers’ crisis. It seems to me that issue could've been dealt with better if govt had paid greater attention to honest feedback on what farmers really thought of govt’s initiatives." (ANI)

Two of the biggest railway unions on Monday pledged their support to the Bharat Bandh on December 8 called by farmer unions which have been protesting on Delhi's borders against the Centre's new agri-marketing laws. The All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) and the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) extended their support to the agitating farmers by calling on their members to hold rallies and demonstrations on December 8 in a show of solidarity with the farmers. AIRF general secretary Shiva Gopal Mishra met the agitating farmers at Singhu border and assured them that members of the railway union are with them in their fight against the new agriculture laws. (PTI) 

The ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh has extended its support to the Bharat bandh called by farmers' unions on Tuesday against the three new farm laws enacted by the Centre and has appealed to people to express solidarity with cultivators. "We have appealed to all sections of society that they should stand by the farmers and support their agitation. Bandh will be observed in an aggressive but peaceful and non-violent manner," Shailesh Nitin Trivedi, who heads communication wing of the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC), saidon Monday. He said state Congress president Mohan Markam has given the responsibility to office-bearers and workers of all units of the party in the state to make the bandh successful. (PTI) 

For passengers who are unable to reach the Airport due to possible disturbance on 8th December, no-show charges will be waived and one free date change allowed for those with confirmed tickets for travel on 8th Dec, 2020 from any Indian Airport: Air India statement (ANI)

Sharad Pawar Sahab wrote to me in 2011, "There's need to amend APMC Act on lines of model APMC act to encourage private sector investment in marketing, infrastructure and providing alternate competitive marketing channels in overall interest of farmers, consumers & agri trade": MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan

As the Congress prepares to make the 'Bharat Bandh' a success in Gujarat, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Monday hit out at the opposition party and said state's farmers will not back a 'political agitation' being organised against the Modi government in their name. Rupani claimed the Congress has lost support of people across all sections of the society and pointed out that in the past the party had promised to make changes in agri rules that are covered under the new farm legislations. (PTI) 

The RSS-backed Bharatiya Kisan today said it won't support 'Bharat Bandh' called on December 8. "We are not supporting the 'Bharat bandh' but we don't endorse the three laws in toto (completely)," BKS organisation secretary, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Mahesh Choudhari said. "We want some improvements in the Acts. We wrote to the Centre in August and recommended facilitating procurement at minimum support price (MSP) following suggestions from villages. The Centre has already given an assurance that this would be looked into," Choudhari said. He said the BKS strongly favours the "ek bazaar, ek desh" (one market, one country) provision in the Acts as well as several other measures which will benefit farmers immensely. He downplayed the ongoing protests by farmers on outskirts of Delhi, saying "you know the people involved in them and slogans being raised there". (PTI)

With the opposition rallying around the farmers' protest against the Narendra Modi government's agri reforms, the BJP on Monday accused its rivals of "shameful double standards" as it claimed that parties like the Congress and the NCP had once supported what are now key provisions of the new laws. Noting that opposition parties have backed the protesting farmer unions' call for 'Bharat Bandh' on Tuesday, senior BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said they have joined the agitation in a bid to save their existence after being repeatedly rejected by people in different elections across the country. Battling existential crisis, the opposition was conspiring to create "unrest" by misleading people over the issue, he alleged. (PTI)

Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses will ply as scheduled during Tuesday's 'Bharat bandh' called by various outfits to protest against the Centre's farm laws, a senior official of the state-run undertaking said. MSRTC managing director Shekhar Channe told PTI the buses will ply unless there are law and order problems due to the shutdown. Meanwhile, the All India Motor Transport Congress, an apex body of trucker outfits, said it would "join the Bharat bandh and suspend their operations on December 8". "Transportation of essential commodities like milk, vegetables and fruits have been excluded from the bandh," said Daya Natkar, secretary of Maharashtra Rajya Truck Tempo mTankers Vahatuk Sangh. Veteran taxi union leader AL Qaudros said taxis would ply in the metropolis as the coronavirus outbreak and the lockdown had already hit the sector severely. (PTI)

Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani hits out at Congress, says state's farmers will not back “political agitation” being organised against Modi government in their name. (PTI)

Delhi's Azadpur Mandi and all other mandis in the city to remain closed tomorrow, in support of 'Bharat Bandh' call made by farmers, says Adil Ahmed Khan, Chairman of Azadpur Mandi. 

Haryana chief minister ML Khattar says that the Opposition parties are doing petty politics in the name of farmers, it is condemnable. He says public and farmers should understand that there is no harm in implementing the laws that have been enacted for the progress of farmers. PM has assured that MSP will continue.

The Kerala government has decided to move to Supreme Court against the Centre's Farm Laws. Kerala Agriculture Minister VS Sunil Kumar says his government will move the Supreme Court against the three laws at the heart of ongoing protest across the country. He also says that the 'anti-farmer laws' will not be implemented in Kerala and an alternative law will be considered. (ANI)

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said the three farm laws are not anti-farmer, but reflective of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to ensure the welfare of the ryots. He listed out PM Modi's various pro-farmer initiatives like providing them with cash assistance and crop insurance and said the Prime Minister's efforts in this regard was "unparalleled." "It is Modi who enacted three farm laws. I can say with conviction, these legislations are not anti-farmer. If a farmer can sell his produce for a better price outside the market, what is the problem to anyone, what is so anti-farmer about this? If a farmer is assured of a price for his produce, if a trader buys more from a farmer without any ceiling for stocks, what is against the farmer about it?" he asked. (PTI)

The All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) today extended its support to Bharat Bandh tomorrow (December 8). AIRF General Secretary Shiva Gopal Mishra met the protesting farmers at Singhu border and assured them that members of the railway union are with them in their fight against Centre. "We have written to our affiliates all over the Indian Railways to extend support to the farmers in their struggle to achieve their genuine demands, on December 8, 2020 during 'Bharat Bandh'. I have already advised AIRF affiliates to organise agitation programmes, dharna, demonstrations and rallies during lunch hour against anti-farmer policies of the Government of India. "I hope that the government will give cognizance to the genuine demands of the farmers and redress the same at the earliest," he said. (PTI)

Ahead of Bharat Bandh call, the BJP today accused the opposition parties of "shameful double standards" as it claimed that parties like the Congress and the NCP had once supported what are now key provisions of the new farm laws. Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Opposition parties have joined the agitation in an attempt to save their existence after being repeatedly rejected by people in different elections across the country. He also said a section of farmers has fallen in the grip of some people with "vested interests" and asserted that the government was working to address their misgivings about the reforms, which have drawn strong protests from different groups of cultivators, especially from Punjab. Prasad said the Congress' manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls had promised repeal of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act (APMC) and make agri-trade free from all restrictions. "In 2013, Rahul Gandhi had given direction to all the chief ministers of Congress-ruled states to delist fruits and vegetables from the APMC and allow them to sell it directly in the open market," Prasad said.NCP chief Sarad Pawar had written as the Union agriculture minister in the UPA government to chief ministers, strongly advocating for greater participation of the private sector in the farm sector and highlighting the need for making suitable regulatory and policy changes for that. In a 2005 interview, Sharad Pawar had said the APMC Act will be abolished in six months. He had further said that the states would not get financial support from the Centre unless they are ready to amend the Act and allow the private sector to enter the field," he said, adding the laws enacted by the Modi government have made way for what the Congress and the NCP once called for. "Now they are opposing what they had been working to do when in power. This exposes their shameful double standards. This is opposition for the sake of opposition," Prasad said. (PTI)

Farmers agitation: Punjabi poet Surjit Patar today announced that he will return his Padma Shri award. In a statement, Surjit Patar said he was pained at the 'insensitive' attitude of Centre towards the demands of farmers who have been protesting. He decided to return his Padma Shri award with a 'heavy heart'. He had received the Padma Shri in 2012. 

Devendra Fadnavis has targeted Congress and NCP which have backed Bharat Bandh. He said they are backing the agitation only for the sake of opposing the Modi government. Fadnavis claimed these parties had earlier backed provisions similar to ones in the Centres farm laws and charged them with being two-faced by opposing the Acts now. The former Maharashtra chief minister accused the non-BJP parties of supporting the bandh to cause 'anarchy' and said that farmers, however, are well-aware of the same and will support the farm laws. The Congress, NCP, Shiromani Akali Dal, AAP, DMK, TMC and the Samajwadi Party are among the political outfits which have supported the call for the nationwide shutdown on December 8. (PTI)

Bharat Bandh: Taxi Union of Mumbai has not given a call for strike tomorrow in support of 'Bharat Bandh'. Cabs and autos will ply as normal. BEST buses will also be operational tomorrow (Tuesday) and will not be part of 'Bharat Bandh'. BEST PRO says that protective iron grills and other protective gears will be used while plying the buses on Tuesday. (ANI)