Farmers' Protest: Bharat Bandh On December 8 From 11 AM To 3 PM; Here's All You Need To Know

The call for complete shutdown, comes a day ahead of the sixth meeting, between protesting farmers and the center, is meant to mount pressure on the government to repeal three contentious agriculture reform laws.

Image: PTI

After several rounds of talks between farmers and the center, which failed to yield any result, farmers protesting against the new farm laws, farmers have called for “Bharat Bandh” on December 8. The call for complete shutdown, comes a day ahead of the sixth meeting, between protesting farmers and the center, is meant to mount pressure on the government to repeal three contentious agriculture reform laws. Bharatiya Kisan Union Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said, “The protest is to show that we don't support some of the policies of the government.” Trade unions supporting the “Bharat Bandh” have also said that their protest is "peaceful and will continue that way". Here’s all you need to know about the “Bharat Bandh”

• As the framers protesting on the border of New Delhi, have called for “Bharat Bandh”, urged people to extend their support non-violently, and said their protest was not meant to "cause problems for the common man".
• The Bandh will start from 11 AM and will continue till 3 PM, so people can reach their office on time.  "Tomorrow's Bharat Bandh is from 11 am to 3 pm. It is a symbolic protest. We will begin at 11 am so everyone can reach the office on time... Services such as ambulance, even weddings, can go on. People can show their card and leave," Bharatiya Kisan Union Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said.

• In a bid to show their agitation, the 5-hour nationwide-shutdown will be followed by blocking of national highways and toll plazas, by the farmers. Harinder Singh Lakhowal, general secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union said, “Members of farmers' unions will block national highways and occupy toll plazas.”

• As all motor transport unions of India, have extended their support to the protesting farmers, the supply truck movement may see a hit. According to reports, the transport unions will submit a memorandum to District Magistrates and Commissioners to resolve the issues "amicably and to farmers' satisfaction at the earliest", and will be organizing peaceful demonstrations.

• In Delhi, where most of the traders are supporting the “Bharat Bandh” move. Asia's largest wholesale market of fruits and vegetables the Azadpur Mandi, will see a shutdown, said Adil Ahmed Khan, Chairman of Azadpur mandi.
• The Vashi Agricultural Produce Market Committee in Maharashtra will also see a shutdown on December 8. The move is likely to affect the supply of fruits and vegetables in Mumbai.
• Other than transport and trade unions, some banking unions have also come forward in support of the farmers. Without affecting the banking services, a number of bank unions have called for a black-band protest to show support to farmers.
• Taxi unions of Delhi and Tamil Nadu, have decided to back the complete shutdown, which may lead to some inconvenience for the commuters of both states.
• Other than Punjab, which has extended its full support for the “Bharat Bandh” call, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Telangana, and northeastern states of Tripura and Assam are likely to stage sit-in protests.
• All opposition parties except the Mamata Banerjee led Trinamool Congress, have backed the farmers and said they would organize demonstrations across cities tomorrow.