Cong & AAP Support ‘Bharat Bandh’ Call; Farmers-Govt Meet on 9 Dec
Catch all the updates on the farmers’ protests here.
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The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party have decided to support the call for ‘Bharat Bandh’ on 8 December. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said on Sunday, 6 December, that they will be demonstrating at their party offices. A call for the ‘Bharat Bandh’ had been given by farm leaders against the three contentious laws.
Meanwhile, as the deadlock over the laws continues, protesting farmers and the Centre are scheduled to meet for the sixth round of talks on 9 December. Talks were also held on Saturday, but were inconclusive.
After Saturday’s meeting, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the government has assured the farmers that procurement at minimum support price (MSP) will continue, and mandis will be strengthened.
- BJP MP and actor Sunny Deol said that he stands with farmers and his party and that the BJP-led government has the best interests of farmers in mind
- Leaders of Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Sunday, 6 December, said that the ‘Bharat Bandh’ scheduled on Tuesday would be complete and traffic will not be allowed till 3 pm, The Hindu reported
- NCP’s Maharashtra Office said that party chief Sharad Pawar will meet President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday over farmers’ protests
- Junior Union Minister for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary on Sunday said the Opposition is trying to instigate the farmers
- Urging the farmer unions to send the elderly, women and children back, Tomar on Friday said, “I want to assure farmers that Modi government remains committed to farmers’ interests and will remain so”
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'Ready to Listen to All Their Concerns': Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar
After Saturday’s meeting with farm leaders, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the government has assured the farmers that procurement at minimum support price (MSP) will continue, and mandis will be strengthened.
Urging the farmer unions to send the elderly, women and children back to their homes, Tomar said, “I want to assure farmers that Modi government remains committed to farmers’ interests and will remain so.”
Kalindi Kunj, Suraj Kund, Badarpur Borders Open from Both Sides: Traffic Police
Amid continuing protests by farmers near the borders of Delhi-NCR, the Delhi Traffic Police on Sunday said that the Kalindi Kunj, Suraj Kund, Badarpur and Aaya Nagar borders are open from both sides for traffic movement, ANI reported.
Congress Supports 'Bharat Bandh' Call
The Congress has decided to support the call for ’Bharat Bandh’ on 8 December, party spokesperson Pawan Khera said on Sunday, adding that they will be demonstrating at their party offices.
“It will be a step strengthening Rahul Gandhi’s support to the farmers. We will ensure that the demonstration is successful,” Khera was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Meanwhile, Telangana CM and TRS leader K Chandrashekar Rao has also extended his party’s support to the ‘Bharat Bandh’, ANI further reported. The TRS rank and file will participate actively in the proposed bandh, he said, according to the CMO.
'Opposition Trying to Instigate Farmers': Junior Agriculture Minister
Union Minister of State (MoS) for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary on Sunday said that the Opposition, including the Congress governments in states, is trying to instigate the farmers.
Speaking to ANI on Sunday, he said, “The government (Centre) has said that MSP will continue. We can give it in writing too… Nation's farmers are in favour of these laws but some political people are trying to add fuel to the fire.”
AAP to Support 'Bharat Bandh'
The Aam Aadmi Party will be extending support to the ‘Bharat Bandh’ called on 8 December, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Indian Tourist Transporters Association and the Delhi Goods Transport Association have also organised a strike on 8 December to support the farmers’ agitation.
'Centre Now Facing Problems Because Bills Were Passed in Haste': Sharad Pawar
Expressing solidarity with the protesting farmers, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday said the Centre is now facing problems because of the haste in which the farm Bills were passed to become laws.
“When the Bill was being passed, we'd requested the government that they shouldn't be in a hurry, it should be sent to a Select Committee and a discussion is needed. But that didn't happen and the Bill was passed in haste. Now the government is facing problems because of that haste,” he was quoted by ANI as saying.
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar to Meet President on 9 Dec Over Farmers' Protests
NCP’s Maharashtra Office said that party chief Sharad Pawar will meet President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday, 9 December, over farmers’ protests, ANI reported.
Agricultural Minister Narendra Tomar to Meet Two Ministers of State
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar will hold a meeting with his two ministers of state Kailash Choudhary and Parshottam Rupala on Sunday, 6 December, ANI reported.
'No Traffic Allowed Till 3 pm, No Supply of Vegetables and Milk': Samyukt Kisan Morcha on 'Bharat Bandh'
Samyukt Kisan Morcha held a press conference on Sunday, 6 December, wherein the leaders said that the ‘Bharat Bandh’ scheduled on Tuesday would be complete and traffic will not be allowed till 3 pm, The Hindu reported.
The leaders further added that there will be no supply of vegetables and milk either. “However, emergency services and wedding procession would be allowed,” The Hindu mentioned.
The leaders also reportedly said that several political parties, transport unions among others had extended their support to the call for a nationwide strike in the wake of ongoing farmers’ protests.
'Stand With BJP and Farmers': MP Sunny Deol on Farmers' Protests
BJP MP and Bollywood actor Sunny Deol said that he stands with the farmers and his party and that the BJP-led government has the best interests of farmers in mind.
On Sunday, 6 December, he tweeted a statement wherein he distanced himself from activist Deep Siddhu and said that the remarks made by him are his own and that the BJP MP shouldn’t be linked to him. Siddhu had campaigned for Sunny Deol in the 2019 elections.