08 December,2020 08:32 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Congress ministers protesting at Regal Junction in South Mumbai in support of Bharat Bandh. Pic/Bipin Kokate
Farmers protesting against the Centre's agricultural sector laws have called a "Bharat Bandh" on Tuesday after several rounds of talks with the government over the new farm laws remained inconclusive.
On Friday, the farmer unions decided to intensify their agitation against the farm laws calling for 'Bharat Bandh' on 8 December (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
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The bodies, however, warned that if their demands are not met, the next bandh will be of seven to eight days. They also urged political parties in the state and the citizens to support the bandh on the ground.
Read: Bharat Bandh: Buses, taxis, essential item transport to ply in Mumbai
In Mumbai:
-Congress cabinet minister Nitin Raut and other leaders like MP Eknath Gaikwad protested in support of farmers at Regal junction in South Mumbai.
Congress ministers at Regal junction
-Actor Ajaz Khan joins Sikh community protesters at Lokhandwala in Mumbai to protest against the contentious farm laws.
-Workers of Congress protesting at Regal Junction, Mumbai refused to speak with Republic TV journalist who reached the spot to cover the protests. They started sloganeering in favour of Congress as the journalist tried to speak to them.
- The Sikh community of Mumbai stage protests in Andheri and Lokhandwala and demad loan waiver for farmers among other issues.
Pic by Shadab Khan
Pic by Shadab Khan
- The Sikh community of Mumbai stages protest in Mankhurd in support of the farmers of Punjab and Haryana.
Pic by Atul Kamble
- Mumbai's response to Bharat Bandh is lukewarm as several markets remain open and traffic largely remains normal.
- Samajwadi party Maharashtra chief Abu Asim Azmi detained by Mumbai Police at Shivaji Nagar Govandi during a protest in support of farmers.
- Workers of Nationalist Congress Party stage a tractor protest in Thane.
- On Tuesday morning mid-day visited a few markets in the western suburbs to gauge the response to the bandh. Markets, sabji mandis and shops were seen to be open. In the Yari Road area, a few shops were shut but majority of them were functional.
Pic by Ranjeet Jadhav
- However, unlike other markets, majority of shops in Mulund remain shut.
Mulund market | Pic by Anurag Kamble
- Public transport in Mumbai will largely remain unaffected by the bandh call given in support of farmers. While auto and taxi unions have officially not called for any bandh, railway unions said it won't affect Mumbai. Transporters, however, decided to suspend their operations in support of the call.
Read: People should take part in 'Bharat Bandh' to support farmers: Shiv Sena
- A BEST spokesperson said that buses will operate with protective grill frames on windows to prevent damage.
- Mumbai police will patrol the city on Tuesday to prevent any unrest. Extra police personnel have also been deployed.
- The Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMC) market in Navi Mumbai will remain closed during the bandh.
- In support of the famers' call for Bharat Bandh, workers of Bharatiya Jai Hind Party including National Chief, Balasahab Bhosle stage protest in Thane Eastern Express Highway by stopping traffic. They were later detained by the police.
Pic via Diwakar Sharma
- Subhash Talekar, president of the Mumbai Dabbawala Association said that the prolonged lockdown due to the pandemic has severely affected the livelihoods of labourers and now the farm laws introduced by the government will be a major setback for the farmers. "The farmers agitating in north India have called for a Bharat Bandh today and the Mumbai Dabbawala Association will support the bandh," said Talekar
Subhash Talekar
- In Maharashtra's Buldhana district, agitating protestors of Swabhimani Shetkari Saghtana staged ârail rook.' However, they were later removed by the police and detained.
Mumbai cricketer Jatin Paranjape commented on the protest video saying "Should be put behind bars."
- The three Maha Vikas Aghadi partners - Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress - supported the December 8 Bharat Bandh called by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella group of over 500 farmers' organisations protesting the recently enacted farm laws. However, the Maharashtra unit of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) urged politicians not just to endorse the bandh for show, but to also ensure it is a success.
- Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut called the Bharat Bandh 'apolitical' in nature and said that people should willingly participate. Guardian Minister for Mumbai City, Congress' Aslam Shaikh tweeted on Monday, "A farmer represents the soul of the nation. Congress stands united with 16.6 million farmers protesting against #FarmLaws 2020."
Opposition supports Bharat Bandh
NCP stages protest in supoort of farmers in Chembur | Pic: Atul Kamble
The Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Trinamool Congress, DMK and its allies, TRS, RJD, Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)y and the Left have backed the bandh.
However, opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday that the MVA's support to the Bharat Bandh is contradictory to the alliance partners' previous views on agriculture and market reforms. He called it a political move just to oppose the Modi government.
(With inputs from mid-day correspondents)
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