Highlights:
- Delhi Chief Minister visits the Delhi-Haryana Border to review arrangements made for protesting farmers camping there
- The ongoing protest enters its 12th Day, to observe Bharat Bandh on December 8
- A set of three laws on agriculture passed by Parliament in September has led to thousands of farmers staging their protest
The Delhi-Haryana border has been visited by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to review arrangements made for protesting farmers camping there. The leader of Aam Aadmi is the first state chief minister to visit a place to protest. Mr. Kejriwal is one of the opposition leaders who have extended support for “Bharat Bandh” called by thousands of farmers protesting against the controversial new farm laws by the centre.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal reaches Guru Teg Bahadur Memorial near Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana border); meets protesting farmers, inspects arrangements made for them. pic.twitter.com/X07jFWh7yO
— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2020
Meanwhile, an advisory for commuters was released by the Delhi Traffic Police as multiple borders remained closed for traffic between Delhi and neighboring states.
On both the Singhu and Tikri borders, where farmers from Punjab and Haryana have gathered for more than 10 days, peaceful protests are underway. The numbers of farmers swelled at the Ghazipur frontier, with more from Uttar Pradesh joining them.
The new laws, aimed at removing middlemen and enabling farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the nation, have profoundly upset farmers. It would only contribute to the phasing out of the conventional mandis and the assured minimum price paid by the government, the farmers say, leaving them at the company’s mercy.
Here are Few Other Updates on Farmers’ Protest:
I stand with my party and farmers, says Sunny Deol on Protests
BJP MP and actor Sunny Deol says he believes the government at the Centre always thinks about farmers’ progress and hopes that after talks with farmers protesting against the new agricultural laws, the party can ensure the right outcome.
Since November 26, thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, have gathered at different border points in Delhi as part of their agitation against the central government farm laws led by the BJP.
The protesting farmers are worried that the new laws will withdraw the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and procurement method from the safety cushion, rendering the mandi system ineffective for various stakeholders in the farm sector to ensure revenue.
On Sunday night, Mr. Deol released a statement in Hindi on his Twitter account, saying the matter is between the farmers and the government, but there are people trying to get something out of the unrest.
Singhu Border, NH 44 Closed for Traffic Movement
The Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory on Monday for commuters as multiple borders between Delhi and neighboring states remained closed for traffic as the ongoing agitation of farmers entered day 12 on the borders of Burari, Singhu and Tikri.
A traffic warning closing National Highway (NH) 44 on both sides in the national capital region was issued by the Delhi Traffic Police today.
Commuters were requested to cross the boundaries of Lampur, Safiabad, Saboli and avoid the Outer Ring Road, GTK Road and NH-44 by alternate routes.
Several Opposition Parties are in Support of the Nationwide Shutdown called by Farmers Tomorrow
Tomorrow, December 8, the farmers have called a nationwide shutdown, saying they would seize all of the country’s highway toll gates and not allow the government to collect tolls as part of the 8 December strike. Several opposition parties have extended support for “Bharat bandh” including Congress, the DMK, the RJD, the Samajwadi Party, the newly-minted People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration in J&K, and a set of Left Outfits.
Auto, Taxi Unions in Delhi to join ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Tuesday
‘Bharat Bandh’ on December 8, called by farmers’ unions protesting against the new farm laws, commuters may face problems as some auto and taxi unions in the town agreed to join. Despite their support for the farmers’ demand, however a number of other unions have refused to retain the daily service.
President Sanjay Samrat of the Delhi Taxi Tourist Transporters Association said in a statement that on December 8, several unions, including the Delhi State Taxi Cooperative Society, and the Kaumi Ekta Welfare Association, would join the strike. Rajender Soni, Delhi Auto Rickshaw Sangh General Secretary, and Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union said that many “important” auto, taxi and last-mile vehicle driver unions would not join the strike because of the coronavirus pandemic as they have already suffered.
