NEW DELHI: The opposition political parties including Congress, SP, AAP, TDP, YSRCP and left groups such as CPI(M) and CPI will on Friday support the 12-hour ‘Bharat Bandh’ (nationwide strike) call given by the ‘Samyukt Kisan Morcha’ (SKM) – farmer unions’ platform agitating for the repeal of three central farm laws and demanding legal guarantee to purchase at minimum support price (MSP).
As a result, normal life is expected to be affected in a few states.
Trade unions and other organisations will also join the ‘Bandha’, coinciding with the completion of four months of farmers’ protests around Delhi borders.
They will organise a road and rail blockade from 6 am–6 pm across the country. Essential services will, however, not be disrupted.
In Andhra Pradesh, both the ruling YSR Congress Party and the opposition TDP have extended support to the Bandh.
Both the parties have also been opposing the Centre’s decision to privatise Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
“Various farmers’ organizations, trade unions, student organizations, bar associations, political parties and representatives of state governments have supported the bandh call of the SKM,” said Darshan Pal from the Morcha.
The SKM in a statement said all shops, malls, markets and institutions will remain closed under complete ‘Bharat Bandh’.
“All minor and major roads and trains will be blocked. All services will remain suspended except for ambulance and other essential services,” it said, adding all alternative routes along the protest sites in Delhi will also be blocked from 6 am to 6 pm during the Bandh.
It’ll lead to traffic disruption in certain parts of the Capital.
Besides their key demands on farm laws and MSP, the SKM has also been demanding cancellation of all police cases against farmers and reduction in prices of diesel, petrol and gas.
“An appeal is made to all the protesting citizens to make this ‘bandh’ successful while being peaceful. Protesters are advised to not get involved in any kind of illegitimate debate and conflict. It is a result of the patience of the farmers that the movement has gone so long that we are constantly getting successes,” said Darshan Pal.