Farmers call for Bharat Bandh on December 8

Ahead of another round of talks with the Centre on Saturday, farmers protesting against three farm laws passed by the Modi government during the Monsoon session of Parliament have called for a Bharat Bandh on December 8.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the farmer groups on Friday. Addressing the media, farmer leader Harvinder Singh Lakhwal said, "We have decided to give a 'Bharat Bandh' call on December 8 during which we will also occupy all toll plazas. We have planned to block all roads leading to Delhi in the coming days if new farm laws are not scrapped."

The farmers are protesting against the following three bills: The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act. The agitating farmers have termed the laws as ‘anti-farmer’ and alleged that the Acts would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system and they would be forced to live at the "mercy" of big corporations.

HS Lokwal, the general secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU-Lakhowal), said: "On Thursday, we told the government that the farm laws should be withdrawn. On December 5, effigies of PM Modi will be burnt across the country. We have given a call for Bharat Bandh on December 8."

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said, "The government wants to make amendments to the three laws, but we want the laws to be completely repealed. If the government does not agree to our demands, we will continue to protest. We are looking to find out what happens in Saturday’s meeting."