List of Opposition parties backing Tuesday's 'Bharat Bandh'
With the farmers protesting against the Centre's new farm laws deciding to go ahead with their proposed Bharat Bandh, Opposition parties have backed the call. Talks between the farmers' unions and the central government have thus far yielded no results. Let us take a look at who is backing the nationwide strike
Follow1) Congress
Randeep Surjewala, Congresss chief spokesperson: "The interests of capitalists cannot be bigger than crores of farmers of the country. Follow Rajdharma. Modi ji, Why are you playing with the country's food providers and public sentiment? Don't test their patience. Pick up the pen and apologize to the food providers and repeal the black farm laws immediately."
2) Aam Aadmi Party
Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi CM: "The Aam Aadmi Party fully supports the Bharat Bandh call made by farmers on 8 December. AAP workers across the country will support it peacefully. There is an appeal to all countrymen that everyone should support the farmers and participate in it."
3) DMK
MK Stalin, DMK chief: "Their demand for repealing of the three laws is totally justified. We extend our wholehearted support to the December 8 Bharat bandh."
4) Samajwadi Party
Akhilesh Yadav, SP chief: "Those who fill our stomach and are the backbone of our economy are being treated badly. Thousands of farmers are protesting in this cold winter near Delhi but there is no one to listen to them. Farmers Bharat Bandh has the full support of Samajwadi Party."
5) CPI-M
Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) general secretary: "Solidarity and support to the kisan (farmers) struggles against the Agricultural laws and electricity Bill & the December 8 Bharat bandh. Condemn the malicious campaign against our annadatas."
6) CPI
In a statement, the Left parties said: "The Left parties condemn the RSS/BJP’s malicious campaign, on preposterous charges, against the struggle of our annadatas to safeguard Indian agriculture and the country’s food security."
7) TRS
Kavitha, TRS MLC: "The TRS had opposed the Bills in Parliament and will continue to do so. The farmer is insecure because if mandi structure is dismantled. TRS rank and file would participate actively in the proposed bandh."
8) TMC
Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal CM: "I am very much concerned about the farmers, their lives and livelihood. The central government must withdraw the anti-farmer bills. If they do not do so immediately we will agitate throughout the state and the country. From the very start, we have been strongly opposing these anti-farmer bills."
9) RJD
Tejashwi Yadav, RJD leader: "These new Agri-Laws passed in the Parliament in a brazen anti-democratic manner preventing a structured discussion and voting, threaten India’s food security, destroy Indian agriculture and our farmers, lay the basis for the abolishment of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and mortgage Indian agriculture and our markets to the caprices of multi-national agri-business corporates and domestic corporates."
10) SAD
Sukhbir Singh Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal chief: "It is unfortunate that the central government was dragging its feet and deliberately delaying in taking a decision on the demands of the farmer organisations. Besides elderly, women and children are part of the protest. It is extremely unfortunate that the Centre has refused to listen to the voice of the 'annadaata' and is making them suffer in the biting cold out in the open."
11) NCP
Sharad Pawar, NCP supremo: "Farmers of Punjab and Haryana are providing rice and wheat on a large scale. India is exporting food grains to 13 countries in which Punjab and Haryana are playing a big role. If farmers of Punjab and Haryana are protesting, the government should take cognizance but unfortunately, that is not happening."
12) PAGD (Gupkar Alliance)
Mehbooba Mufti, PDP patron: "Farmers protests have brought GOI to its knees. BJP is scared of peoples power & its why a reign of repression has been unleashed in J&K since illegal abrogation of Article 370. Not allowing any peaceful medium for dissent shows their nervousness & failure on all fronts."
13) CPI-ML
CPI-ML statement: "There is a conspiracy to hand over farming to corporate houses. The farmers of the country will not accept these laws at any cost."
14) AIMIM
Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM president: "The farmers’ protest is absolutely genuine. Their demands are justified. We hope that the Prime Minister of the country will invite them for talks. The PM should himself talk to them. They are saying a very important thing. When farmers come to Delhi in such large numbers, you do not let them protest. If the Union Home Minster can come to campaign for the municipal election in Hyderabad, why can’t farmers protest in Delhi? You will not talk to the farmers who put food on our plates? The PM should show a big heart."
15) JMM
Hemant Soren, Jharkhand chief minister: "Our hardworking farmers are the pride of the country. There will be protests in Jharkhand against the central government's conspiracy to make the owner of the country a labourer. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha family fully supports the Bharat Bandh on 8 December in favor of farmers' farmers."
16) Shiv Sena
Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena MP: "Shiv Sena supports the nationwide bandh called by the country's farmers. Farmers are food providers. So as our moral responsibility towards them, the people of the country should also participate voluntarily in the farmers' bandh."
17) Makkal Needhi Maiam
Mugambika Ratnam, MNM leader: "We are standing in solidarity with farmers of Haryana&Punjab. We're here to show the support of farmers from Tamil Nadu. New farm laws should be repealed."
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