Bharat Bandh today, TN lorries to stay off road in support

The Union government’s unrelenting attempts to resolve the farmers’ agitation through dialogue is making little headway with few of the farmer unions remaining adamant on their demand to repeal the new agriculture laws. 

While farmers expect the government to send the new draft with amendments to them before they come for the next round of meeting on December 9, sources in the government said that the draft will be discussed only at the discussion table. “It doesn’t make any sense to send in draft before they come for discussion. They are most welcome to come and discuss and debate the amendments they want in the laws,” added the source. 

The farmers had claimed that once the government sends the draft to them, they will first discuss it among themselves before coming for the meeting. The government, in a bid to make headway in the discussions, agreed to ‘as many amendments’ as demanded by the farmers. 

“The farmers seemed like a divided lot with few convinced of laws and government’s intention to make amendments on their suggestions whereas there was a handful of those who remained adamant on the repeal of farm laws,” added a source. 

The nationwide strike on Tuesday is likely to have an impact in some northern states after several trade unions extended support to it even as the farmer leaders said that no one should be forced to join the shutdown. With almost all opposition parties too backing the ‘Bharat Bandh’ and many announcing parallel protests, the Centre has issued an advisory directing the states and UTs to tighten security and ensure peace is maintained. Appealing to everyone to join the “symbolic” bandh, farmer leaders said they will block key roads during their ‘chakka jam’ protest from 11 am till 3 pm as part of their stir. Supporting the bandh, members of the State Lorry Owners Federation have decided to stay off roads in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday. MR Kumarasamy, president of the federation, said that the lorries will not ply from 6am to 6pm. “Five lakh vehicles across TN will stay off roads and lorries from other states too will not be operated in the state,” he said.