Bharat Bandh tomorrow: Banking, transport, essential supplies likely to be affected

To protest against the three new farm laws passed by the Centre, Farmer unions have announced to observe Bharat Bandh tomorrow, December 8.

“It will be an emphatic Bharat Bandh on December 8”, All India Kisan Federation president Prem Singh Bhangu said on Saturday after the fifth round of talks between farmers’ leaders and the Centre failed to break the deadlock.

The farmers are protesting against the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. The farmers claim that these laws end the minimum support price system in the future and will give corporates total control over the agriculture sector.

On the other hand, the government has projected these laws as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middlemen and help in the growth of the income of the farmers.

Commuters in Delhi may face problems as some auto and taxi unions in the city have decided to join ‘Bharat Bandh’ on December 8 called by farmer unions protesting against the recent farm laws. However, many other unions have decided not to support the bandh.

In addition, banking operations are expected to be affected, as several unions bank unions have expressed their solidarity with farmers.