Indian farmers call for All-India bandh on 8 December

Dec. 4: The farmers who are protesting at the Delhi borders against the three farm laws passed by the Union government during the Monsoon session of Parliament in September, announced to observe ‘All-India Bandh’ on 8 December. Addressing a press conference on Friday, Bharatiya kisan Union (BKU) leader Gurnam Singh Chadoni and Harvinder Singh Ladkhwal said, “In our meeting today, we have decided to give a ‘Bharat Bandh’ call on December 8 during which we will also occupy all toll plazas.”

The protesting farmers have threatened to block all the entry points at Delhi borders and occupy all the highway gates and prevent the government to collect toll as part of their all-India strike.

Earlier, the farmers refused government hospitality during the talks at Vigyan Bhavan. Lunch was brought for them from the nearby Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, and they ate standing or sitting on the floor in the dining area of Vigyan Bhavan. Tea too was brought from outside for them.

Marathon talks between the government and agitating farmer unions on Thursday failed to end the standoff over the new farm laws as the protestors refused to budge on their demands and another round of discussions will be held two days later in a bid to forge a resolution. The farmers are protesting against the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.