CPI(M) supports farmers' 'Bharat Bandh' call, wants Opposition parties to join protest

Extending support to farmers' protest, CPI(M) has said that y will back Bharat Bandh called by farmers' union on December 8. CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has said that party condemns 'malicious' campaign against teh farmers. In a statement, CPI(M) said that left parties back farmers' demand to scrap three farm laws as well as Electricity Amendment Bill 2020. It has also appealed to all political parties in Opposition to stand with farmers. 

RE | PM Modi Meets HM Shah, Agriculture Min Tomar Ahe Of 5th Round Of Talks With Farmers

Bharat Bandh on Dec 8

Upping ante, farmers protesting against Centre's new farm laws on Friday anunced a Bharat bandh on December 8 and threatened to intensify ir agitation and block more ros leing to national capital if government does t accept ir demands.This hardening of stand came ahe of fifth round of talks with government.

dressing a press conference later, one of leers Gurnam Singh Choni said if Centre on Saturday does t accept ir demand of repealing three farm laws, y will intensify ir agitation. He said that farmers will protest against central government and corporate houses and burn ir effigies on Saturday, ding that on December 7, sportspersons will return ir medals in solidarity with farmers. "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," said Harinder Singh Lakhwal, general secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union. "We have planned to block all ros leing to Delhi in coming days if farm laws are t scrapped," he ded.

RE | Trudeau reiterates support to farmers' protest a day after India summons Canian envoy

5th round of talks with farmers on December 5

On Thursday, fourth round of talks between Centre and farmers' unions concluded without any significant progress. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar anunced that y would meet again at 2 pm on December 5. Besides him, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and MoS Commerce Som Parkash represented Centre in deliberations.

Revealing that discussion took place in a good atmosphere, Tomar stated that Union government is willing to discuss unions' objections pertaining to points such as strengning APMC, regulating private Mandis, dispute resolution and apprehensions over MSP. Moreover, he exuded confidence of two sides reaching a consensus on Saturday. On or hand, farmer unions remained stefast in ir demand for repeal of  Farmers' Produce Tre and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020,  Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and  Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

RE | Farmers' Agitation: Tomar Hopeful Of 'positive' Outcome As Top Brass Meets PM Modi

RE | War-of-words Breaks Out Between CM Amarinder & Harsimrat Over Stance On Farmers' Protest