Bengaluru: Ahead of the Bharat bandh scheduled to occur on December 8, farmers in Karnataka have announced their support for the same in protest against three farm laws enacted by the Union Government.
Making the announcement on Sunday, December 6, Karnataka Rajya Riatha Sangha president K Chandreshekar said that members of around 300 farmers’ organisations will participate in the bandh on Tuesday across all cities of Karnataka, except in Bengaluru.
According to a report by TNM, Chandrashekar said that the Karnataka farmers are also opposed to the APMC bill and the land reforms bill that were moved by the BJP-led government in the state Assembly in September.
Speaking to reporters here, Chandreshekar explained that all their members will be observing the Bharat bandh in their respective towns and villages across the state on Tuesday, after which they will travel to Bengaluru on Wednesday to hold a day-long bandh against the laws.
For three days last week, a dozen members of the Karnataka Rajya Riatha Sangh, led by Chandrashekar, participated in the farmers’ agitation on the Delhi border with Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Apart from farmers’ unions, several trade associations and labour organisations, as well as the opposition Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) are extending their support to the two-day (December 8 and 9) bandh by the farmers in the state.
Around 50,000 farmers and workers will travel to Bengaluru in buses, truck, and tractors to participate in the protest, he said, adding that this is when the Assembly will be in session to pass the bills. The winter session of the Karnataka Assembly is set to be held from December 7 to 15 at the Vidhana Soudha.
According to Karnataka farmer organisations union president K Shanthakumar, protests will be held in the form of processions, rallies, and public meetings at Freedom Park.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Sugarcane Growers’ Associations will stage demonstrations in Bengaluru on Monday in solidarity with the farmers in the northern states of Indian.
