Bharat Bandh: TN Farmers Mobilise Support, Left Parties Continue Solidarity Protests

Tamil Nadu’s farmers are gearing up for the Bharat Bandh on December 8 with the support of every political party except the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The central trade unions and various federations have extended support to the bandh announced by the protesting farmers. The parties have resolved to hold solidarity protests across the state on December 8.

The state unit of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) will hold picketing and road roko protests on December 8 across the state.

The Left parties have been protesting in support of the farmers since December 4, with thousands of cadres being detained everyday. The parties have held picketing, road rokos and demonstrations in solidarity with the farmers.

The BJP and AIADMK continue to speak in support of the three Farm Laws and the Electricity (Amendment) Act, but hardly have any takers for their version of the argument.

Opposition Parties Extend Support

The Opposition parties in the state, led by the DMK, have extended their full support for the bandh called by the farmers organisations. The parties – DMK, Indian National Congress, CPI(MP), CPI, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Indian Union Muslim League, Kongu Makkal Katchi and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi – released a joint press note in support of the bandh.

The statement mentioned that the Centre is trying to undermine the rights of the states and place the farmers at the mercy of the corporates. The food security of the nation will be under threat with the abolition of the procurement by the government, the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPF) parties said.

The parties hailed the struggle of the farmers, saying, “the BJP government, after pushing the three farm Bills in the Parliament, is now delaying talks with the farmers. The insensitive attitude of the government is creating much uproar among the farmers, which is evident from the massive participation at the borders of Delhi. Conceding to the demands of the farmers is the only solution,” said the press release.

The Left parties have called for statewide picketing and road roko protests in support of the bandh. The mass organisations of the parties, including the trade unions, youth and women organisations, will join these protests.

The Makkal Neethi Maiam (MNM), led by actor Kamal Haasan, has also extended support to the Bharat Bandh. The party released a statement to this effect after the AIKSCC had written to all political parties seeking support for the bandh.

Farmers’ Organisations, Trade Unions Mobilise Support

The farmers organisations and trade unions held consultation meetings with farmers, agricultural labourers and traders, to mobilise support for the bandh. The AIKSCC held meetings in various places across the state to seek their support.

In Tiruppur district, the joint platform of trade unions and farmers oraganisations sought support from the people by conducting awareness meetings in public places, including the Uzhavar Santhai (Farmers’ Market).

The AIKSCC resorted to effigy burning protests from December 5 against the laws, which they say will snatch away the rights of the farmers, including the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Their anger was evident as the farmers burned the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his corporate ‘friends’, Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, at many locations.

The BSNL Employees Union, bank employees union, insurance employees unions also have pledged support for the bandh announced by the farmers organisations.

Left Parties, Mass Organisations Continue Protests

The Left parties – Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist- Leninist) Liberation (CPI(ML)) are continuing with joint protests in support of the farmers.

The cadres of the parties are resorting to picketing of central government offices, road rokos and demonstrations in solidarity with the protesting farmers. The state government led by the AIADMK, which supported the legislation in Parliament, is trying hard to suppress the continuous protests.

R. Badri, state committee member of CPI(M), said: “The police have booked eight protesters from Nilgiris district under eight different sections, including a non-bailable section. This includes the district secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and the treasurer of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). The government is resorting to victimisation of protesters as a means to silence the protests in support of the farmers”.

Around ten persons from Mayiladuthurai and Cuddalore districts have been put behind bars for organising and participating in the protests. The CPI(M) state committee condemned the action by the state government.

The police has been using brute force to prevent rallies and picketing protests of the Left parties. The police used water cannons to disperse the protesters at Pazhani in Dindigul district, while many protesters sustained injuries during a protest in Cuddalore district.

The Left parties and mass organisations continued with their protests in Coimbatore, Pudukottai and Kallakurichi on December 7, demanding the withdrawal of the Farm Laws and condemned the police action on protesting cadres in Tamil Nadu.