Agriculture bill: Farmers hit the road, traffic jam in many states
But farmer organizations say that these bills are part of the efforts to hand over the agricultural sector to the corporate.
The farmers of Punjab had started a three-day rail roko movement from Thursday itself, but on Friday the country-wide protests to the farmers continue.
Apart from many big leaders of the opposition, many artists and players have also come out in support of the farmers.
The most widespread demonstrations against these bills are taking place in Punjab and Haryana.
Roads reaching Badal village closed
In Bathinda, farmers and other organizations closed all routes to Badal village.
Despite the resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal, a minister in the Modi government, the anger of the people does not seem to diminish.
Many unions have come out in favor of farmers, including the union of former government officials.
Demonstration of farmers on Delhi border
The Indian Farmers Union staged a sit-in on the Delhi-Noida border and blocked roads. A Noida police official told news agency ANI that the root divert has been done.
Stunning yadav on tractor
According to BBC colleague Situ Tiwari from Patna, the news of opposition to the agriculture bill also started coming from Bihar. Leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav drove a tractor on the streets of Patna to protest against the Agriculture Bill, while his brother Tej Pratap sat with a shovel on the tractor.
During this protest, Tejashwi Yadav took an attacking stance on Nitish Kumar, saying, "Nitish Kumar has hit the U-turn once more. Due to the policies of the Bihar government, the farmer of Bihar became poor and was forced to flee." He demanded the withdrawal of the bill.
Jan Adhikar Party President Pappu Yadav blocked the Dakbangla intersection of Patna with his supporters.
Meanwhile, some of his activists also demonstrated in front of Bihar BJP office and shouted anti-central and state government slogans. After which the workers present at the party office chased them away and beaten some workers. Left-wing parties and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party activists also staged protests in Bihar against the bill.
Apart from this, the Bihar unit of All India Farmers Coordination Committee, which includes 30 organizations, expressed its opposition by stopping the train at many stations including Madhubani. Bihar unit leader Ashok Prasad Singh said, "Farmers are the backbone of India, and no attack on them will be tolerated."
Stroller demonstration in UP
According to BBC colleague Sameeratmaj Mishra from Lucknow, demonstrations started in many districts of UP from morning to morning.
The farmers tried to block the Faizabad highway in Lucknow. He opposed the bills by burning stubble and shouting slogans against the central government. In Barabanki also, farmers jammed the highway by jamming the highway. Some farmers who were protesting at Ahimamau in Lucknow were arrested.
In support of the farmers, leaders of Samajwadi Party, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party appeared on the streets. In many districts like Meerut, Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, farmers came on tractors and blocked roads. The farmers had already announced Chakka Jam, so the administration had made strong arrangements regarding the law and order.
In Barabanki, activists of the Indian Farmers Workers Organization staged a demonstration by jamming the Patel Tiraha, which caused difficulties to those passing through it. Whereas in Rae Bareli, farmers staged a martyr memorial and thereafter demonstrations in many places.
Opposing the Agriculture Bill, the National Spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, Chaudhary Rakesh Tikait, has said that there will be a peaceful flywheel jam.
Rakesh Tikait said, "Ambulances and emergency vehicles are not being stopped anywhere and strict instructions have been given to farmers not to do so. Farmers have also been urged to take care of masks and social distancing."
Although masks and social distancing are hardly being taken care of. Wherever videos and pictures are coming from, very few people are seen using masks.
General performance in Rajasthan-West Bengal
According to BBC's Mohar Singh Meena in Jaipur, the impact of the Bharat Bandh in Rajasthan and the performance of farmers was normal. Reports of protests or agitation were not reported from most places. However, there was a significant impact in Sriganganagar district bordering Punjab. Here a large number of farmers took to the streets and shouted slogans.
The farmers organized a protest by taking out a torch rally in Alwar. In Sikar, a demonstration was held under the leadership of CPI President Amra Ram. However, very few people united here. A dozen people, under the leadership of farmer leader Rampal Jat, sat on a peaceful dharna near the Police Commissionerate in Jaipur.
According to BBC colleague Prabhakar Mani Tiwari in Kolkata, the nationwide bandh of farmers against agricultural bills did not seem to have much effect in the urban areas of West Bengal. But under the banner of All India Kisan Khet Mazdoor Sangathan (AIKKMS) and All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), the CPI-M's farmer organization, in Bardhaman district and surrounding rural areas called Paddy Bowl, the farmers staged massive protests and on the highway The movement of vehicles stopped.
Copies of the Agricultural Bill were burnt in many places. The protesters also shouted slogans against the central government and the Prime Minister. Manoranjan Maiti, an AIKS leader, said, "The Center had promised to double the income of farmers. But now it is bent on making the farmers poor through new bills."
He said that by passing the bills without any discussion, the government has insulted democratic values and parliamentary traditions. In Kolkata too, the ruling Trinamool Congress organized a rally against the bills and lashed out at the central government and the BJP. Left organizations have also decided to organize a counter-protest procession. CPI (M) leader Sujan Chakraborty says, "The new bill will destroy farmers."
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