DMK-led bloc extends support to Dec 8 Bharat bandh called for by farmers

The DMK-led opposition bloc in Tamil Nadu on Sunday extended support to the December 8 'Bharat bandh' called for by farmers agitating against the Centre's farm laws, saying their demand for the repealing of the three legislations was "totally justified." The M K Stalin-led grouping appealed to farmers' unions, traders' bodies, government employees' associations, labour unions and others in the state to extend "grand support" to the bandh and make it a success on Tuesday.

Actor Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) also extended support to the bandh, with the party founder urging the Centre to heed to farmers' demands. A delegation of MNM functionaries met the protesting farmers near Delhi and assured support to them, Haasan said in a tweet. Farmers, mainly from Punjab, have been agitating for nearly 10 days outside Delhi border against the Centre's contentious farm laws.

In a statement, Stalin, TNCC chief KS Alagiri, MDMK founder Vaiko and Left leaders, among other DMK allies, said the ongoing protest outside Delhi by farmers was growing every day and drawing global attention. The farmers were angry that despite five rounds of talks, the Centre has not made any "constructive" proposals and recalled their representatives staging a "silent protest" and demanding a "yes or no" on withdrawal of the laws during their talks with the government, led by Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

The parties condemned the Centre for still not acceding to their demand for withdrawal of the laws. "Their demand for repealing of the three laws is totally justified...we extend our wholehearted support to the December 8 Bharat bandh," the statement said. Farmers protesting against the Centre's new farm laws had on Friday announced the Bharat bandh on December 8 and threatened to intensify their agitation and block more roads leading to the national capital if the government does not accept their demands. The fifth round of talks between farmer representatives and government on Saturday ended in a deadlock.