Bharat Bandh Updates: Farmers across India Participate in Nationwide Strike Today

The strike called by trade unions and farmers against "anti-people" policies of Modi government has gathered at least cores of people taking part nationwide today (8th January). Farmers across the country under the banner of Left Peasant Wings announce Bhumi Adhikar Andolan which will observe Gramin Hartal, rail rook, and road rook on January 8 and 9.

This move is against the Modi government's failure to address rural distress issues, to save rural farmers' lands from the corporate. Moreover, the farmers will extend all support to the ensuing general strike," said Handan Mollah, General Secretary of the CPI (M)-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha.

The declaration for this strike was adopted in September 2019 by unions like INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, LPF, and UTUC among various independent federations. The strike will also be supported by four unions including  Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC)  while Autorickshaws and cab drivers are also likely to join the protests.

The strike is likely to hit banking, transport and other services across the country.  “Not less than 25 crore people will be participating in the strike today”, claimed the joint statement of the 10 organizations.

The unions have made a demand to review the "anti-working class, anti-people and the anti-national policies" allegedly implemented by this government. The unions in the joint statement have also accused the labor ministry of doing little to assure the workers of their demand. The unions have also condemned the violence on JNU campus and similar incidents in university campuses across India.

Moreover, various bank employee associations, including AIBEA, All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA), BEFI, INBEF, INBOC and Bank Karmachari Sena Mahasangh (BKSM), have expressed their willingness to take part in the strike.

Meanwhile, the central government has asked public sector undertakings to dissuade their employees from participating in the 'Bharat Bandh' called on Wednesday.