Farmers across India protesting the farm laws, which they claim to be ‘anti-farmer,’ called for a nationwide general strike on Saturday, December 8, and opposition parties like Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and Shiv Sena have supported the move.

The farmers’ protest that is currently taking place in Delhi and at the Singhu and Tikri border, against the recently passed farm laws by the Central government, entered the eleventh day on Sunday. Farmer leaders have already met with representatives of the Centre on five occasions and have requested for the withdrawal of what they have termed as ‘black laws’.

Opposition parties across India including the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, the Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India(Marxist), Communist Party of India(Marxist Leninist),  Revolutionary Socialist Party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Rashtriya Janata Dal, Socialist Party, the All India Forward Bloc and the Congress have all come out in support for the Bharat Bandh called by farmers on December 8, reported ANI.

The Rashtriya Loktantrik Party from Rajasthan and ally of the NDA has also expressed its support for the Bharat Bandh called by farmers, reported ANI.

Hanuman Beniwal, RLP leader and MP from Rajasthan also requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take back the farm laws, reported ANI. Beniwal further stated that his party would take a call on whether to stay in the National Democratic Alliance, following the December 8 bandh.

Farmers are protesting against the three farms laws, namely the Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, were enacted in September. 

Despite protests from farmers, the Centre has remained steadfast in its belief that the farm laws will be beneficial for the farmers, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that the passing of the bills marked a watershed moment in the history of the country.