Tamil Nadu
EXTENDING active support to the protesting farmers under various kisan organisations near the national capital Delhi, all political parties of Tamil Nadu and their mass organisations, with the exception of AIADMK and BJP raised their voices demanding the repeal of three farm laws enacted by the autocratic Modi government at the centre.

Echoing the call of the co-ordination committee of kisan organisations’, to observe an all India ‘general strike’ on December 8, the DMK-led Progressive Democratic Front called upon the supporters to make the strike a grand success in Tamil Nadu.

Accordingly, while speaking at a demonstration held before the Chennai Collectorate, CPI(M) Polit Bureau Member, G Ramakrishnan pointed out that the farmers are protesting at Delhi against the draconian farm laws braving the danger of Corona pandemic. By destroying the regulatory markets, the BJP government has sacrificed the interests of the peasantry to corporates- like Adani and Ambani. He also said that AIADMK too has involved in this shameless act of BJP by supporting these bills in the parliament.  He said that the people of Tamil Nadu will give a befitting reply to this unholy alliance in the coming elections.

CPI(M) Tamil Nadu state secretary, K Balakrishnan while participating in a demonstration held at Saidapet, Chennai has pointed out that the farmers’ protest at Delhi attracted the attention of the world across. Besides leaders like prime minister of Canada, the chairperson of UNHRC, members of British Parliament, who supported the farmers struggle and seeked government intervention, spontaneous protest actions are being held in Australia, Britain, US, Canada and other countries in support of the protesting farmers. He also said that as a result of these farm laws, there is an imminent danger of closure of FCI, which in turn will demolish the PDS system across the country. Likewise, the Electricity (Amendment) Bill will also handover the power sector into the hands of Adani, which in turn will deprive the farmers of free power supply for farming operations.

While speaking at a demonstration held in front of Washermanpet Post Office, Chennai, CPI(M) Central Committee Member, T K Rangarajan said that these laws will provide a way-out to the corporate companies of Adani and Ambani to procure foodgrains at throwaway prices from the farmers and sell them at exorbitant prices in the open market. He further said that this will also snatch away the rights of the states in regulating the prices of foodgrains. Despite such a strong protest across the country, the BJP government is standing adamant in defending the farm laws, which is not only against the interests of the farmers, but also against the interests of the public at large. He said that only solution before the people is to isolate these divisive forces and defeat them decisively in the upcoming assembly elections.

On behalf of the co-ordination committee of all India kisan organisations, its state coordinator, K Balakrishnan and the general secretary of Tamil Nadu Kisan Sabha, P Shanmugam participated in a demonstration in front of Shastri Bhavan, Chennai and demanded the repealing of farm laws forthwith to save the farmers from further ruin.

Similar movements were held across the state, notably in Madurai, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Nellai. In the delta districts, shops were closed and transport services were withdrawn in support of the protesting farmers demanding the repeal of these draconian farm laws and Electricity (Amendment) Act forthwith.

Tripura
People tremendously responded to the bandh call of the kisans in Tripura. They spontaneously observed bandh in solidarity with the peasants of the country, who are carrying on heroic struggles against the onslaughts let loose on them by the Modi government- to nourish its corporate friends. The popular support to the issues of the peasants was widespread, both in towns and rural areas including the hills.

There was no work in the sectors like trade and business, market places, colleges, judicial courts, banks and insurance and government plantations. A handful of vehicles moved in some places at the pressure of the BJP miscreants. Trains were run at the pressure of the government but without passengers. In government offices, in spite of stringent directions of the state government, attendance of the employees was limited.  The ruling BJP supporters desperately tried to keep the normal flow in trade and business, vehicular movements and government offices. Due to their aggressive exercise of threats and intimidation, some shop-owners opened their shutters only to shut them down immediately after the ruling party miscreants left the places. Also, there were no buyers on that day.    

On December 6 - 7, the Left Parties and their kisan organisations along with other fraternal organisations extensively campaigned in solidarity with the kisan movements in Delhi and their concerns regarding the three draconian Farm Acts and Electricity Bill mooted by the Modi government.

The state Kisan Movement Coordination Committee in a press meet on December 8, greeted the people of Tripura for tremendously responding to the bandh call convened by the kisans. The people will continue their support in their movements in future on their just issues, they hoped. CPI(M) Tripura state secretariat also congratulated the people for extending support to the bandh call.

Telangana
The Bharat Bandh called and supported by 24 political parties for abolition of three farm laws and also Electricity (Amendment) Bill was a huge success in the state. The solidarity expressed by all sections of people, all over the state was unprecedented. Political parties, workers, employees, students, women and agricultural labour participated in various actions.

Leaders from political parties, mass organisations and general public participated in the statewide Bharat Bandh. Left Parties, TRS and Congress cadres observed bandh separately at the specified centers and conducted picketing at highways throughout the state. In few places, arrests took place. They also organised bike rallies, dharnas, protests and street corner meetings. Bandh was total in industrial areas. RTC buses confined to depots only. IT employees organised the protest rallies. TRS ministers, MLAs , local political representatives and leaders massively participated in bandh programme. National highways were blocked by TRS in Telangana state. In certain centers BJP conducted anti-bandh activities.

The Left Parties, warned the central government either to withdraw the three farm laws or to be prepared to lose power. They warned that the Modi government is conspiring to hand over agriculture sector to corporates like-Ambanis and Adanis. The struggle will continue till the laws are annulled. They welcomed TRS declaring support for the bandh and participating in it. A resolution should be passed in the state assembly that the farm laws will not be implemented in the state, the Left leaders demanded. Earlier there was a procession from Koti to RTC Cross Roads by Left parties, and mass organisations in Hyderabad.

CPI(M) state secretary, Tammineni Veerabhadram explained that the bandh is not only for farmers, but also for the problems connected with 130 crore people of the country. CPI leaders K Narayana, Chada Venkatareddy, TJS leader Sri Kodandaram said that the three farm laws will pave for monopoly of corporates in agriculture.  CPI(M) Central Committee members, Cherupally Sitaramulu, G Nagaiah, and other mass ogranisation leaders also participated in the rally.

A procession was taken out from YMCA to Musheerabad Chourastha  in which employees, workers,and teachers participated in hundreds with loud slogans, holding placards. INTUC, AITUC, CITU, HMS, TRSKV, IFTU, TNTUC, TSUTF and medical representatives also joined the procession. The leaders criticised that government was silent when the farmers were agitating for last 13 days. They demanded that the PM should commit himself to his declaration in 2015 of giving MSP (Minimum Support Price). They expressed concern that the three farm laws will bring crisis in the agriculture sector and destroy farmers and this will have an impact on other sectors as well.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Activists of CPI(M), RJD, TDP and DMK held a protest demonstration on December 8, at Tiranga Park in support of Bharat Bandh call given by kisan organisations of the country. This dharna started at 10 am and had to be called off by within a few hours as the Municipal Council Port Blair, which granted the permission to hold this dharna withdrew the permission on December 8 at 12.30 noon.

On December 6th, the permission was sought from MC Port Blair and the required fee was also deposited. Thereafter the deputy commissioner(SA) was met who said that this meeting cannot be held due to Covid protocol. The superintendent of police also took the same position when a delegation met him. Despite that the banner was raised and a dharna was staged on October 8 but the banner was snatched by the police. However, the activists of these parties took the banner back and staged back the dharna, however called it off early.

Rajasthan
The AIKS blocked national highway at Shahjahanpur border on December 8. This is a border with Haryana and the state police of Haryana obstructed to the entry of kisan jathas from Rajasthan, which was rebuffed and the national highway was blocked. The jathas were led by Amra Ram, Chaggan Chaudhary, AIKS state secretary, Sanjay Madhav, Sher Singh, president of Haryana unit of AIKS and others.

In Rajasthan the bandh was historic and unprecedented. Large sections of the people participated in demonstration is different parts of the state. The bandh remained peaceful

Andhra Pradesh
Bandh was complete and people from all walks of life participated and supported it voluntarily on December 8.  A P Rytu Sangham, A P Tenant Farmers Association, affiliates of AIKS, A PAgriculture Workers Union and many farm organisations under the banner of AIKSCC extensively campaigned for the success of the bandh. CPI(M), CPI and other Left parties supported the call. Trade unions and many associations of employees extended their solidarity to the farmers’ struggle. People’s ire against the Modi government is visible through the wide-ranging support and participation in the bandh.

Bandh organisers came on to the roads from early hours and led rallies in all the towns and mandal (sub-district) headquarters. Farmers put their bullock carts to block the roads. They expressed their anger through display of agricultural tools and chanted slogans to repeal the draconian farm acts of the BJP central government. The relentless efforts of the leaders and cadres of farmers organisations and of Left Parties resulted in the success of the bandh. Schools and educational institutions were closed and the APSRTC buses were off the roads. Public life came to a stand-still all over the state.