Bharat Bandh: Anna Hazare sits on a day-long hunger strike to support the protesting farmers
New Delhi: Indian social activist, Anna Hazare sat on a day-long hunger strike on Tuesday to support the protesting farmers who have called for the Bharat Bandh. The agitating farmers at the Singhu Border, Delhi called for the Bharat Bandh on December 8 from 11 AM to 3 PM, demanding the Centre to repeal its farm laws.
Hazare said that the protest should spread across the entire country so that the central government comes under pressure and acts in favour of the farmers. He, through a recorded message, appreciated the protest staged by the farmers at the Delhi border, saying that no form of violence has taken place in the last ten days of protest.
The activist started his fast in Ralegan Siddhi village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. He appealed to the people of the country that the protest which is going on in Delhi should spread across the country.
Calling it the 'right time' for the farmers to fight for their issues, Hazare said that he has always backed the causes of the farmers and will continue to do so in the future too.
The octogenarian social activist also expressed the importance and need to grant autonomy to the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and to implement the recommendations of the M S Swaminathan Commission. He warned of another protest if the government fails to grant autonomy to CACP and implement the recommendations of the M S Swaminathan Commission.
Speaking further on the government's role, he said that the government only gave assurance but it never fulfilled the demands.
Thousands of farmers have been protesting at the Delhi border since the last month. They have been agitating against the farm laws, which were earlier passed in Parliament while the Opposition had staged a walkout.