PANJIM: Multiple trade unions including farmers’ groups in Goa and the Opposition parties have backed the all-India strike call by thousands of farmers who are protesting at various border points of Delhi, demanding repealing of the three farm laws.
The Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Goa Forward Party, Communist Party of India (Goa), All India Trade Union Congress (Goa), All Goa Private Bus Owners’ Association, All India Kisan Sabha (Goa) and Centre of Indian Trade Union (Goa) among various outfits have backed the pan-India strike.
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The political parties issued statements objecting to the ‘anti-farmer’ laws and supporting the strike. “We @incgoa extend full support to Goa Bandh called by Goa Units of All India Kisan Sabha & CITU, on 8/12/2020 in support of the Farmers of India agitating against Modi Govt attempts to handover Agriculture Sector to his Crony Capitalist Club,” Congress president Girish Chodankar tweeted.
Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai said “Farmers are the backbone of our economy and sadly under the BJP regime their issues are neglected and their voices are unheard.”
GFP vice president Durgadas Kamat also took to Twitter mentioning party President Vijai Sardesai’s support to the strike. “Our @Goaforwardparty President @VijaiSardesai has extended support to #BharatBandh callgiven by All India Kisan Sabha & #CITU in support of farmers of India and against #AntiFarmerActs,” Kamat posted.
The AAP has also expressed solidarity with the protesting farmers stating its leaders, volunteers and workers will support the protest peacefully.
On the eve of the strike, the AIKS and CITU appealed the people of Goa to observe bandh to express solidarity with the farmers of the country claiming that corporatisation of agriculture will have ‘disastrous effect on the farmers, peasants and entire working class of the country.’
The two unions also alleged that Goan peasants have also been struggling to safeguard their conventional rights in the recent times. “From Sattari to Sanguem, peasants have faced encroachment on their lands by the government. The coal transport has put the livelihood of the fishing community in danger. Despite stiff opposition from the people, the government is pushing the interests of the corporate,” their joint press release states while explaining their ordeal in Goa.
Meanwhile, AITUC and AGPBOA have also backed the strike as they have committed to participate in the strike at Azad Maidan. “The farm laws have been forced on the people without consulting the States. We completely back the farmers,” AITUC leader Christopher Fonseca said at a press conference on Monday whereas Sudip Tamhankar of AGPBOA has termed the Central government as ‘anti-national.’
While there was no formal statement from the Goa government, its senior leader Narendra Sawaikar tweeted, “There can’t be a Bandh for his/her/their vested interest.”
The Goa Police has made elaborate arrangements to ensure that law and order in the State is not disturbed. A senior official said heavy police deployment will be in place across various parts, particularly at the protest sites.
