The farmers’ unions on Monday stressed that participation in Tuesday’s Bharat Bandh was voluntary and that no one should be forced to comply.
The agitation leaders are awaiting word from the government interlocutors on whether a decision has been taken on their demand for repeal of the three new farm laws.
Given the security the government is arranging to tackle the bandh, the farmer leaders do not appear very hopeful about their demands being met right away, or even about receiving a proposal for consideration.
While the government has launched a broadside against Opposition parties that have backed the bandh call, the farmer leaders have been contending they cannot be held responsible for anyone supporting their agitation.
“We have been clear from the beginning that we will not allow our platform to be used by any political party,” Darshan Pal of the Krantikari Kisan Morcha told reporters at the Singhu border on G.T. Karnal Road.
“Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal came today (Monday) but he was not allowed to get onto the stage and address the farmers.”
Commenting on the BJP allegation that the farmers are being misled by political parties, All India Kisan Sabha general secretary Hannan Mollah told The Telegraph: “No one was with us for six months. The political parties have come out in support only now when the andolan (movement) has peaked.”
The farmers have made it clear that political parties supporting them should do so without their party banners, even during Tuesday’s bandh.