The Congress on Sunday extended its “whole-hearted support” to the Bharat Bandh called by agitating farmers on December 8 against the three central agri-marketing laws, and said it will hold demonstrations on the day at all district and state headquarters to back the protesters.

The leaders of tens of thousands of farmers, who are sitting in the borders of Delhi against the laws, have announced a nationwide strike on Tuesday, saying it would be implemented with full force.

Addressing the press at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi on Sunday, party spokesperson Pawan Khera said, “I would also like to announce that the Congress party extends its whole-hearted support to the Bharat Bandh on December 8.”

Former party chief Rahul Gandhi, through tractor rallies, signature campaigns and Kisaan rallies, has been raising the party's voice in support of the farmers, he said.

“All our district headquarters and Pradesh headquarters will participate in this bandh. They will hold demonstrations and ensure that the bandh is successful,” Khera announced.

“The entire world is witnessing the plight of our farmers. The entire world is seeing the horrible sight of farmers sitting outside the capital in the middle of the night in winters waiting for the government to listen to them,” he said.

The spokesperson hit out at the Centre for bringing in the new laws and asked why it hurried so much in enacting them.

“In the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government in June surreptitiously brings ordinances, what was the hurry, the entire country was focussed on the fallout of Covid-19, the economic, social, health fallout, but the government was busy surreptitiously bringing ordinances to help its industrialist-corporate friends,” he alleged.

“Where was the need to bring these legislations so fast, you suspended the opposition parties from Parliament? You did not follow parliamentary procedure and hurried through the passing of the bills, why was the hurry,” he asked.

Talks between the government and protesting farmers remained inconclusive on Saturday even after five rounds of discussions as union leaders stuck to their demand for the repeal of the new farm laws and went on a 'maun vrat' seeking a clear 'yes or no' reply, forcing the Centre to call for another meeting on December 9 to resolve the deadlock.

Enacted in September, the three farm laws have been projected by the government as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the country.