The ruling party of Maharashtra, Shiv Sena extended its support to the ‘Bharat Bandh’ called on December 8 by farmer-unions which have been protesting on Delhi’s borders for more than 12 days demanding the repeal of the Centre’s new agri-marketing laws. Rajya Sabha MP Anil Desai told PTI, “Shiv Sena president and CM Uddhav Thackeray is against the Central laws which are anti-farmer and anti-labour. We support the Bharat bandh.” Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Prem Singh Chandumajra had met CM Thackeray in Mumbai. He told reporters that Thackeray supported the Akali Dal’s stand on the farmers’ protest.

Shiromani Akali Dal and Shiv Sena are coming closer in order to support the ongoing farmers’ protests on the borders of New Delhi, which are going on for more than 12 days, demanding the abolition or complete repeal of the newly introduced farm laws. National Opposition parties, including various regional outfits, had also given a call for Bharat Bandh on December 8. Leaders from key political parties that form the national Opposition are expected to meet in Delhi in the next couple of weeks to discuss the course of action. Chandumajra said that Thackeray agreed with his party on the issue of the Centre’s alleged interference into the “rights of state governments” in fields like education, agriculture, and law and order. In this context, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had recently stated that there would be no NDA without the support of SS and SAD.

Nationally many parties are coming on common ground in opposition to the farm laws. SAD vice-president and former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, had led a delegation of the Akali dal to Thackeray’s official bungalow, Varsha. He said, “We have held meetings with a few regional parties and are meeting leaders from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Telangana Rashtra Samithi, All India Trinamool Congress with the common intention of opposing the Centre’s intervention in the states’ rights. The Centre has been suppressing the rights of the states in state subjects, including law and order, agriculture, finances. In the garb of cybercrime, the Centre is intervening in law and order. By passing the farm laws, it intends to overtake the state’s powers of agriculture marketing. The goods and services tax (GST) regime has already shrunk the state’s resources. We want to collectively oppose this attempt.”

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has urged all Punjabi people to support the “Bharat Bandh” called on December 8 by farmer unions. The SAD chief also said that his party would work assiduously alongside the peasantry to ensure the repeal of the controversial farm laws. Political parties apart from various observers have identified many glaring loopholes in the new farm laws. Stating that “the fight for justice” had now become a fight of the “annadaata” (someone who provides food) against the central government, Badal said, “I am confident that the mass agitation will force the Centre to “bow down” before the demands of farmers.”

Former MP Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, who led the SAD delegation, said that apart from reaching an understanding to forge a national alliance, Thackeray has in principle agreed to restore the old management system of Takht Hazoor Sahib, Nanded. Chandumajra said that the Chief Minister had agreed that the management should have representatives of Sikhs from all over the country.

Presently, only Sikhs from Maharashtra are part of the management after the previous Shiv Sena-BJP combine government had recast the membership. Chandumajra said, “Thackeray has agreed that two representatives of the SGPC should be part of the management. This was an important demand of the Sikh community in India and abroad. The CM has ordered holding of meetings next week to formalize this arrangement.”

Chandumajra said that the Shiv Sena chief was pained at the attack on federalism by the BJP government and its attempts to weaken regional parties and dethrone the regional governments. He had also met All India Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata. He said that Thackeray and Mamata Banerjee were looking forward to the new political front. SAD delegation would meet former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in the coming week. It has already met Biju Janta Dal president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

“The regional parties have to come together to save the federal system in the country and to end the dictatorial government of Narendra Modi,” said Chandumajra. The SAD and Shiv Sena were among the oldest allies of the BJP. While the SAD broke ties with the BJP in September over the farm laws intended to curb state’s powers and promote corporate lobbyists, the Shiv Sena had parted ways earlier over differences in Maharashtra polls.

“We have already held meetings with a few regional parties and are meeting leaders from DMK, TRS, TMC with the common intention of opposing the Centre’s intervention in the states’ rights. The Centre has been suppressing the rights of the states in state subjects including law and order, agriculture, finances. In the garb of cyber-crime, the Centre is intervening in law and order, by passing the farm laws it intends to overtake state’s powers of agriculture marketing. We want to collectively oppose this attempt,” Chandumajra said.

Meanwhile, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) of Telangana, Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, AIUDF, DMK, and many other opposition parties have extended their support to the ‘Bharat Bandh’.  Thousands of farmers are sitting on various borders of New Delhi since November 26 against the laws and have called for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ on December 8.

“If states are strong, the nation will be stronger. If states are weak, the country will be weaker. Today, the country’s political system is being centralized. The Shiromani Akali Dal is for federalism,” Chandumajra said.”Even Uddhav Thackeray is of the view that the rights of states need to be protected,” he also said.

Farmers are demanding the withdrawal and repeal of the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. As the fifth round of talks between the farmers and the Centre remained inconclusive, the sixth round is scheduled to be held in Delhi on December 9.

The author is a student member of Amity Centre of Happiness