All Mahagathbandhan and the Left parties will support the ‘Bharat Bandh’ call given by farmers on September 27.

Issuing an appeal to the public, the Left urged them to support the bandh called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of over 40 farm unions spearheading the farmers’ agitation.

SKM also asked political parties to “stand with farmers in their quest to defend principles of democracy and federalism.”

In a joint statement, the CPI, CPI(M), All India Forward Bloc, Revolutionary Socialist Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) said the “historic” farmers’ struggle demanding the repeal of the agri-laws and a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price is in its 10th month and urged people to come out in support of their cause.

Accusing the Union government of being obdurate, the Left parties said the Centre is “refusing to engage with struggling kisans through talks.”

They further said that the three agri-laws and Labour Codes must be repealed immediately, guaranteed MSP be implemented and the National Monetisation Pipeline be scrapped.

To mark the completion of ten months of protests, Samyukta Kisan Morcha had called September 27 to be observed as ‘Bharat Bandh’ against the Modi government.

“We appeal to all organisations of workers, traders, transporters, businessmen, students, youth and women and all social movements to extend solidarity with the farmers that day,” the statement said.

The SKM also urged all political parties and state governments to lend their support; however, it said that representatives of political parties shall not share the stage with SKM.

The bandh will be held from six in the morning to four in the evening during which all government and private offices, educational and other institutions, shops, industries and commercial establishments as well as public events and functions will be closed throughout the country.

All emergency establishments and essential services, including hospitals, medical stores, relief and rescue work and people attending to personal emergencies will be exempted.