MVA calls for state bandh on October 11

In an unprecedented move, the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi partners, the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress have called for a statewide bandh on October 11 to protest the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri violence in which four agitating farmers were mowed down. The issue was discussed at the state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and ministers strongly condemned the incident and criticised the BJP-led government in Uttar Pradesh for its oppression by misuse of power. The announcement on Wednesday came a day after Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut pitched for joint opposition action against the BJP.

After the cabinet meeting, NCP Minister Jayant Patil, Congress Minister Balasaheb Thorat and Shiv Sena Minister Eknath Shinde formally announced the bandh on October 11 to protest against the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. They however, clarified that essential services were not included in the bandh. They also made it clear the bandh call was given by three parties and not by the government and that workers of the three parties had been asked to participate in the bandh.

This is the MVA partners’ attempt to unitedly take on the BJP and send a message across the country that they strongly support the farmers and will raise their voices against the BJP’s move to crush the agitation using government machinery.

Patil slammed the BJP for being harsh on farmers. “The bandh is being called to express support to the agitating farmers and condemn the Lakhimpur Kheri violence,” he said.

Shinde claimed that the incident was a blot on mankind saying that anger was growing against the BJP-led government in the UP and

also at the Centre, for their apathy to farmers who are reeling from unprecedented crisis. “The bandh is to reiterate Shiv Sena’s support to the farmers,” he said. Thorat said the move to crush the farmers’ peaceful agitation was reminiscent of the call by Brigadier General Dyer, who was responsible for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919 in Amritsar. “The decision was taken by the Maha Vikas Aghadi to call a bandh on October 11. The BJP’s attempt to disrupt the farmers’ agitation was quite unfortunate,” he observed.